2023 Kia Seltos Review, Pricing, and Specs

The best value lies with the Seltos’s EX trim. The SX model comes loaded with almost everything, but the EX is well-equipped, too, and much cheaper. It includes a sunroof, premium faux-leather upholstery, a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, heated front seats, a wireless smartphone charging pad and the larger 10.3-inch infotainment system with in-dash navigation. All-wheel drive comes standard on all but the S trim.

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

Kia offers two different four-cylinder engines in the Seltos: a 2.0-liter that makes 146 horsepower or a turbocharged 1.6-liter that pumps out 175. We were able to sample the Seltos with the turbocharged 1.6-liter and found its power to be more than adequate. Our test vehicle snapped off a quick 6.6-second run to 60 mph. While the base engine is mated to a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), the turbo comes with a seven-speed automatic. All-wheel drive comes standard on all but the S trim. The Seltos offers a firm but mostly smooth ride, and handling is sharp for an SUV—it’s far more entertaining and composed than rivals such as the Jeep Compass and Mitsubishi Outlander Sport.

Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG

The EPA estimates that the Seltos will deliver fairly efficient MPG figures. Highway fuel economy is estimated to be as high as 35 mpg for front-wheel-drive models with the 2.0-liter four-cylinder. On our 75-mph highway fuel-economy test route, an all-wheel-drive Seltos with the turbocharged 1.6-liter managed 30 mpg. For more information about the Seltos’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.

Interior, Comfort, and Cargo

Inside, the Seltos offers noticeably more space for people and cargo than the Kona. The materials used throughout the cabin are well chosen and refined enough to seem right at home in the showroom next to the brand’s excellent Telluride SUV. Interior ambient lighting is standard on the upscale SX model and can be set to pulse along with the music like the system Kia offers in the smaller Soul SUV. During our test drive, the cargo area easily swallowed our suitcases, backpacks, and photo bag; in our testing, we fit eight carry-on suitcases in the cargo hold and 20 with the rear seats folded.

Infotainment and Connectivity

All Seltos models have a touchscreen infotainment display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, but the optional 10.3-inch unit is the one to get, and it’s standard on all but the LX and S trims. Navigation is optional and offers the capability to split the screen so you can view the map and directions at the same time you’re making changes to the radio station. Depending on which model you choose, the Seltos can also be equipped with a wireless smartphone-charging pad, up to three USB ports, a head-up display, and a 7.0-inch color display in the gauge cluster. An eight-speaker Bose audio system will also be optional and features fractal-textured speaker grilles.

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

Kia offers a standard suite of driver-assistance tech on the Seltos, but higher-tech features such as adaptive cruise control and cyclist detection are limited to the range-topping SX trim. For more information about the Seltos’s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:

• Standard automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection
• Standard lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist
• Available adaptive cruise control and cyclist detection

Warranty and Maintenance Coverage

Kia’s warranty is the best in the industry, and the company continues to offer the 10-year or 100,000-mile powertrain coverage on its models. The only other rivals that can match it are SUVs from sister company Hyundai.

• Limited warranty covers 5 years or 60,000 miles
• Powertrain warranty covers 10 years or 100,000 miles
• No complimentary scheduled maintenance

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