Motor Trend Provides Holiday Close-up on Kia Seltos and Sportage Traits

The 2019 Los Angeles Auto Show was the scene of many surprises and visually stunning treats, and our 2021 Kia Seltos enjoyed its premiere there looking rugged and ready to roll anywhere! Sitting just below the Sportage the Seltos is targeted to buyers who are looking for a vehicle that meets the needs of an urban dweller, or busy recent graduate. As many customers are coming in to see here at Jim Butler Kia of St Louis which would be the ultimate holiday surprise, they are known to ask us about the very specific differences between the two, and so we wanted to lay out a few features that stand out on each to help those making a purchase as the Motor Trend Staff did on their blog.

 Appearances are Everything: These two vehicles have pretty large differences in exterior styling: The Sportage has a bit of a polarizing presence, with high-mounted headlights and rounded stature. The smaller Seltos may seem a bit boxier at first like the 3-row Telluride, and the Seltos has a more muscular stature compared to the Sportage's smooth, rounder lines.

Interior Space: One would think at first look that the Kia Sportage would have more interior space after seeing its large appearance. The Seltos actually offers more maximum cargo capacity than the Sportage and has 62.8 cubic feet of space with the rear seats folded. The Seltos also boasts more headroom both in front and second row.

Power Potential: The Kia Sportage offers more power when it comes to engine options: The available 2.0-liter turbo-four in the Sportage cranks out up to 240 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque, making it one of the more powerful compact SUVs on the market. The most powerful option for the Seltos is an optional 1.6-liter turbo-four with 175 hp and 195 lb-ft.

All-Weather Drivability: The 2021 Seltos will offer all-wheel drive standard on every trim besides the S, which sees front-wheel only. On the larger 2020 Kia Sportage, all-wheel-drive is an extra even on the more powerful turbocharged version. If you plan to be driving in an area that happens to see its fair share of winter, the Seltos may be your practical choice.

Rear Suspension Options: The Kia Seltos offers two suspension setups depending on the allotted drivetrain. If you have front-wheel drive, the option is a torsion beam rear suspension. Models equipped with all-wheel drive feature a more complex independent multilink layout. In comparison, every 2020 Kia Sportage gets independent rear suspension regardless of which drivetrain is present.

Tech Talk: The 2021 Kia Seltos receives the latest version of Kia's multimedia system, sporting a 10.25-inch touchscreen. It also gets the quickest version of the interface to date, and now features a split-screen function for more specific customization. The Sportage uses a slightly older version with a smaller 8.0-inch touchscreen, without as much opportunity to modify. If technology is one of the largest deciding factors regarding your purchase, the Seltos would be ideal for your purchase!