2026 Kia Seltos

Price Range: $23,790 - $31,490

Good

The 2026 Kia Seltos is a well-rounded SUV that boasts distinctive style, a surprisingly roomy interior, and an impressive array of infotainment and safety technologies. Some rivals are stronger in certain areas, but it's hard to find major faults with this little Kia.Read full review

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Kia Seltos for Sale

Pricing

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Edmunds suggests you pay

$24,500

35 for sale near you

Prices based on sales in VA thru 3/2/26

Final assembly in South Korea

Pros

Generous passenger and cargo space
Helpful tech features
Available engine upgrade for quicker acceleration

Cons

Front seat comfort and interior noise could be better
Slow acceleration with base engine
So-so fuel economy with turbo engine
Not as fun to drive as its styling suggests

What's new

LX now available with front-wheel drive, which lowers the base price
X-Line has been discontinued
Part of the first Seltos generation introduced for 2021

Overview

Written by automotive expert James Riswick

3/9/2026

Its name may sound like a prescription drug advertised during Wheel of Fortune, but the 2026 Kia Seltos is in fact an extra-small SUV that now sits at the bottom of Kia's SUV lineup alongside the similarly sized hybrid Niro. The Seltos is a stylish and value-packed choice with few overt faults and the distinctive option of a turbocharged engine upgrade. Its many tech features and roomy interior are also strong points.

Cost to Drive

Monthly estimates based on costs in Virginia

$134/mo

$183/mo

Avg. Compact SUV

Calculate my fuel costs

Edmunds spotlight: Boxy is better

The front end of the Seltos might be nicely rounded, but its interior compartment and roofline are pretty boxy. That's great news for passenger and cargo space. Adult passengers can comfortably fit in all outboard seating positions, even with taller folks up front. That roomy back seat also works great if you need to install bulky child safety seats. Add in a decent-size cargo area and the Seltos stacks up to be an extra-small SUV that can realistically serve as a family vehicle.

Competitors to consider

The Chevrolet Trax and Buick Envista are mechanically related, and both come recommended by our team. Similar to the Seltos, they are stylish and provide lots of features and space for the price. The Seltos' mechanically related corporate cousin, the Hyundai Kona, also offers a turbocharged engine upgrade plus helpful infotainment tech. If you want high fuel economy, the Kia Niro hybrid is a smart alternative.

Edmunds Expert Rating

edmunds TESTED

Driven, tested, rated by automotive expert Kurt Niebuhr

Good

6.4

out of 10

We drove the 2026 Kia Seltos on our test track and on real roads. Our Edmunds team conducts rigorous independent vehicle testing, driving 500,000 miles a year.

Driving experience

5.7/10

How does the Kia Seltos drive? We tested a top-of-the-line Seltos SX, which comes with the turbocharged 1.6-liter engine and all-wheel drive. Acceleration is sluggish from a stop, but once underway, the Seltos delivers peppy acceleration, making it pretty easy to get up to highway speeds. The transmission shifts smoothly and quickly, which helps to make the Seltos a breeze to drive in city traffic. Handling and braking performances are both average for the extra-small SUV class, and the Seltos is easy to maneuver in tight spaces.

The Seltos' boxy shape means good visibility in all directions, and for tight quarters, the backup camera offers a helpful wide-angle view. Plenty of advanced driver aids are available — though most are tied to the top-of-the-line SX trim — and while they all worked without fault, some of the systems were a bit on the conservative side, beeping and warning us well before we felt it was necessary.

Comfort

6.1/10

How comfortable is the Kia Seltos? The Seltos' interior is simple, practical and roomy. As one of the larger extra-small SUVs, the Seltos has enough room for most people, provided they're not exceptionally tall. And thanks to its boxy styling, the Seltos is pretty easy to get in and out of. The front seats lack thigh support for longer drives, but the rear seats are actually pretty comfortable for an SUV of this size.

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 on hot days.

In-cabin tech

7.8/10

How’s the tech? The Seltos' 10.25-inch infotainment screen, which comes standard on all but the base trim, has easy-to-read graphics but looks dated. We much preferred using Apple CarPlay and Android Auto instead of the onboard navigation system for routing to our destination. Annoyingly, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard with the smaller 8-inch screen, but once you upgrade to the larger unit, you have to rely on a wired connection. We were impressed with our test vehicle's Bose audio system; it produces clear sound and punchy bass. Charging devices is easy thanks to an available wireless charging pad and multiple USB-C ports for front and rear passengers.

Continue reading Edmunds Expert Rating below

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2026 Kia Seltos pricing in Ashburn, VA

Edmunds suggests you pay

Build & Price

Buying Tips for the 2026 Kia Seltos for March

Here are some tips to help you get the best deal on a 2026 Kia Seltos:

The Edmunds True Market Value for the Kia Seltos is slightly below MSRP by around $497, translating to about 1.9% off. This means buyers might expect modest discounts from the sticker price. The SX trim offers the best savings, about $718 off MSRP, or 2.3%, making it a favorable choice if you're seeking extra savings.
There are no generally available customer cash rebates, but a special $500 rebate is available for military personnel. This could help reduce the overall cost when buying new.
Look out for financing deals as Kia offers special APR rates that are significantly lower than the market rates. For instance, qualified buyers can access a promotional rate as low as 3.49% for 60 months, noticeably below the usual 7.19% market rate, which can save you money over the loan period.
New Kia Seltos models tend to sell quickly, especially the LX trim, which spends just 27 days on the lot, much faster than the average new car. Although inventory levels are decent, the quick sales pace might provide less room for negotiation, so it's a good idea to act quickly if you find a model you like.

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Storage & cargo

7/10

How’s storage and cargo? 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 thanks to a wide liftgate opening and decent cargo depth. As an added bonus, there is an available power-operated liftgate.

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.

Value

7.2/10

Is the Kia Seltos a good value? The Seltos is a better-than-average value for the class thanks to its long list 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. Newer SUVs in the extra-small SUV class feel a lot more substantial for similar money.

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.

Continue reading Edmunds Expert Rating below

MPG

5/10

How’s the fuel economy? The Kia Seltos has two engine options. We tested the SX, which has the more powerful turbocharged engine and all-wheel drive. The EPA estimates this combo will return 25 mpg in combined city and highway driving. That's below the class average, though one of the models with a less powerful engine and front-wheel drive gets a more respectable 31 mpg combined. In real-world driving, we think you should be able to match the EPA's numbers without much effort.

X factor

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.

2026 Kia Seltos trim level differences

The 2026 Kia Seltos is available in LX, S, EX and SX trim levels. The first three trims come with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 147 horsepower and 132 lb-ft of torque. A continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) and front-wheel drive are standard. All-wheel drive is optional on all trims and brings with it a more sophisticated rear suspension that helps improve the Seltos' handling and stability when turning. Compare the 2026 Kia Seltos trim levels in-depth.

Which Seltos trim does Edmunds recommend?

The Seltos is more enjoyable to drive with its available turbocharged engine, but you can only get it on the pricey SX trim level. As such, we recommend the EX trim level. For not much more than the base S trim, you get quite a few desirable extra features that you'll want to have on your Seltos.

Kia Seltos Reviews

Owner Reviews

4.4

64 reviews

5(72%)

4(9%)

3(9%)

2(4%)

1(6%)

Owners Say

The overall sentiment from owners about the 2026 Kia Seltos is mixed. Many owners love the comfortable ride, good gas mileage, spaciousness, and fun technology features. However, some owners find the seats uncomfortable, experience issues with noisy rides, and have had problems with certain features like the heating system or digital display. Overall, while some owners are very happy with their purchase, others have found issues that make them reconsider their choice.

This summary is AI-generated from the text of owner reviews

See all 64 reviews of the Kia Seltos

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Most Helpful Owner Review

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.

We have a limited number of reviews for the 2026 Kia Seltos, so we've included review for other years of the Seltos since its last redesign.

Helpful shopping links

2026 Kia Seltos Features & Specs

Trim:

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$23,790
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	31 MPG
Cost to Drive	$134/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	26.6 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	5 years / 60,000 miles

See all features & specs

Reliability

The 2026 Kia Seltos has a 5 years / 60,000 miles basic warranty and no recalls.

Recalls

There are no recalls for the 2026 Kia Seltos

Warranty

5 years / 60,000 miles Basic Warranty

Basic Warranty: 5 years / 60,000 miles
Drivetrain Warranty: 10 years / 100,000 miles
Rust Warranty: 5 years / 100,000 miles
Roadside assistance Warranty: 5 years / 60,000 miles

Where the Kia Seltos ranks:

#10 in X-Small SUVs

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Safety

Key safety features on the Seltos include:

Back-up camera
Blind Spot Monitoring
Lane Departure Warning
Alarm
Tire Pressure Warning
Stability Control
Pre-collision safety system
Post-collision safety system

NHTSA Overall Rating 5 out of 5 stars

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating	Rating
Overall	5 / 5
Driver	5 / 5
Passenger	4 / 5
Side Crash Rating	Rating
Overall	5 / 5
Side Barrier Rating	Rating
Overall	5 / 5
Driver	5 / 5
Passenger	5 / 5
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings	Rating
Front Seat	5 / 5
Back Seat	5 / 5
Rollover	Rating
Rollover	4 / 5
Dynamic Test Result	No Tip
Risk Of Rollover	16.9%

IIHS Rating

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.

Small Overlap Front Driver-Side Test	Good
Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side Test	Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Original	Not Tested
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Updated	Acceptable
Side Impact Test – Original	Not Tested
Side Impact Test – Updated	Marginal
Roof Strength Test	Not Tested
Rear Crash Protection / Head Restraint	Not Tested

FAQ

Is the Kia Seltos a good car?

The Edmunds experts tested the 2026 Seltos both on the road and at the track, giving it a 6.4 out of 10. Edmunds’ consumer reviews show that the 2026 Seltos gets an average rating of 4 stars out of 5 (based on 64 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 2026 Kia Seltos?

According to Edmunds’ car experts, here’s what’s new for the 2026 Kia Seltos:

LX now available with front-wheel drive, which lowers the base price
X-Line has been discontinued
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 4-star average consumer rating to that of competing vehicles. Learn more

Is the 2026 Kia Seltos a good car?

There's a lot to consider if you're wondering whether the 2026 Kia Seltos is a good car. Edmunds' expert testing team reviewed the 2026 Seltos and gave it a 6.4 out of 10. Our consumer reviews show that the 2026 Seltos gets an average rating of 4 stars out of 5 (based on 64 reviews). Safety scores, fuel economy, cargo capacity and feature availability should all be factors in determining whether the 2026 Seltos is a good car for you. Learn more

How much should I pay for a 2026 Kia Seltos?

The least-expensive 2026 Kia Seltos is the 2026 Kia Seltos LX 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl CVT). Including destination charge, it arrives with a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of about $23,790.

Other versions include:

LX 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl CVT) which starts at $23,790
LX 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT) which starts at $24,990
S 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl CVT) which starts at $25,490
EX 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl CVT) which starts at $26,490
S 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT) which starts at $26,990
EX 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT) which starts at $28,690
SX 4dr SUV AWD (1.6L 4cyl Turbo 8A) which starts at $31,490

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 (2.0L 4cyl CVT), LX 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT), S 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl CVT), and EX 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl CVT). For a full list of Seltos models, check out Edmunds’ Features & Specs page. Learn more

2026 Kia Seltos

Pricing

Pros

Cons

What's new

Overview

Cost to Drive

Edmunds spotlight: Boxy is better

Competitors to consider

Edmunds Expert Rating

Driving experience

Comfort

In-cabin tech

Buying Tips for the 2026 Kia Seltos for March

Storage & cargo

Value

MPG

X factor

2026 Kia Seltos trim level differences

Which Seltos trim does Edmunds recommend?

Kia Seltos Reviews

Owner Reviews

Owners Say

Most Helpful Owner Review

2026 Kia Seltos Features & Specs

Reliability

Recalls

Warranty

Where the Kia Seltos ranks:

Check a dealer's price

Safety

Key safety features on the Seltos include:

NHTSA Overall Rating 5 out of 5 stars

IIHS Rating

FAQ

Is the Kia Seltos a good car?

What's new in the 2026 Kia Seltos?

Is the Kia Seltos reliable?

Is the 2026 Kia Seltos a good car?

How much should I pay for a 2026 Kia Seltos?

What are the different models of Kia Seltos?