2023 Kia Seltos

The 2023 Kia Seltos might seem redundant, but instead, it has carved out a niche. The Seltos’s dimensions place it at the larger end of the subcompact SUV segment, giving it an advantage over tinier offerings such as the Hyundai Venue and the Nissan Kicks when it comes to interior volume. It also offers a more engaging driving demeanor than those crossovers, and it’s also quicker than those rivals when equipped with the optional turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine. The entry-level powertrain in the Seltos is a less potent 2.0-liter four-cylinder, but all-wheel drive is standard on most models. A plethora of features are available depending on the trim.

ENGINE AND IMPLEMENTATION

Kia offers two different four-cylinder engines in the 2023 Kia Seltos: a 2.0-liter that makes 146 horsepower or a turbocharged 1.6-liter that pumps out 175. We were able to sample the Seltos with the turbocharged 1.6-liter and found its power to be more than adequate. Our test vehicle snapped off a quick 6.6-second run to 60 mph. While the base engine is mated to a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), the turbo comes with a seven-speed automatic. All-wheel drive comes standard on all but the S trim.

ENERGY AND REAL-WORLD MPG

The EPA estimates that the Seltos will deliver fairly efficient MPG figures. Highway fuel economy is estimated to be as high as 35 mpg for front-wheel-drive models with the 2.0-liter four-cylinder. On our 75-mph highway fuel-economy test route, an all-wheel-drive Seltos with the turbocharged 1.6-liter managed 30 mpg. For more information about the Seltos’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.

INTERIOR, CONVENIENCE, AND BOOTH

Inside, the 2023 Kia Seltos offers noticeably more space for people and cargo than the Kona. The materials used throughout the cabin are well chosen and refined enough to seem right at home in the showroom next to the brand’s excellent Telluride SUV. Interior ambient lighting is standard on the upscale SX model and can be set to pulse along with the music like the system Kia offers in the smaller Soul SUV. During our test drive, the cargo area easily swallowed our suitcases, backpacks, and photo bag; in our testing, we fit eight carry-on suitcases in the cargo hold and 20 with the rear seats folded.