Kia Seltos Vs. Kia Soul Vs. Kia Sportage
The Kia Seltos hasn’t even hit the ground yet and it’s already becoming one of the most interesting and talked-about SUVs on the market. From its rugged exterior styling to its long list of standard technology, the Kia Seltos is Kia’s attempt to tap into the burgeoning popularity of the subcompact AWD SUV space and it appears to be a success already.
Today, we’re here to compare the 2021 Kia Seltos to the 2020 Kia Soul and 2020 Kia Sportage which flank it in Kia’s lineup. In doing so, we hope to help you find the best Kia SUV that matches your wants and needs, bearing in mind that each of the three vehicles comes standard with Kia’s industry-best 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty. Check it out!
Model |
2020 Kia Soul |
2021 Kia Seltos |
2020 Kia Sportage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | Subcompact Crossover | Subcompact Crossover | Compact Crossover |
| Starting MSRP | $17,490 | TBA | $23,990 |
| Drive options | FWD | AWD (Standard), FWD | FWD (Standard), AWD |
| Standard engine (horsepower) | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (147 horsepower) | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (146 horsepower) | 2.4-liter 4-cylinder (181 horsepower) |
| Available engine (horsepower) | 1.6-liter turbo (201 horsepower) | 1.6-liter turbo (185 horsepower) | 2.0-liter turbo (237 horsepower) |
| Base transmission | 6-speed manual/IVT | IVT | 6-speed automatic |
| Wheelbase | 102.4 inches | 103.5 inches | 105.1 inches |
| Legroom (front/rear) | 41.1 inches/38.8 inches | 41.4 inches/38.0 inches | 41.5 inches/38.2 inches |
| Cargo space (seats up/folded) | 24.2 cubic feet/62.1 cubic feet | 26.6 cubic feet/62.8 cubic feet | 30.7 cubic feet/60.1 cubic feet |
| Standard infotainment | 7-inch touchscreen | 8-inch touchscreen | 8-inch touchscreen |
| Available infotainment | 10.25-inch touchscreen | 10.25-inch touchscreen | N/A |
| Apple CarPlay/Android Auto | Standard | Standard | Standard |
Reserve the Adventure-Ready Kia Seltos at Friendly Kia!
When Kia announced that they were building a subcompact SUV with all-wheel drive, many were wondering why Kia didn’t simply build an all-wheel-drive variant of the Kia Soul. With the release of the Kia Seltos, however, we’re able to see Kia at work making something new and different rather than simply expanding the features of an existing model.
Comparing the Kia Seltos to the smaller Kia Soul and larger Kia Sportage shows a model that will undoubtedly wind up being “just right” for many drivers, offering standard all-wheel drive, an available turbocharged engine and a massive interior that promises the most cargo volume on Kia’s sub-Sorento SUV lineup.
Although pricing and fuel economy haven’t been released, we have no doubt the Kia Seltos will make an exciting push to be the best in both of these regards as well.
Seeing these models side-by-side reveals Kia’s incredible ability to craft vehicles that are custom-tailored for the markets in which they exist. While the Kia Soul is still a funky urban trolley with plenty of interior space, drivers who want all-wheel drive and a little bit more room inside now have an option with the Kia Seltos.
Similarly, drivers who want even more power can choose the robustly-equipped Kia Sportage over the Seltos and Soul.
If you’re looking for a great and capable small SUV, we’d love to help! Contact us today to find out which Kia SUV is right for you.
