2027 Kia Seltos first drive review: Less crossover, more SUV

LAC-BEAUPORT, Que. – The Kia Seltos has been around for a sneaky long time. Since 2019, to be exact, and after seven years, and one facelift (2024), it's been remade for the 2027 model year as an all-new second-gen.

The new Seltos, which is larger than the outgoing model, is bigger and boxier than the car it replaces, and looks more like its larger SUV siblings, especially the all-new, three-row Telluride. The new car is now fully in line with Kia's "Opposites United" design language and possesses an interior that is quite similar to its growing fleet of EVs.

The other big news for the new Seltos is it will be available, for the first time, as a gas hybrid. Powered by a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with a lithium-ion battery pack and electric motors, the Seltos hybrid will be offered in front and all-wheel drive trims when it goes on sale later this year.

To learn more about the 2027 Seltos, Kia invited AutoGuide to spend a day sampling a top-level, gas-powered X-Line SX tester on some undulating terrain in Lac-Beauport, Quebec, just north of Quebec City.

What's New for 2027

Everything, inside and out. The second-gen Seltos sports new exterior and interior styling which bring it in line with other new and redesigned Kias of late. The Seltos' new exterior look is quite similar to that of the all-new second gen Telluride, despite the size difference. Plus, for the first time, the Seltos will be available as a hybrid, which will go on sale later this year.

As for size, the new Seltos is bigger in every measurable way than its predecessor. It's 1.7 inches (45 mm) longer, 1.1 inches (30 mm) wider, 0.79 inches (20 mm) taller, and rides on a wheelbase that is 2.3 inches (60 mm) longer. This means more legroom, headroom, shoulder room, and cargo space. The latter has grown by 1.4 cubic feet (39 liters) with the rear seatbacks folded down.

Exterior Style

The new Seltos is a blockier, more upright version of the car it replaces. Not only does it possess wider and squarer proportions than its predecessor, but it also borrows some cues from other Kias, both gas and electric. Its wider front grille and slim Star Map lighting signature are like the new Telluride, while its flush door handles are like those of the EV9.

Overall, the new Seltos has a more rugged SUV look. Elements like lower body cladding, wide taillight graphic, and bumper-mounted rear license plate holder are common on bigger SUVs. Seeing them on the Seltos really helps to distance it from its crossover roots.

Powertrain and Fuel Economy

Two gas powertrains from the first-gen Seltos carry over to the second. For all models, excluding top-level X-Line grades, a 2.0-liter Atkinson four-cylinder is offered. Output is unchanged at 147 horsepower and 132 lb-ft. of torque, and it is paired with a continuously variable transmission. The X-Line SX trim in the U.S., and the two X-Line grades in Canada are powered by a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that produces 190 hp and 195 lb-ft. It is mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive.

As for fuel economy, Seltos FWD models with the 2.0-liter engine deliver 28 MPG in the city, 33 on the highway, and 30 combined. For AWD models, it's 26 / 30 / 28. With the 1.6-liter turbo, it's 24 / 30 / 26. For Canada, 2.0-liter FWD models are rated at 8.5 liters / 100 km in the city, 7.0 on the highway, and 7.8 combined. For AWD models it's 9.1 / 7.8 / 8.5, and for 1.6-liter turbo grades it's 9.9 / 7.8 / 9.0.

Handling and Driveability

The route Kia set us out on has a mix of highway, arterial, and residential roads, but most of the driving took place on twisty, two-lane tarmac in sparsely populated areas. Lots of winding turns, with few stop lights (or stop signs), along undulating terrain.

The Seltos has just two drive settings, sport and normal, and we sampled both. Three terrain modes – snow, mud and sand – are also standard on X-Line SX. Sport keeps engine revs higher and delays upshifts, making our X-Line SX tester more fun to drive. The 1.6 turbo is quite responsive (and noisy) when we put our foot down but is also mild-mannered when applying less throttle in normal driving.

Generally, our tester felt quite peppy and responsive, regardless of driving mode from rest, and at speed. Shifting from the eight-speed automatic was smooth and went about its business without us noticing it much. This is a good thing.

Ride Quality and Comfort

The Seltos is a quiet rider for the most part. We didn't encounter the roughest roads on our drive, but the tarmac we drove on made for a comfortable driving experience. At cruising speeds, the Seltos's cabin is reasonably quiet.

We didn't detect a great deal of road, wind, or engine noise, but it's not free of those sounds either. Like most four-cylinder engines, the 1.6 turbo makes its presence known under acceleration, but quiets down significantly once cruising speeds are attained.

Our X-Line SX tester rides on 19-inch wheels wrapped in all-season rubber, which helped smooth out the ride. While not designed for performance, the all-seasons stuck to both wet and dry roads quite well. Handling isn't exceptional, but good for everyday driving situations, which, in our case, involved a multitude of sweeping turns.

Interior Style and Quality

The cabin of the new Seltos borrows a lot from its EVs. The combination of advanced digital displays with capacitive touch, combined with a wide array of mechanical knobs and buttons, is a lot like the interiors of EV9 and EV6.

The panoramic display, which is standard on all Seltos trims, gives the cabin a wide and spacious feel. The trim panels have a lot of lines and interesting shapes and contours that give a feeling of depth.

The materials themselves are a mix of soft and harder-touch plastics that aren't of the highest quality, but they look good. The synthetic leather seats, which are standard on all trims beginning with the EX, have some unique X-Line detailing on our tester, which gives them a richer look and feel.

Finally, we commend Kia for giving all gas-fed Seltos models a console-mounted gear shift lever, which is still the best solution. And there's still lots of storage space! Of note, Seltos hybrid models will use a stalk-like gear selector mounted to the steering column – which we don't love – like other electrified Kia models.

Tech and Safety

On the tech side, the panoramic display, which is multiple screens housed in one continuous panel, really stands out. It's a Kia hallmark. For Seltos, a 12.3-inch multimedia touchscreen is standard on all trims, while a 12.3-inch instrument display with a 4.2-inch TFT cluster is also standard issue. Our X-Line SX tester is also equipped with a five-inch climate display, which can be expanded to fill the entire multimedia screen.

Other features of note include wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (standard on all trims), wireless charge pad (standard on all trims above LX), and two front USB-C chargers and two rear USB-C chargers. The latter is standard across the range.

The Seltos comes with a high degree of standard safety kit. Forward collision-avoidance assist, park distance rear warning (rear parking sensors), park distance warning front (front parking sensors), along with lane departure warning, lane keeping assist, lane following assist, smart cruise control w/ stop & go, are all standard. Other features, such as blind-spot collision avoidance assist, and rear cross-traffic collision-avoidance assist, are standard on trims above LX.

Value Dollars and Sense

The Seltos is available in five grades in the U.S., beginning with the LX at $26,485 (including destination). Standard equipment includes 16-inch wheels, a 12.3-inch infotainment display, rear privacy glass and LED headlights. The S ($27,885) receives 18-inch wheels, rear-cross traffic collision avoidance, wireless phone charger, and power driver's seat.

The mid-grade EX ($29,885) receives 18-inch alloy wheels, smart power liftgate, heated front seats, and dual-zone auto climate control with five-inch display. Gains for the X-Line S ($30,485) include roof rails, smart cruise control w/ stop & go, LED fog lights, all-wheel drive, and 18-inch black wheels. The fully loaded X-Line SX ($34,285) gets the 1.6-liter turbo engine, panoramic sunroof, 19-inch wheels, and a heated steering wheel, among other features.

In Canada, the Seltos is offered in six trims, which broadly align with the U.S. lineup in terms of content. The entry-level LX FWD starts at $30,630 CAD, LX AWD is $32,630 CAD, and EX AWD starts at $35,630 CAD. EX Premium AWD checks in at $38,930 CAD, with X-Line coming in at $41,430 CAD, while the range-topping X-Line Limited starts at $43,430.

Final Thoughts

The new Seltos is now bigger, boxier, and much more of a rugged SUV than the outgoing model. The crossover vibes it used to have are gone. Yet, it also has a very futuristic, forward-looking cabin, which is very much in line with its EVs, yet also retains mechanical buttons and a gear shift lever.

Despite the changes, it carries over two gas powertrains from the outgoing model, which existing owners should appreciate. Its driving character hasn't changed much either – this is still a well-equipped, comfortable SUV that's easy to live with every day. And with a first-ever hybrid on the way, the Seltos' appeal should continue to grow.