2022 Kia Seltos vs 2022 GMC Terrain

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. All trims except the Seltos S included standard all-wheel drive (AWD). Prices at the start of the model year ranged from $22,590 to $28,080, excluding a $1,255 destination charge. The Nightfall Edition, our test vehicle, featured matte-black 18-inch alloy wheels, a turbocharged engine, a dual-clutch transmission (DCT), a black grille, added body cladding, and robust roof rails, with an MSRP of $28,045, including the destination charge.

Inside, the Seltos displayed a stylish interior with a contrast-color dashboard panel, 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 for commonly adjusted features and matte-black buttons with clear markings. The infotainment system's purple accent color was a minor drawback. Despite some nitpicking, the Seltos was larger, more useful, more refined, and more powerful than many of its direct rivals.

The 2022 GMC Terrain received updates to its front styling, wheel designs, taillights, and interior trim. The new AT4 trim level featured a bolder grille design, black 17-inch alloy wheels with sport-terrain tires, and AT4 badges. The AT4 also included a steel skid plate under the front end for off-road protection. Our test vehicle came with extra-cost Ebony Twilight metallic paint, a black leather interior, and several packages, bringing the MSRP to $41,810, including a $1,395 destination charge.

The Terrain's interior was roomy for a compact crossover, with power-adjustable front seats, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and dual-zone automatic climate control. The AT4 trim featured perforated leather upholstery with caramel-color contrast stitching and piping, giving it an upscale feel. The back seat was spacious, with proper support, plenty of legroom, and softly padded front seatbacks. The Terrain offered numerous storage solutions and good cargo-carrying capability, with 29.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the back seat and 63.3 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down.

The 2022 Kia Seltos LX, S, and EX had a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 146 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The LX and EX included standard AWD, while the Seltos S offered both front-wheel drive (FWD) and AWD. 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-DCT combination made the Seltos more engaging to drive, despite some quirks.

The Seltos offered Normal, Sport, and Smart driving modes. Smart mode balanced fuel efficiency with responsiveness but was sometimes unpredictable. Sport mode quickened the powertrain's pulse but occasionally struggled to find the right gear. The AWD system had a Lock function for even power distribution at lower speeds, and the Seltos had 7.3 inches of ground clearance. The Seltos Nightfall Edition returned 27 mpg in combined driving during testing. However, the suspension tuning was the least appealing aspect, with the vehicle exhibiting lateral rocking motions and feeling bouncy on uneven roads.

The 2022 GMC Terrain featured a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 170 horsepower and 203 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The previously available turbocharged 2.0-liter engine was no longer offered. The 1.5-liter engine could handle a trailer weighing up to 1,500 pounds. The torque was available between 2,000 rpm and 4,000 rpm, providing a decent driving experience once the SUV was rolling.

The Terrain AT4 could switch between FWD and AWD modes, with an Off-Road mode and Hill Descent Control system available. The AT4 had 7.9 inches of ground clearance, less than some competitors. The Terrain AT4 delivered a good ride and decent handling on pavement, with thick tire sidewalls helping to soak up bumps. However, the sport-terrain tires didn't offer much grip when taking curves or corners with speed. The Terrain AT4's powertrain met expectations for fuel economy, with an official EPA rating of 26 mpg, and it returned 26.2 mpg during testing.

The 2022 Kia Seltos excelled in form and function, offering a roomy interior that was easy to live with daily. The Nightfall Edition had 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 front passenger’s seat was not adjustable for height but provided proper leg support. The Nightfall Edition featured cloth upholstery with Sofino simulated leather bolsters and head restraints, a single-zone automatic climate control system, and heated front seats.

The Seltos' rear seat was spacious, with generous legroom and footroom. The Nightfall Edition included 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 Seltos also had decent storage space, including a handy smartphone shelf underneath the climate control panel.

The 2022 GMC Terrain offered a roomy interior with numerous comfort-enhancing features and storage solutions. The Terrain AT4 included power-adjustable front seats, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and dual-zone automatic climate control with rear air-conditioning vents. The eight-way power driver’s seat and tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel made it easy to find a comfortable driving position. The AT4 trim featured perforated leather upholstery with caramel-color contrast stitching and piping, giving it an upscale feel.

The Terrain's back seat was spacious, with proper support, plenty of legroom and foot room, and softly padded front seatbacks. The AT4 also had a rear USB charging port. GMC carved numerous storage slots and spots into the Terrain’s interior, including a small shelf in the dashboard, narrow shelves in the door panels, and on the sides of the center console. Cargo space measured 29.6 cubic feet behind the back seat, with a large storage bin underneath the trunk floor. Folding the rear seat down created 63.3 cubic feet of cargo space, and the front passenger’s seat could be folded down for long items.

For 2022, Kia expanded the availability of its 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system to include the S trim level. This system was standard on the Seltos EX, Nightfall Edition, and SX, and paired with a Bose premium sound system in the SX trim. The system included Bluetooth that could pair with two devices simultaneously, a navigation system, connected services, satellite radio, and a six-speaker stereo. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto required a cable connection with this system, while the standard 8-inch touchscreen in the LX and S trims offered wireless smartphone connectivity.

The infotainment system was intuitive to use, with a volume knob, a tuning knob, and physical buttons for quick access to primary functions. However, the system lacked a native conversational voice recognition system, making it frustrating to use without relying on a smartphone’s digital assistant. The connected services platform offered several safety-related functions, including 911 Connect and programmable alerts for parents of teen drivers.

GMC offered two different infotainment systems for the 2022 Terrain. The SLE trim came with a 7-inch touchscreen display, while the SLT, AT4, and Denali featured a high-definition 8-inch touchscreen. Both systems included Bluetooth smartphone connectivity, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, and GMC Connected Services through OnStar, including access to a Wi-Fi hotspot. The larger screen offered a connected navigation system with natural voice recognition and a Bose premium sound system.

Our test vehicle had the larger screen and the Infotainment Package II upgrade, which included connected navigation, improved voice recognition, and the Bose audio system. The voice recognition system was excellent, responding quickly and accurately to various prompts. The system accurately perceived and responded to requests for music, directions, and other commands. The head-up display, part of the Tech Package option, was a clear plastic panel that popped up from the dashboard. The package also included front and rear park assist sensors and a surround-view camera system.

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. The Seltos also had a Rear Occupant Alert system. The Seltos EX added a blind-spot monitoring system and rear cross-traffic alert, while the SX trim included adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability, Highway Driving Assist, and a Safe Exit Assist system.

The Seltos received a Top Safety Pick rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for the SX trim, with top marks for crashworthiness and crash-avoidance tech. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awarded the Seltos an overall rating of four stars, with a four-star performance in the front-passenger, frontal-impact crash test.

The 2022 GMC Terrain came standard with the GMC Pro Safety Package, which included forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, automatic high-beam headlights, and a following distance indicator. The GMC Pro Safety Plus Package, available with SLE, SLT, and AT4 trims, added adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-change assist, rear parking sensors, and a Safety Alert Seat.

The Terrain received mostly "Good" crash-test scores from the IIHS, with a "Marginal" rating in a new side-impact test. The IIHS had not assessed the Terrain's LED headlight performance or the effectiveness of the GMC Pro Safety Package. The NHTSA had not evaluated the 2022 Terrain's crashworthiness at the time of the review.