2022 Kia Seltos

　　

2022 Kia Seltos Review

byRonald MontoyaSenior Consumer Advice Editor & Content Strategy

　　Ronald Montoya has worked in the automotive industry since 2008. He has written over a thousand car related articles and bought and sold over 100 vehicles over the course of his career. Ronald is a senior consumer advice editor and content strategy at zzdcar and has also contributed to the Associated Press. He has also been featured on ABC, NBC and NPR on a number of car shopping topics. He got his start in the auto industry by taking a part-time job at a car dealership, where he worked in the service and accounting department.

　　The 2022 Kia Seltos is a relatively new entry to the small crossover SUV class. The Seltos debuted last year and sits in the Kia lineup between the smaller Soul and the larger Sportage. It seeks to stand out from its competitors with a stacked headlight design and an available two-toned roof.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2022 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 $3.06 per gallon for regular unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$133/mo  for Seltos LX

　　Seltos LX

　　LX 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT) - $22,590 MSRPS 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl CVT) - $22,790 MSRPS 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT) - $24,290 MSRPEX 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT) (Most Popular) - $25,890 MSRPNightfall 4dr SUV AWD (1.6L 4cyl Turbo 7AM) - $26,790 MSRPSX 4dr SUV AWD (1.6L 4cyl Turbo 7AM) - $28,090 MSRP

　　vs

　　$167/mo

　　Avg. Compact SUV

　　The Seltos' interior is filled with premium-feeling materials that help it seem like a more expensive vehicle. And though it's a subcompact SUV, four adults can fit comfortably inside. If you need to transport cargo, the rear seats fold down to provide up to 62.8 cubic feet of cargo space — that's more than most other SUVs this size offer.

　　Overall, we're impressed with the Seltos' styling, technology and spacious cabin, but there are a few drawbacks that keep it from the top of our extra-small SUV rankings. Take a look at our detailed Seltos Expert Rating to learn more.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar 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

　　zzdcar 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. In zzdcar' testing, the Seltos sprinted from 0 to 60 mph in 8.1 seconds. That's great for this class and means you can 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 to the task.

　　

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 zzdcar Expert Rating below