2022 Kia Seltos vs 2023 Lexus GX

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), with prices ranging 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, despite excellent build quality. The controls were logically arranged, with a collection of knobs and matte-black buttons for commonly adjusted features. The infotainment system's purple accent color was a minor drawback, but overall, the Seltos was larger, more useful, more refined, and more powerful than many of its direct rivals.

The 2023 Lexus GX had a commanding presence with its huge spindle grille, 8.1 inches of ground clearance, and a total height of 74.2 inches. The front end looked ready to dominate the road, framed by massive headlights. The GX Black Line Special Edition returned for 2023, limited to 3,000 units and available in three paint colors: Obsidian, Eminent White Pearl, and Nori Green Pearl.

Despite its luxury badge, the GX's interior had a disappointing amount of plastic material, reflecting its low sales volume and the need for easy manufacturing. However, it still offered luxury touches like heated and cooled front seats, a power-retracting steering wheel, and impressive leather upholstery. The GX's design leaned sleeker compared to Toyota's blocky designs, making it easier to place in technical driving situations.

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 continuously variable transmission (CVT). The Nightfall Edition and SX trims featured a more satisfying 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 turbo-DCT combination made the Seltos more engaging to drive, with driving modes including Normal, Sport, and Smart.

The Seltos Nightfall Edition returned 27 mpg in combined driving during our test. Its AWD system had a Lock function for even power distribution at lower speeds, and the multi-link rear suspension improved ride and handling. However, the suspension tuning was the least appealing aspect, with the vehicle exhibiting lateral rocking motions and feeling bouncy on uneven roads. Despite these issues, the Seltos was lively in urban environments, easy to park, and had secure steering on the highway.

The 2023 Lexus GX was defined by its 4.6-liter V8 engine, producing 301 horsepower and 329 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. While not the most powerful on paper, the V8 provided a satisfying linear power delivery. The GX had a 6,500-pound towing capacity but lagged behind other SUVs in fuel economy, with an EPA rating of 15 mpg city, 19 highway, and 16 combined.

The GX's weight affected its handling, but its roll was predictable and controllable. The steering was vague off-center, but the brakes were strong and solid. The GX's Torsen torque-sensing limited-slip differential and standard four-wheel drive system made it user-friendly in various conditions. The Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (KDSS) leveled the vehicle in on- and off-road driving, and the Off-Road Package added features like a multi-terrain monitor and crawl control.

The 2022 Kia Seltos excelled in form and function, offering a roomy interior with easy access. The Nightfall Edition featured a six-way manually adjustable driver’s seat, a tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel, and cloth upholstery with Sofino simulated leather bolsters. 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 2023 Lexus GX had ample cubby space, with a deep center console bin, a handy space ahead of the shifter, and conveniently placed cupholders. The GX retained hard buttons for controls, which was a blessing for those put off by touchscreens. The center console lid had sliding mechanisms for adjustable armrests, and the second row was comfortable with captain’s chairs or a three-across bench seat. However, the third row was too tight for regular use, and the side-hinged trunk door required muscle to open. Cargo space was limited, with 11.6 cubic feet behind the third row, 46.7 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 64.7 cubic feet with both the second and third rows folded.

The 2022 Kia Seltos featured a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system, standard on the EX, Nightfall Edition, and SX trims, with a Bose premium sound system on the SX. The system included Bluetooth, navigation, connected services, satellite radio, and a six-speaker stereo, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto requiring a cable connection. The standard 8-inch touchscreen in the LX and S trims offered wireless smartphone connectivity. The infotainment system was intuitive, with physical buttons and knobs for primary functions, but the voice recognition system was frustrating without an active subscription to connected services.

The 2023 Lexus GX had a 10.3-inch touchscreen, an improvement over the old system, with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa integrations. The Lexus Remote Touch Interface (RTI) was still present but unnecessary due to the improved touchscreen. The GX included three years of Lexus Enform Remote and a 17-speaker Mark Levinson premium stereo. However, the touchscreen lagged, and the graphics were not as crisp as in competing models. The GX excelled in off-road capability, with a real 4WD system, a two-speed transfer case, low range, a locking center differential, and features like downhill assist, hill-start assist, traction control, and stability control.

The 2022 Kia Seltos was equipped 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 EX added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, while the SX included adaptive cruise control, Highway Driving Assist, and Safe Exit Assist. The Seltos earned a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS and a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA.

The 2023 Lexus GX had not been crash-tested by the NHTSA or IIHS, but it included advanced driver assistance systems like automatic emergency braking, lane-departure alert, adaptive cruise control, parking assist, and automatic high beams. Despite its older engineering, the GX's safety features were significantly newer.