2024 Kia Seltos

Price Range: $24,490 - $30,090 ^{Price range reflects Base MSRP for various trim levels, not including options or fees.}

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The Kia Seltos is stylish, roomy, and available with plenty of the latest technology and safety features. It's rather quick, too, as long as you get the optional turbocharged engine. Comfort is lacking, however, and it's not particularly fun to drive. But overall this little Kia SUV is worth a look.

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2024 Kia Seltos Review

byChase Bierenkoven^{Contributor
Chase Bierenkoven has been writing about cars in his head since he was a child. Now, he does it for real, covering automotive news and producing reviews for outlets like Edmunds, Forbes Wheels and CarBuzz. Chase's career as an automotive journalist began in 2020, and he has already written scores of road tests. Some favorites of Chase's include the Dodge Challenger 392, Mazda Miata, Kia EV6 and Bentley Bentayga. Outside his work with cars, Chase is often found justifying his latest broken German sports car to anyone that will listen or enjoying the outdoor spaces of his native Colorado.},

rating written byJosh Sadlier^{Director of Content Strategy
Josh Sadlier has worked in the automotive industry since 2008. He has written or edited thousands of expert car reviews and road-tested hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Josh is director of content strategy at Edmunds and has also contributed to Autotrader and Automobile. Under his stewardship, Edmunds' own 1989 Yugo GVL won first place at the Concours d'Lemons, taking home a jar of borscht, a can of beets, a cutting board and a pint of VIP vodka.}

Pros

Plenty of cargo space
Upscale interior design and materials
Paint choices add personality

Cons

Front seats aren't very comfortable for long drives
Less than athletic handling

What's new

Updated grille, bumpers and lighting elements
New wheel designs
New dual-screen instrument panel
Part of the first Seltos generation introduced for 2021

Overview

Like many automakers, Kia has so many SUVs these days that it can be hard to keep them all straight. So here's one way to think about the refreshed 2024 Kia Seltos. It's the little sibling to Kia's larger and more expensive Sportage crossover SUV. Yet it provides impressive utility and offers available all-wheel drive. For 2024, Kia has made some light changes three years into the Seltos' run. These include updated styling, updated display screens, and more power for the available turbocharged engine. Kia has also introduced a more rugged X-Line trim.

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2024 Kia Seltos LX 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.50 per gallon for regular unleaded in Ohio.}

Monthly estimates based on costs in Ohio

$152/mo

$184/mo

Avg. Compact SUV

Calculate my fuel costs

Edmunds spotlight: Big on the inside

The Seltos is bigger on the inside than you might think. Like Mary Poppins' bag, this SUV seems to swallow items that simply shouldn't fit. The Seltos is one of the class leaders, boasting 62.8 cubic feet of max cargo capacity. Moreover, the liftgate is wide and there's plenty of trays, pockets, and cubbies for your smaller items. People fit, too, and so long as you're under 6-foot-2, there's plenty of headroom for passengers. For an affordable family-oriented SUV, the Seltos easily satisfies.

Competitors to consider

Other worthy picks for an extra small crossover include the Chevrolet Trailblazer and Mazda CX-30. The Trailblazer offers comparable value to the Seltos, while the CX-30 stands out with its upscale cabin and quick acceleration. You might also consider checking out the popular Honda HR-V and Toyota Corolla Cross. For more information on the Kia Seltos' best attributes, check out our test team's Expert Rating.

Edmunds Expert Rating

Our Verdict^{The Edmunds Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.}

Average

7.6

out of 10

edmunds TESTED

Rated for you by America's best test team.

Performance

7.5/10

How does the Seltos drive? We tested a top-of-the-line Seltos SX, which comes with the turbocharged engine. Acceleration is sluggish from a stop, but after that this little SUV is pretty punchy. It's pretty easy to quickly get up to highway speeds. The transmission shifts smoothly and quickly. The Seltos is less impressive once the road bends, however. The responsive steering and taut suspension tuning should be beneficial, but drive with some enthusiasm and the Seltos just feels overly nose-heavy and ill-suited for enthusiastic driving.

Comfort

7.0/10

How comfortable is the Seltos? The Kia Seltos is comfortable enough for your daily routine and short road trips. It absorbs most bumps without trouble and isn't overly floaty on the highway. The front seats are OK, but they don't have enough thigh support and cushioning to make them truly comfortable on long drives. The rear seats are actually pretty comfortable for an extra-small SUV.

There's a fair amount of road noise that enters the cabin, and the climate control system is a little weak when it comes to thoroughly cooling the cabin down on hot days.

Continue reading Edmunds Expert Rating below

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2024 Kia Seltos pricing

in Columbus, OH

Edmunds suggests you pay

Build & Price

Interior

7.5/10

How’s the interior? The Seltos' interior is simple, practical and roomy. As one of the larger extra-small SUVs (yes, that's kind of an oxymoron), the Seltos has enough room for most people. As long as you're under 6-foot-2, you should find the Seltos pretty accommodating in both front and back. The Seltos is also pretty easy to get in and out of.

Visibility is somewhat hampered by thick roof pillars. It's always good practice to glance twice to make sure there are no pedestrians walking toward you from the right side. The wide-angle rearview camera is definitely beneficial when you're backing up.

Technology

8.0/10

How’s the tech? The Seltos' 10.25-inch infotainment screen, which comes on most trims, has crisp graphics and is easy to use. We were also impressed with our test vehicle's Bose audio system; it produces clear sound and punchy bass. In our testing, the Seltos' advanced driver aids work well and aren't overly intrusive with warnings. But the available adaptive cruise control is very conservative with its following distances.

Storage

8.0/10

How’s the storage? You can hold a lot of stuff in the back of the Seltos. It's one of the leaders in its class with a maximum cargo capacity of 62.8 cubic feet. Leave the rear seats up and there's still 26.6 cubes. Loading cargo isn't a hassle either thanks to a wide liftgate opening and decent cargo depth.

Interior storage for front passengers is sufficient. There are plenty of water-bottle-size pockets, a small cellphone tray in front of the gear shifter, a small console box and a glovebox. As for child safety-seat installation, the Seltos' car seat anchor points are clearly marked and easy to access. You'll be able to install a rear-facing safety seat without too much trouble.

Fuel Economy

7.5/10

How’s the fuel economy? The Kia Seltos has a few powertrain combinations. We tested the SX, which has the more powerful turbocharged engine, and our vehicle had all-wheel drive too. The EPA estimates that combo will get 26 mpg combined. That's below the class average, though a base Seltos with front-wheel drive gets a more respectable 31 mpg combined. In real-world driving, we believe you should be able to match the EPA's numbers without much trouble.

Value

7.5/10

Is the Seltos a good value? The Seltos is a better than average value for the class thanks to its pleasing number of standard features. The top SX trim is pricey, but it adds a lot of stuff, including the turbocharged engine. Build quality is solid, but the interior materials lack substance and the abundant plastic makes it feel a tad cheap.

Kia's limited and powertrain warranties are fantastic. You get five-year/60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper and 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain coverage.

Wildcard

7.5/10

The Kia Seltos looks a little bit like a Land Rover Evoque SUV, and you can enhance its style with contrasting roof and body paint colors. It definitely stands out in the extra-small SUV class. The rest of the package isn't very inspiring. But is it practical? Definitely.

Which Seltos does Edmunds recommend?

The Seltos X-Line trim offers a pleasing balance of pricing and features. For 2024, Kia has made all-wheel drive optional on the EX trim to the tune of $2,200. As a result, it's worth stepping up to the X-Line for its rugged styling, more powerful engine, and comfort features like heated seats. Other niceties include black roof rails and accents, a 10.25-inch display, and scores of standard safety features.

Kia Seltos models

The 2024 Kia Seltos is available in five trim levels: LX, S, EX, X-Line and SX. You'll generally get progressively more features on each one, plus a more powerful engine for the X-Line and SX. Keep reading for our breakdown of the significant standard and optional features you get with each trim.

LX
Starts you off with:

146-horsepower four-cylinder engine
Continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT)
All-wheel drive
17-inch wheels
Keyless entry
Tinted rear windows
Cloth seats
8-inch touchscreen
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration
Six-speaker audio system

Every Seltos also comes with:

Forward collision warning with automatic braking (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)
Lane departure warning (alerts you if the vehicle begins to drift out of its lane)
Driver attention warning
Lane keeping assistance (steers the car back into its lane if it begins to drift over the lane marker)

S
Comes standard with front-wheel drive, though all-wheel drive is an option. The S trim also adds:

Roof rails
Foglights
Proximity keyless entry and push-button start
Cloth and synthetic leather upholstery
Leather-wrapped steering wheel
Automatic climate control
10.25-inch touchscreen
Integrated navigation system
Blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic warning (alerts you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while in reverse)

EX
Upgrades the Seltos with:

Sunroof
Synthetic leather upholstery
Heated front seats
Power-adjustable driver's seat
10.25-inch touchscreen
Wireless phone charger

X-Line
Has the features of the EX plus:

Turbocharged 195-hp engine
Eight-speed automatic transmission
18-inch wheels
Black roof rails and accents
Cloth and synthetic leather upholstery

SX
Tops off the Seltos line with:

LED headlights
Synthetic leather upholstery
Bose premium audio system
Adaptive cruise control (adjusts speed to maintain a constant distance between the Seltos and the car in front)
Lane centering system (makes minor steering corrections to help keep the vehicle centered in its lane)
Optional ventilated front seats

Kia Seltos Reviews

Owner Reviews

4.6

37 reviews

5(76%)

4(16%)

3(0%)

2(5%)

1(3%)

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Most Helpful Owner Reviews

Truly an awesome, affordable vehicle.

Gma, 06/08/2023

2024 Kia Seltos EX 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT)

The Kia Seltos is a SUV gem. Tons of extras including all wheel drive, little to no road sounds while driving, heated seats, power seat for the driver, with a spacious interior and great gas mileage. I’m averaging around 34.5 miles while driving in town and on the high way. A bargain and the warranty is terrific. If your looking for a compact suv give this one a test drive.

Awesome little nugget

Dirtydominican , 01/05/2023

2023 Kia Seltos S 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl CVT)

Smooth ride, awesome design, and mileage is on par with Toyota and Honda sedans. You won't be disappointed. 6 Months later still love it!

The car I didn't think I would want

Cindy, 08/17/2022

2023 Kia Seltos SX 4dr SUV AWD (1.6L 4cyl Turbo 7AM)

I test drove a 2023 white Kia Seltos with plum interior and fell completely in love. It is a turbo, so it is peppy and a very comfortable ride. My boyfriend, who has a 2020 Lexus RC350, and is hard to please became smitten with it after he drove it. Great car.

LOVE

Kayla Samuels, 09/10/2022

2023 Kia Seltos LX 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT)

Upgraded to this and it’s the perfect size up from the Kia Soul I had. Big enough but not too big.

We have a limited number of reviews for the 2024 Kia Seltos, so we've included reviews for other years of the Seltos since its last redesign.

See all 37 reviews of the Kia Seltos

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2024 Kia Seltos Features Specs

Trim:

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$24,490
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	29 MPG
Cost to Drive	$152/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	26.6 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	all wheel drive
Warranty	5 years / 60,000 miles

See all features & specs

Compare the Kia Seltos

Compare selected vehiclesSee full list of X-Small SUVs rankings

Kia Seltos vs. Volkswagen Taos

The Volkswagen Taos boasts a smooth ride, confident handling and abundance of tech features. The Taos' transmission can be slow to react when more power is needed, but it still feels more responsive than the base Seltos engine at low speeds. One significant advantage of picking the Seltos is its lengthier warranty coverage.

Compare Kia Seltos & Volkswagen Taos features

Kia Seltos vs. Chevrolet Trailblazer

If long drives are a fixture in your life, the Trailblazer is a better choice than the Seltos, primarily because of its more supportive seats and quieter interior. In our testing, the Chevy was more than a full second slower when accelerating to 60 mph than the Seltos with its optional turbocharged engine. But around town, it feels just as quick.

Compare Kia Seltos & Chevrolet Trailblazer features

Kia Seltos vs. Mazda CX-30

The Mazda CX-30 represents the stylish sophisticate among the class, with its sleek body styling and comparably luxurious interior. It's also a strong performer, with standard all-wheel drive, sporty handling and an available turbocharged engine. That engine upgrade is costly, but even the CX-30's base engine is more enjoyable than either of the Seltos' choices. Read Edmunds' long-term road test of the Mazda CX-30.

Compare Kia Seltos & Mazda CX-30 features

Safety

Our experts’ favorite Seltos safety features:

Blind-Spot Collision Warning: Warns you of vehicles in the Seltos' blind spot and illuminates a light in the mirror as an alert.
Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning: Alerts you of vehicles or objects crossing the Seltos' path when reversing.
Intelligent Speed Limit Assist/Warning: Detects the speed limit of a given road, alerting the driver if the limit is broken, and will decelerate the vehicle in some situations depending on settings.

2024 Kia Seltos First Impressions

byJosh Sadlier

•11/17/2022 (updated 5/17/2023)

What is the Seltos?

Like many automakers, Kia has so many SUVs these days that it can be hard to keep them all straight. So here's one way to think about the refreshed 2024 Kia Seltos, which starts at $24,390 sans destination fee: It's the affordable SUV for people who wish the even more affordable Soul had all-wheel drive.

But the Seltos is more than that, of course. It's a small SUV that can seat four 6-footers in comfort. It's a star on the tech front with standard dual LCDs for the instruments and infotainment. It also offers a strong turbocharged engine with nearly 200 horsepower, although roughly 70% of buyers will end up with the 146-hp base engine, according to Kia. We have only driven the turbo Seltos to date. With that in mind, let's proceed.

What's under the Seltos' hood?

The 2024 Seltos will continue to come standard with the 146-horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder in the LX, S and EX trim levels. This familiar engine has failed to impress us in any Hyundai/Kia application, though as noted, we haven't driven a Seltos so equipped. It's paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission that Kia likes to call an "intelligent variable transmission."

Notably, the base LX gains standard all-wheel drive for 2024, offering a budget-friendly option for folks in colder climes who might otherwise buy a Subaru. Front-wheel drive comes standard on the midgrade S and EX trims, with AWD optional.

The turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder found in the new X-Line and carryover SX trims adds quite a bit more power, especially this year. That's because the 2024 Seltos' turbocharged motor packs an extra 20 horses for a healthy total of 195 hp, leaving some notable rivals like the Honda HR-V in the dust. Also new for 2024 is the turbo engine's eight-speed automatic transmission, replacing the previous seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. We expect this new combo to shave a few ticks off the old Seltos turbo's zero to 60 mph time of 8.1 seconds.

If you want front-wheel drive with your turbo engine, by the way, you're out of luck. All turbocharged Seltos models come standard with all-wheel drive, yielding an EPA fuel economy estimate of 26 mpg combined. Step down to the base 2.0-liter engine with front-wheel drive and you'll see 31 mpg combined, while adding AWD to the 2.0 nets 29 mpg combined. That's pretty good — the aforementioned Honda HR-V, which also has a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, returns an estimated 28 mpg combined with FWD and 27 mpg combined with AWD.

How does the Seltos drive?

We were hoping that the turbo engine's added horses and new transmission would cure its lack of punch off the line, but no dice. Floor it from a stop and there's still some hesitation before the powertrain gets the message. Once the turbo kicks in, though, there's enough punch to put a smile on most SUV shoppers' faces. The eight-speed transmission does its job without drama, though we said the same of the discontinued seven-speed. Overall, the turbocharged Seltos is a rare treat in this segment, delivering the kind of acceleration that won't make you feel like maybe you should have sprung for a pricier SUV.

At highway speeds, our Seltos SX test vehicle remained respectably quiet inside for an entry-level SUV. Sporty cornering? Yeah, that's not this Kia's forte, if you will, but we doubt most people will complain. The big question is how that base powertrain performs — the one with the non-turbo engine and the CVT. Most Seltos buyers will end up with that tandem, so we're eager to try it and see just how much they're giving up.

How comfortable is the Seltos?

The primary thing to know about the Seltos' comfort credentials is that four 6-footers can easily fit inside. We classify the Seltos as an extra-small SUV due to its pricing and competitive set, but the reality is that there's plenty of passenger space in this rig unless you need three seating rows. Seat comfort, unfortunately, has been an issue for some of our testers, so that's something to pay attention to on your test drive. Otherwise, it's hard to find fault with how the Seltos treats its occupants. It's a pleasant vehicle to spend time in.

How's the Seltos' tech?

All models now come standard with dual displays up front, consisting of a digital instrument panel and a central touchscreen housed in a single frame. The base LX trim gets smaller screens but still boasts digital gauges, while the rest of the Seltos lineup rolls with twin 10.25-inch screens. Additionally, the Seltos gains an extra USB port in the rear (for a new maximum of four ports), while the SX Sunroof package now counts ventilated front seats, a power liftgate and phone-as-a-key functionality among its upgrades. The Seltos has always traded on its generous feature content, but these enhancements for 2024 make it even more of an outlier in a typically frill-free segment.

Kia has also amped up the Seltos' driving aids for 2024. The forward collision system now detects both pedestrians and bicyclists, and the adaptive cruise control system can now react to changing speed limits. On the highway, we switched on adaptive cruise along with lane keeping assistance and found that the Seltos can drive itself just fine, keeping us centered in the lane and capably modulating our following distance. Unfortunately, adaptive cruise comes only on the top SX trim level, which is surprising given how Kia has spread so many other premium features across the roster.

Edmunds says

The 2024 Seltos has many strengths, especially if you spring for the turbocharged engine. The jury's out on the standard powertrain, but the turbocharged trims (X-Line and SX) still sneak in under $30,000 without destination. That's a lot of value, particularly in these inflationary times. Is it enough to unseat segment leaders like the Volkswagen Taos, Chevy Trailblazer and Mazda CX-30? Stay tuned for our full instrumented test of the 2024 Seltos, which will give us the answer to that question.

FAQ

Is the Kia Seltos a good car?

The Edmunds experts tested the 2024 Seltos both on the road and at the track, giving it a 7.6 out of 10. Edmunds’ consumer reviews show that the 2024 Seltos gets an average rating of 5 stars out of 5 (based on 37 reviews) What about cargo capacity? When you're thinking about carrying stuff in your new car, keep in mind that the Seltos has 26.6 cubic feet of trunk space. And then there's safety and reliability. Edmunds has all the latest NHTSA and IIHS crash-test scores, plus industry-leading expert and consumer reviews to help you understand what it's like to own and maintain a Kia Seltos. Learn more

What's new in the 2024 Kia Seltos?

According to Edmunds’ car experts, here’s what’s new for the 2024 Kia Seltos:

Updated grille, bumpers and lighting elements
New wheel designs
New dual-screen instrument panel
Part of the first Seltos generation introduced for 2021

Learn more

Is the Kia Seltos reliable?

To determine whether the Kia Seltos is reliable, read Edmunds' authentic consumer reviews, which come from real owners and reveal what it's like to live with the Seltos. Look for specific complaints that keep popping up in the reviews, and be sure to compare the Seltos's 5-star average consumer rating to that of competing vehicles. Learn more

Is the 2024 Kia Seltos a good car?

There's a lot to consider if you're wondering whether the 2024 Kia Seltos is a good car. Edmunds' expert testing team reviewed the 2024 Seltos and gave it a 7.6 out of 10. Our consumer reviews show that the 2024 Seltos gets an average rating of 5 stars out of 5 (based on 37 reviews). Safety scores, fuel economy, cargo capacity and feature availability should all be factors in determining whether the 2024 Seltos is a good car for you. Learn more

How much should I pay for a 2024 Kia Seltos?

The least-expensive 2024 Kia Seltos is the 2024 Kia Seltos LX 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT). Including destination charge, it arrives with a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of about $24,490.

Other versions include:

LX 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT) which starts at $24,490
S 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl CVT) which starts at $25,090
EX 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl CVT) which starts at $25,890
S 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT) which starts at $26,590
EX 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT) which starts at $28,090
X-Line 4dr SUV AWD (1.6L 4cyl Turbo 8A) which starts at $28,790
SX 4dr SUV AWD (1.6L 4cyl Turbo 8A) which starts at $30,090

Learn more

What are the different models of Kia Seltos?

If you're interested in the Kia Seltos, the next question is, which Seltos model is right for you? Seltos variants include LX 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT), S 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl CVT), EX 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl CVT), and S 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT). For a full list of Seltos models, check out Edmunds’ Features & Specs page. Learn more

2024 Kia Seltos

Pricing

2024 Kia Seltos Review

Pros

Cons

What's new

Overview

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2024 Kia Seltos LX 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.50 per gallon for regular unleaded in Ohio.

Edmunds spotlight: Big on the inside

Competitors to consider

Edmunds Expert Rating

Performance

Comfort

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2024 Kia Seltos pricing

Edmunds suggests you pay

Interior

Technology

Storage

Fuel Economy

Value

Wildcard

Which Seltos does Edmunds recommend?

Kia Seltos models

Kia Seltos Reviews

Owner Reviews

Most Helpful Owner Reviews

Truly an awesome, affordable vehicle.

Awesome little nugget

The car I didn't think I would want

LOVE

Helpful shopping links

2024 Kia Seltos Features Specs

Compare the Kia Seltos

Kia Seltos vs. Volkswagen Taos

Kia Seltos vs. Chevrolet Trailblazer

Kia Seltos vs. Mazda CX-30

Safety

Our experts’ favorite Seltos safety features:

2024 Kia Seltos First Impressions

FAQ

Is the Kia Seltos a good car?

What's new in the 2024 Kia Seltos?

Is the Kia Seltos reliable?

Is the 2024 Kia Seltos a good car?

How much should I pay for a 2024 Kia Seltos?

What are the different models of Kia Seltos?

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Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2024 Kia Seltos LX 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.50 per gallon for regular unleaded in Ohio.}

Save as much as $920 with Edmunds ^{Click on the model you’re interested in to see what Edmunds suggests you should pay to get a good deal.}