KiaSeltos

　　

2024 Kia Seltos Review

byChase BierenkovenContributor

　　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 zzdcar, 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 byChase BierenkovenDirector 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 zzdcar and has also contributed to Autotrader and Automobile. Under his stewardship, zzdcar' 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.

　　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 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 $3.06 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) - $24,390 MSRPS 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl CVT) - $24,990 MSRPS 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT) - $26,490 MSRPEX 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl CVT) - $25,790 MSRPEX 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT) - $27,990 MSRPX-Line 4dr SUV AWD (1.6L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $28,690 MSRPSX 4dr SUV AWD (1.6L 4cyl Turbo 8A) (Most Popular) - $29,990 MSRP

　　vs

　　$167/mo

　　Avg. Compact SUV

　　

zzdcar 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.

　　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. 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 zzdcar Expert Rating below