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The Bottom Line: Lately Kia has been competing above it's weight class. First they came out with the 2020 Kia Telluride SUV, and it was awarded the "Best SUV Ever" for it's size, content and price. Next it was made the “SUV of the Year” distinction by Motor Trend Magazine, and then Consumers Reports Magazine picked the Kia Telluride as a "Top 10 Pick" as one of the best 2020 vehicles to buy today out of the 250+ cars, trucks and SUV's that they tested.
Today Kia sent me their newest contender for best SUV in it's class size, again for content, options and price. Say Hello to the new for 2021 Kia Seltos SUV. This is an entry level, compact SUV, that competes directly with the Chevy Trax, Honda HR-V and Subaru Crosstrek.
As all compact SUV's kind of look alike, the 2021 Seltos starts out with a stylish all new front end design with slotted headlamps, LED driving lamps and an aggressive looking blacked out front grill. At first glance you would think this is an SUV that costs twice as much as it does. And that's where the award winning points start. After you look at the sleek side profile and the distinctive rear deck treatment, you read the window sticker and see that the 2021 Kia Seltos has a base MSRP, Manufactures Suggested Retail Price, of only $21,990. Yes, you read that right, the base price is under $22 Grand.
And starting at only $21,990 the Seltos has all of these impressive standard features: automatic emergency braking technology, lane keeping and departure technology, LED daytime running lights and LED tail lights, front fog lights, cloth and Sofino seat trim with blue accents and heated front seats. Options like AWD All-Wheel Drive and the S Turbo engine with 175 HP and 195 lb.-ft. torque with a 7-Speed Quick-Shift DCT Automatic transmission are available for much less than you think.
The top of the line 2021 Seltos S Turbo AWD model comes with every safety and security option in a complete package deal for only $25,490. Add in the carpeted floor mats for $130, and the $1,120 destination charge, and the total MSRP price came to: $26,740. When you add in state sales tax and the local DMV fees you can buy a 2021 loaded Kia Seltos S Turbo AWD SUV for less than $30,000 out the door.
While $30K sounds like a lot of money, note that the average transaction sale price for all vehicles in 2019 was near $40,000. Every year the Big 3 raise their prices on everything they build, and Kia likes to price their vehicles thousands of $$$ less than the competition. That's why they were awarded several trophies for building cars and SUV's that are great driving vehicles, and cost less to buy, and maintain.
Added to the standard features list is all Kia vehicles come with a standard 10 year / 100,000 mile power train warranty with a 5 year / 60,000 mile bumper to bumper warranty, and a 5 year / 60,000 mile roadside assistance program. These warranty numbers are the best in the business. And they all are included, within the purchase price of the vehicle, at no extra charge.
The Neptune Blue 2021 Seltos S Turbo AWD SUV that Kia sent me for a review came with every option they offer on a Seltos. The 175 HP turbo engine has the power to pull the SUV up the hills with ease, and the 7 speed transmission comes with drive mode to pick and hold the gears when you want to shift it by yourself. And having an AWD drive train plants this SUV to the ground with confidence.
For the climate conscious drivers, the Seltos also comes with ECO mode to increase gas mileage, and has an idle stop and go system that shuts off the engine at rest, and starts it up instantly when you take your foot off the brake pedal. When you add up all the gas saving gizmo's on the Seltos, even with AWD, it still gets a respectable 25 MPG in the city, 30+ on the highway, with a combined average of 27 MPG miles per gallon. That's really good gas mileage for a compact AWD all wheel drive, SUV sport utility vehicle, in today's automotive world.
Kia has been building and selling award winning cars and SUV's for awhile now, and all of them come with prices that are thousands of dollars less than vehicles in the same class, and they always have the best warranty available at no extra charge. With the all new Seltos they now have an SUV in every size, option and price range. Now is the time to visit a Kia dealership, and check out the brand new 2021 Seltos. You will be surprised at what is for sale at a Kia store today.
Remember “You Are What You Drive ©”
And maybe, just for those reasons alone, you should “Drive one, Buy one, Today ©”.
This Bottom Line Review is provided by: Tony Leopardo © AutoWire.Net.
"Tony the Car Guy” is an automotive writer, editor and publisher in the San Francisco Bay Area. If you have a question, or comment for Tony, send it to tonyleo@pacbell.net or visit AutoWire.Net at www.autowire.net
Column Name: You Are What You Drive - A Bottom Line Review
Topic: The 2021 Kia Seltos S Turbo AWD SUV - New for 2021 - Available Now!
Word Count: 971
Photo Caption: The 2021 Kia Seltos S Turbo AWD SUV
Photo Credits: Kia Internet Media
Series number - 2020 - 05
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