Kia’s updated $25k Seltos makes expensive compact SUVs hard to justify

Finding a new SUV for around $25,000 usually means accepting a stripped-down interior, limited technology, and a cramped cabin. This newly redesigned crossover challenges that expectation, combining a surprisingly upscale interior with a long list of standard tech and more passenger and cargo space than you’d normally expect at this price.

Higher trims add features that would have seemed out of place on an affordable subcompact SUV just a few years ago, including heated seats, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, ambient lighting, a panoramic glass roof, and a premium sound system. However, even the cheaper versions prove you don’t necessarily have to stretch into compact-SUV territory to get a plush, well-equipped daily driver.

The Kia Seltos has been completely reworked for the 2027 model year

More bang for your buck

Credit: Kia

The Seltos has always been a pretty solid choice as far as subcompact SUVs go. For the 2027 model year, Kia has kicked it up a notch, though. It comes with boxier styling, more in line with the rest of Kia’s current lineup, and an interior that is impressively comfortable for the price that you pay.

Capable of competing with more expensive rivals

Kia has priced the updated Seltos very competitively. It undercuts some of the segment’s most popular models, like the Mazda CX-30 and the Toyota Corolla Cross. With it getting bigger and more luxurious for the 2027 model year, we think that some of its top trims are genuine alternatives to larger compact SUVs, like the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V. If you do want to stick on the affordable side of things, base models come really well-equipped for the price.

Best value trims

If you’re happy with sticking with the base powertrain, the EX offers a lot of value for money. It comes with a ton of luxuries you wouldn’t expect on a crossover at this price point, including faux-leather upholstery, a 12-way power-adjustable driver’s seat with lumbar support, heated front seats, and a power-operated liftgate.

If you’re willing to spend a little more, the X-Line SX is a solid alternative to some compact SUVs. It costs the same as entry-level trims of the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V, but comes with way more luxury features. Its trunk might be a little smaller, but it gets things like a panoramic glass roof, LED projector headlights, ambient interior lighting, and an optional Harman/Kardon sound system. It also comes with a perkier powertrain.

Kia delivers an exceptionally long list of standard tech features

The Seltos is also more spacious than you’d expect

Kia has always been one of the better brands to buy if you prioritize advanced technology in your car. The new Seltos demonstrates this perfectly, offering one of the most well-equipped cabins at this price point. It is also quite a bit more practical than most of the other small crossovers you can buy at this price point, again going head-to-head with some compact SUVs.

Contemporary tech that doesn’t feel gimmicky

On top of the dashboard of the 2027 Kia Seltos sits a 12.3-inch infotainment screen. It shares its bezel with the gauge cluster. Base models feature analog gauges with a 4.2-inch screen in the middle, while top trims can be optioned with a fully-digital 12.3-inch gauge display. Range-topping trims also get a small five-inch display for the climate control system.

Kia’s tech setup is fantastic, with the Seltos coming loaded with standard features. Every model comes with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and the infotainment system also comes with an AI-powered voice assistant powered by ChatGPT. You can also customize your infotainment system with a number of themes from affiliates, such as Disney and the NBA. A six-speaker sound system is standard, with an eight-speaker Harman/Kardon unit being optional.

Practical in ways you wouldn’t expect from a subcompact SUV

Most crossovers at this price point feature a pretty cramped back seat, with just enough room for an adult to squeeze in at a push. The 2027 Seltos, however, comes with tons of space in the back, and you’re not likely to hear any complaints from your passengers unless they’re especially tall. While not quite as generous as some compact SUVs, the Seltos also has one of the largest trunks in this segment.

As far as quality goes, the Seltos definitely exceeds expectations. It features a rugged yet contemporary design, similar to what you’d get in the expensive three-row Telluride. Build quality is fantastic compared to its rivals, and top trims features some really nice materials. Luxury features are also available throughout the lineup, with things like a 12-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, a panoramic sunroof, and 64-color ambient interior lighting being optional.

Smooth on the road, regardless of which powertrain you choose

It isn’t very exciting, though

Credit: Kia

The Seltos doesn’t try to be anything that it’s not. Kia knows that most buyers at this price point are looking for something simple to get them from A to B without much fuss. Thus, they have kept the mechanical side of things fairly simple. It might not be particularly fun to drive, but its ride is quite smooth.

Two humble four-pots

Most trims in the Seltos lineup feature a 147-horsepower four-cylinder engine. If you opt for the top of the line X-Line SX trim, though, you get a peppier 190-horsepower turbocharged four-pot. Front-wheel drive is standard on all non-X-Line models, with all-wheel drive being optional. Top trims get standard all-wheel drive.

Kia makes the Seltos difficult to compete with at its price

When it comes to price, Kia generally tends to be one of the more affordable options on the market. The Seltos takes this to another level, offering compact SUV environs and a ton of standard tech features at a price lower than a lot of other subcompact SUVs. In terms of value for money, there aren’t many crossovers that can go toe to toe with the new Seltos for less than $30,000.