2020 Mazda CX-30 vs. 2021 Kia Seltos Off-Road: Can You Guess Which One Struggled? 

Exactly, I have the Seltos, and it's perfect for what I need it for: something not too big, but still sits high off the ground, has AWD for when I need it. Storage space, etc. It's versatile for what I need it for, commuting.

Ima go with a seltos for working at a ski resort

Yeah I have the 2023 and it still has 8" ground clearance.

Yeah , qi was going to say the same thing 8”.

Who lets you borrow these vehicles to tear up?

Buy a truck

I have a 2019 Kia Soul! with the dual clutch. You can feel it roll back a bit on steep slopes before it engages. The best thing to do is to turn sport mode on (this sets the idle to 900 rpm up from 550 rpm base idle) and use your left foot to come off the brake when using your right foot to press the gas at the same time. No rollback or jerky engagement. Once you understand that this car drives like a manual, because it is, it drives quite nice.

Perhaps if the Kia off road mode was engaged first for the step test, the transmission would not have overheated.

@@icare7151 I don't think so. It's about gearing. It cant simply go in gear without clutch that slow. Low range is needed offroad if you like your clutch.

I agree. DCT is a great design but doesn't have universal application. IMO torque converter autos are more capable for off road.

@@georgehuser4711 I agree. I drive a 4WD these are AWD. I don't use low range much but when I do . . . Front centre and rear diff locks are available. In my SUV centre and rear diff locks are available in 4WD high range so that handles most things. 8 speed torque converter auto helps too.

💯

The Kona is hideous.

I'm Not Using My Real Name true. With that frog looking lights

Nah both the Hyundai Kona and Kia Seltos are beautiful cars along with the CX-30. I think the Kia Sportage is a hideous car.

I’ve got a 2015 Sonata and the engine blew up at 42,000 miles despite changing the oil every 3,000 to 5,000 miles.

Made in Mejico?

@@eric9249 no idea...

Just got a 2021 CX-30 this week. Really enjoying it. And yes, it is assembled in Mexico. I'm guessing Japanese engineers and managers are making sure the quality stays on par. It is a really nice put together car and fun to drive.

@@anonymous00117 oh well...

Bingo.

If the ski trip doesn't have deep snow on the way there.

Or just all weather cars. Really don’t think these vehicles were designed for “off roading”

@@MrAntoniorey None of these compact Suv's are designed for off-roading they are called light off-roading. Only one vehilce may do better is a Subaru Crosstrek, but still its not a real off-roader.

Jeff Hebert SUVs are more for off roaring. These aren’t SUVs but CUVs.

I used to live in eastern Russia where I remember having to "offroad" on the daily basis just to run errands and go to work because our "roads" are just atrocious, so offroading is not fun at all for me.

This guy knows... I was insanely crammed for time, get a car and show up for work type of rush. My local options were 85k mile Trailhawk or 3k mile Seltos. Took the Seltos, three weeks in and I'm still checking if I've made the right decision... I love it but it's a weak little thing. Hows your Seltos holding up?

How’s the road noise? I own a 2020 wrangler unlimited and I’m thinking about trading for a seltos.

@@anthonyr8862 I've had the Seltos a year and a half now and can't recommend it at all. I have many complaints, the biggest one is the suspension. It bottoms hard on even moderate bumps. The only good things I can say are that it's great on gas, and the Bose sound system is amazing. To answer your question, the road noise is not terrible, and fits with the price point of the car.

@@cgmiller82 how’s the ride quality? Are the seats comfortable for longer distances?

Comparing a CVT to a DCT off road is like comparing Chlamydia to Gonorrhea. You don't want to live with either.

I have a soft spot for Subaru, they get harped on alot for the CVT but it's perfectly fine for 90% of people, and it proves well off road still.

Yeah man. I just got a base model 2023 CX30 and it’s impressive for a base. I think the clearance is now 8” on the 2023. I’ve taken it on some normal dirt roads that have some ruts from rain and whatnot but nothing serious. It’s too… luxurious to do that really lol.

LOL all you need is the software upgrade and it will no longer overheat, this has been corrected. I have no issue using mine off road.

yes. he also should have used the brake instead of putting all the pressure on the clutches every time he let off the gas. He's like duh, it's telling me to use my brake? But you see him rolling back anyway.

He had already stopped safely. He deliberately made him scrape the chin to prove a point. Seemed silly to me.

No one will go off roading with both set of all season tires too.

I noticed that as well.

Curious though how do you know it's not overheating? Isn't it based off a heat sensor? Can you ignore it and just keep driving anyway? All I've heard everywhere is that you have to park the vehicle for 20 minutes.

@@sir_john_hammond Hi John, ben driving it like I stole it now well over 2 years, no problems. I've have typed the trans temp regularly, never reste for the rans cool down I just hop right on the highway. This Seltose ages verry well. I'll be first to mention again if I can kill it under my slightly abusive use. Side note I am still running significantly heavier rubber than stock.

Well it makes sense since it was actually struggling... I doubt it's gonna go out

I have covid and this shit suck. I feel bad for people with weak immune systems

Yeah it's not a joke, it's fear mongering by media and governments. 0.2-0.5% mortality rate as per New York antibody testing. Basically a bad flu. Protect the elderly, nearly everyone else will be fine.

@@James-il3tq Thank you!!!

@@James-il3tq lies don't spread misinformation, you sound just like the lunatic we have for a president. You're probably one of those people that bring AK-47 to try to reopen the government.

@@SF-sp7rz and you sound just as crazy... I think you are in the wrong chat.

True... these are city vehicles and some very flat unpaved roads.

True, but we're not talking about rocks and boulders, steep inclines kind of off road thing. You get the idea?

If you think you're going to need to take it this type of environment, get the 2.0/IVT/AWD Seltos combo or something else other than these two. Both are really for on road use primarily.

The Seltos doesn't have a 6 speed auto. It has a IVT (CVT) in the 2.0 equipped models.

@@matthewgaines10 That's what I said, the 2.0L AWD with the IVT. I said *& the Kona 6-speed auto.*

Would you say that standard version (cheapest, no GT Line) would pass that step?

True. But i expected more from kia seltos.

2-3 cm higher and even weak awd will get further than civic

Yes I have 2020 Kona 2.0 AWD and l would like to see real world testing offloading. Why is no one doing that. Everyone is always testing the 1.6T dual clutch yes we know it over heats ....now test the 2.0.

Jose, I agree that I'd like to know too, though I was very disappointed with the 7 speed dual clutch 'failure', we are still interested in buying a Seltos so we 'have to' know before we pass-off the Seltos and wait for Bronco Sport....as for the Mazda, we will 'never' buy one plain and simple.

Since we all know how the Seltos 1.6T/AWD/DCT does, it would be great to see how much better the Seltos 2.0/AWD/IVT does.

@@sshrul Press fleets tend to be dominated by higher trim models. There should be some other models available but I suspect the quantity is less.

@@matthewgaines10 yes you're right and I know, they give top of line vehicle out for these reviews. Some reviewers can go to there local dealers and request vehicles for testing. I'm starting to see more asking for a test review of the 2.0 AWD going through the same off roading test as the 1.6T. Ever review I've seen is the same overheating issue with the 1.6T, the engine type vehicles are the same except the 2.0 is not as fast as the 1.6T but let see the 2.0 AWD in the off roading test.

Thankfully Kia/Hyundai will be dropping the 7speed dry clutch dct for the much better designed 8speed wet clutch dct

@@ch6inre6ction11 I hope this 8 spd lasts much longer as well. Tfl needs to test the first 8 spd wet dct off-road they can get. They're the only auto journalist channel I'm aware that will reveal the limitations of transmissions during their testing.

Driving a dct takes some adjusting. Most people will not want to learn how to drive it, which is why a wet clutch will be a good idea. I still believe the Seltos just does not like this guys driving.

A 7 spd dct needs to be driven a specific way, similar to a regular transmission setup, not automatic

@@gonzalcala5 please suggest me how to drive dct in bumper to bumper traffic. I'll be really glad to know. TIA.

And it Will handle better than Kia 😂😉

k domster Not necessarily true as most people noticed handling being weak due to torsion beam. Mazda is leaning towards comfortable luxurious ride so handling may no longer be priority since consumers only care about ride control - not handling.

@@ahsanmalik1013 It is tuned in for more dialed in suspension set up...do more reading as new 3 handles better than old 3 with IRS

Assuming a car has poor handling because it has a torsion beam setup is like assuming a car is fast because it’s turbocharged.

The Porsche 944, 968 and Peugeot 205 GTI all had torsion beam suspensions. All were great handling cars. Mazda’s engineers are amongst the industries best at designing excellent handling vehicles.

I think the new sonata DCT are wet clutch design which would be a heck of alot better.

@@J-W.- I believe that the 7 speed DCT are dry clutch and the new 8 speed DCT are wet clutch

@@xcmskim4 veloster n is equipped with wet dct in korea. So does sorrento.

Yes bro! I'm a Mazda fan too!

You mean a comparison of the kind of driving they were originally designed for... ;-) BTW, me too.

Same why would they make a video for something that its not intended to do?

Gotta know how to drive a dct. There are nuances and most people just don't know or bother to care.

Who compares a jeep to a kia 🤦‍♂️

@@nosvibes9786 ⚔️ Apparently I didn't, but I was checking it out. What's in your wallet? Buy American if you can afford it... 🇺🇸 👍

Probably cause it’s in another class compared to the Seltos.

While your point on the rear suspension design is true and needs to be corrected, MazdaUSA's site does specify 6.9" of ground clearance. Is Mazda's own site incorrect? See www.mazdausa.com/vehicles/cx-30/compare-vehicle-specs-and-trims

modmatt1, it looks like Mazda’s own website was wrong. I noticed it did recently show 6.9” on the link you sent (even though it used to say 7.9” a while back and in all the press reviews), and just today I looked again and it now says 8.0”! You can tell the North American version of the car is lifted higher than the one in Europe and other markets-there’s an awkwardly large amount of empty space between the top of the tires and the fenders/wheelwells. I actually think the European version looks sleeker and more balanced, but the extra ground clearance we get is a nice feature for those who need it. It would be cool if they offered us a sport version with the lower suspension height of the Euro-spec cars.

@@chadwitt Very cool! I need that extra height for getting out of my driveway and the streets due to how they plow snow here locally (only one lane) and plow in the driveways. Now if only I could get a "Select" in manual (with a sunroof option) please...

modmatt1 I agree. I’m so bummed they aren’t offering it with a manual transmission (I haven’t owned an automatic in my nearly 30 years of driving!). Also, I really wish Mazda offered moonroofs as an option on lower trim levels like they used to. Both my previous ‘99 Protege LX and my current ‘09 Mazda3 Sport hatchback have had moonroofs but not all the other features I don’t really care about.

2 questions for you 1 how is this a great review? 2. how do you like your new seltos? I'm thinking about getting one

I agree. They're not intended for this type of use at all. Most small SUVs aren't.

Fugly cars..))

@@SquallRinoa89 callate carajo

Once again after the software upgrade it no longer over heats. too bad these guy don't retest afterwards.

Yes this would be great to see Please

DCTs are not designed to slow crawl or so stop and go traffic. The transmission will experience a lot of slip and heat up quickly

@@dknight211 the seltos is a mall crawler it should be meant for stop and go traffic ?

@@thivakarsaravanamuthu4744 It's a small, light, and nimble cuv. How is it a "mall crawler"?

@@2010ngojo most of the people that are going to buy the seltos are normal car buyer which do alot of stop and go traffic. If the transmission heats up cause of the car going at slow speed how do you go shopping or to work with it ?

@@thivakarsaravanamuthu4744 If you know how to drive a dct, you can avoid burning the clutch. Otherwise, people with manual transmission would have to replace the clutch more often as well. People driving it like a torque converter either didn't read the warnings, or just don't give a damn.

Not exactly like a DCT transmission which uses its clutch all the time. The Mazda has a torque converter with a lock up clutch function which obviously would've have locked up in this situation. That generally happens at cruising speeds, not at starting off or in limited traction situations. Having a clutch doesn't mean it is actually being used. Torque converters lock up (use the clutch) under specific conditions.

Efficiency... A DCT offers the same 100% engagement as a manual with 2x the speed. A torque converter usually constitutes to power loss.

@@bikeislife8405 true dct gives more power and efficiency. What might really help is a wet clutch. ;)

I'm a manual driver, but a good dct (not the crappy ones) offers better performance capabilities than typical manuals

A I D A H A R 2 1 0 a good dct is infinitely better than a manual. 1000 times quicker engagement, and you don’t have to worry about reaction timing

@@23dunmc good for drag strips and oval tracks, and its only twice or 3 times quicker. Only a CVT can be 1000 times quicker in "shifting", which got them banned from F1. If you're like me and just use car for daily driving stop & go traffics and "creeping", and occasional autocrossing, manual is a better