The Kia Seltos debuted as the brand’s new subcompact crossover in 2021. With it still so fresh, the 2022 Kia Seltos is expected to hit showrooms as a carryover model.
The 2021 Seltos hit showrooms with a striking look that avoided going too over the top. This design included a bold grille with a mesh insert, wide wraparound headlights, Strong body lines and ridges, wraparound taillights with a connecting chrome strip, a contrasting roof, rugged body cladding, and relatively upright C-pillars. As a carryover model, we expect the 2022 Seltos to have all the same design cues.
Despite its bolder outward appearance, the current Kia Seltos arrived with the typical toned-down Kia interior. It boasts a clean dash with a dash-top touchscreen infotainment system, wide HVAC vents, a well-organized center stack, and light gloss-black accents. We expect this design to remain the same in the 2021 Kia Seltos too.
Under its hood, the current Kia Seltos comes standard with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that delivers 146 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque to the front wheels or all four wheels. Optionally, buyers can get a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 175 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque that mates with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and all-wheel drive. We expect the 2022 Seltos to carry the same powertrain options.
As for safety, the current Seltos has automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, lane-follow assist, high-beam assist, and more. Unfortunately, these safety features are standard only on S and higher trims. The base LX has no advanced safety tech. The Seltos did well in IIHS crash tests, though, scoring “Good” ratings in all crash-safety tests. Where it fell short was the “Poor” rating its headlights received. We expect these ratings and features to remain the same in the 2022 Kia Seltos.