Kia Seltos

The verdict: The 2024 Kia Seltos improves upon an already winning formula by pairing its available turbocharged engine with a smoother, more traditional automatic transmission in place of the old dual-clutch automatic, while continuing to offer an impressive mix of useful features and high-quality materials; unfortunately, some modern conveniences are still conspicuously absent.

Versus the competition: Already the benchmark in a growing segment of small, affordable SUVs, the 2024 Seltos continues to lead the way — it won our latest comparison in its class — but its performance, price and fuel efficiency might have it facing off with larger SUVs, too.

The Kia Seltos has been a favorite of ours since its debut as a 2021 model. For 2024, it gets revised exterior styling, a new X-Line trim level with a more rugged appearance, and available dual 10.25-inch displays in most trims. Its available turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine also gets a healthy 20-horsepower boost, for a total of 195 hp, and now pairs with a traditional eight-speed automatic transmission instead of the previous dual-clutch automatic.

Related: What’s the Best Affordable SUV of 2023?

The 2021 Seltos won our comparison of four affordable small SUVs back in 2020. Given how much the subcompact SUV class has grown since then, we felt the time was ripe to see if the 2024 Seltos could repeat its victory, or if its competition had caught up or even surpassed it.

For both this review and the larger comparison test, we drove a 2024 Seltos SX, which brings the optional turbo 1.6-liter engine. It had an as-tested price of $33,085 (prices include destination). Be sure to check out the full comparison to see how the Seltos fared, along with the other five SUVs we tested.

Drives Like Something Nicer

In a segment of low-powered glorified hatchbacks — often plagued by noisy continuously variable automatic transmissions — the Seltos SX is a breath of fresh, compressed air. Powered by its 195-hp, turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, it’s quick for what it is. Some passing maneuvers and merges may require some finesse and forethought, but tasks like crossing busy roads are much less harrowing in this Kia than they are in many competitors.

With its new eight-speed automatic transmission, the SX’s driving experience is much smoother and more pleasant than before, with shifts that are adequately quick and crisp. The eight-speed replaces a dual-clutch automatic transmission that we often found clunky and aggravating, particularly at low speeds. There is some hesitancy in the powertrain when driving around town (the Seltos was only third-quickest from 0-30 mph in our testing), but power picks up quickly at higher speeds. The Seltos was the quickest in our 0-60 mph test, just beating the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid with a time of 7.82 seconds.

Steering, handling and braking are all impressive for the class, but the Seltos is not without issues. There’s some body roll in corners, and its ride quality is on the firm side, though it stays composed over road imperfections and bumps. In our comparison test, only the cushy Subaru Crosstrek was more comfortable.

As buttoned up as its driving dynamics are, what’s most impressive about driving the Seltos is how quiet it is given how much it costs. This interior quietness adds to the Seltos’ near-premium feel, and it combines with the vehicle’s impressive dynamics to create the sense that you’re driving something nicer than an affordable small SUV — which, in turn, makes the Seltos feel like an even better value.

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The glaring issue with this powertrain is its fuel economy. The turbo 1.6-liter engine earned an EPA rating of just 25/27/26 mpg city/highway/combined, which is on the low side for its class. In the fuel-economy testing we conducted as part of our comparison test, the Seltos SX trailed every other vehicle in the field, but it did exceed its combined mpg rating; we observed an average of 28.4 mpg. It’s not an apples-to-apples comparison, but if you plugged the Seltos into the fuel-economy testing we conducted when comparing larger compact SUVs, the turbo Seltos would’ve still only managed a fourth-place finish.

The Seltos’ base engine is a 2.0-liter four-cylinder that pairs with a continuously variable automatic transmission. That combination earns an EPA rating as high as 31 mpg combined with front-wheel drive, but if you want all the best amenities the Seltos offers, you’ll have to choose the turbo powertrain. And while I did just sing the turbo’s praises, it’d be nice if Kia didn’t link certain features to a single powertrain.

High-Quality Interior (With Some Curious Omissions)

Upgrades inside the 2024 Seltos include an available pair of 10.25-inch displays, one acting as the instrument panel and the other a central touchscreen. We’ve seen this setup in other Kias, and it’s just as excellent here as it is in those. The graphics are clear and crisp and the controls are intuitive.

Interior materials are also class-leading. There’s still a good amount of the expected plastic and hard surfaces in the interior, but there’s also high-quality faux-leather upholstery and trim that looked especially stylish with our test vehicle’s no-cost optional brown interior package.

The Seltos is also comfortably roomy for its class. At 6-foot-1, I would prefer more backseat legroom — and would probably prefer to be up front on longer trips — but I could make do. Headroom is acceptable front and rear, and the beltline is low enough that the backseat doesn’t feel claustrophobic. Rear cargo space is also excellent, at 17.4 cubic feet of space by our measurements. That was second only to the Volkswagen Taos’ 17.5 cubic feet in our comparison test.

Unexpected features for this class also help the Seltos shine. Not only did the SX have the only power liftgate in our comparison test, it also had hands-free operation for added convenience. The Seltos SX was also the only vehicle in our comparison test with ventilated front seats, which is a welcome feature for those in warmer climes.

Some features, however, are nowhere to be found, and their absence is noticeable. For one, the Seltos is not available with a heated steering wheel — a valuable feature in cold weather and something multiple competitors offer. And while our test vehicle did have automatic climate control, it did not have multiple zones; the driver and front passenger had better be good at compromise. And we’d be remiss if we didn’t point out that the Seltos SX’s Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity works only via a wired connection; the other five SUVs in our test all had wireless connectivity.

More From Cars.com:

• 2023 Affordable SUV Challenge: The Kia Seltos Takes the Crown Again
• Up Close With the 2024 Kia Seltos: Subtle Corrections
• 2024 Kia Seltos Brings More Power, Fresh Face, X-Line to L.A.
• How Do Car Seats Fit in a 2024 Kia Seltos?
• Kia Announces 2024 Seltos Pricing, Starts at $25,715

Worth the High Price or Should You Consider Something Bigger?

I have to admit, I was concerned about the Seltos’ high price relative to its competitors in our comparison test; it was nearly $2,500 more than the next priciest entrant. Yet even with its missing features, it was otherwise so well equipped that it tied for first in our value score. With an abundance of features and a relatively luxurious driving experience, the Seltos SX should be top of mind for shoppers willing to spend a little extra on a small SUV.

That said, where I really struggle with the loaded Seltos SX we drove is that its $33,085 as-tested price pushes it from the subcompact SUV class into the realm of larger compact SUVs. A similarly priced compact SUV will likely be less well equipped than this Seltos, but it will be roomier and it might be more efficient — especially if it’s a hybrid. Given the Seltos’ middling scores in our Car Seat Check, it also might not make as much sense if you have a growing family.

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