2022 Kia Seltos vs 2022 Kia EV6

The 2022 Kia EV6 was a striking vehicle, exuding a sporty and svelte design reminiscent of a Ford Mustang Mach-E. It appeared lower and wider, with a highback tail featuring a lip spoiler that doubled as a lightbar. The wheels were pushed to the farthest corners of the chassis, giving the body a distinct, hipped appearance. The EV6's voluptuous curves, similar to those on a Porsche 911, added both style and stability. Its headlights squinted in a V-shaped pattern, mirroring the black trim below the bumper, which mimicked sealed air intakes. The wedgy profile, with its angled roofline and twin ducts in the rear spoiler, contributed to its blade-sharp appearance. The matte silver paint of the test car enhanced its smooth and silken look.

The EV6's interior was equally impressive, featuring a curved section of dual 12-inch screens atop a linear dash, a floating centre console, and seats covered in faux suede and leather. Ambient lighting flowed around the dash and encircled the rear passengers, creating a futuristic atmosphere. The hockey-puck shifter and digital controls set the EV6 apart from basic Kia models, emphasizing a car-first, computer-second aesthetic. This design approach made the EV6 an enjoyable vehicle to drive, capturing attention with its industrial design and unique features.

The 2022 Kia Seltos was positioned between the smaller Kia Soul and the larger Kia Sportage, offering four trim levels in Canada: LX, EX, EX Premium, and SX. The Seltos Nightfall Edition, a U.S. model equivalent to the top SX grade, featured 18-inch alloy wheels, a turbocharged engine, and a dual-clutch transmission. The Seltos was an appealing small SUV, though its headlights, peering out from beneath wide horizontal running lights, were not universally liked.

Inside, the Seltos displayed a good sense of style with exposed stitching, gloss-black trim, and metallic accents. However, the abundance of shiny hard plastic detracted from the interior's overall quality. Despite this, the build quality was excellent. The controls were logically arranged, with knobs for commonly adjusted features and matte-black buttons with clear markings. The infotainment system's purple accent colour was a minor quirk, but the Seltos was larger, more useful, and more refined than many of its direct rivals, making it easy to forget it competed against the Toyota Corolla Cross rather than the Toyota RAV4.

The 2022 Kia EV6, particularly in its GT-Line e-AWD configuration, was a powerhouse with two electric motors producing 320 horsepower and 446 pound-feet of torque. This 2,100-kilogram vehicle could accelerate to 60 mph in a claimed 4.6 seconds, offering a thrilling driving experience. The EV6's torque delivery was seamless, with the rear motor driving the wheels in most situations and the front motor activating when full power was needed. The regenerative braking system offered more than eight settings, allowing for one-pedal driving in the maximum I-Pedal setting. However, the EV6's driving range was disappointing in cold weather, achieving only 65 percent of Kia's 441-kilometre estimate. Charging performance was better, with the EV6 accepting up to 240 kW, though real-world charging times were longer than Kia's claims.

The 2022 Kia Seltos offered a choice between a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with 146 horsepower and a turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine with 175 horsepower. The turbo engine, paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, provided a more engaging driving experience. The Seltos featured Normal, Sport, and Smart driving modes, with Smart mode balancing fuel efficiency and responsiveness. The AWD system included a Lock function for power delivery between the front and rear wheels, and the Seltos was capable in light off-roading conditions. However, the suspension tuning was less appealing, with the Seltos exhibiting lateral rocking motions on uneven pavement and feeling bouncy on undulating roads. Despite these issues, the Seltos was lively in urban environments and easy to park, with good grip from its 18-inch wheels and tires.

The 2022 Kia EV6 reinvented several core functions, such as door handles that popped out when approached with the key, paddle shifters, and a twisting rotary shifter. The climate controls and stereo shortcuts were combined in a thin touchscreen, which could be frustrating to use while driving. The EV6 offered generous legroom and headroom, with reclining rear seats and air vents. However, the cargo space was limited, with 690 litres behind the seats and 1,322 litres when folded. Towing capacity was rated at 1,043 kilograms, and the EV6 featured an onboard power generator for 120-volt equipment.

The 2022 Kia Seltos excelled in form and function, offering a roomy interior with easy access due to its ride height and large door openings. The front seats were comfortable, with heated seats standard on all but the base LX FWD. The rear seat accommodated adults comfortably, with generous legroom and footroom. Cargo space was impressive, with 752 litres behind the back seat and 1,778 litres with the rear seat folded down. The Seltos also featured plastic grocery bag hooks to prevent items from rolling around.

The 2022 Kia EV6's infotainment system was user-friendly, with a simple interface and connectivity options, though wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto required a wired connection. The instrument panel displayed live feeds of blind spots, and the 360-degree surround-view cameras were sharp and clear. The head-up display used augmented reality for directional arrows, and the highest trim featured a 14-speaker Meridian stereo. The remote parking assist system allowed the car to be moved forward and backward from outside the vehicle.

The 2022 Kia Seltos offered a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system starting at the EX Premium grade, paired with a Bose premium sound system on the SX trim. The system included Bluetooth, navigation, connected services, satellite radio, and a six-speaker stereo. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto required a wired connection, and the system's purple theme colour was a minor quirk. The infotainment system was intuitive, with physical knobs and buttons for primary functions. However, the voice recognition system was frustrating, and using a smartphone's digital assistant was recommended.

The 2022 Kia EV6 lacked published test results from safety organizations, but it came equipped with impressive safety tech, including forward collision avoidance assist, lane keep assist, driver attention warning, and rear occupant alert. Higher trims offered blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and 360 cameras.

The 2022 Kia Seltos was fortified with numerous driving assistance systems, including blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, forward-collision avoidance, pedestrian detection, and automatic emergency braking. The Seltos SX offered adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability and Highway Driving Assist. The lane-centring assist technology was accurate and refined, and the connected services platform offered safety-related functions. The Seltos received a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS and a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA.