How Reliable Is the Kia Seltos?
Vehicles coming out of the Kia Motors auto manufacturing plants are known for their dependability. The all-new 2021 Kia Seltos is expected to continue in the tradition of its predecessors. In a crowded subcompact crossover segment, the newest addition to the world of small SUVs is a worthy competitor.
The 2021 Kia Seltos is already receiving rave reviews, being on the market for less than a year. The rugged styling and standard features make the newest Kia product a contender for the 2021 Best SUV of the Year.
But how reliable is the Kia Seltos?
The Kia Seltos is a new model
The 2021 Kia Seltos is the latest SUV in the Kia product line. Unveiled earlier this year, the subcompact crossover fits nicely between the affordable Kia Soul and family-friendly Kia Sportage.
MotorTrend recently named the Seltos as a finalist for the 2021 SUV of the Year Award. It is an accomplishment for a vehicle’s first year in the American market. Referring to the compact crossover as a “mini Telluride,” MotorTrend said, “The Seltos establishes itself as more than just a bundle of features and a good warranty.”
The Kia Seltos is available in five trims. The entry-level LX has a starting price of $21,990, while the top-of-the-line SX Turbo trim has a starting MSRP of $27,890.
Dealers only started selling the new Kia Seltos in March of this year so there is little reliability information available.
What Consumer Reports says about reliability
Consumer Reports bases its reliability score on input from its subscribers. Once a year, consumers are asked to identify any problems they have encountered over the past 12 months with their vehicles.
Since the 2021 Kia Seltos is new to the market, there is no detailed data available to obtain an accurate consumer-based score. Instead, they rely on technical knowledge to expertly predict the reliability of new model vehicles.
Despite the limited information available, Consumer Reports gave the Kia Seltos an average predicted reliability score of three out of five. Ranking No. 5 out of 16 in the subcompact SUV segment, Consumer Reports assigned the 2021 Kia Seltos an overall score of 68 out of 100. They said, “The all-new Seltos offers roomy versatility for a small SUV, along with excellent fuel economy and an affordable price.”
Kia has been improving its reliability
Kia won four of U.S. News prestigious awards for 2020, more than any other brand. For the fourth year in a row, the Kia Soul won the honor of Best Subcompact SUV for the Money. Also, four years running is the Kia Sorento that won for Best 3-Row SUV. The Kia Forte got Best Compact Car for the Money, and for the second time, the Kia Sedona was awarded Best Minivan for the Money.
U.S. News said, “The 2021 Kia Seltos stands out among subcompact SUVs for its excellent passenger and cargo space.” They noted great fuel economy, quality interior, and rear passenger room as notable benefits of the newest SUV to hit the market. The reputable car reviewer has not assigned an overall score to the Seltos because they have not yet evaluated the vehicle for reliability.
Cars.com ranks the Seltos in the number one spot for the most popular SUV crossover, saying that 94 percent of drivers recommend this car. They said that “like the Telluride, it has a traditional SUV profile and upscale details.” Based on Kia’s reputation, they assigned the new Seltos a 4.7 out of 5.0 reliability rating.
Kia was once the butt of jokes when it came to vehicle manufacturing. In less than 20 years, the automaker has become one of the most reliable brands in the auto industry. The reliability of their product line has been improving in recent years, and the Kia Seltos is expected to follow this trend.
