2021 Kia Seltos vs 2021 Lexus GX

Despite being a subcompact SUV, the 2021 Kia Seltos had a big-car feel. It featured an upright layout with a commanding view of the road. The headlight design, though busy, flowed well into the grille styling. The lower front bumper had an aggressive approach angle, hinting at off-road capabilities. The test model showcased a two-tone roof design and red circles around the wheel centers, adding to its on-road driving dynamics. The interior boasted a straightforward design with clean lines and seamlessly integrated tech features, reminiscent of more upscale brands like Audi. The clean LCD screen for climate controls and the touchscreen atop the dash added visual symmetry. The Seltos came in various trims, each adding more features and luxury as you moved up the range.

The 2021 Lexus GX 460’s styling was a product of its long tenure on the market. It retained the same basic body shell from a decade ago, with updates like the spindle grille and triple-beam LED headlights. The 2021 model didn’t see any styling changes, but silver 18-inch wheels became standard on the Premium trim. The GX’s tough, aggressive look was distinctive and appealing to SUV shoppers. However, the interior didn’t meet modern luxury SUV standards. The wood trim felt like molded plastic, and there was an abundance of actual plastic. Despite this, the GX offered standard leather upholstery, with semi-aniline leather on the Luxury trim.

The 2021 Kia Seltos offered two engine options. The LX, S, and EX trims came with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 146 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). AWD was standard on LX and EX and optional on the S. The base engine was adequate for city driving but lacked power at higher speeds. The S Turbo and SX Turbo trims featured a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with 175 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque, mated to a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. This engine provided ample power for both city and highway driving. The Seltos handled well, with little body roll in turns and a smooth ride over bumps. The Drive Mode dial allowed for adjustments in throttle response and steering feel, enhancing the driving experience.

The 2021 Lexus GX 460 kept it simple with a single powertrain option: a 4.6-liter V8 engine producing 301 horsepower and 329 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. The GX’s 5,130 pounds made their presence felt at higher speeds, requiring careful planning for merging and overtaking. The ride quality was typical of a body-on-frame vehicle, with low grip and body roll in corners. However, the GX excelled in off-road capability, featuring a Torsen center differential, low-range 4WD, and several driver aids like hill-descent control and hill-start assist. The optional Off-Road Package added features like a transmission cooler, fuel-tank protector, and multi-view camera system. The GX had a maximum towing capacity of 6,500 pounds.

The 2021 Kia Seltos provided a solid amount of cargo space, with 26.6 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 62.8 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. This made it one of the most spacious subcompact SUVs. The SX Turbo trim included a hard cargo cover that doubled as a tray for small items. The Seltos offered plenty of cubbies and compartments, with large cubbies and bottle holders in the doors and a spacious center console. The rear-seat space was impressive, with ample head- and legroom.

The 2021 Lexus GX’s interior ergonomics showed its age. The upright dashboard and high center console left little legroom, and the steering wheel’s odd angle made it feel like driving a bus. The dashboard shape and boxy profile provided excellent outward visibility, but forward visibility was limited by the tall hood. The center-console storage bin, cupholders, and in-door bottle holders were small. The GX came standard with three rows of seating, but the third row was best reserved for children. Accessing the third row was difficult due to the second-row seats. The GX had 64.7 cubic feet of cargo space with the second and third rows folded, substantially less than some competitors. With the third row up, cargo space was minimal.

The 2021 Kia Seltos featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system in the base S trim, while the SX Turbo came with a Bose premium sound system and a 10.25-inch touchscreen. The larger screen could display Apple CarPlay/Android Auto alongside other data. However, plugging in a smartphone via USB defaulted the audio to the phone’s output, which could be frustrating. Only one of the two USB ports allowed data connection, and the backlit port was for charging only. Despite these quirks, Kia’s infotainment system was straightforward and intuitive, with helpful hard buttons for menu navigation.

The 2021 Lexus GX was light on tech features. It included Bluetooth, Amazon Alexa, and Google Assistant connectivity, but lacked Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. The standard infotainment system had outdated graphics and limited functions. However, Lexus included analog controls for nearly everything, making it easy to use. A 17-speaker Mark Levinson audio system was available, but the overall tech offering was primitive for a luxury SUV.

The 2021 Kia Seltos came standard with front- and side-impact airbags, electronic stability control, a tire pressure monitoring system, and child-seat anchor latches. All trims except the base LX included a suite of driver-assistance features like forward-collision avoidance, lane-departure warning, and automatic high beams. The EX added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, while the SX included adaptive cruise control and cyclist detection. The Seltos also had a feature that alerted the driver if a vehicle had pulled away in front of them when stopped.

The 2021 Lexus GX 460 included the Lexus Safety System+ bundle as standard, featuring forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, automatic high beams, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were also standard. However, the GX lacked some safety features available in other Lexus and Toyota models, such as traffic-sign recognition and Lane Tracing Assist.