2022 Kia Seltos vs 2022 Genesis GV70

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. Most trims came with standard all-wheel drive (AWD), except for the Seltos S. 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. The Seltos had a stylish interior with contrast-color dashboard panels, exposed stitching, gloss-black trim, and metallic accents, though it was marred by shiny hard plastics. The controls were logically arranged, with knobs and buttons for easy access, but the purple accent color for the infotainment system was not universally appealing.

The 2022 Genesis GV70 inherited styling elements from other Genesis models but maintained a unique appearance. It featured quad LED strips for headlights and taillights, a large shield-shaped grille, and a sloping roofline that gave it a fastback look. The Sport Prestige models had unique styling features, including a model-specific front fascia, 21-inch wheels with a web pattern, and dark chrome trim. The interior had an elliptical theme inspired by an airplane wing's cross-section, with most controls housed in a thin elliptical pod. The design was minimalistic, with a touchscreen perched atop the dashboard and hidden air vents. The GV70 offered a wide array of interior color options, and the material quality in the Sport Prestige test car was luxurious, featuring Nappa leather upholstery with suede seat inserts.

The 2022 Kia Seltos offered a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 146 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque for the LX, S, and EX trims, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The Nightfall Edition and SX trims featured a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine producing 175 horsepower and 195 pound-feet 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 rpm and 4,500 rpm. The Seltos offered Normal, Sport, and Smart driving modes, with Smart mode balancing fuel efficiency and responsiveness. The AWD system had a Lock function for power distribution, and the Seltos was capable of light off-roading. However, the suspension tuning was less appealing, with the vehicle exhibiting lateral rocking motions and a bouncy ride on uneven roads. The Seltos returned 27 mpg in combined driving during testing.

The 2022 Genesis GV70 came with a base 2.5-liter turbo-four engine producing 300 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, and a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 generating 375 horsepower and 391 pound-feet of torque. Both powertrains featured an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard AWD. The GV70 included a rear electronic limited-slip differential and launch control, emphasizing its sporty character. The Sport+ drive mode sharpened throttle response and held high revs, but the chassis felt big and heavy, lacking the sharpness of competitors like the Acura RDX and BMW X3. The GV70 was more comfortable on highways, though the ride was firm even in Comfort mode. The steering was adequate but not precise enough for spirited driving.

The 2022 Kia Seltos excelled in form and function, offering a roomy interior with easy entry and exit due 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. The rear seat accommodated adults comfortably, with generous legroom and footroom. The Seltos provided 26.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat and 62.8 cubic feet with the rear seat folded. Storage space was decent, with a smartphone shelf and plastic grocery sack hooks.

The 2022 Genesis GV70 offered mid-pack interior space for its segment, with front-seat headroom comparable to a Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class and back-seat headroom similar to a BMW X3. Cargo space measured 28.9 cubic feet with the rear seats in place and 56.9 cubic feet with them folded. The interior design compromised storage space, with a slim center console and thin door pockets. The front seats in the Sport Prestige test car were heavily bolstered, featuring heating, ventilation, massage, and posture-assist functions. Rear-seat passengers had their own climate controls.

The 2022 Kia Seltos expanded the availability of its 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system, standard on the EX, Nightfall Edition, and SX trims. It included 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 system was intuitive, with physical knobs and buttons for primary functions, but lacked a native conversational voice recognition system.

The 2022 Genesis GV70 featured a 14.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. The system had a tile-based layout and crisp graphics, with a glass rotary controller for functionality. Higher trims offered a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 12-inch head-up display. The GV70 included a digital-key feature, a fingerprint scanner, and a radar-based rear-seat monitor. Genesis Connected Services provided remote camera activation and other features, free for three years.

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

The 2022 Genesis GV70 included standard safety features like lane-keep assist, forward-collision warning, blind-spot and forward collision-avoidance assist, and rear cross-traffic alert. It also had eight airbags, including a front-center airbag. Optional features included Highway Driving Assist 2 with lane-change functionality. The GV70's Highway Driving Assist provided smooth control inputs but struggled with tight curves.