2020 Honda CR-V vs 2021 Kia Seltos

The 2020 Honda CR-V, part of Honda's fifth generation of compact crossovers, had a design that was both familiar and enjoyable. Its exterior styling was characterized by soft, curvy lines that resembled Honda's sedan lineup, giving it a station wagon-like appearance rather than a traditional SUV look. This design approach made the CR-V a modern family transportation staple. However, the interior told a different story, with a mix of textures and materials. While higher trims featured appealing wood-look trim and leather upholstery, these elements clashed with the lower-quality plastics, reminding drivers that even the more expensive CR-V versions were essentially upgraded commodity cars rather than premium products.

In contrast, the 2021 Kia Seltos, despite being classified as a subcompact SUV, offered a big-car feel with its upright layout and commanding road view. Its headlight design, though busy, flowed well into the grille, and the lower front bumper had an aggressive approach angle. The Seltos' interior boasted a straightforward design with clean lines and seamlessly integrated tech features, drawing influences from upscale brands like Audi. The clean LCD screen for climate controls added visual symmetry with the touchscreen atop the dash, and the "handle" framing the tray below the centre stack underscored its utilitarian yet sporty nature.

The 2020 Honda CR-V came equipped with a 1.5-litre turbocharged engine across all trims, producing 190 horsepower and 179 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), which, despite some CVTs' reputation for sluggishness, performed well in the CR-V. The vehicle felt quick, especially in Sport mode, and the transmission mimicked a conventional automatic effectively. The CR-V's car-like road manners were evident in its nimble handling and nicely weighted steering, making it feel more like a small sedan. Its low curb weight, ranging from 1,521 kg for the FWD LX model to 1,641 kg for the AWD Touring and Black Edition models, contributed to its excellent acceleration, handling, and fuel efficiency. The FWD CR-V achieved a combined fuel consumption rating of 7.7 litres per 100 kilometres, while the AWD version managed 8.1, placing it among the top in its class for non-hybrid models.

The 2021 Kia Seltos offered two engine options. The LX, EX, and EX Premium trims featured a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with 146 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, paired with a CVT. While adequate for city driving, this engine lacked power at higher speeds. The SX Turbo trim, however, came with a turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine producing 175 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque, mated to a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. This engine provided ample power for highway driving and quick acceleration. The Seltos' Drive Mode dial allowed drivers to switch between Normal, Sport, and Smart modes, enhancing throttle response and steering feel. Despite its upright layout and 18.5 cm ground clearance, the Seltos exhibited minimal body roll in turns and delivered a smooth ride, akin to a luxury SUV.

The 2020 Honda CR-V excelled in interior space and storage solutions. Its cabin was as roomy as the Volkswagen Tiguan, offering excellent head- and legroom for both front and rear passengers. The CR-V's seating position and low cowl provided great front visibility. The cargo compartment matched the Tiguan in volume, with a two-position load floor allowing for flexible cargo space. With the rear seats folded, the CR-V offered up to 1,110 litres of cargo space, and even the door pockets were spacious, making it easy to store various items.

The 2021 Kia Seltos also impressed with its cargo space, offering 752 litres behind the rear seats and expanding to 1,778 litres with the rear seats folded. This made it one of the most spacious subcompact SUVs, even surpassing some compact SUVs. The Seltos featured numerous cubbies and compartments for both front and rear passengers, including large door cubbies and a spacious centre console. The rear seats provided ample head- and legroom, a rarity among subcompact SUVs, making the Seltos a practical choice for those needing extra space.

The 2020 Honda CR-V's infotainment system showed its age, with a standard 7-inch touchscreen that felt small compared to competitors. The system lacked hard buttons, making it challenging to operate, and even Apple CarPlay and Android Auto felt tacked on. However, the CR-V offered plenty of USB ports, with two in the front and two high-powered ones in the backseat. The Touring and Black Edition trims included a wireless phone charger.

The 2021 Kia Seltos featured a more modern infotainment setup. The base LX and EX trims came with an 8-inch touchscreen, while the EX Premium and SX Turbo offered a larger 10.25-inch screen. The SX Turbo also included a Bose premium sound system. The infotainment system was intuitive, with hard buttons for easy navigation. However, plugging in a smartphone via USB could be frustrating, as it defaulted to the phone's audio output. Only one of the two USB ports allowed data connection, which could be confusing in the dark.

The 2020 Honda CR-V came standard with the "Honda Sensing" suite of safety features, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. Sport trims and above added blind-spot monitoring, while Touring and Black Edition included rear cross-traffic monitoring. The CR-V earned a five-star safety rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick designation from the IIHS, with some caveats for lower trims due to headlight performance.

The 2021 Kia Seltos offered a comprehensive array of safety features. The base LX trim included blind spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, while higher trims added collision avoidance assist, lane-departure warning, and lane-keep assist. The EX Premium and SX Turbo included adaptive cruise control with idle stop-and-go. The Seltos received a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS and a four-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA.