2022 Kia Seltos vs 2022 Acura MDX

The 2022 Acura MDX had a refined and modern exterior, pioneering the three-row luxury crossover SUV category. Built on a new dedicated platform, it featured a longer wheelbase, wider body, and increased dash-to-axle distance, enhancing its elegant proportions. The MDX showcased standard Jewel Eye LED headlights and larger wheels, contributing to its sportier and assertive design. Inside, the MDX boasted a layered dashboard, authentic materials like natural wood and real leather, and a unique gear selection resembling a fighter jet's controls. The spacious cabin, comfortable front seats, and customizable interior themes added to its luxurious feel.

In contrast, the 2022 Kia Seltos Nightfall Edition had a stylish yet practical design. It featured matte-black 18-inch alloy wheels, a black grille, and robust roof rails. The interior displayed a good sense of style with contrast-color dashboard panels, exposed stitching, and metallic accents. However, the abundance of hard plastic detracted from its overall appeal. The Seltos offered a logical and intuitive control layout, with a focus on practicality and comfort. Despite some quirks, the Seltos provided a roomy and functional interior, making it a practical choice for daily use.

The 2022 Acura MDX came equipped with a naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V6 engine, producing 290 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque. It featured a new 10-speed automatic transmission, with front-wheel drive as standard and Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) available. The SH-AWD system offered torque vectoring, enhancing cornering feel and control. The MDX's suspension was upgraded to a double-wishbone setup in the front and revised multi-link suspension in the rear, improving ride quality and sporty handling. The MDX impressed with its overall stiffness, rigidity, and smooth transmission, making it a confident and competent SUV.

The 2022 Kia Seltos offered two engine options. The LX, S, and EX trims had a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 146 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The Nightfall Edition and SX trims featured a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, delivering 175 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque, paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT). The Seltos provided three driving modes: Normal, Sport, and Smart. While the turbo-DCT combination made the Seltos engaging to drive, the suspension tuning was less appealing, with noticeable body motion and less bump isolation.

The 2022 Acura MDX excelled in versatility, offering comfortable seating for the first two rows and an innovative second row with a removable center section. The second row could slide and recline, providing flexibility for legroom and cargo space. The third row was best suited for pre-teens and smaller passengers. The MDX offered between 16.3 and 18.1 cubic feet of luggage space behind the third row, expandable to 95 cubic feet with the second and third rows folded. The power tailgate featured convenient functions like "Grab 'N Go" and Hands-Free Access, enhancing its utility.

The 2022 Kia Seltos impressed with its roomy interior, making it easy to live with daily. The Nightfall Edition featured a six-way manually adjustable driver's seat and a tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel. The rear seat offered generous legroom and footroom, with rear air conditioning vents and a USB charging port. The Seltos provided 26.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the back seat, expandable to 62.8 cubic feet with the rear seat folded. Practical storage solutions, like a smartphone shelf and plastic grocery sack hooks, added to its functionality.

The 2022 Acura MDX offered advanced technology, including the ELS Studio 3D Premium Audio System with 16 speakers and 710 watts of amplification. The MDX featured a 12.3-inch infotainment screen, Amazon Alexa integration, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a head-up display. The CabinTalk feature acted as an interior public address system, and the MDX supported over-the-air updates for its software and firmware.

The 2022 Kia Seltos expanded the availability of its 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system, standard on higher trims. It included Bluetooth, navigation, connected services, satellite radio, and a six-speaker stereo. The Seltos offered Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, though with a wired connection. The system was intuitive to use, with physical knobs and buttons for primary functions. However, the voice recognition system was less reliable, making smartphone digital assistants a better choice.

The 2022 Acura MDX was engineered with a higher percentage of high-strength steel and an advanced safety structure. It featured a low-speed braking control system, collision mitigation throttle control, and the AcuraWatch suite of safety and driver assistance technologies. These included collision mitigation braking, forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, road departure mitigation, traffic sign recognition, driver attention monitor, and traffic-jam assist.

The 2022 Kia Seltos came 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 blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, Highway Driving Assist, and Safe Exit Assist. The Seltos received a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS for the SX trim and an overall four-star rating from the NHTSA.