2022 Hyundai Santa Fe vs 2021 Kia Seltos

The 2021 Kia Seltos, despite being a subcompact SUV, offered a big-car feel with its upright layout and commanding road view. The 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 a touch of modernity and hinted at 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.

In contrast, the 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe XRT's new treatment did not impress, lacking a suspension lift and more aggressive tires. The side steps, while helpful for roof rack access, impeded entry and exit and reduced the breakover angle for off-roading. The XRT trim, priced higher than the SE and SEL trims but lower than the Limited and Calligraphy trims, included all the equipment from the SEL and its Convenience Package. The test vehicle, dressed in Portofino Gray with a black cloth interior, offered little visual contrast. However, the interior patterns and brightwork made the cabin a pleasant place to spend time, demonstrating thoughtful design and high quality for the price point.

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). This 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 highway driving and brisk acceleration, especially in Sport Mode, which enhanced throttle response 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 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe XRT was equipped with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque. This engine, while adequate for getting the Santa Fe up to freeway speeds and cruising comfortably, lacked the power for quick acceleration or climbing hills. The eight-speed automatic transmission performed well, with simple pushbutton controls for gear selection. The Santa Fe offered Comfort, Smart, Sport, and Snow driving modes, with Smart mode being best suited for low-demand driving situations. The test vehicle averaged 22.3 mpg, slightly below the EPA rating of 24 mpg. The Santa Fe's ride quality was good, with excellent suspension isolation and a quiet cabin, though occasional bounciness or stiffness was detected depending on the road surface.

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 on the market. The SX Turbo trim included a hard cargo cover that doubled as a tray for small items. The Seltos also offered plenty of cubbies and compartments for both front and rear passengers, 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, making it a practical choice for families.

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe XRT featured a dual-zone automatic climate control system with a Clean Air ionizer and rear air conditioning vents. The eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat, dressed in stain-resistant fabric, provided good comfort, though the front passenger seat lacked height adjustment. The rear-seat accommodations were excellent, with plenty of room for a family of four and features like rear side-window shades, USB charging ports, and comfortable seating. The Santa Fe offered 36.4 cubic feet of cargo space behind the back seat, expandable to 72.1 cubic feet with the rear seatbacks folded. The hands-free power-opening "Smart Tailgate" was convenient but could open unintentionally.

The 2021 Kia Seltos came with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system in the base S trim, while the SX Turbo featured a Bose premium sound system and a 10.25-inch touchscreen. The infotainment system was straightforward and intuitive, with helpful home buttons and hard buttons below the touchscreen for easy menu navigation. However, plugging in a smartphone via USB could be frustrating, as it defaulted to the phone's music, and only one of the two USB ports allowed data connection.

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe XRT featured a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel paired with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, along with Bluetooth, satellite radio, and Bluelink connected services. The infotainment system was simple and user-friendly, with large power/volume and tuning knobs, clean on-screen graphics, and logical menu structures. The wireless smartphone connectivity helped eliminate clutter. The Santa Fe also included digital key technology for Android-based smartphones and a Leading Vehicle Departure Alert system.

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 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe XRT was equipped with Hyundai SmartSense, which included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian and cyclist detection, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, and adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability. The Santa Fe also featured Junction Turning Detection, Safe Exit Assist, and an ultrasonic rear occupant alert system. Bluelink provided additional safety features, such as automatic emergency assistance and vehicle speed alerts. The Santa Fe earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and five-star ratings from the NHTSA, except for a four-star rollover resistance score.