2023 Kia Seltos

　　

2023 Kia Seltos Review

byMark TakahashiCorrespondent

　　Mark Takahashi has worked in the automotive industry since 2001. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Mark has also contributed to Motor Trend, Auto Aficionado, Chevy High Performance and several motorcycle magazines in various roles. Mark is also a juror on the North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year Awards and can be seen regularly on the zzdcar YouTube channel and sometimes representing the company in media interviews.

　　The Kia Seltos may be suffering from middle-child syndrome, receiving less attention than its Kia siblings on either side. On one hand, it's priced higher than the funky-cool Kia Soul. On the other, the all-new Kia Sportage is making a splash with its crisp, aggressive styling that will likely dictate the look and feel of the brand's future lineup.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2023 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) - $23,340 MSRPS 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl CVT) (Most Popular) - $23,390 MSRPS 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT) - $24,890 MSRPEX 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl CVT) - $26,640 MSRPNightfall 4dr SUV AWD (1.6L 4cyl Turbo 7AM) - $27,540 MSRPSX 4dr SUV AWD (1.6L 4cyl Turbo 7AM) - $28,840 MSRP

　　vs

　　$167/mo

　　Avg. Compact SUV

　　Being stuck in the middle is not the only reason you might pass on the Seltos. As much as we like the Seltos for its large cargo capacity and distinctive styling, its front seats could stand some improvements to make them more comfortable over long distances. It's also not all that inspiring to drive on a winding mountain road, and even the turbocharged engine upgrade can feel underpowered from a stop.

　　We expect Kia will update the Seltos styling next year, following other recent Kia redesigns (Sportage, Niro) and possibly even adding a hybrid engine option. If the seats and suspension are also upgraded, it could go a long way to lifting the Seltos out of its rather low standing in the extra-small SUV class, as documented in the Expert Rating below. As it stands, it's a ways off from challenging zzdcar' top-ranked Volkswagen Taos, Chevrolet Trailblazer and Mazda CX-30.

　　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