The 2021 Kia Seltos gets 27 to 31 mpg in combined city and highway driving, depending on which powertrain is equipped.
The 2021 Kia Seltos was an all-new model for 2021, available with a 2.0-liter inline-4 engine or a 1.6-liter turbocharged inline-4. Each of these engines was available with either front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD). The non-turbo engine was equipped with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) that prioritizes fuel economy, while the turbocharged models are connected to a more exciting 7-speed dual-clutch automatic.
But believe it or not, as great as the Seltos’ fuel efficiency ratings are, it isn’t among the Kias with the best gas mileage
. We’ll go over EPA fuel economy ratings for each configuration during both highway and city driving and talk about how they compare to competing models. Compare insurance quotes from 50+ carriers with Jerry in under 45 seconds
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The 2021 Kia Seltos has five trims, which each have specific available configurations, but the Kia Seltos S FWD gets the best mileage of them all.
The base trims are the 2021 Seltos LX
and the Seltos S
. They’re the same price, but the Seltos S comes standard with FWD and comes with more standard safety features than the LX, while the LX includes AWD. The 2021 Kia Seltos EX
includes the best of both of these models and more, but it still employs the standard 2.0-liter four cylinder, which produces 146 horsepower. The Seltos S Turbo and SX Turbo
come with the smaller, turbocharged I-4, which offers 175 horsepower and sacrifices fuel economy. AWD is optional for the S Turbo but included with the SX Turbo. The 2021 Kia Seltos S FWD is the most efficient configuration that was available. On the highway, it gets 34 mpg, and it manages 29 mpg in the city. The Seltos S AWD, LX, and EX all get 31 mpg highway and 27 mpg city with their AWD drivetrains, with a combined rating of 29 mpg. Finally, the two turbocharged trims manage 25 mpg city/30 mpg highway/27 mpg combined.
Each 2021 Kia Seltos model has a 13.2-gallon fuel tank and uses regular 87-octane gasoline. Edmunds estimates that fueling a 2021 Seltos S FWD in California for a month would cost about $177, compared to the $230 average among other compact SUVs. On the other hand, the Seltos SX with the turbocharged engine would cost $203/month to fuel.
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Is the 2021 Kia Seltos good on gas?
Based on the Edmunds monthly fuel estimate
mentioned above, the Kia Seltos definitely appears to have exceptional fuel economy—but it’s not quite as good as it sounds. This is mainly because the 2021 Kia Seltos is smaller than most compact SUVs. It’s billed as a compact by Kia, but it actually competes with models mostly billed as subcompact, like the Chevrolet Trailblazer
and Subaru Crosstrek
. The 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer also offered two engine choices, both of which are less exciting than the Seltos’ options. Even with its most efficient configuration, the 2021 Trailblazer doesn’t manage the Seltos’ 34 mpg highway rating. It gets 29 mpg city/33 mpg hwy with its upgraded engine and FWD.
The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek offered two non-hybrid powertrains and one plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version. It’s more expensive than the 2021 Seltos, but that extra price does mean you get a much more efficient vehicle, with 35 mpg combined when burning gas and up to 90 MPGe when it only needs to use electricity. However, the Kia Seltos still pretty much matches the fuel economy of the 2021 Crosstrek non-hybrid powertrains.
How to improve fuel efficiency for a 2021 Kia Seltos
Even if you don’t end up buying a 2021 Kia Seltos, there are some things you can do with any vehicle that you drive to improve your daily fuel consumption. Here are our top practical tips for doing just that:
Use cruise control. Every 2021 Kia Seltos model was equipped with cruise control, which can greatly improve highway fuel economy while giving your pedal foot a rest. If you have the Seltos SX, you’ll save even more gas on the highway thanks to Smart Cruise Control.
Keep up with regular maintenance. Getting regular Kia Seltos oil changes
and routine checkups will keep your Seltos’ engine running smoothly and consuming less fuel. Ease up on the gas. If you have the tendency to punch the gas pedal a bit too hard, try easing off to accelerate a bit slower and burn less gas.
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