2021 Kia Seltos | Bad Name, Good Car

We do a review of the 2021 Kia Seltos, ignore the name and focus on the benefits compared to the Chevy Trax, Equinox, and Ford Escape. We discuss the good and bad and why this vehicle is affordable without being a total pile. We cover the technical side and why you would consider this over products like the Nissan Rogue, Hyundai Tucson, Honda CRV, Mazda CX5, and Toyota RAV4 and Venza.

#kia #seltos #suvs

Index:
00:00 - 01:09 Intro
01:09 - 5:38 Interior Impressions
5:38 - 9:10 Mechanical Impressions, Suspension etc.
9:10 - 14:35 Driving Impressions
14:35 Final Thoughts

[jimthumerzs]

I love the acknowledgement of the current automotive economics - most people are putting themselves way too far in debt for their automotive want, rather than their automotive need.

That's the sort of truth you get here that you won't get on many other review sites. It makes clicking here worth your time.

[hynsum]

KIA to a dealers: 'You better SellThose"

[TheImaginaryInvalid]

I bought an SX over Thanksgiving - this review helped cement my decision, even though I know I was paying too much for the high end model. Real shitty dealer experience, but I love the vehicle. I ponied up for the SX so I could get the full suite of adaptive cruise and highway driving assist, and let me tell you, it is absolutely outstanding. I think adaptive cruise is one of the must-have gizmos on modern cars and it's so nice to have on long trips. I am getting above-advertised mpg on the highway (up to 34 vs. 30 EPA). I am a big fat man and I fit just fine behind the wheel and the vehicle is just about the perfect size in terms of cargo capacity and ease of parking (I street park in Queens, NY). This review is extremely spot on about the Dual Clutch and other little bugaboos about the car, which is why I love this channel so much. If you're interested in this car, take this review to heart. I would recommend it as someone who hasn't owned a car in 20+ years and who is used to renting high-end vehicles for my road trips. There isn't a whole lot of compromise here given the dimensions and price tag.

[aircanuck]

This remains the most thorough, transparent and entertaining automotive review channel I have ever seen. Nothing comes close to matching this.

[autonewstv]

I feel like the Korean brands are going to take over soon. For the price they make some excellent vehicles. There really inst anything competing in these price ranges anymore except bare-bones mainstream brands that are super unappealing. The excellent warranties and low prices and rising quality make these brands a really good option.

[BeanieNinjay]

13:51 oh god i thought he was going to say the car failed the visor test.

[romero]

Mark thank you for explaining how Hyundai and Kia can sell their vehicles cheaper than the competition. Honestly had no clue about the robotics portion of Hyundai.

[henryg]

Agree on the dealership experience. Bought a Hyundai back in 2013, felt like I was walking into a cheap used car dealer. Their cars got better but the sales tactics of the dealerships are still back to the days when both companies had bad products that only people with bad credit would buy or those who couldn't afford anything else.

[arevee]

You hit the nail on the head with the crappy dealership experience. I shopped one Hyundai dealership and it was pretty much sleazy, didn't give a darn salespeople. Next time, when I bought, the other Hyundai dealership was THE WORST I have ever experienced in 30 years of buying cars. And I'm the one who everyone goes to for help buying a new car. AWFUL! But the car itself is fine. An Ioniq EV. But yes, independent rear suspension would have been nice. The EV model doesn't have it and it's noticeable. Unless Hyundai (and Kia) clean up their act, when it comes time to turn this lease in, I will drop it off and take an Uber to another manufacturer's dealership.

[nolij]

Thanks for still reviewing these less expensive vehicles. I bought a 2017 Yaris iA a few years back partly because of your review. (its not fancy but it had the features I wanted and still drove well for an economy car. Plenty of space for two adults and I even stuffed a 6ft Christmas tree inside it with the seats down and the trunk between the front seats)

Its cool to see high end BMW's and stuff but many of us who aren't ok with debt up to our eyeballs or lighting cash on fire aren't ever going to buy/lease one. Keep the performance cars coming though, just keep the affordable stuff coming too :)

[fonzolatrundo]

My Hyundai dealership experience was horrible. I owned a Tiburon GTV6. Took to dealer for 2nd replacement of power window regulator. Service manager calls me and says that on the courtesy test drive the tech noted my clutch was failing and wanted $1300 to replace. I drove the car there, clutch was fine, car had 50k miles. I declined and picked car up. Under acceleration car was now bucking and stalling. I know a bad clutch and this wasn’t that. Took to my Indy mechanic and quickly he noted my air intake hose had been sliced with a razor carefully on bottom side to not be visible. Under load car was pulling air from engine compartment instead of air cleaner bypassing mass air sensor. A piece of duct tape fixed it until I could install a new intake hose. The clutch lasted another 40k miles and cost $700 to replace. This is only one of my service experiences with them. Big warranties but getting warranty work done was impossible and they weee always looking to up sell non warranty “repairs”. The car went 13 years with us but Hyundai never worked on it again.

[marottajoe]

Mark do a tutorial on the sound graphs.

[C.JG.]

Problem with KIA nowadays are not the cars. The dealership is a real problem: here in Europe KIA is very bad at supporting the shops / the warranty repairs. Its a shame. Good Car, BAD dealership experience for both sides: For the shop who is trying to sell this, and for the customer who is buying it. That at some point will snap back to H / K...

[Ben-bsod]

Thank you for again focusing on affordable cars. This sounds like an ideal suv but would probably wait for the Tuscon for a similar price. I really like your channel overall the best. You have a lot of technical knowledge and that helps. And you're honest which is a breath of fresh air.

[ohadparan]

Oh my gosh you’re so right about the dealership experience. I wanted to buy a Stinger. I saw a specific one online and went to the dealership to check it out. When I pulled up and asked if they had it, the salesman said, oh sorry we sold it today. I was like oh well, and I was getting back in my car and he was like haha just kidding. What the hell? How is that funny. Then he started to explain to me how the Stinger is really special rare. No-one walks into a Kia a dealer asking for a Stinger who doesn’t know that. Needless to say I didn’t buy it.

[sidn]

Swear to god Kia hasn’t made a bad new car in the last 3 years. Every reviewer praises them at their price point.

[Combine]

This is a car channel on another level. I think this is far The best car channel on YouTube and I have seen the majority of them. Thank you for the content you make! Really enjoy your videos!

[madcatterz]

I got mine a week ago in neptune blue. Awd lx basic non turbo and its AMAZING! I have mile long driveway thats gravel and hills and its takes it head on no problems. Its my daily replacement for ford fusion that use to slide out and lose traction or scrape on my driveway. This no problems what so ever. Amazing car seriously.

[jacthemuss]

Thank you for talking about car debt! It is massive issue making people feel bad for owning old/cheap cars. In USA it is sometimes hard to admit when one is poor

[jamesmiguel]

Finally someone came out and said it. I taught it was only me. I was given the run around when I tried to test a Seltos. It took me 45 minutes of fighting with them before I could get the keys..insane. Also, the warranty is bullshit...Even if its under warranty Kia canada does not reimburse the dealership unless a piece is physically taken out and replaced with a new one. I went to two dealerships to service my 2017 kia SOUL with 40000km on the odometer. Both places tried to charge me for a slow closing sun roof and a rear seat rattle. Dont bother calling headquarters either . They wont help you. They say they have no control over what dealerships do...? So basically, your car has an issue, you think you are covered by the warranty so you bring it in. Oups its not covered and we have to charge you for the time it took to see that. Not only does it come out of your pocket, but you will pay double the hourly rate. Thats the definition of a STEELERSHIP. Sure the cars are getting better but because the service has frustrated me so much, I have decided to just get rid of my car and go back to japanese. Fu&*( you KIA