2021 Toyota Sienna vs 2022 Kia Seltos

The 2021 Toyota Sienna Hybrid aimed to redefine the minivan's image, traditionally not known for its style. Toyota's designers gave the Sienna a more SUV-like appearance, featuring a wide grille and sleek LED headlamp arrays integrated into a panel with the Toyota logo. The side profile showcased an assertive stance with sculpted sliding doors and alloy wheels ranging from 17 to 20 inches, depending on the trim. The rear design included a large window, maintaining a wide and low look. Inside, the Sienna emphasized width with horizontal lines, a higher seating position, and a simple, uncluttered dashboard. The center console was practical, featuring a gear selector, cupholders, and a large storage compartment. The second and third rows were comfortable for adults, with the second row offering sliding seats for maximum utility.

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. The Nightfall Edition, our test vehicle, featured matte-black 18-inch alloy wheels, a turbocharged engine, a dual-clutch transmission, and additional body cladding. The Seltos had a stylish interior with a contrast-color dashboard, exposed stitching, gloss-black trim, and metallic accents. However, the abundance of shiny hard plastic made the interior look cheap. The controls were logically arranged, with knobs and buttons for commonly adjusted features. The infotainment system had a purple accent color, which was not universally appealing. Despite some nitpicks, the Seltos was larger, more useful, and more refined than many of its direct rivals.

The 2021 Toyota Sienna Hybrid marked Toyota's first hybrid minivan, featuring a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and two electric motors, producing a combined 243 horsepower. Front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive available on all trims. The AWD system used a separate electric motor for the rear wheels, simplifying the mechanical setup. The Sienna used an electronically controlled continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), which, while efficient, tended to blunt throttle response. The Sienna offered four selectable drive modes: Normal, EV, Eco, and Sport. Handling was significantly improved over the previous model, thanks to new front suspension and independent rear trailing arm suspension. The Sienna Hybrid boasted impressive fuel economy, with FWD models achieving 36 mpg city, highway, and combined, and AWD models rated at 35/36/35 mpg combined.

The 2022 Kia Seltos offered two engine options. The LX, S, and EX trims had a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 146 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, paired with a CVT. The Nightfall Edition and SX trims featured a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with 175 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque, paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT). The turbo engine provided a more engaging driving experience, with torque available between 1,500 and 4,500 rpm. The Seltos had three driving modes: Normal, Sport, and Smart. Smart mode balanced fuel efficiency and responsiveness but could be unpredictable. Sport mode quickened the powertrain's response but sometimes struggled with gear selection. The Seltos Nightfall Edition returned 27 mpg in combined driving during testing. The AWD system had a Lock function for even power distribution at lower speeds, but the Seltos' suspension tuning was less appealing, with noticeable body motion and less bump isolation. Despite these issues, the Seltos felt lively in urban environments and had good grip on smooth corners.

The 2021 Toyota Sienna excelled in convenience functions, essential for minivans. It featured a standard third-row 60/40-split bench that stored easily into the floor and a second row that slid up to 25 inches for easy third-row access. The cabin had ample storage, including 16 cupholders (15 with the spare tire option). The Sienna could carry a full four-by-eight sheet of plywood with the tailgate closed and offered flexible cargo space, with 33.5 cubic feet behind the third row, 75.2 cubic feet behind the second row, and 101.0 cubic feet behind the first row. The hybrid battery was cleverly tucked under the front seats, not impacting cargo space. Power-operated sliding doors and tailgate responded to kick motions, a family-friendly feature.

The 2022 Kia Seltos impressed with its roomy interior, making it easy to live with daily. The Nightfall Edition had a six-way manually adjustable driver’s seat and a tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel for a comfortable driving position. The front passenger seat was not height-adjustable but provided proper leg support. The Nightfall Edition featured cloth upholstery with Sofino simulated leather bolsters, single-zone automatic climate control, and heated front seats. The rear seat accommodated adults comfortably, 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, with plastic grocery sack hooks to prevent items from rolling around.

The 2021 Toyota Sienna was packed with technology features. A nine-inch touchscreen was standard, offering Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, SiriusXM, one USB media port, and six USB charging ports. Standard connectivity included a year’s trial of Safety Connect and Remote Connect, a ten-year trial of Service Connect, and a three-month trial of AT&T WiFi Connect. Bluetooth hands-free and audio streaming were standard, with Qi-compatible charging available on higher trims. Audio systems ranged from a six-speaker stereo to a Premium Audio + JBL package with 12 speakers. A rear-seat entertainment system was available, featuring an 11.6-inch 1080p display, remote, and wireless headphones. The driver enjoyed a color multi-information display and, in Platinum trim, a 10-inch color Head-Up Display. Limited and Platinum models could upgrade to a digital rearview mirror.

The 2022 Kia Seltos expanded the availability of its 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system, standard on higher trims and optional on the S trim. The system included Bluetooth, navigation, connected services, satellite radio, and a six-speaker stereo. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto required a cable connection. The standard 8-inch touchscreen in lower trims offered wireless smartphone connectivity. The infotainment system was intuitive, with physical knobs and buttons for primary functions. However, the voice recognition system was frustrating without an active subscription to connected services. The Seltos' system provided accurate directions but was less effective for other commands. Using Apple CarPlay or Android Auto was recommended for better voice recognition.

The 2021 Toyota Sienna Hybrid came with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, including dynamic radar cruise control, lane-tracing assist, pre-collision system with pedestrian and bicyclist detection, lane-departure alert, automatic high beams, and road sign assist. The Star Safety System included enhanced vehicle stability control, traction control, anti-lock brakes, electronic brake-force distribution, brake assist, and smart stop technology. The Sienna had 10 airbags and LATCH connectors, with a rear-seat reminder system and a tire pressure monitoring system. Crash-test ratings for 2021 were not yet available, but the 2020 Sienna received good ratings from IIHS and a five-star overall rating from NHTSA.

The 2022 Kia Seltos featured 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. The Seltos EX 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 Nightfall Edition lacked adaptive cruise control but had accurate lane-centering assist. Connected services offered safety-related functions like 911 Connect and programmable alerts for parents of teen drivers. The Seltos SX received a Top Safety Pick rating from IIHS, while other versions did not qualify due to headlight performance. NHTSA gave the Seltos an overall rating of four stars.