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2021 Kia Seltos: A stylish little ute

The latest Kia is a little crossover with a lot of personality.

Emme Hall
I love two-seater, RWD convertibles and own a 2004 Mazdaspeed Miata for pavement fun and a lifted 2001 Miata for pre-running. I race air-cooled Volkswagens in desert races like the Mint 400 and the Baja 1000. I have won the Rebelle Rally, seven-day navigational challenge, twice and I am the only driver to compete in an EV, the Rivian R1T.
Emme Hall
2021 Kia Seltos
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This is the 2021 Seltos, a new subcompact crossover from Kia. 

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There are a lot of great design details here, like the triple-stacked foglights, textured chrome trim around the grille, interesting daytime running lights and spiky 18-inch wheels.

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A 2.0-liter naturally aspirated engine is standard on lower trims, but my tester gets the 1.6-liter turbo with 175 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque.

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The Seltos' turbo engine pairs with a seven-speed, dual-clutch automatic, as opposed to the continuously variable transmission in naturally aspirated models.

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A center locking differential in all-wheel drive models can split the torque evenly between the front and rear axles.

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This exhaust outlet is completely fake. The actual exhaust is at least 8 inches below.

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A lofted wireless charging bed leaves room for smaller storage below.

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A geometric design of the in-door speakers for the Bose premium audio system brings a bit of verve into the cabin. There is also ambient lighting that pulses in time with the music.

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Though the 2021 Kia Seltos starts at $23,110 including $1,120 for destination, the SX Turbo tester seen here is $29,485, all in.

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Keep scrolling for more photos of this cute and quirky little ute.

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