The Subaru Crosstrek has 1 Major Advantage Over the Kia Seltos
If you’re trying to decide between the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek and 2021 Kia Seltos, then it can be challenging. Both SUVs are taking the compact adventure segment by storm. However, the Subaru Crosstrek could have a significant advantage.
The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek is more comfortable
According to Cars.com, the 2021 Kia Seltos is hard to beat. It barely came in first place against its rivals as the best affordable small SUV. But Cars.com did admit that they left a few older models out of the competition. Also, the Kia Seltos only scored about 7% more points than the option in the last place.
So, the Kia Seltos is barely scraping by to claim victory. Also, they mentioned that it barely won over the Chevy Equinox and its main rival, the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek. The Subaru Crosstrek only lost points because it hasn’t changed much, while the Kia Seltos is brand new.
Also, the Subaru Crosstrek came in first place over the Seltos in a few significant areas, such as comfort and ride quality. Cars.com noted that the Crosstrek has a larger platform and a better ride quality than rivals.
In fact, the Subaru Crosstrek has class-leading scores in terms of comfort and ride quality. Meanwhile, they mention that the 2021 Kia Seltos has acceleration lag, inconsistent cabin quality, and lackluster handling. That basically means that it’s a little slow and boring to drive.
2021 Subaru Crosstrek vs. 2021 Kia Seltos
The 2020 Subaru Crosstrek begins around $22,245, and each model comes with standard all-wheel drive. The 2021 Kia Seltos begins around $23,110 and only includes AWD on higher trim options like the SX. So, right from the start, the Crosstrek packs more value.
But both of these tiny SUVs might be a little weak. The standard engine in the Crosstrek is a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 152 hp and 145 lb-ft of torque. You can upgrade to the 2.5-liter engine four-cylinder for 182 hp and 176 lb-ft of torque. It can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 8.2 seconds.
The Kia Seltos standard engine is a 2.0-liter four-cylinder option with 146 hp and 132 lb-ft of torque. Upgrade to the 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine for 175 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque. It also reaches 60 mph in about 8.2 seconds, which is average.
For off-roading, the Crosstrek has a higher ground clearance and offers a manual transmission. It also has off-roading features such as hill descent control and settings for mud and snow. The EyeSight system is also standard for safer driving.
2021 Kia Seltos and Subaru Crosstrek features
The Subaru Crosstrek comes with tons of standard safety features, including EyeSight Active Safety, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assistance.
You have to pay attention to trim levels with the Seltos. The LX gets AWD but doesn’t include active safety features while the S has safety features and no AWD.
But the Kia Seltos does have more cargo space. Also, the Crosstrek only has a 6.5-inch infotainment center while the Seltos has an 8-inch screen. Both vehicles include Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
While the Kia Seltos is new and spunky, the Subaru Crosstrek is tried and true. It has more comfort, more standard features, and more off-roading capabilities. But the Seltos does have more space and bigger screens.
