Impossible to ignore, the redesigned 2027 Kia Seltos zooms right up to the line separating small SUVs from bigger compacts. It is larger inside and out. Dressed in distinctive design, and infused with impressive technology, it is ready to serve budget-minded buyers seeking bold style, thoughtful features, and plenty of room for kids, grown-ups, pets, and their things. It is an impressive replacement for the first-generation Seltos, which was easy to overlook. With the 2027 Seltos, Kia can expect a lot more attention from small and compact SUV buyers.
Photo: Christian Wardlaw
Aside from a design that resembles Kia’s flagship EV9 and Telluride SUV models, the new Seltos offers plenty of passenger and cargo room. It has Kia’s latest infotainment technology and updates to the advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) menu that include features rarely found in a small SUV. The gas engines carry over from the old Seltos, but a Seltos Hybrid is coming in the first quarter of 2027, promising a blend of power and efficiency like other Kia hybrid SUVs.
For now, the Seltos is available in LX, S, EX, X-Line S, and X-Line SX trim levels. The X-Line variants include standard all-wheel drive (AWD), but only the top trim features a lively turbocharged engine. You can also add a Prestige option package to the X-Line SX, which installs many of the features that help to separate the Seltos from other small SUVs. Prices range from $26,485 to $34,285, including the destination charge.
For this 2027 Seltos review, Kia provided a test vehicle equipped with X-Line SX trim and the following options:
The test vehicle’s manufacturer suggested retail price (MSRP) was $37,250, including the $1,495 destination charge to ship the SUV from the Gwangju, Korea, assembly plant to a local dealership. The price does not reflect any current rebates, incentives, or price adjustments since Kia manufactured the test vehicle.
Photo: Christian Wardlaw
With X-Line SX trim, the new Seltos has specific off-road styling, a distinctive blacked-out look, and big 19-inch wheels. The color in the photos is called Terrain Brown, which is also available on the new 2027 Telluride.
Flush door handles automatically deploy on all Seltos SUVs except the base LX. Open any door, and a roomy interior awaits. The X-Line SX features Kia’s SynTex artificial leather upholstery, and nearly all 2027 Seltos trims include a power driver’s seat with up to 12-way adjustment. Heated and ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel are available, depending on the trim level.
I found the Seltos comfortable to drive and to ride in. The driver’s seat offers a wide range of adjustments, the thick-rimmed steering wheel feels good in your hands, and the front passenger’s seat includes a manual seat-height adjuster. In back, there is plenty of foot, leg, and head room, and the rear seat cushion is raised high enough to provide proper thigh support. I rode back there without complaint for over half an hour, and rear air conditioning vents help to ensure passengers are even more comfortable.
Kia offers the X-Line SX only with a Saturn Black interior color, and despite this trim’s standard panoramic sunroof, it can seem dark and unimaginative. That appearance stands in sharp contrast to the triple-screen display incorporating digital instrumentation, the climate control panel, and the infotainment system. Fortunately, analog controls for stereo volume, temperature adjustment, and other commonly used functions help to reduce your use of the screens.
Hard plastic is common within the cabin but does not seem as inexpensively finished as in the Kias of the past. The traditional shift lever on the center console is a touchpoint owners will experience every time they drive the Seltos, and its robust and refined operation signals quality and attention to detail.
Storage space is adequate, and cargo space is downright impressive. Behind the back seat, the new Seltos supplies up to 27.8 cubic feet of cargo space—more than most small SUVs. A dual-level load floor creates a flush surface with the liftgate opening, with storage space below. Alternatively, you can lower it, allowing the trunk to fit full-size suitcases on their sides. Fold the back seat down and you have 64.1 cubic feet of cargo space at your disposal, which is nearly as much as some compact crossovers.
Photo: Christian Wardlaw
Kia equips the new 2027 Seltos with its latest infotainment system, called the Connected Car Navigation Cockpit (ccNC). Ironically, the larger 12.3-inch digital instrumentation display and a native navigation system are available only with the top trim’s Prestige package. Nevertheless, the 12.3 touchscreen infotainment screen is standard on all trims.
Standard highlights of the ccNC system in the Seltos include:
In addition to adding a larger digital driver display and a native navigation system, the X-Line SX Prestige package also installs an impressive eight-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system.
The touchscreen interface is easy to reference and use. I had no trouble pairing my iPhone to the ccNC or wirelessly running Apple CarPlay, and it reconnected each time I re-entered the SUV without any trouble. Kia has partnered with media companies to offer configurable menu icons for a custom look. They include Disney, Star Wars, and Marvel characters, but I preferred the National Geographic landscapes showing in my test vehicle.
My test vehicle had a complimentary three-year subscription to Kia Connect Ultimate, which includes a long list of features such as a car finder function, 911 Connect, a panic button notification, safe teen driver settings, remote access to features like the door locks and climate control system, and much more. A digital voice assistant is exclusive to the Ultimate plan, and while the tech seemed slow to respond, it correctly executed commands almost without exception.
Kia knows that modern drivers are easily distracted by their smartphones, so the Seltos comes with a feature called Leading Vehicle Departure Alert. Activate it, and it will let you know when the car ahead has started moving again. This is helpful when you are sitting in traffic, but it only works if you are not the lead car. If you are first in line and the traffic light turns green, your reminder to get moving will be horns honking behind you.
Photo: Christian Wardlaw
Kia equips most 2027 Seltos crossovers with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine making 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque. In a vehicle weighing between 3,109 and 3,318 pounds, that is not much, so acceleration is tepid. Not only that, but this engine bolts to a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) that simulates gear changes unless you are accelerating hard. In that situation, loud and steady droning assaults your eardrums.
A turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission is standard in and exclusive to the Seltos X-Line SX. It generates a healthy 190 hp and 195 pound-feet, enough to scoot the 3,549-pound SUV satisfactorily. In Normal mode, the engine and transmission respond lazily to requests for power, so plan for slight delays. Switch to Sport mode, however, and it proves more eager to please.
The Seltos LX, S, and EX come with standard front-wheel drive (FWD). The rear suspension is a torsion-beam design, so the ride can seem a little flinty. Get AWD and Kia swaps in a multi-link independent rear suspension that improves the ride and, likely, the handling. Both X-Line versions have standard AWD, and with the turbo engine, it is a torque vectoring system with a lock function to distribute power evenly at low speeds.
For maximum fuel economy, get a Seltos with FWD. It should return 30 mpg in combined driving. The Seltos AWD drops that rating to 28 mpg, and the turbocharged version is even thirstier at 26 mpg. That number applied to my test vehicle, which averaged 26.5 on my 30-mile fuel economy evaluation route.
Kia will add a Seltos Hybrid to the lineup in the first quarter of 2027. Details are almost non-existent, but the company has divulged that it will use a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, a dual-clutch automatic transmission, and FWD. The Seltos Hybrid with AWD will use an e-AWD solution and feature 19-inch wheels, so it seems like this upcoming variant will offer the best blend of performance and efficiency.
With its exclusive AWD upgrades, 8.1 inches of ground clearance, and the most generous approach angle of any 2027 Seltos, the X-Line SX is the one you want for off-roading. Still, it is not as capable as a Subaru Crosstrek or Forester, so if you are planning to head down any but well-worn trails, this Kia might not be the right choice.
I did not get a chance to go off-roading in the Seltos, but I spent plenty of time on Southern California freeways, city streets, suburban boulevards, and winding mountain roads. And I am impressed with this little SUV that is not so little.
Outward visibility is outstanding, and that makes the Seltos easier and more pleasurable to drive in any situation. Raise the driver’s seat into a commanding position and you can easily see the SUV’s front corners and enjoy a clear view of traffic ahead. Adding to it, the Prestige package equips the Seltos with a camera-based blind spot monitor and a surround view camera; both came in handy during testing.
The ride quality is surprisingly compliant. On freeways where many of my test cars tend to hop annoyingly, the Seltos X-Line SX proved smooth and absorbent. At lower speeds, it more firmly communicates what is happening at the tire contact patches, as is appropriate.
Handling is secure thanks to the 19-inch wheels and tires, but that softness in the suspension also translates into body roll and some excessive vertical ride motions that can border on bouncy. Add the tall center of gravity, and undulating road surfaces can cause more lateral rocking and head toss than some people might like.
Still, the Seltos X-Line SX has an agreeable overall dynamic. The turbocharged engine, traditional automatic, and multi-link independent rear suspension all contribute to a more satisfying drive than I briefly experienced in a Seltos EX with FWD. If you do not mind the extra cost and lower fuel economy, I recommend the turbo, and I think Kia might be making a mistake by reserving it only for the top trim.
Photo: Christian Wardlaw
Kia equips every 2027 Seltos with a long list of standard ADAS and safety features. They include:
When equipped with the Prestige package, a Seltos X-Line SX is further equipped with:
Highway Driving Assist (HDA) takes control of the acceleration, braking, and steering, automatically keeping a safe distance to vehicles ahead while ensuring the SUV remains centered in its lane. It is a semi-autonomous driving assistance technology that requires drivers to keep their hands on the steering wheel.
I had a chance to use HDA extensively while driving on the wide, multi-lane freeways of Los Angeles. In light or dense traffic, the tech worked well. In moderately heavy traffic at higher speeds, it struggled enough that I shut it off. Why? Because it reacted late to other vehicles cutting into the gap ahead and did not accelerate soon or fast enough when the path forward cleared.
In other situations, HDA represented an improvement over some versions of the technology in other Kia models. That is because the Seltos has a touch-sensing steering wheel, and when using HDA, a light touch on the wheel is all that is necessary to ensure the system knows you are alert and ready to take control. In turn, that cuts down on unnecessary warnings from the system and the need to manually input a little bit of steering correction to signal that you are still prepared to assume control of the vehicle.
Because the redesigned 2027 Seltos is an all-new model, neither the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) nor the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has performed crash test evaluations of the SUV.
According to the JD Power 2026 Initial Quality Study (IQS), the Hyundai Venue ranks highest in the Small SUV segment, with the Hyundai Kona and Buick Encore GX ranked second and third, respectively.
According to the JD Power 2025 Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study, the Mini Countryman ranks highest in the Small SUV segment, with the Hyundai Kona and Buick Envista ranked second and third, respectively.
Other 2027 Seltos competitors include the Honda HR-V, Mazda CX-30, and Subaru Crosstrek.
With the redesigned 2027 Seltos, Kia now has one of the best small crossover SUVs you can buy. It is not perfect, but for around $30,000, the Seltos offers significant value in a genuinely appealing package. And if you can stretch your budget a bit, the turbocharged X-Line SX is particularly tempting.
Christian Wardlaw is a veteran automotive journalist with 30 years of experience in the field and has held automotive editorial leadership positions at Edmunds, JD Power, and The New York Daily News. Today, Chris owns a content agency called Speedy Daddy Media, and in addition to jdpower.com, his work appears on Capital One Auto Navigator, CarGurus, and Edmunds.
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