2022 Kia Seltos vs 2021 Nissan Kicks

The 2021 Nissan Kicks underwent significant exterior changes, aligning its design more closely with other models in the Nissan lineup, such as the Armada and Rogue. The front of the Kicks featured a bold, snubbed nose with a distinctive "double V-motion" grille design, complemented by thinner, longer headlights that extended down the face of the vehicle. The top-tier Kicks SR trim boasted LED multi-reflector headlights and standard LED fog lights, enhancing its modern look. At the rear, the Kicks sported a new bumper, back door finisher, and LED taillight combination, giving it a proportionate and stylish appearance. The model offered a variety of paint options, including new colors like Electric Blue Metallic and Scarlet Ember Tintcoat, with a two-tone paint job option available for a more upscale look.

The interior of the Kicks remained largely unchanged from previous years but featured higher quality materials, drawing inspiration from the 2020 Nissan Sentra. The Kicks SR trim included standard features like a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, LED headlights, and dark chrome grille accents, contributing to a sportier aesthetic. Buyers could further customize their Kicks with over 100 million color combinations using Nissan Kicks Color Studio accessories. The interior also offered new seat and door designs, with the Kicks SR Premium Package providing Prima-Tex-appointed seating with a three-tone design and stitching.

The 2022 Kia Seltos positioned itself between the smaller Soul and the larger Sportage, offering five trim levels: LX, S, EX, Nightfall Edition, and SX. The Nightfall Edition, which was our test vehicle, featured matte-black 18-inch alloy wheels, a turbocharged engine, a dual-clutch transmission, and additional body cladding. The Seltos had a stylish interior with a contrast-color dashboard panel, exposed stitching, and metallic accents, although it was marred by an abundance of shiny hard plastic. The controls were logically arranged, with knobs for commonly adjusted features and buttons with a matte-black finish. However, the infotainment system's purple accent color was not to everyone's taste.

Despite some nitpicking, the 2022 Seltos was larger, more useful, and more refined than many of its direct competitors. It offered a more powerful driving experience, especially with the turbocharged engine in the Nightfall Edition. The Seltos was easy to park and provided excellent outward visibility, making it a practical choice for urban and suburban environments. However, the suspension tuning left something to be desired, with the vehicle exhibiting lateral rocking motions on uneven pavement and feeling bouncy on undulating roads. The Seltos was better suited for light off-roading conditions and snowy weather, but it fell short of the capabilities of some of its rivals, such as the Subaru Crosstrek.

The 2021 Nissan Kicks was equipped with a single powertrain option: a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine producing 122 horsepower and 114 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with Nissan's Xtronic continuously variable transmission (CVT) and front-wheel drive (FWD), with no all-wheel drive (AWD) option available. The Kicks' electric power-assisted steering and front independent strut stabilizer bar suspension contributed to its nimble handling, making it easy to navigate in various driving conditions. While the Kicks was not known for its power, it offered a good power-to-weight ratio for its size, providing adequate performance for its class. The Kicks SR trim featured 17-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, with an option to upgrade to black alloy wheels. The Kicks also came with standard safety features like traction control, stability control, and hill start assist. The EPA rated the Kicks' fuel economy at 31 mpg in the city, 36 mpg on the highway, and 33 mpg combined, making it one of the most fuel-efficient subcompact crossovers available.

The 2022 Kia Seltos offered two engine options. The LX, S, and EX trims came with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 146 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, paired with a CVT. The Nightfall Edition and SX trims featured a more powerful turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, delivering 175 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT), which, despite some quirks, provided a more engaging driving experience than the CVT. The Seltos offered three driving modes: Normal, Sport, and Smart, with Smart mode balancing fuel efficiency and responsiveness. The AWD system included a Lock function for even power distribution at lower speeds, and the Seltos had a ground clearance of 7.3 inches. The EPA rated the Seltos Nightfall Edition's fuel economy at 27 mpg combined. While the Seltos excelled in urban environments, its suspension tuning was less than ideal, with the vehicle exhibiting lateral rocking motions and feeling bouncy on uneven roads.

The 2021 Nissan Kicks made efficient use of its compact size, offering easy-to-reach buttons and knobs throughout the cabin. The interior featured good small-item storage, easy-access USB ports, and multiple smartphone storage options. The climate controls were straightforward, and the seat warmers provided quick warmth. The Kicks had a D-shaped steering wheel, a six-way adjustable driver's seat, and a 60/40 split-folding rear seat as standard. The front seats offered best-in-class legroom, although the hip room was somewhat limited for larger drivers. The rear seats comfortably accommodated adults, and the available tonneau cover provided hidden storage in the cargo area.

The 2022 Kia Seltos excelled in form and function, offering a roomy interior with easy access thanks to its ride height and large door openings. The Nightfall Edition featured a six-way manually adjustable driver's seat and a tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel, allowing for a comfortable driving position. The front passenger seat was not height-adjustable but provided adequate leg support. The Seltos' interior included cloth upholstery with Sofino simulated leather bolsters, a single-zone automatic climate control system, and heated front seats. The rear seat offered generous legroom and footroom, with rear air conditioning vents and a USB charging port. The cargo space measured 26.6 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 62.8 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down, providing ample storage for a small SUV.

The 2021 Nissan Kicks offered a range of modern technology features, including a 7-inch infotainment touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, and three USB ports. The Kicks SV added features like Nissan Intelligent Key, automatic climate control, and a 7-inch driver information screen. The Kicks SR Premium Package included a class-exclusive Bose Personal Plus sound system with eight speakers, providing an immersive audio experience. The Kicks also offered a surround-view monitor and a WiFi hotspot for over-the-air updates.

The 2022 Kia Seltos featured a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system on the EX, Nightfall Edition, and SX trims, with the SX trim including a Bose premium sound system. The system offered Bluetooth connectivity for two devices, a navigation system, satellite radio, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (requiring a cable connection). The standard 8-inch touchscreen on the LX and S trims provided wireless smartphone connectivity. The infotainment system was intuitive, with physical knobs and buttons for easy access to primary functions. However, the voice recognition system was less effective without an active subscription to connected services.

The 2021 Nissan Kicks came standard with Nissan Safety Shield 360, a suite of driver-assistance features including automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, blind-spot warning, and rear cross-traffic alert. The Kicks also had 10 airbags, a driver alertness monitor, and rear door alert on the SV and SR trims. While the 2021 Kicks had not been crash-tested by the IIHS, the similar 2020 model received Good marks in crashworthiness. The NHTSA gave the 2020 Kicks a four-star overall rating.

The 2022 Kia Seltos was equipped with numerous safety features, including forward-collision avoidance, pedestrian detection, lane-keeping assist, and automatic high-beam headlights. The Seltos EX added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, while the SX offered adaptive cruise control and Highway Driving Assist. The Seltos also provided safety-related functions through its connected services platform. The IIHS awarded the Seltos SX a Top Safety Pick rating, while the NHTSA gave the Seltos a four-star overall rating.