2021 Subaru Outback vs 2021 Kia Seltos

Despite its classification as 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, even though the Seltos was not designed for such terrain. 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 layout with clean lines and seamlessly integrated tech features, influenced by upscale brands like Audi. The clean LCD screen for climate controls added visual symmetry with the touchscreen atop the dash, and the handle framing the tray below the center stack underscored its utilitarian yet sporty nature.

The 2021 Subaru Outback, redesigned for the 2020 model year, retained a familiar and comfortable feel. The analog gauges, steering wheel spokes, and seat forms were reminiscent of older models. However, the interior was fresher compared to the smaller 2021 Subaru Crosstrek. The base trim featured two 7-inch touchscreens in the center stack, while higher trims boasted an 11.6-inch portrait display, surrounded by polished black plastic and chrome trim. Quality was evident in the window switches, dash padding, and surface materials. The Onyx Edition XT featured gray and black StarTex upholstery with lime green contrast stitching, adding a touch of wildness to the otherwise conservative design. The exterior styling remained smooth and plain, with gray cladding on the wheel arches, sills, and bumpers, and a few chrome flourishes on the window trim and LED running lights.

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) and available in front-wheel or all-wheel drive. 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 and standard all-wheel drive. This engine provided ample power for quick acceleration and highway passing. The Drive Mode dial offered Normal, Sport, and Smart modes, enhancing throttle response, shift mapping, and steering feel. Despite its upright layout and 7.3 inches of ground clearance, the Seltos exhibited minimal body roll in turns and maintained a smooth ride over bumps.

The 2021 Subaru Outback's base engine was a 2.5-liter flat-four producing 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque, paired with a CVT. The base trim weighed a minimum of 3,635 pounds, making the engine feel underpowered, especially when loaded with passengers and cargo. The XT trims featured a turbocharged 2.4-liter flat-four engine with 260 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque, significantly improving performance. The turbo engine was quieter, smoother, and more powerful than the base engine. Fuel economy for the turbo XT was slightly lower, with an EPA-estimated 23 mpg city and 30 mpg highway, compared to 26 mpg city and 33 mpg highway for the base engine. The Outback's handling was squishy, but its ride comfort and off-road capability were excellent, thanks to long-travel springs and 8.7 inches of ground clearance. Subaru's electronically-variable all-wheel drive and X-Mode provided superior traction and control in various conditions.

The 2021 Kia Seltos provided 26.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expanding to 62.8 cubic feet with the seats folded, making 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 interior featured numerous cubbies and compartments, with large door pockets, a spacious center console, and a tray between the front seats. Rear-seat passengers enjoyed ample head- and legroom, a rarity among subcompact SUVs.

The 2021 Subaru Outback offered 33 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up and 76 cubic feet with them folded. The cargo area was wide, flat, and free of intrusive wheel arches. The interior provided ample headroom and legroom in all four outboard seating positions, with comfortable and supportive seats. Outward visibility was excellent, thanks to thin pillars, a low shoulder height, and large windows. Storage options included large map pockets, bottle holders, and handy pockets in the front center console. However, push-button start and rear climate vents were standard only on higher trims, and the moonroof was bundled with other expensive options. The Outback's best feature was the standard roof rails with integrated crossbars, which could be swiveled and locked in place within seconds.

The 2021 Kia Seltos' base S trim came with a 3.5-inch TFT digital screen in the instrument panel and an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The SX Turbo trim featured a Bose premium sound system, a 7-inch digital display screen in the instrument panel, and a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The large screen could display Apple CarPlay/Android Auto while showing additional information on the right third of the screen. However, plugging in a smartphone via USB defaulted the audio to the phone's output, which could be inconvenient. 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 below the touchscreen.

The 2021 Subaru Outback's infotainment system looked dated, with graphics and typefaces reminiscent of older gaming consoles. The central screen in the instrument panel was even worse. However, the system included modern tech features like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The optional navigation system was more modern-looking. Subaru EyeSight, standard on all trims, included adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and forward automatic emergency braking. The system offered good semi-automated control on marked highways but relied solely on forward-looking cameras, which could be impeded in certain conditions.

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, such as forward-collision avoidance with automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and automatic high beams. The EX trim added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, while the SX trim included adaptive cruise control with idle stop-and-go and cyclist detection. The Seltos also featured an alert for when the vehicle in front had pulled away, preventing the embarrassment of a courtesy honk from the driver behind.

The 2021 Subaru Outback rode on a stronger and stiffer chassis, with a driver’s knee airbag and passenger seat-cushion airbag as standard. Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert was optional on Premium and standard on higher trims. Rear emergency braking was optional on the Onyx Edition XT and standard on the Limited 2.5 and Touring trims. A driver-attention monitor was standard on the Limited XT and Touring trims. The Outback was a 2020 IIHS "Top Safety Pick+," earning top ratings in all crash tests and for headlights, as well as a "Superior" rating for forward emergency braking. The NHTSA awarded the 2021 Outback an overall five-star rating, with four stars for the front passenger in a frontal crash and four stars for the rollover test.