Comments by "Stephen Hendricks" (@stephenhendricks103) on "" video.

  1. The Seltos has over 62 cubic feet of overall cargo space. That's not "coming close" to what some compact SUV's offer. It's more (!) than the Mazda CX-5 with slightly more than 59 cubic feet. Considering the Seltos is about an inch shorter than the CX-30, that's impressive. In short, the CX-30 suffers the same deficit found in all of the brand's SUV's -- they don't reflect the "U" in an SUV in terms of interior space. So while the Seltos can arguably hold the luggage and gear for a couple on a long trip, the CX-30 is a weekender, at best. In terms of performance it's interesting that the specs suggest a small difference, if any. The Seltos with its turbo engine offers 175 HP and 195 ft lbs of torque compared to the CX-3's 186 HP and 186 ft lbs of torque. But what those figures don't reveal is that the KIA offers peak torque at 1500 rpm while the Mazda doesn't achieve it peak torque until the engine hits 4000 rpm and drops off a cliff rapidly after than point. That more than any other factor is why the Seltos feels considerably "peppier" while the CX-30 feels "sluggish" and unrefined under load. Add the additional gear of the Seltos 7 speed DCT compared to the aging 6 speed conventional automatic and the difference in driving "feel" and measured performance is understandable. Neither the Seltos nor the CX-30 is more than a soft "off roader." Gravel or dirt roads, in fact, is the closest to offroading that either offers. But the Seltos offers a more elevated seating position and considerably greater visibility along with slightly better ground clearance than the CX-30. And the KIA allows a driver to manually lock the center differential in a 50/50 torque split, a welcome feature in messy driving conditions. No such option is available in the Mazda. The CX-30 does have some pluses compared to the Seltos, primarily in terms of some of its interior appointments comparing the top trims of each. But it's advantages are not universal considering the significantly better infotainment system in the Seltos. Further, the Seltos has a considerably lower MSRP for its top trim SX turbo model, even with a $700 option for a sunroof on the KIA. ($29,710 vs $31,570). Note, of course, that MSRP may not be a reliable guide to the actual transaction price achieved via face-to-face negotiations. Considering the abysmal sales of almost all Mazda models (except the CX-5) dealers may be willing to offer greater discounts on the CX-30 than KIA dealers offer on the hot selling Seltos.
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