It’s time for the Kia Telluride to move over because a freshly designed compact SUV is coming to town. The Kia Seltos will be the most advanced Kia SUV, and it’s bringing some fantastic updates to the table. We might as well forget about the Kia Soul too as we look at what’s to come. 

The 2021 Kia Seltos Will Be Better Than The Kia Telluride 

While the Kia Seltos has been introduced to other world markets, it’s finally coming to the US after performing well. It will be the latest addition to the Kia SUV family since the Telluride was introduced in 2019. 

While the Kia Telluride is a larger SUV with three rows of seats, the Kia Seltos is a compact option. 

On the Kia SUV scale, it is smaller than the Kia Soul but more significant than the Kia Sportage to provide people with a wide range of options. The Seltos is also based on the Telluride, making it a mini version of the larger, luxury SUV. 

The Kia Seltos will most likely start around $22k, making it competitive with the Mazda CX-3 and Hyundai Tucson. 

If you want a bigger Kia SUV turn to the Sorrento or prepare your wallet because the Telluride starts around $31k. So, it looks like an extra ten grand is needed to access that third row of seats. 

Kia Seltos Features 

All-wheel drive comes standard on all trim models of the Kia Seltos. Meaning you won’t have to pay more for AWD like you do with its competitors. 

Also, the Kia Telluride base trim comes in front-wheel drive. You have to pay a little more if you want your large SUV to have AWD. We also think it’s a little insane that the coveted Telluride isn’t available in four-wheel drive because it’s marketed as Kia’s off-roading vehicle. 

The Kia Seltos base engine is a 2.0 in-line four engine with 146 horsepower and 126 lb-ft of torque. 

This is noticeably less power than the Telluride has to offer with its 3.8-liter V6 engine that pumps out 291 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. 

However, with the Kia Seltos, you can upgrade to the 1.6-liter Turbocharged-line four engine that pumps out 175 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque. This is close to the power that the Jeep Renegade has. 

The Kia Seltos will also have a much better fuel economy than the Kia Telluride. It’s expected to get up to 29 mpg in the city and 34 mpg on the highway. 

The Kia Telluride is a gas guzzler like most larger SUVs are and only gets an average of up to 21 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway. 

Both SUVs are similar in passenger space. In the rear row of the Seltos, passengers get 38 inches of legroom compared to 42 inches of legroom in the backseat of the Telluride. 

Also, the Kia Seltos has a total of 62,8 cubic feet of cargo space compared to 87 cubic feet of cargo space in the Telluride. 

These figures make the Seltos incredibly spacious for a compact SUV while the Telluride is a little cramped for a large SUV. 

Unless you need to sit up to seven people, we consider that you wait and check out the Kia Seltos before making your purchase. You’ll save money and gain access to more comfort and better features.