As equipped, our long-term 2021 Kia Seltos S Turbo Edition has a lot to like; handsome mini-SUV looks, respectable driving dynamics, practical interior layout, and a suitable set of features all at an affordable price. It's because of this that Seltos ranks high in our Ultimate Car Rankings in what has become an exceedingly crowded subcompact SUV market. Yet, Kia has axed the S Turbo trim for 2022 and beyond, and in its place Kia now offers the slick-looking Seltos Nightfall Edition, making our Seltos S Turbo a one-year wonder in the Seltos squad.
Like our Seltos S Turbo, the 2022 Seltos Nightfall Edition also features all-wheel drive but replaces long-termer's 18-inch silver wheels, grille, and roof rails with black ones. The leather-trimmed shifter and steering wheel carry over from the S Turbo, but unique to the Nightfall is silver and black exterior door cladding, which differentiates it from other Seltos models. For 2022 and 2023, every Seltos comes standard with lane centering with lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking, and automatic high-beams.
The Seltos Nightfall, like our Seltos S Turbo, features seats with cloth inserts and vinyl-like SynTex bolsters on the backs and bottoms. The seats aren't fully covered in the leather-like SynTex, but it's an upgrade over the all-cloth seats of the lower trimmed Seltos. On our test car, we've found them to have held up well, and they've been easier to clean than leather. Other interior improvements over our Seltos S Turbo include a bigger 10.3-inch infotainment screen (our Seltos' screen measures 8 inches), automatic climate control, and push-button start. That doesn't seem like a big deal, but our Seltos has an old-school twist-key ignition, which requires the driver to remove the key from a purse or pocket).
Kia's inclusion of the Seltos Nightfall to their lineup resulted in the filming of a recent MotorTrend Buyer's Guide video on the SUV, where we had the opportunity to take a closer look at this unique Seltos. The new version definitely helps the Seltos stand out as a worthy competitor in the overcrowded subcompact SUV field.
Suffice to say, if MotorTrend's long-term Seltos S Turbo seemed like an ideally optioned and nicely priced Seltos and you're bummed you missed out, then the new Seltos Nightfall Edition at $28,335, is likely to scratch that itch. It features eye-catching aesthetics, many of the Seltos S Turbo's ideal options, and plus additional desirable upgrades. All for only $1,400 dollars more than our Seltos.
Caption for print: Contrary to the often bemoaned "cheap-looking" plastic found inside the Seltos, the front doors feature premium geometrically creased speaker covers that catch the eyes and compel you to draw your fingers across them.