2022 Kia Seltos vs 2021 Toyota RAV4

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 featured a rugged-looking exterior reminiscent of a traditional SUV, with boxy fender flares, chiseled taillights, and a scowling front end. This aggressive styling set it apart from previous RAV4 generations and most other compact crossovers. Despite its bold exterior, the RAV4 was built on the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform, shared with many other Toyota models, which provided a solid but ordinary mechanical foundation.

Inside, the RAV4 had a few rugged styling touches, such as large rubberized knobs and door handles, which distinguished its cabin from other Toyota models. Material quality was decent on lower trims but did not improve significantly with higher trims. The TRD Off-Road model featured SofTex upholstery, which was lighter than leather and fairly durable, but real leather was not available, even on the top-tier RAV4 Limited trim.

The 2022 Kia Seltos was positioned between the smaller Soul and the larger Sportage, offering five trim levels: LX, S, EX, Nightfall Edition, and SX. The Nightfall Edition, our test vehicle, included matte-black 18-inch alloy wheels, a turbocharged engine, a dual-clutch transmission (DCT), a black grille, added body cladding, and robust roof rails. The Seltos had a stylish interior with a contrast-color dashboard panel, exposed stitching, gloss-black trim, and metallic accents, though it also had a lot of shiny hard plastic that made it look cheap.

Kia arranged the controls in a logical and intuitive manner, with knobs for commonly adjusted features and buttons with a matte-black finish and clear markings. The infotainment system had a purple accent color, which was not to everyone's taste. Despite some nitpicks, the Seltos was larger, more useful, more refined, and more powerful than many of its direct rivals, making it easy to forget it competed against the Toyota Corolla Cross rather than the RAV4.

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 was powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 203 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It offered standard front-wheel drive (FWD) and optional all-wheel drive (AWD). The engine achieved 40% thermal efficiency, a level typically found in racing engines, and had a high rev range, with power peaking at 6,600 rpm. However, the transmission was slow to shift, and the steering lacked feel, making the driving experience less dynamic.

The RAV4's off-road capabilities were enhanced in the Adventure and TRD Off-Road models, which featured a torque-vectoring rear axle, 8.6 inches of ground clearance, and a 3,500-pound towing capacity. The TRD Off-Road also had model-specific suspension tuning and all-terrain tires. Despite these features, the RAV4's suspension articulation and approach, departure, and breakover angles were limited for serious off-roading.

The 2022 Kia Seltos offered two engine options: a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 146 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT), and a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with 175 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque, paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT). The turbocharged engine provided a more engaging driving experience, with torque available between 1,500 and 4,500 rpm.

The Seltos had Normal, Sport, and Smart driving modes, with Smart mode balancing fuel efficiency and responsiveness. However, the suspension tuning was less appealing, with the vehicle exhibiting lateral rocking motions on uneven pavement and feeling bouncy on undulating roads. The AWD system had a Lock function for even power distribution at lower speeds, but the Seltos' 7.3 inches of ground clearance limited its off-road capabilities. Despite these issues, the Seltos felt lively in urban environments and had good grip on smooth corners.

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 had a tall, upright roof providing good headroom in both rows and decent outward visibility. However, legroom was slightly behind competitors. The front seats were comfortable, but the rear seats had flat, hard cushions, making long trips less appealing. The cargo space was 37.6 cubic feet with the rear seats in place, above average but behind the Honda CR-V. The oversized knobs and steering-wheel controls were easy to use, even with gloves on, but the center-console storage was limited.

The 2022 Kia Seltos excelled in form and function, offering a roomy interior with easy entry and exit. The Nightfall Edition had a six-way manually adjustable driver’s seat and a tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel. The front passenger seat was not height-adjustable but provided proper leg support. The rear seat was spacious, with generous legroom and footroom, rear air conditioning vents, a USB charging port, and a center armrest with cupholders. Cargo space measured 26.6 cubic feet behind the back seat and 62.8 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down.

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 came with standard Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa compatibility, and SiriusXM satellite radio. Most trims had a 7-inch touchscreen, while the Limited model had an 8-inch screen, and the RAV4 Prime plug-in hybrid 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 but not particularly flashy, and the gasoline RAV4 lacked a head-up display.

The 2022 Kia Seltos featured a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system on the EX, Nightfall Edition, and SX trims, with the SX trim also including a Bose premium sound system. The system offered Bluetooth pairing for two devices, navigation, connected services, satellite radio, and a six-speaker stereo. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto required a cable connection. The infotainment system was intuitive, with physical buttons for primary functions, but the voice recognition system was frustrating without an active subscription to connected services.

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 received a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the IIHS, with top scores in all crash tests and front-crash prevention tech. The NHTSA gave it a five-star overall rating. Standard safety features 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, and park assist.

The 2022 Kia Seltos came with numerous safety features, including forward-collision avoidance, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, and automatic high-beam headlights. The EX trim added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, while the SX trim included adaptive cruise control, Highway Driving Assist, and Safe Exit Assist. The Seltos received a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS and a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA.