Mark Glover’s
AutoGlo car reviews also can be seen in the Northern & Central California Cruisin’ News magazine
published monthly out
of Folsom, California.
Sacramento,
California -- I've been bombarded recently with South Korean-made subcompact
crossover sport-utility vehicles ... Not that I mind that.
My recent
weeks with the Hyundai Kona and Hyundai Venue were entirely pleasant. Next up, something completely new: the 2021
Kia Seltos S Turbo AWD. Perhaps you've
seen TV commercials of the Seltos blasting through sand and soil like a
muscular Land Rover.
OK, it's not a
Land Rover. But this Seltos -- the name
reportedly derived from Celtos, son of Hercules in Greek mythology -- was a remarkably peppy vehicle in this segment.
The 1.6-liter, turbo-4 power plant is rated at 195 horsepower, and those
numbers translate to robust performance on the road.
My Seltos
mixed it up easily amid freeway warrior/commuters, and it was a firmly
responsive performer on country roads and surface streets. I felt instantly at ease behind the wheel,
not always the case in a smallish SUV.
Kia openly
admits that the Seltos is aimed at Millennials, and the standard interior offerings reflect that. However, I wouldn't limit this 2021 model to
a narrow audience. There's much to like
for all ages.
That's
particularly true in the suite of safety measures, including standard
blind-spot collision warning/avoidance, rear cross-traffic collision
warning/avoidance and downhill brake/hill-start assistance control.
The tester
also had standard heated front seats, an 8-inch touchscreen, power/heated
outside mirrors (with LED turn signal indicators). LED lighting front and back, a dual-level cargo floor, Android Auto and Apple
CarPlay.
My ride also
looked spiffy in Neptune Blue paint and riding on 18-inch alloy wheels. The relatively long hoodline makes the Seltos
look bigger than its subcompact crossover designation. And it's surprisingly roomy inside,
comfortable for five adults.
Fuel mileage
is good at 25 miles per gallon in the city and 30 mpg on the highway.
All this with
a pretty reasonable bottom line of $26,740 on the tester.
Sound
good? If so, add another Korean-made
sport-ute to your test-drive list.
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