2021 Kia Seltos vs 2021 Toyota RAV4

The 2021 Kia Seltos, despite being a subcompact SUV, had a big-car feel with an upright layout and a commanding view of the road. Its headlight design, though busy, flowed well into the grille styling, and the lower front bumper had an aggressive approach angle. The two-tone roof design and red circles around the wheel centers added to its on-road driving dynamics. Inside, the Seltos featured a straightforward design layout with clean lines and seamlessly integrated tech features, reminiscent of more upscale brands. The clean LCD screen for climate controls and the sporty handle framing the tray below the center stack underscored its utilitarian yet sporty nature.

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 sported a rugged-looking exterior with boxy fender flares, chiseled taillights, and a scowling front end, contrasting sharply with previous generations and other compact crossovers. Despite its aggressive exterior, the RAV4 was based on the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform, shared with sedans and minivans. The RAV4 Adventure model added a retro look with an Ice Edge roof and orange interior accents, while the TRD Off-Road model featured matte black wheels, LED fog lights, and red interior accents. The interior had large rubberized knobs and door handles, with SofTex upholstery in the TRD Off-Road model, though material quality did not elevate with higher trims.

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 drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD). The turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine in the S Turbo and SX Turbo trims delivered 175 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque, mated to a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission with standard AWD. The turbo engine provided ample power for highway speeds and passing maneuvers, especially in Sport Mode, which enhanced throttle response and steering feel. Despite its upright layout and 7.3 inches of ground clearance, the Seltos handled turns with minimal body roll and maintained a smooth ride over bumps.

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 featured a single engine option: the “Dynamic Force” 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 203 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and available in FWD or AWD. The engine achieved 40% thermal efficiency and had a high rev range, but the transmission often hesitated to shift. The steering was responsive but lacked feel, making the driving experience less engaging. The RAV4 Hybrid and RAV4 Prime offered more power and better fuel economy. On the highway, the RAV4 provided a quiet cabin and a comfortable ride. The Adventure and TRD Off-Road models featured a torque-vectoring rear axle, 8.6 inches of ground clearance, and a 3,500-pound towing capacity, enhancing their off-road capability.

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. The Seltos had ample cubbies and compartments, with large door cubbies, a spacious center console, and a tray between the front seats. Rear-seat passengers enjoyed generous head- and legroom, a rarity among subcompact SUVs.

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 offered competitive headroom in both rows and good outward visibility, but legroom was slightly behind competitors. The front seats in the TRD Off-Road model were comfortable, but the rear seats had flat, hard cushions. The RAV4 had a 60/40 split-folding rear seat but lacked sliding functionality. Cargo space was 37.6 cubic feet with the rear seats in place, with a wide aperture for easy loading. The oversized knobs and steering-wheel controls were user-friendly, but the center-console storage was limited. The RAV4’s styling emulated old-school SUVs, with larger vehicle controls and a drive-mode knob.

The 2021 Kia Seltos’ base S trim came with a 3.5-inch TFT digital screen and an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The SX Turbo trim featured a Bose premium sound system, a 7-inch digital display, and a 10.25-inch touchscreen that could display Apple CarPlay/Android Auto alongside other data. However, plugging in a smartphone via USB defaulted the audio to the phone’s output, and only one of the two USB ports allowed data connection. Despite these quirks, Kia’s infotainment system was straightforward and intuitive, with helpful hard buttons for easy navigation.

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 included standard Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa compatibility, and SiriusXM satellite radio. Most trims had a 7-inch touchscreen, while the Limited trim had an 8-inch screen, and the RAV4 Prime offered a 9-inch screen. Up to five USB ports were available, and a JBL premium audio system was optional. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with well-positioned graphics and shortcut buttons, but it lacked flashiness and did not include a head-up display in the gasoline model. The RAV4’s interface was simple and effective for most users.

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, 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 moved, preventing courtesy honks from other drivers.

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 received a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the IIHS, with top scores in crash tests and front-crash prevention tech. The NHTSA awarded it a five-star overall rating. The standard Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 bundle included forward-collision warning, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, automatic high beams, road-sign recognition, and Lane Tracing Assist. Higher trims added blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, reverse automatic emergency braking, park assist, and an optional 360-degree camera system.