2027 KIA SELTOS

 

SELTOS ON PACE TO SET ITS 

BEST SALES NUMBERS YET IN 2026

Since its introduction as a 2021 model, the Seltos has been a consistent seller for Kia.

It’s not the South Korean automaker’s best seller — that would be the much older and updated Sportage — but it is moving up. After posting its best year with sales of 60,053 in 2023, a jump of nearly 15,000 after  sinking to its all-time low of 45,711 in 2022, the Seltos has bounced back over the last three years and in 2026 is on pace for its best ever year with three months still to go.

With sales reaching 58,207 through September, the Seltos is within 1,846 of the record total for 2023. It has averaged nearly 6,500 sales per month this year.

That is pretty good evidence the company is doing a lot of things right with this spunky compact 5-passenger SUV.

Kia already has a redesigned 2027 Seltos in showrooms. It is slightly larger than its predecessor and comes in five trim levels with the top offering, X-Line SX, serving as my test vehicles. It is the only one of the group that gets a turbocharged 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine. 

That turbo-4 is rated at 190 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque. LX, S, EX, X-Line S trims are outfitted with a 2.0-liter 4-banger that produces 147 hp and 132 lb.ft. The difference in zero-to-60 mph clocking is over a second and a half for the turbo, though at 7.3 seconds it’s not exactly a neck-snapper.

The turbo-4 in the Seltos X-Line SX trim also is mated to an 8-speed automatic transmissions while other models get a performance-sapping CVT, which Kia calls Intelligent Variable Transmission.

The 2027 Kia Seltos X-Line SX and the X-Line S come with all-wheel drive while the other models are front-wheel drive with AWD as an option. X-Line SX models also feature more drive modes (Normal, Sport, Terrain, Snow, Mud, and Sand) than other trims (Normal, Sport).

Standard features on the 2027 Kia Seltos X-Line SX trim include a 12.3-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Syntex synthetic seat upholstery, wireless charger, power driver’s seat with lumbar support, heated front seats, LED headlights and tail lamps, roof rails and rear spoiler, Smart key with push-button and remote start, power rear lift gate, a heated steering wheel. and dual-zone climate control.

Exclusive features on the 2027 Kia Seltos X-Line SX include 19-inch alloy wheels with a gloss black finish, wide projection headlights, and an optional Harmon Karon premium sound system, ventilated front seats, and a surround view monitor. 

Safety features include forward collision avoidance assist, lane-keeping and lane-following assist, adaptable cruise control, rear cross-traffic collision avoidance, blind-spot warning and collision avoidance assist, 

and driver attention warning.

MSRP for the 2027 Kia Seltos X-Line SX starts at $32,790. Adding the X-Line SX Package (12.3-inch touchscreen with navigation, ventilated front seats, parking collision avoidance, and a memory driver’s seat) and all-season floor liners and carpeted floor mats ran the final total for my test vehicle to $37,250 including the $1,495 destination and delivery charge.

Other trims start at $24,990 for the FWD Seltos LX,  $26,390 for the FWD Seltos S,  $28, 390 for the FWD Seltos EX, $25,690 for the AWD Seltos LX, $28,090 for the AWD Seltos S, $28,990 for the AWD Seltos X-Line S, and $30,090 for the AWD Seltos EX.

What I liked about the 2027 Kia Seltos X-Line SX: The interior is pretty roomy for its class with 27.8 cubic feet of storage space with second-row seats in place and 40.4 inches of front legroom and 39.0 for the second row. Tech features are easy to follow with hard buttons supplementing the touchscreen. The turbo 4-cylinder engine is a worthwhile upgrade.

What I didn’t like about the 2027 Kia Seltos X-Line SX: Only the top X-Line SX trim gets the turbocharged engine. The extra power boost from the turbo is a benefit but it is thirstier than other trims when it comes to fuel mileage.

Would I buy the 2027 Kia Seltos X-Line SX? The Seltos is a good option in the small but competitive SUV market with lots of tech features and a pleasing appearance.