The 2024 Kia Seltos is a small five-seat crossover that slips into the Kia lineup between the larger Sportage and smaller Kia Soul. Competitors outside the Kia family include the Hyundai Kona and Honda HR-V, among many others in this popular class.
New in 2021, the Seltos embraces a mid-cycle refresh for 2024 that promises a smoother transmission, good standard features, and a more daring style than other small crossovers. Fuel economy falls short, however, but all-wheel drive remains an option. We give it a 5.6 out of 10, pending safety scores. (Read more about how we rate cars.)
Revised front ends and a new X-Line trim highlight the cosmetic differences in the mid-cycle refresh, and a new dash punctuates the interior. A broader, more unified grille stretches out to stacked headlights, available as LED on top trims, and an available light bar cinches the waist of the grille at night. Kia integrated the vertical fog lights with the running lights, and updated the wheel designs and color options as well.
The X-Line trim proliferating through Kia’s crossover lineup adopts some off-road elements, such as a black roof rack bridge, distinct 18-inch wheels, and black elements on the door and grille.
Inside, a flatter, lower dash stretches horizontally like the grille to accommodate available twin 10.3-inch screen displays. Otherwise, the straightforward interior with climate buttons and a mechanical shifter in the console carries over, as does the overreliance on gloss-black plastic panels.
The 2024 Seltos also sports some powertrain upgrades, most notably an 8-speed automatic transmission replacing a clunky 7-speed dual-clutch automatic on the outgoing model. That pairs with a more potent 1.6-liter turbo-4 that delivers 195 hp, up from 175 hp in the outgoing model. The base powertrain remains the same, with a 2.0-liter inline-4 making 147 hp and 132 lb-ft of torque. It has a CVT driving power to the front wheels, though optional all-wheel drive has a center differential lock to apportion power to the axle that needs it most.
The interior dimensions remain the same, and the Seltos has one of the roomier cabins in the class, highlighted by good rear legroom, reclining rear seats, and expansive cargo room. There are five seatbelts, but only four adults will fit. The 26.6 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats can expand to 62.8 cubes with the seats folded down, which is as much as many compact crossovers.
The bones of the Seltos haven’t changed, so we expect mixed crash-test results to carry over. A disappointing four-star rating from the NHTSA countered an IIHS Top Safety Pick award in top trims on the 2023 Seltos. Standard tech includes automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, active lane control, and automatic high-beam headlights. Blind-spot monitors come on all but the base trim, and options range from adaptive cruise control down to a stop to limited hands-free driving.
How much does the 2024 Kia Seltos cost?
The base 2024 Kia Seltos LX carries a sticker price of $25,715 before any options, including a mandatory $1,325 delivery fee. That model comes standard with all-wheel drive, however. Standard features include four USB ports, cloth seats, air conditioning, and an 8.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility.
The next trim level up, the Seltos S, is $1,100 more with AWD, but only $600 more if you’re happy with front-wheel drive. The EX adds $800 more for FWD, but a substantial $1,500 more for the AWD trim.
The base Seltos LX is one of the cheaper all-wheel drive small SUVs on the market, if that’s what you’re seeking. Otherwise, the EX in FWD form is a good balance of features and price, at just above $27,000.
The new $30,015 X-Line trim adds an edgier look but not any more functionality than the LX, S, EX, and $31,315 SX grades. A fully optioned Seltos tops out in the low to mid-$30,000s.
Options range from a new panoramic screen setup with a 10.3-inch digital instrument cluster beside a 10.3-inch touchscreen to a power tailgate and cooled front seats.
Where is the 2024 Kia Seltos made?
All Seltos versions are built in Gwangju, South Korea.
