New Kia Seltos

New Kia Seltos come with more premium look and extra features

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New Kia Seltos : The competitive compact SUV segment has a refreshed contender that’s demanding attention—Kia has unveiled the extensively updated Seltos, bringing unprecedented levels of premium design, technology, and performance to a price point that continues to represent exceptional value.

This comprehensive redesign elevates the Seltos from its original position as a practical entry-level offering to a sophisticated option that challenges vehicles from segments above, while maintaining the accessibility that made the original model so successful.

New Kia Seltos Exterior Evolution: From Practical to Premium

The most immediately noticeable aspect of the new Seltos is its dramatically evolved exterior design. While maintaining the distinctive silhouette that made the original recognizable, Kia’s designers have implemented a more sophisticated aesthetic that aligns with the brand’s current design language.

Thomas Reynolds, who recently test-drove the new model at a dealership in Phoenix, was struck by the transformation. “I owned the previous Seltos and almost walked past this new one, thinking it was from a luxury brand. The design has this confidence now that was missing before—it looks like it should cost $10,000 more than it actually does.”

The front fascia now features a wider interpretation of Kia’s “tiger nose” grille, stretching across the vehicle’s width and blending seamlessly with redesigned LED headlights. These lighting elements incorporate distinctive daytime running lights that create a signature appearance whether approaching or following the vehicle.

Profile changes include more pronounced wheel arches housing new alloy wheel designs ranging from 17 to 18 inches, with the top-tier models featuring machine-finished two-tone treatments. The rear receives a connected LED light bar spanning the tailgate—a premium design touch previously reserved for Kia’s flagship models.

Most striking is the new color palette, which introduces sophisticated options like Matte Jungle Green, Pluton Blue, and Fusion Black alongside more traditional choices. The available two-tone roof option further enhances the customization potential, creating visual combinations that stand out in an increasingly homogeneous segment.

Interior Transformation: Unexpected Luxury

Stepping inside reveals where the most significant evolution has occurred. The previous utilitarian interior has been completely reimagined with materials, design, and technology that establish new expectations for the segment.

“The interior quality exceeds anything reasonably expected at this price point,” notes Margaret Wilson, an automotive materials specialist who examines competitive vehicles for a major manufacturer. “The soft-touch surfaces, contrast stitching, and overall fit and finish would be at home in vehicles costing $40,000 or more.”

Centerpiece to the interior is a panoramic curved display that elegantly combines a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster with a 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen under a single piece of glass. This creates a cockpit-like environment previously unavailable in this vehicle class. Lower trim models feature a slightly smaller 8-inch infotainment screen but retain the digital instrument cluster.

Seating surfaces receive significant upgrades with multi-color leather options on higher trims and improved cloth materials on entry models. The driver’s seat now features 8-way power adjustment with lumbar support, while front seats offer heating and, surprisingly for this segment, ventilation on upper trims.

Rear passengers benefit from increased legroom through recontoured front seatbacks, while the cargo area expands slightly to 26.1 cubic feet behind the second row and 62.8 cubic feet with seats folded—among the most capacious in the compact SUV class.

New Kia Seltos Technology Integration: Leapfrogging Competitors

Perhaps most impressive is how the new Seltos incorporates technology previously unavailable in this price range, establishing new expectations for what constitutes “standard equipment” in the segment.

The infotainment system now features wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto across all trim levels, paired with a wireless charging pad cleverly positioned at an angle for visibility while charging. The available Bose premium audio system includes eight speakers with a subwoofer and delivers remarkably balanced sound quality.

“The technology implementation feels cohesive rather than tacked-on,” says James Chen, a software engineer who recently purchased the new Seltos. “The interface is intuitive, response times are quick, and everything just works without the learning curve or frustration I experienced in competitors that actually cost more.”

Advanced driver assistance systems now include:
  • Highway Driving Assist with lane centering and adaptive cruise control
  • Forward Collision Avoidance with pedestrian and cyclist detection
  • Blind Spot Collision Avoidance with rear cross-traffic intervention
  • Safe Exit Warning that prevents door opening when vehicles approach from behind
  • 360-degree camera system with perspective view options

Most impressively, these features aren’t restricted solely to the highest trim levels. The mid-tier models include most of these safety systems as standard equipment, demonstrating Kia’s commitment to democratizing advanced safety technology.

New Kia Seltos Powertrain Options: Performance Meets Efficiency

The new Seltos offers two thoroughly updated powertrain choices, each catering to different priorities:

The standard 2.0-liter naturally aspirated engine receives refinements focused on smoothness and efficiency, producing 147 horsepower and 132 lb-ft of torque. While these figures match the previous generation, improved engine mapping and a retuned Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT) deliver noticeably better responsiveness and refinement. Fuel economy improves slightly to 29 mpg city, 35 highway, and 31 combined.

More significant changes come to the optional 1.6-liter turbocharged engine, now producing 195 horsepower (up from 175) and 195 lb-ft of torque. This engine pairs with a new 8-speed automatic transmission replacing the previous 7-speed dual-clutch, prioritizing smoothness without sacrificing performance.

This combination delivers 0-60 mph times of approximately 7.5 seconds while maintaining reasonable efficiency at 27 mpg city, 33 highway, and 29 combined.

Both powertrains offer available all-wheel drive with a center-locking differential for enhanced traction in challenging conditions, though front-wheel drive remains standard.

Robert Williams tested both engines extensively before purchasing. “The turbo is definitely more fun and feels like it belongs in a more expensive vehicle, but even the base engine has enough pep for daily driving. The improvement in refinement is what really stands out compared to the previous generation—both options are significantly quieter and smoother.”

New Kia Seltos Driving Dynamics: Surprising Sophistication

Beyond the powertrain improvements, Kia’s engineers have thoroughly revised the Seltos’ driving characteristics through subtle but effective chassis tuning. The suspension geometry remains fundamentally unchanged, but retuned dampers, stiffer anti-roll bars, and revised bushings transform the driving experience.

These changes result in a vehicle that maintains composure on winding roads while better isolating occupants from road imperfections. The steering receives additional weight and improved on-center feel, addressing one of the few criticisms of the previous model.

Elizabeth García, an automotive journalist who attended the media preview, notes: “The handling balance strikes a perfect compromise for this segment. It’s composed enough to feel confident on a twisty road but prioritizes comfort for daily driving. The previous model felt like an economy car trying to be sporty at times—this feels like a premium product that happens to be affordable.”

Road and wind noise suppression receive significant attention, with additional sound insulation and acoustic glass on higher trims creating a noticeably quieter cabin environment.

New Kia Seltos Trim Levels and Pricing: Maintaining Value Proposition

Despite the substantial improvements, Kia has managed to keep pricing increases modest, maintaining the Seltos’ position as a value leader. The lineup includes:

  • LX (Starting at $24,390): 2.0L engine, 8-inch touchscreen, wireless smartphone integration, advanced safety suite
  • S ($25,990): Adds heated front seats, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, 17-inch alloy wheels
  • EX ($27,890): Includes synthetic leather seats, power sunroof, wireless phone charger, and dual-zone climate control
  • SX ($29,990): Features 1.6L turbo engine, 10.25-inch curved display, Bose audio, ventilated front seats, 18-inch alloy wheels
  • X-Line ($30,790): Adds distinctive styling elements, roof rails, unique interior trim, and standard all-wheel drive

This structure ensures that even the entry-level model offers substantial equipment, while the top-tier variants deliver features traditionally found in luxury vehicles costing significantly more.

New Kia Seltos Market Position and Outlook

With this comprehensive update, the Seltos positions itself as a disruptive force in the compact SUV segment. By combining premium design elements, technology, and driving dynamics with traditional Kia value, it creates a compelling alternative to both mainstream competitors like the Honda HR-V and Toyota Corolla Cross as well as entry-level offerings from luxury brands.

Industry analyst Margaret Thompson sees this approach as strategically sound: “Kia is effectively blurring the lines between mainstream and premium segments, capturing customers who want luxury vehicle attributes without the associated price premium.

The new Seltos exemplifies this strategy perfectly—it satisfies practical needs while delivering emotional appeal previously unavailable at this price point.”

Early sales data supports this assessment, with dealerships reporting strong interest and minimal incentives required to move inventory. The waiting period for certain configurations extends to 8-10 weeks in some markets, indicating demand exceeding initial supply allocations.

As competitors scramble to match the value proposition, the new Seltos establishes itself as the benchmark against which compact SUVs will be measured—proving that “premium” is increasingly about execution rather than price point.

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