2022 Kia Seltos vs 2021 Ford Bronco Sport

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport was introduced as a smaller sibling to the anticipated Bronco, drawing inspiration from the classic 1966-1996 Bronco. It was designed as a unibody crossover, offering a modern retro aesthetic reminiscent of a Land Rover, with a focus on urban driving while still being capable of weekend adventures. The Bronco Sport featured a short front overhang for optimal approach angles and a rear design that echoed its larger counterpart. The vehicle's exterior was marked by bold "BRONCO" lettering, with "SPORT" as a subtle postscript, and the Ford blue oval appeared modestly on the tailgate. The SUV's wheels varied by model, with options to upgrade for enhanced off-road capability. Inside, the Bronco Sport boasted a rugged yet tasteful interior, with a unique design for the HVAC vents and an 8-inch infotainment screen. The interior trim improved with each model, offering a range of seating and flooring options to suit different needs.

The 2022 Kia Seltos was positioned between the Kia Soul and Sportage, offering a range of trims with standard all-wheel drive on most models. The Seltos Nightfall Edition, tested in the U.S., featured 18-inch alloy wheels, a turbocharged engine, and a dual-clutch transmission. The Seltos was praised for its style, with exposed stitching, gloss-black trim, and metallic accents, though it was criticized for its use of shiny hard plastics. The controls were logically arranged, with knobs and buttons for easy access to common features. The infotainment system had a purple accent colour, which was not universally liked. Despite some criticisms, the Seltos was noted for being larger, more refined, and more powerful than many competitors, offering a driving experience that was easy to forget was in the same class as the Toyota Corolla Cross.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport offered two engine options, both paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. The Base, Big Bend, and Outer Banks trims featured a 1.5-litre EcoBoost turbocharged three-cylinder engine, producing 181 horsepower and 190 pound-feet of torque. The Badlands model came with a more powerful 2.0-litre EcoBoost turbo four-cylinder engine, delivering 245 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque. The Bronco Sport excelled off-road, thanks to its short wheelbase, independent suspension, and generous ground clearance. It was equipped with a terrain management system offering up to seven G.O.A.T. modes, enhancing its off-road capabilities. On-road, the Bronco Sport was a competent commuter, with the 2.0-litre engine providing a more satisfying driving experience.

The 2022 Kia Seltos offered a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine in the LX, EX, and EX Premium trims, producing 146 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission. The SX trim featured a turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine, delivering 175 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque, paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The Seltos offered Normal, Sport, and Smart driving modes, with Smart mode balancing fuel efficiency and responsiveness. The AWD system included a Lock function for even power distribution at lower speeds. The Seltos was noted for its lively urban performance, though its suspension tuning was criticized for allowing too much body motion and not isolating bumps effectively. On the highway, the Seltos provided secure steering but was affected by wind noise and road roar.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport was designed with active buyers in mind, offering features like cargo space for two 27.5-inch-wheel mountain bikes and a catalog of over 100 accessories for transporting outdoor gear. The roof could support up to 68 kilograms, and the vehicle could tow up to 997 kilograms with the 2.0-litre engine. The cargo area featured a flip-up rear glass and an optional cargo management package with a slide-out work table and liftgate floodlamps. The front cabin offered ample storage, though visibility was a minor issue for taller drivers.

The 2022 Kia Seltos excelled in form and function, offering a roomy interior with easy access and comfortable seating. The front seats were heated on most trims, and the rear seat provided ample legroom and footroom, though the seatback angle was slightly reclined. The Seltos offered decent storage space, with a smartphone shelf and plastic grocery bag hooks. Cargo space measured 752 litres behind the rear seat and 1,778 litres with the seat folded down.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport featured an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen with SYNC 3, compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. FordPass Connect with a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot was standard, and a Bang & Olufsen sound system was available on higher trims. The terrain management system offered multiple drive modes, and trail control technology was available for off-roading. Intelligent access with push-button start was included on most trims, along with a digital instrument panel on higher models.

The 2022 Kia Seltos offered a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system on higher trims, paired with a Bose premium sound system. The system included Bluetooth, navigation, connected services, satellite radio, and smartphone connectivity. The infotainment system was intuitive, with physical controls for easy access. However, the voice recognition system was less effective without an active subscription to connected services, and the system's purple theme colour was not universally liked.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport came standard with the Ford Co-Pilot360 suite of safety features, including pre-collision assist, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assist, and a reversing camera. Co-Pilot360 Assist+ was available on most trims, adding adaptive cruise control, evasive steering assist, and more. The Bronco Sport received top safety ratings from both the IIHS and NHTSA.

The 2022 Kia Seltos was equipped with numerous safety features, including blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, forward-collision avoidance, and lane-keeping assist. The Seltos SX offered adaptive cruise control and Highway Driving Assist. The Seltos received a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS and a four-star rating from the NHTSA.