NEW FOR 2021, KIA SELTOS SHOWS GOOD THINGS CAN BE FOUND IN SMALL PACKAGES

Kia has added another vehicle to its growing fleet, and to the surprise of nobody save, perhaps, a monk in far off Tibet, it is another crossover SUV.

Classed as a subcompact, the 2021 Kia Seltos — Seltos comes from Greek mythology, Celtos being the son of Hercules — slots in between the company’s popular Soul and Sportage at about the same starting price point as the company’s Niro crossover.

But while the Niro comes in hybrid, plugin hybrid, and all-electric forms, the Seltos is offered with conventional gasoline-fueled powertrains. LX, S, and EX trims get a  2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine and S 1.6T and SX trims a 1.6-liter turbo GDI 4-cylinder..

The former is rated at a so-so 146 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque while the 1.6 turbo delivers heftier numbers of 175/195, respectively.

The 2.0-liter engine is mated to a continuously variable transmission, the turbo to a 7-speed dual clutch tranny. Comfort, Smart, and Sport modes adjust throttle responses to your current mindset, Smart being somewhat of a combination of the other two as it adjusts to the way your are driving.

All-wheel drive also is available on the Seltos.

This review is based on the top-of-the-line SX that comes with the 1.6-turbo engine that in addition to the power numbers earned EPA ratings of 25 miles-per-gallon city, 30 highway and 27 combined.

It comes with the dual-clutch tranny, AWD  and a laundry list of standard and included features. Among them are LED headlights and fog lights, LED daytime running lights and tail lights, heated front seats, leatherette and cloth seat trim, Bose premium sound system, 10-way power adjustable driver’s seat with power lumbar, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, keyless entry and push-button start, Smart (adaptable)  cruise control, wireless phone charger, remote start, automatic temperature control, rear USB charge port, and a cargo cover.

In addition to the usual collection of seatbelts and air bags, safety systems include forward collision avoidance, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keeping assist and lane-departure warning, driver attention warning (wake up, fool!), and high-beam assist. The rear view camera features dynamic guidelines to reflect your turning angle.

Infotainment features run via voice command or an 10.25-inch touchscreen and include navigation and a suite of features built in Kia’s UVO telematics that help you find where your parked your car and send emergency information.

The Seltos SX rides on standard 18-inch wheels and is 172 inches long with a wheelbase of 103.5 inches. Inside, front-seat riders get 40 inches of legroom while those in the back get  38.4. The Seltos seats five comfortably though getting three adults in the back could be a bit of a squeeze.

Cargo room is a generous 26.6 cubic feet behind the second row and a spacious 62.8 cubic feet with the second-row seats folded.

The Seltos SX carries a starting MSRP of $27,890. Adding in a couple of extras like a special color, carpeted floor mats, and the $1,120 destination and delivery ran the bottom line for my test vehicle to $29,485. The base Seltos LX starts at just under $22,000.

What I liked about the 2021 Kia Seltos: It’s surprisingly roomy overall, both for passengers and their stuff, especially for its class. The infotainment system is very user-friendly, and it responds readily to voice commands. The SX trim is on the expensive side but is well equipped. Navigation is standard and Bose Premium Sound is included at no extra cost in this top-of-the-line model. The 1.6-liter turbo packs a pretty nice punch and mileage is decent as well. The exterior styling is more mainstream than its slightly smaller, older Kia Soul sibling.

What I didn’t like about the 2021 Kia Seltos: The “Starbright Yellow” body color is not for me, and certainly not worth an extra $345. Ventilated front seats (not available) would be a nice addition. Also, for those who like to select gears automatically, paddle shifters could be more convenient to use than the shifter on the center console.

Would I buy the 2021 Kia Seltos? Yes. If you are in the market for a subcompact SUV, the Seltos definitely should be on your shopping list.

XT5 CROSSOVER SUV TAKES OVER

FOR SRX AS CADILLAC’S SALES LEADER

Since the SRX became Cadillac’s best-selling vehicle during its 13-year run, it isn’t surprising that its successor, the XT5 crossover SUV, would assume the same role, and it has.

Though it has yet to match the sales popularity of the SRX, which hit a model sales high of 68,850 for 2015, the next-to-last year of production, the XT5 still outpaced every other Cadillac model with a reported 49,878 sold in the U.S. in 2019. That tops the iconic Escalade (35,424) and its XT4 (31,987) and XT6 (11,560) siblings and easily outpaces the top-selling Cadillac sedans, the XTS (11,306) and CT6 (7,952).

To keep the XT5 on pace with a challenging field of competitors, Cadillac has updated the 2020 model with numerous changes that include new interior color schemes, a revised   infotainment system, and a new base engine.

Available only with a V6 at its 2017 debut, the XT5 now comes standard with a turbocharged 4-cylinder engine on Luxury and Premium Luxury trims. It is rated at 237 horsepower and 258 pound-feet. of torque compared to the 310/271, respectively, in the V6 while offering respectable fuel mileage of 21 miles-per-gallon city, 28 highway, and 24 combined.

The V6 is standard on the top-of-the-line Sport trim and also is available on Luxury and Premium Luxury models. Each engine gets its own version of a 9-speed automatic transmission.

The other major change is with the infotainment system. The company’s CUE system (Cadillac User Experience) that was introduced some years back came under heavy criticism for its problems and annoyances and actually was the target of a class action lawsuit last year.

The new system still can take some getting used to, but is a step up from its predecessor, which was overly sensitive, susceptible to sun glare issues, and often slow to respond. It gets Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability.

This review is based on the Premium Luxury trim that carries a base MSRP of $46,795.

Standard equipment on Premium Luxury models includes the 4-cylinder engine, front-wheel drive (AWD is available), 18-inch wheels, SiriusXM satellite radio capability,  Bose premium audio, automatic dual-zone climate control, heated front seats, LED headlights and taillights, LED daytime running lights, leather seating surfaces, 8-way power adjustable driver’s seat and 6-way adjustable front passenger seat with lumbar support, heated steering wheel, sunroof, wireless charging and a bevy of safety features that include automatic emergency braking, forward collision alert, and front and rear parking assist.

An optional Platinum Package upgrades the leather seats for all rows and adds a suede headliner among other things for an extra $4,850.

Other options on my test XT5 were a technology package that features a surround-view camera; a driver assistance package that includes lane-keeping assist and adaptive cruise control; a comfort package that includes tri-zone climate control and ventilated front and rear seats, and navigation with the CUE infotainment system.

It also came with 20-inch wheels over the standard 18s.

The issue there, of course, is that all those options and packages added nearly $14,000 to the base MSRP before the $995 destination and delivery charge was added.

What I liked about the 2020 Cadillac XT5 Premium Luxury: The turbo-4 engine delivers adequate power in a fuel efficient manner. The overall ride is quiet and comfortable and well up to what you expect from a Cadillac. The XT5 also comes in at the right size — not too big and not too small. Cadillac added a button to deactivate the stop/start system.

What I didn’t like about the 2020 Cadillac XT5 Premium Luxury: The console storage compartment is too small, especially considering what you typically have with an SUV. The 8-inch touchscreen also is a bit on the small side by today’s standards.

Would I buy the 2020 Cadillac XT5 Premium Luxury? Not sure, but I’d definitely give it a look if I were shopping in the segment. Like many others, I really liked the SRX, much more than the Escalade. Desirable options oquickly drive the final cost up and take away from the XT5’s price advantage, however. The bottom line for my test XT5 was $63,715.