2022 Kia Seltos vs 2021 Lexus GX

The 2021 Lexus GX 460’s styling was a testament to its long tenure on the market. Retaining the same basic body shell from a decade ago, it had undergone several updates over the years, including the addition of Lexus’ trademark spindle grille in 2014 and a textured insert in 2020. The 2021 model didn’t see any new styling changes, but it did come with standard silver 18-inch wheels on the Premium trim level. Despite its age, the GX’s tough, aggressive look remained distinctive and appealing to SUV shoppers. However, the interior did not meet modern luxury standards, with wood trim that felt like molded plastic and an abundance of actual plastic. Standard leather upholstery was a plus, but the overall interior quality lagged behind contemporary expectations.

In contrast, the 2022 Kia Seltos positioned itself between the smaller Soul and the larger Sportage, offering five trim levels: LX, S, EX, Nightfall Edition, and SX. Our test vehicle, the Nightfall Edition, featured matte-black 18-inch alloy wheels, a turbocharged engine, a dual-clutch transmission, and additional body cladding. The Seltos’ interior boasted a good sense of style with contrast-color dashboard panels, exposed stitching, gloss-black trim, and metallic accents. However, the abundance of shiny hard plastic detracted from the overall look. The controls were logically arranged, and the infotainment system, despite its odd purple theme, was intuitive to use. The Seltos offered excellent build quality and a spacious interior, making it a practical choice for daily use.

The 2021 Lexus GX 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 460’s performance was a throwback to an earlier era of SUVs, with a 0-60 mph time of 7.8 seconds. However, its 5,130-pound weight made higher-speed maneuvers and stopping more challenging. The body-on-frame construction resulted in a less refined ride quality, with noticeable body roll and low grip in corners. Despite these drawbacks, the GX excelled in off-road capability, featuring a Torsen center differential, a standard 4WD system with a low range, and several driver aids like hill-descent control and hill-start assist. The optional Off-Road Package added even more off-road features, making the GX a formidable off-road vehicle. It also had a respectable towing capacity of 6,500 pounds.

The 2022 Kia Seltos offered two engine options: a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 146 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, and a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with 175 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque. The turbo engine, available in the Nightfall Edition and SX trims, provided a more engaging driving experience, paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The Seltos featured three driving modes: Normal, Sport, and Smart, with Smart mode balancing fuel efficiency and responsiveness. The AWD system included a Lock function for even power distribution at lower speeds, and the Seltos had a ground clearance of 7.3 inches. While the Seltos handled well in urban and suburban environments, its suspension tuning was less impressive, resulting in a bouncy ride on uneven roads. Despite these issues, the Seltos returned an EPA-rated 27 mpg in combined driving during our test.

The 2021 Lexus GX’s interior ergonomics reflected its age, with an upright dashboard and high center console that limited legroom. The steering wheel’s odd angle and the tall seating position made it feel like driving a bus. However, the boxy profile provided excellent outward visibility, and the array of buttons and knobs for various controls was user-friendly. The GX came standard with three rows of seating, but the third row was best suited for children and difficult to access. Cargo space was limited, with only 64.7 cubic feet available with the second and third rows folded, and virtually no space with the third row up.

The 2022 Kia Seltos excelled in form and function, offering a roomy interior with easy access thanks to its ride height and large door openings. The Nightfall Edition featured a six-way manually adjustable driver’s seat and a tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel, making it easy to find a comfortable driving position. The rear seat was spacious enough for adults, with generous legroom and footroom. The Seltos provided decent storage space, including a smartphone shelf and plastic grocery sack hooks. Cargo space measured 26.6 cubic feet behind the back seat and 62.8 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down, making it a practical choice for daily use.

The 2021 Lexus GX was light on tech features, with standard Bluetooth, Amazon Alexa, and Google Assistant connectivity, but no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto compatibility. The standard infotainment system had outdated graphics and limited functionality, but Lexus included analog controls for nearly everything, making it easy to use. The available 17-speaker Mark Levinson audio system was a highlight, but overall, the GX’s tech offerings were lacking for a luxury SUV.

The 2022 Kia Seltos offered a more modern tech experience, with a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system available on higher trims and an 8-inch touchscreen on lower trims. The system included Bluetooth, navigation, connected services, satellite radio, and a six-speaker stereo, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto requiring a cable connection. The infotainment system was intuitive to use, with physical knobs and buttons for primary functions. However, the voice recognition system was frustrating to use, and a native conversational voice recognition system was missing. The Seltos also offered several safety-related connected services, including 911 Connect and programmable alerts for parents of teen drivers.

The 2021 Lexus GX came with the Lexus Safety System+ bundle of driver aids, including 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 missed out on some advanced safety features available in other Lexus and Toyota models, such as traffic-sign recognition and Lane Tracing Assist. The GX had not been crash-tested by the NHTSA or IIHS.

The 2022 Kia Seltos was equipped with numerous driving assistance systems, including forward-collision avoidance, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, and automatic high-beam headlights. Higher trims added features like blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, Highway Driving Assist, and Safe Exit Assist. The Seltos also offered several safety-related connected services. The IIHS awarded the Seltos SX a Top Safety Pick rating, while the NHTSA gave the Seltos an overall rating of four stars.