When the Kia Seltos landed in February 2020, just before the world went upside-down, we said that the new sport-utility vehicle was "redefining the entry-level SUV." Much as the larger Telluride did in its category, the small Seltos offered a new level of bang for the buck in its field, delivering a good-looking package with ample space and a pleasant interior.
That said, time, tide and the compact crossover category wait for no man. The last few years have seen a flood of new and improved entrants into the field as buyers continue to hurl their money, Philip J. Fry style, at automakers in order to snap up small SUVs. Subaru has an all-new Crosstrek, Honda has a new HR-V, Toyota rolled out the Corolla Cross to replace the little-loved C-HR, Volkswagen has entered the arena with the Taos, Nissan has updated the Kicks and Jeep freshened up the Compass. And that's not even factoring in other, less-traditional alternatives people might consider instead of a small, car-like SUV: the Ford Maverick pickup truck and the all-wheel-drive Toyota Prius both come to mind, or even the Chevy Bolt EUV for anyone who can live without four driven wheels.
Still, given the Seltos's impressive initial showing, its bones should still be solid — and with a new 2024 model year facelift landing in showrooms, we figured it was worth checking out the latest version to see how it stacks up against an increasingly competitive set of foes.
2024 Kia Seltos: What We Think
The mid-life updates to the Seltos are on the mild side — the optional engine scores more power and a better gearbox, the interior picks up some additional technology, the exterior nets a bit more aggressive styling and the ride grows a little more quiet. Overall, the measures refine the vehicle to help keep it looking attractive in a competitive market. But the compact crossover field has changed significantly in the last three years, and given the quality of entries like Subaru's new Crosstrek and Honda's new HR-V, the Seltos isn't quite the slam-dunk of a clear choice it was in 2020.
The Seltos rides and drives well enough for most buyers
Most of the time, an automaker launches a new car by sending journalists off on a route packed with varied types of driving — tight, winding back roads, high-speed freeways, maybe a little off-roading if the vehicle is made for it. For the '24 Seltos, however, Kia sent us on a brief, low-speed tour of the Gatsby-esque neighborhoods of Newport, Rhode Island, followed by a brief highway sojourn to neighboring Providence ... followed by a short but rush-hour-congested drive on surface streets back to Newport. Dynamic, it was not.
Still, to be fair, that's more in line with how actual Seltos buyers likely live and drive (even if Kia says the car's target demo is on the adventurous side, going so far as to offer a gratis six-month membership to AllTrails with every Seltos purchase). It rides smoothly and comfortably; unremarkable, in this case, is not to damn with faint praise but rather to suggest this Kia gives buyers exactly what they'll expect and never leave them second-guessing.
The upgraded interior is a nice place to be
Opt for any trim level but the base model, and the Seltos comes with a premium-looking dual 10.25-inch display system on the dash, with one serving up the instrument panel and the other serving as the touchscreen hub for the infotainment system. Both displays look crisp, vivid and delightful, with user interfaces that are both intuitive and a little playful; they definitely give the Seltos a fancier vibe than before, and offer a leg up on much of the competition.
I spent time in the SX version, which sits at the top of the lineup and rings up on either side of $32K depending on whether you want the bundled moonroof-and-ventilated-seats package. You won't confuse it with a Telluride, but then again, this is half the price — yet it still very much feels of the same caliber and quality, with generally-nicer-than-normal materials used throughout the cabin. And, as always, kudos to Kia for keeping all those wonderfully intuitive physical buttons around.
The turbo engine's extra power is appreciated
The big news under the hood for the 2024 model year lies with the turbocharged engine, which is found under the hood of the soft-road-oriented X-Line and top-shelf SX trims. Power is up, by more than 10 percent; perhaps more noticeably, the old seven-speed dual clutch gearbox that was never quite the equal of similar DSGs from VW has been hot-swapped for a conventional automatic with one extra gear.
With 195 horsepower, 195 lb-ft of torque that shows up starting at just 1,600 rpm and a solid eight-speed automatic, the turbo Seltos sits at the top of a class not really known for its accelerative zest. (Looking at you, Honda HR-V.) Whether zipping off the line or trying to pass slower traffic on a highway, it picks up speed nicely; you won't have to bury your foot as often as you do in other tiny crossovers.
However, it remains to be seen how many buyers will appreciate it. Only around 30 percent of buyers have opted for the turbo variants, according to Kia; the rest chose the naturally aspirated 2.0-liter inline-four found in the rest of the range. Hopefully, the added power will persuade a few more to swing for the zippier version, although value-driven consumers will likely stick with it for its superior fuel economy and more affordable price point. (Kia didn't give journalists a chance to test any 2024 models with the naturally aspirated 2.0-liter, but given that "146 horsepower, 136 lb-ft and a CVT" isn't what we'd usually associate with vim and vigor, I'm betting it's not exactly brisk.)
Affordable all-wheel-drive is the Seltos's ace in the hole
Not getting to test the base engine also meant I didn't have a chance to try the model that serves as one of the most affordable ways to score all-wheel-drive in a new car these days: the Seltos LX, which may just happen to lie at the heart of the model's appeal.
As Kia explains it, the Seltos first came into being because buyers kept asking for an AWD version of the Soul hatchback. Instead, Kia decided there would be more juice in the squeeze if they whipped up an all-new vehicle based around the same bones. But to make sure those folks didn't feel neglected, the brand made sure all-wheel-drive came standard on the base model — and they've continued that here.
At a starting price of just $25,715 yet coming equipped with automatic headlights (including auto high beams), an 8.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and a veritable boatload of active safety features (automatic emergency braking with cyclist detection, lane keeping and following assistance, rear occupant alert) on top of the AWD, the Seltos LX packs a serious value punch for any drivers who don't care much about how quick they can spring away from stop lights.
2024 Kia Seltos: Alternatives
As mentioned above, the Seltos fights in a competitive class. The 2024 Subaru Crosstrek would be the most obvious alternative to consider in this reviewer's book, but buyers would also be smart to peek at the Honda HR-V and Toyota Corolla Cross. The new Chevy Trax offers a more affordable choice if you can live without all-wheel-drive, but Gear Patrol hasn't driven it yet. There's also the updated 2024 Hyundai Kona, which is the same car as the Seltos beneath the skin but with a different sense of style.
If you're willing to spend a dash extra for more space, there's also the likes of the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4, which overlap a bit with the Seltos at the Kia's top end; both also offer hybrid powertrains that will beat the fuel economy of the conventionally powered Seltos.
2024 Kia Seltos
Base Price / Price as Tested: $25,715 / $32,515
Powertrain: 2.0-liter inline-four, continuously variable automatic, front- or all-wheel-drive / 1.6-liter turbo four, eight-speed automatic, all-wheel-drive
Horsepower: 146 / 195
Torque: 136 lb-ft / 195 lb-ft
EPA Fuel Economy: 27–28 mpg city, 31–34 mpg highway / 25 mpg city, 27 mpg highway
Seats: Five
