2022 Lexus NX vs 2021 Kia Seltos

The 2021 Kia Seltos, despite being a subcompact SUV, offered a surprisingly spacious feel. Its upright design provided a commanding view of the road, and while the headlight design was somewhat intricate, it seamlessly integrated with the grille. The lower front bumper had an aggressive approach angle, hinting at off-road capabilities, even though it wasn't designed for such adventures. The red accents around the wheel centres added a sporty touch, complementing its on-road dynamics. The interior boasted a straightforward design, with clean lines and tech features reminiscent of more upscale brands. The intuitive layout included a clean LCD screen for climate controls and a touchscreen atop the dash, enhancing its utilitarian yet sporty nature.

In contrast, the 2022 Lexus NX was unmistakably a Lexus with its signature spindle grille and refined styling details. The redesign made it longer, wider, and taller, offering more passenger and cargo space. The interior adopted a minimalist approach, moving away from the button-heavy dashboard of its predecessor. While the decluttering was necessary, it sometimes made it challenging to locate certain features quickly. The NX's interior was comfortable, especially with heated and ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel. The F Sport trim added sport-bolstered seats and a unique steering wheel, enhancing the sporty feel. Despite the minimalist design, the NX maintained high-quality materials, though some elements, like the turn signal, felt less premium.

The 2021 Kia Seltos offered two engine options. The LX, EX, and EX Premium trims came with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine producing 146 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, paired with a CVT. While adequate for city driving, it lacked power at higher speeds. The SX Turbo trim featured a turbocharged 1.6-litre engine with 175 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque, providing a more spirited drive. The 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and standard AWD delivered ample power for highway driving and passing maneuvers. The Seltos handled well, with minimal body roll and a smooth ride, especially in Sport Mode, which enhanced throttle response and steering feel.

The 2022 Lexus NX offered a range of powertrains, including electrified options. The NX 350 featured a turbocharged 2.4-litre engine with 275 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard AWD. The NX 350 F Sport added Sport S, Sport+, and Custom driving modes, along with an adaptive variable sports suspension. On winding roads, the F Sport felt taut and responsive, while the regular NX 350 offered a softer ride. Lexus claimed a 0-60 mph time of 6.6 seconds for the NX 350, and observed fuel consumption was 10.6 L/100 km for the F Sport and 9.2 L/100 km for the non-F Sport. Despite improvements, the turbocharged engine lacked the refinement of German rivals, and road and wind noise were more noticeable than expected.

The 2021 Kia Seltos excelled in cargo space, offering 752 litres behind the rear seats and 1,778 litres with the seats folded, making it one of the most spacious subcompact SUVs. It provided ample storage compartments and impressive rear-seat space, with plenty of head- and legroom for passengers.

The 2022 Lexus NX claimed increased interior space, though it felt more intimate from the driver's seat. The NX was comfortable, with heated and ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel standard in Canada. Rear-seat passengers enjoyed roomy accommodations, with rear air conditioning vents and USB ports. The NX offered 643 litres of cargo space behind the back seat, expanding to 1,328 litres with the seats folded. The panoramic sunroof extended over the back seat, enhancing the sense of space.

The 2021 Kia Seltos featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system on the base LX and EX trims, while the EX Premium and SX Turbo offered a 10.25-inch screen. The system supported Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, though connecting a smartphone via USB could be frustrating due to default audio settings. The infotainment system was intuitive, with hard buttons for easy navigation.

The 2022 Lexus NX introduced the new Lexus Interface infotainment system, with a standard 9.8-inch touchscreen and an optional 14-inch screen. The system included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, and Voice Assistant technology. A 10-speaker sound system was standard, with a 17-speaker Mark Levinson system available. The new Voice Assistant responded to natural commands, and the NX offered a range of connected services, including cloud-based navigation and digital key capability. However, the larger touchscreen collected fingerprints and reflections, and lacked a tuning knob.

The 2021 Kia Seltos came with standard front- and side-impact airbags, electronic stability control, and a tire pressure monitoring system. In Canada, the base LX included blind spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. Higher trims added collision avoidance assist, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. The Seltos received a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS and a four-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA.

The 2022 Lexus NX featured the comprehensive Lexus Safety System+ 3.0, including lane keep assist, dynamic radar cruise control, and automatic high beams. New features included Risk Avoidance Emergency Steer Assist and Oncoming Vehicle Detection. The NX also had blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and Safe Exit Assist. Additional safety technologies were available in packages, such as rear pedestrian detection and a panoramic view monitoring system.