Execs: A great deal of area; nice expertise; exuberant acceleration with turbo engine; intelligent design all through; sturdy security scores
Cons: Turbo engine’s subpar gas economic system; weak base engine; saying you personal one thing known as ‘Kia Seltos’
“Actually, they known as a automobile that?” Sure, they actually did, and it’s a disgrace as a result of the car hooked up to the moniker 2025 Kia Seltos deserves lots higher than to be confused with a prescription drug marketed throughout “Jeopardy!” Certainly, it’s one in every of our top-recommended subcompact SUVs due to its ample passenger and cargo area, distinctive tech, sharp fashion in and out, and a uncommon engine improve choice for the category. Higher nonetheless, not like that prescription drug, there actually aren’t any scary-sounding uncomfortable side effects.
After getting a couple of substantive upgrades final yr, together with tweaked appears and upgraded infotainment, the 2025 Seltos simply sees some function content material additions. Oh, and it’s worth inched up a bit, which might usually be par for the course, however it does deserve a point out right here because the Seltos isn’t the worth chief you may assume given the Kia model. That’s as a result of the Chevrolet Trax and Buick Envista has largely eaten its lunch in that regard, and though not out there with all-wheel-drive, they ship a lot bang for the buck they’ll’t be ignored within the section. Kia’s personal Niro hybrid can also be in the identical worth and measurement ballpark because the Seltos, however once more, shouldn’t be out there with all-wheel drive. If that’s necessary to you, we’d advocate looking on the mechanically associated Hyundai Kona or the spacious, family-friendly Volkswagen Taos. If fashion and efficiency are extra necessary to you than area, the Mazda CX-30 is price a glance, too. All advised, the Seltos might be thought of a competitor and good different to all of them. We simply wouldn’t blame you for calling it your Kia Whatchamacallit.
Inside & Expertise | Passenger & Cargo House | Efficiency & Gasoline Financial system
What it is prefer to drive | Pricing & Trim Ranges | Crash Scores & Security Options
What’s new for 2025?
After extra substantial updates final yr, each Seltos trim degree will get extra tools for 2025. The bottom S will get a brand new instrument panel show, auto up/down energy driver window and new two-tone alloy wheels. The EX and SX will get rear parking sensors, whereas the EX AWD and SX acquire an influence liftgate. Lastly, the EX is now out there with a sunroof.
Seltos SX inside with “Brown” colour selection; Seltos S blue seat choice; base Seltos LX with smaller display screen combo
What are the Seltos inside and in-car expertise like?
If there’s one space the place the Seltos betrays its comparatively low worth, it is the standard of its inside supplies. The door sills, sprint tops, heart console and cargo space are all exhausting plastic – there’s much more all through than you will discover in Kia’s Sportage and even Niro. To be truthful, this isn’t uncommon for the section and there’s truly higher-quality supplies current than the broadly lauded Chevy Trax/Buick Envista twins. Like these, although, Kia’s designers cleverly made up for its accountants’ dictates by elevating a number of key areas with upgraded supplies and distinctive design parts. The 3D geometric sample of the speaker grilles, the metal-look passenger seize deal with, the glossy silver trim piece surrounding the air vents and starter button, and non-compulsory upgrades that embrace distinctive seat colours and, on higher trim ranges, matching simulated leather-based sprint trim. It undoubtedly appears dearer than it’s.
Additionally serving to the inside’s visible enchantment is the curved twin-screen housing that stretches throughout the sprint. The bottom LX will get a mixture of 4.2-inch instrument panel and 8-inch infotainment display screen with bordering bodily buttons; all different trims get 10.25-inch screens for each the devices (full with 4 design decisions) and infotainment system. The latter’s bodily menu controls and knobs are beneath the local weather controls, which sounds bizarre, however places them shortly at hand. Though the bottom system is definitely straightforward sufficient to make use of, the improve is without doubt one of the higher, most feature-packed and easiest-to-use infotainment techniques on the market. We additionally just like the two-tiered storage answer supposed for smartphones: the smaller tray above meant to grip and retailer a telephone (it is also a wi-fi charger in higher trims) and the deeper bin beneath with two USB ports that may retailer one other telephone or no matter you need. Sadly, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto can’t be wirelessly related, however the wired variations are commonplace.
How large is the Seltos?
The Seltos could also be a subcompact SUV with considerably smaller exterior dimensions than its greater, “compact” Sportage sibling, it nonetheless provides loads of inside area. Certainly, it is one of many few decisions within the section that will be well-suited for small households. There’s enough space for a large baby seat, and the squared roofline and rear doorways make loading and unloading that baby simpler than in a number of rivals. For these sans youngsters, the again seat supplies ample consolation and area for full-size adults with out the low roof and claustrophobic view out of some rivals. The eight-way energy driver seat discovered within the EX, X-Line and SX trim ranges supplies an abundance of adjustability and area.
Cargo area can also be superb for the section. There is a beneficiant 26.6 cubic ft again there, which allowed us to safe 5 suitcases with room to spare. Whereas not finest in its subcompact class (the Ford Bronco Sport and VW Taos are greater), it’s proper up there. Its most cargo capability of 62.8 cubic ft is beneficiant as properly and speaks to its boxier dimensions that ought to make hauling bulkier gadgets simpler.
What are the Seltos gas economic system and efficiency specs?
The Seltos LX, S and EX are powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that produces a modest 146 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque. It’s paired to a constantly variable transmission that simulates eight gear ratios. Entrance-wheel drive is commonplace on the S and EX; all-wheel-drive is non-compulsory on these and curiously, commonplace on the bottom LX. Kia claims a zero-to-60-mph time of 8.8 seconds with commonplace front-wheel-drive, and 9.6 seconds with non-compulsory all-wheel drive. These could be among the many slowest figures within the section. Gasoline economic system with FWD is 28 mpg metropolis, 34 mpg freeway and 31 mpg mixed. These drop to 27/31/29 with AWD. These figures make it among the many best within the section, although variations are slim.
The X-Line and SX get a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder good for 195 hp and 195 lb-ft. Few decisions within the section provide something near this. The 0-to-60 time is listed at a comparatively modest 8 seconds by Kia, however Motor Pattern clocked it at 7.3 seconds – a time that appears extra aligned with simply how fast the Seltos feels with it. All-wheel-drive is commonplace with this engine together with a standard eight-speed automated transmission. Gasoline economic system falls to an unremarkable 24 mpg metropolis, 27 mpg freeway and 25 mpg mixed. We managed solely 23.5 mpg in simply over 100 miles of combined metropolis and freeway driving.
What is the Seltos prefer to drive?
We’ve but to check the Seltos with the bottom powertrain. We discovered it to be underpowered within the lighter Kia Forte sedan – which most likely is not signal – and the “IVT” transmission to be uncommon. It simulates gear ratios throughout most driving situations, making it really feel regular sufficient (a bit just like the Turbo fashions’ dual-clutch gearbox, truly), however when accelerating exhausting, it will grasp onto revs as a CVT would earlier than finally “upshifting” a ratio. It is bizarre, however once more, we have not examined it within the Seltos.
The Turbo fashions are a distinct story. It provides the form of energy that will be above-average for the section above, whereas blowing most subcompact rivals out of the water. Positive, gas economic system takes a success, however the ample low-end grunt and (comparatively) fast acceleration must be a welcome trade-off for a lot of. The eight-speed automated principally went unnoticed throughout common driving, which is mostly factor, possessing not one of the uncommon behaviors of the bottom engine’s CVT or the Seltos turbo’s unique dual-clutch automated. When extra aggressive downshifts are wanted, although, the transmission is not as fast to reply as that outdated dual-clutch. Partaking Sport mode additionally does not change the automobile acceleration character as a lot because it used to, both. For many drivers, although, we expect that is in the end a web constructive.
The remainder of the Seltos driving expertise is typical for a Kia: succesful, composed however not particularly memorable. The trip sops up greater bumps surprisingly properly for a cheap crossover, maybe partly as a result of 18-inch wheels being the largest measurement out there. On the similar time, its chassis exhibits poise round corners and we may pleasantly hustle it alongside a mountain highway with out it feeling like a hopeless fish out of water. It by no means transcends into the sporty realm because the Mazda CX-30 does (and even the Chevy Trax), however that is extra a truth than a grievance. There’s additionally a good bit of highway noise inside, one other tell-tale signal of its worth level.
What different Kia Seltos evaluations can I learn?
2024 Kia Seltos First Drive Evaluation
We element all of the modifications made for 2024, together with the upgraded turbo powertrain and new X-Line trim degree.
Kia Seltos Baggage Check
We learn the way a lot the Seltos’ 26.6-cubic-foot cargo capability interprets to by way of precise stuff.
Kia Seltos First Drive Evaluation
Our first tackle the Seltos. Though there have been modifications since then, you’ll be able to learn extra about its engineering. There’s additionally some photos of it with deer.
What’s the 2025 Seltos worth?
As a result of the Seltos LX comes commonplace with all-wheel drive, it’s solely $600 cheaper than the in any other case better-equipped Seltos S. In a approach, that provides the Seltos two entry degree decisions: one which prioritizes all-weather traction and the opposite consolation/comfort options. An analogous state of affairs exists with the EX and X-Line fashions: the previous has a couple of extra creature comforts like an influence driver seat and a wi-fi charging pad, whereas the latter has the turbo engine and adventure-friendly roof rails. The SX, in the meantime, supplies near-luxury ranges of tech and options for the worth of entry-level compact fashions.
All costs beneath embrace the $1,375 vacation spot cost. As all-wheel drive is tied to trim degree greater than different SUVs, we’ve indicated beneath which embrace it as commonplace.
LX AWD: $25,965S FWD: $26,465S AWD: $27,965EX FWD: $27,465EX AWD: $29,665X-Line AWD: $30,665SX AWD: $32,465
What are the Seltos security scores and driver help options?
Each 2025 Seltos contains commonplace ahead collision warning with pedestrian detection and automated emergency braking, lane-departure warning and lane-keeping help, a driver inattention warning system and automated excessive beams. All however the LX embrace blind-spot and rear cross-traffic warning techniques. Solely the SX provides Kia’s glorious adaptive cruise management system with steering help (“Freeway Driving Help”).
The NHTSA nonetheless hasn’t gotten round to updating its ranking for the updated-for-’24 Seltos, however it’s uncertain the end result might be completely different than the unique end result: 4 out of 5 stars for general and frontal safety; 5 stars for aspect safety. Equally, the Insurance coverage Institute for Freeway Security nonetheless hasn’t examined the up to date Seltos, however did title the primary mannequin yr a High Security Choose for its best-possible crash safety and prevention scores.
