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2022 Kia Seltos

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Make
Kia
Model
Seltos
Year
2022
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Kia Seltos OEM Exterior Primary Photo
OEM Interior Primary
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OEM Exterior
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Used Car Price Range
$18,398 - $26,599
$18,398 $26,599
Select a Trim
Select a Trim
2022 LX 4dr All-Wheel Drive
most popular
Price:   -  From $22,590
2022 S 4dr Front-Wheel Drive Price:   -  From $22,790
2022 S 4dr All-Wheel Drive Price:   -  From $24,290
2022 EX 4dr All-Wheel Drive Price:   -  From $25,890
2022 Nightfall 4dr All-Wheel Drive Price:   -  From $26,790
2022 SX 4dr All-Wheel Drive Price:   -  From $28,090
Expert Rating
3.1 (Good)

Our expert ratings are based on seven comprehensive criteria: quality, safety, comfort, performance, fuel economy, reliability history and value.

You can interpret our ratings in the following way:

: Outstanding vehicle. Only the most exceptional vehicles achieve this rating.

: Very Good vehicle. Very good and close to being the best vehicle in its class.

: Good vehicle. Decent, but not quite the best. Often affordable, but lacking key features found in vehicles of the same class.

: Below average vehicle. Not recommended, and lacking attributes a car buyer would come to expect for the price.

: Poor vehicle. Simply does not deserve to be on the road.

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Overview

What's New

Two years after its debut, Kia’s Seltos gains a new model and extra safety kit across the range. Every model bar LX now has a 10.25-inch display and remote start, while the new Nightfall Edition beefs up this SUV’s appearance with side sills and roof rails.

Choosing Your Kia Seltos

There are five models in the Seltos range, alongside a choice of drivetrains and engines.

AWD LX models cost $23,665 including destination, while FWD S models are just $200 more expensive. S is the only model available with a choice of front or all-wheel drive – the latter is a $1,500 upgrade.

Mid-range EX costs $26,965, while the Nightfall Edition and SX models are exclusively powered by a 1.6-liter turbo engine and all-wheel drive. They cost $27,865 and $29,165 respectively.

Engine Choices

More affordable Seltos models are powered by a four-cylinder two-liter gas engine, generating 146 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque. This is supplied to either the front or all four wheels through a variable automatic transmission. FWD models return an EPA-estimated 29 miles per gallon city, 35 mpg highway, and 31 combined, dropping to 27/31/29 in AWD guise.

Flagship models feature a 1.6-liter GDI turbo gas engine, delivering 175 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque. A seven-speed dual clutch transmission feeds power to all four wheels, with fuel economy dropping to 25/30/27 MPG.

Engine TypeHorsepowerTorqueFuel Economy (City/Highway/Combined)
2.0 MPI146 hp132 lb-ft29/35/31 MPG
1.6 GDI175 hp195 lb-ft25/30/27 MPG

Passenger and Cargo Capacity

Cargo capacity for the five-seater Seltos stands at 26.6 cu ft with the rear seats in place, and 62.8 cu ft once they’re dropped.

Kia Seltos

Safety Features

For 2021, the Seltos is equipped with a suite of new safety aids including forward collision avoidance with pedestrian detection, lane keep assist and departure warning, high beam assist and a driver attention warning system.

Other across-the-range safety features include downhill braking control and hill start assist, a rollover sensor, six airbags and torque vectoring. EX trim and above receive blind spot assistance and cross-traffic alerts, but only flagship SX gets smart cruise control with stop and go, or highway driving assistance.

Connectivity

An 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system is offered in LX models, with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay baked in alongside Siri Eyes Free and a six-speaker audio system, 12V and USB power outlets. S trim receives a larger 10.25-inch touchscreen with voice-command navigation and satellite radio, while EX adds wireless phone charging. Again, SX is unique in having a Bose premium audio system with sound-connected mood lighting.

Kia Seltos

Seltos LX – From $23,665

Riding on 17-inch alloy wheels, AWD LX models have metal-effect skid plates, rear privacy glass and a rear spoiler. There’s cruise control and air conditioning, remote keyless entry plus power windows and mirrors. However, this is the only Seltos to receive an 8.0-inch touchscreen, and the only one without heated mirrors.

There are no options on any Seltos model.

Seltos S – From $23,865

Available as either front or all-wheel drive, S models benefit from chrome internal and external detailing, and turn signals in their heated outside mirrors. The cabin receives a larger 10.25-inch touchscreen with voice-controlled navigation and satellite radio, while push button start and automatic climate control are standard. The cabin has LED lighting, with leather across both the steering wheel and gearshift knob.

Seltos Nightfall Edition – From $27,865

The starting price for Nightfall Edition is higher than EX models due to the inclusion of a different engine, but specifications are a step down. Even so, Nightfalls ride on 18-inch matte black alloy wheels, with roof rails and a black front grille. Independent multi-link rear suspension improves roadholding, while blind-spot and rear cross-traffic avoidance systems boost safety.

Seltos EX – From $26,965

EX sheds some of Nightfall’s aesthetic flourishes but gains a number of welcome specification upgrades. Foremost among these is a ten-way power-adjustable driver’s seat with two-way power lumbar, alongside heating elements in both front seats. Other upgrades include a power sunroof with sunshade, solar control glass and wireless phone charging.

Seltos SX – From $29,165

By the time you reach the most expensive Seltos, its spec extends to half-chrome door handles, LED lights and 18-inch machine-finished alloy wheels. There’s a Bose audio system, a seven-inch LCD instrument display behind a leather-wrapped flat-bottom steering wheel, and safety aids ranging from smart cruise control to safe exit assistance.

Compare Seltos Trims Side-By-Side

CarsDirect Tip

The LX’s infotainment system is a bit last-decade, while the SX’s price is hard to justify. Optimal value comes midway up the Seltos range, with front-wheel drive S models especially well-priced, and equipped with all the basics SUV buyers expect nowadays.

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Automotive Editor
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Expert Review

Pros
  • Edgy styling
  • Roomy, comfortable interior
  • Available all-wheel drive
  • Great standard tech
Cons
  • Slow base powertrain
  • Dual-clutch gearbox needs polishing
  • Middling fuel economy
Expert Rating
3.1 (Good)

Our expert ratings are based on seven comprehensive criteria: quality, safety, comfort, performance, fuel economy, reliability history and value.

You can interpret our ratings in the following way:

: Outstanding vehicle. Only the most exceptional vehicles achieve this rating.

: Very Good vehicle. Very good and close to being the best vehicle in its class.

: Good vehicle. Decent, but not quite the best. Often affordable, but lacking key features found in vehicles of the same class.

: Below average vehicle. Not recommended, and lacking attributes a car buyer would come to expect for the price.

: Poor vehicle. Simply does not deserve to be on the road.

author image
Automotive Editor

Svelte looks for a hip crowd. Kia has been on a tear lately. Vehicles like the Stinger and the Telluride have managed to elevate the brand from a basic commodity to a desirable trendsetter. What was once unfashionable is now the hippest thing on the block - and Kia is acting quickly to capitalize on the resulting fervor by introducing other enticing products like the subcompact Seltos crossover.

Introduced last year, the Seltos is to the Kia Soul what the Ford Escape is to the new Bronco Sport: the mainstream, conventional cousin to the stylish, extroverted show-stealer. Like the referenced Fords, the two Kia models share powertrains and a platform, but only the Seltos offers all-wheel drive. The Soul is smaller, cheaper, and funkier, while the Seltos justifies its higher price point with more available features, greater interior space, and a ritzier vibe overall.

With plentiful features and optional all-wheel drive, it isn't surprising to learn that the Seltos is gunning for the heart of the subcompact crossover market. It does so with an approach that has become classic Kia: hot styling and great pricing, with an added dose of desirable standard and available features. The combo is a potent one and makes the Seltos one of the better choices in the competitive subcompact segment.

Slow, friendly, pleasant. The majority of Seltos models are powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder that makes 146 horsepower without the help of turbocharging. Hooked up to this modest mill is a CVT that does a nice job of adjusting its ratio without any dreaded rubber-band effects common to this transmission design. Don't expect it to be quick - a roughly nine-second 0-60 mph run is par for this powertrain - but as a competent commuter, it will do just fine.

The 175-horsepower 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder has a bit more gumption, especially down in the low end, but the otherwise impressive setup is hampered by a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox. In low-speed city driving, we found it rather recalcitrant; in smoother driving, the transmission raced through to the uppermost cogs. We get the desire for efficiency and low engine speeds at highway velocities, but the gearbox needs to be willing to play from time to time as well. That really isn't the case with this unit, and it leaves us wanting.

Speaking of efficiency, the base Seltos with front-wheel drive and the 2.0-liter engine will return 29 mpg city, 35 highway, and 31 combined. Adding all-wheel drive reduces those figures to 27/31/29 mpg. Those ratings don't outpace the competition, but they don't trail the leaders either. Consider these numbers par for the course for little utes of this size.

We'd love to see a hybrid added into the mix, something already being tried by the Subaru Crosstrek. As this segment trades first on price and then on eco-friendliness, we won't hold our breath for such a development, but it would go a long way in improving those city mpg figures - the sort of driving most common for this type of small crossover.

Roomy, airy, comfy. Open the door to the Seltos and you'll find a straightforward, modern, and well-built interior that follows the same design trends of other, pricier Kias. The low dash and slim, low-set console add a sense of airiness that's missing in some other crossovers. It makes this diminutive runabout feel bigger than its 172-inch length suggests.

The ruse continues to the second row, which boasts 38 inches of legroom. That's actually less than the Kia Soul, despite that model being the smaller of the two, but otherwise, the Seltos is competitive with the segment. The Subaru Crosstrek and Mazda CX-30 offer less legroom, while the Honda HR-V and Chevrolet Trailblazer are more spacious.

Behind the second row there's 26.6 cubic feet of cargo space; folding down the back seat opens up a hair over 60 cubes. It is a wide, spacious cargo area that's easy to take full advantage of. The rear seats don't fold entirely flat, but the angle is close enough to horizontal that most owners won't complain.

Most Seltos trims use an 8.0-inch touchscreen for handling infotainment duties. We're fans of the software thanks to its intuitive menu structure and standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A 10.3-inch touchscreen is available on the top-tier SX that adds navigation, split-screen capability, and a vehicle-monitoring telematics system. It's a lot of tech for a segment where the list of infotainment features usually begin and end with smartphone compatibility.

Value and competition. A base Seltos begins at $23,665. For that money, you get a fairly basic set of features that are highlighted by the 8.0-touchscreen; otherwise, the cloth seats, manual climate controls and seat adjustments, and dearth of active-safety features outside of automatic emergency braking is pretty standard for the price point. This is the loss-leader that drums up interest - for the pricier, better-equipped trims.

We're more attracted to the EX, which sits in the middle of the lineup. At $26,975, it is a bit more on the expensive side for a cheap, mainstream subcompact crossover, but it gets features like power seats, automatic climate control, leather upholstery, and wireless device charging. There isn't much you'll be missing and it leaves little reason to splurge on the nearly-$30,000 SX.

Compared to the rest of the segment, the Kia finds itself, unusually, in a position where it isn't the cheapest model on offer. If you want a Nissan Kicks, for instance, you can get a loaded one that's similarly equipped to the Seltos EX for around $24,000 - a nearly $3,000 discount. Normally this sort of ploy was perpetrated by Kia; now the brand finds itself priced more in the heart of the market than at the low end. The Crosstrek, CX-30, and Trailblazer all are priced similarly to the Seltos as well.

Does this strip away the value crown from Kia? Not necessarily. Though other entrants such as the Kicks might beat the Seltos on price, the overall value - a holistic perspective on the money spent versus the ownership experience - still leaves the Seltos among the best in this segment. Few crossovers in this segment feel as thoroughly thought-out as this.


Kia Seltos

Final thoughts. The Seltos is yet another winner from Kia, thanks to its excellent blend of features, pricing, and styling. Sure, it doesn't have the fastest powertrain or the most refined dual-clutch gearbox, but as a city runabout, it's a hard choice to beat.

Kia ultimately focused on what buyers of these vehicles want and delivered accordingly. The result is a crossover that fulfills the need of any typical urban, young buyer who might gravitate towards something of this ilk. We call it a job well done.

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Specs & Features

Highlights
Overall Crash Safety Rating
Engine - Cylinders/Horsepower/Torque
2.0L I-4 / 146 HP / 132 ft.lbs.
Transmission
2-spd sequential shift control CVT w/OD
Drive Type
Dynamax Automatic Full-time All Wheel
Fuel Economy - City/Highway/Combined
27 / 31 / 29 Mpg
Passenger Capacity
5
Bumper to Bumper Warranty
60 Months / 60,000 Miles
Mechanical Specs
Engine - Cylinders/Horsepower/Torque
2.0L I-4 / 146 HP / 132 ft.lbs.
Drive Type
Dynamax Automatic Full-time All Wheel
Fuel Economy - City/Hwy/Combined
27 / 31 / 29 Mpg
Brakes
4-wheel Disc
Front Suspension
Strut
Rear Suspension
Independent Multi-link
Spare Tire And Wheel
Compact Steel
Fuel Tank
13.2 Gal.
Recommended Fuel Type
Regular Unleaded
Average Cost To Fill Tank
$50
Dimensions & Capabilities
Maximum Cargo Volume
62.8 Cu.ft.
Passenger Volume
100 Cu.ft.
Exterior Length
172.0 "
Exterior Width
70.9 "
Exterior Height
63.6 "
Front Headroom
40.0 "
Rear Headroom
38.4 "
Front Legroom
41.4 "
Rear Legroom
38.0 "
Front Shoulder Room
55.5 "
Rear Shoulder Room
54.7 "
Front Hip Room
Rear Hip Room
Curb Weight
2,948 Lbs.
Wheel Base
104 "
Turning Radius
17.4 '
Exterior Features
Door Count
4 Doors
Wheels
17.0 " Gray Aluminum
Paint
Clearcoat Monotone / Pearlcoat Monotone
Exterior Mirrors
Dual Power Remote
Bumpers
Body-colored With Metal-look Insert
Grille Moldings
Black W/metal-look Surround
Rear Spoiler
Lip
Exhaust
Stainless Steel
Interior Features
Seating
Passenger Capacity
5
Seat Trim
Cloth
Front Seat Type
Bucket
Heated Front Seats
Front Driver Seat Direction Controls
6-way
Front Passenger Seat Direction Controls
4-way
Front Armrests
6-way
Rear Armrests
Rear Seats
60-40 Bench
Radio & Infotainment
Radio
Am/fm Stereo, Clock, Seek-scan / Clock
Speakers
6
Radio Steering Wheel Controls
Apple Car Play
Android Auto
Bluetooth w/ Hands-Free Connectivity
Convenience Features
Steering Wheel Type
Telescopic Tilt
Climate Control
Cruise Control
With Steering Wheel Controls
Sun Roof
Rearview Mirror
Day-night / Auto-dimming Day-night
One Touch Open Window
Driver
Tinted Windows
Deep
Vanity Mirrors
Remote Keyless Entry
Keyfob (all Doors)
Power Outlets
2
Safety Features
Overall Crash Safety Rating
Overall Front Crash Safety Rating
Overall Side Crash Safety Rating
Rollover Crash Safety Rating
Front Impact Airbags
Driver And Passenger
Driver Side Impact Airbags
Seat Mounted
Knee Airbag
Passenger Side Impact Airbag
Seat Mounted
Rear Side Airbag
Seatbelt Pretensioners
Front
Anti-Lock Brakes
4-wheel Anti-lock Brakes (abs)
Forward Collision Warning
Forward Collision-avoidance Assist (fca) Forward Collision Mitigation
Blind Spot Sensor
Lane Departure Warning
Lane Keep Assist System (lkas) Lane Departure
Autonomous Cruise Control
Pedestrian Detection
Pedestrian Detection Pedestrian Detection Prevention
Driver Attention Alert
Driver Attention Warning (daw) Driver Attention
Daytime Running Lights
Auto High Beams
High Beam Assist (hba) Auto High-beam
Adaptive Headlights
Parking Sensors
Security Systems
Security System
Panic Alarm
Ignition Disable
Warranty
Bumper To Bumper Months Miles
60 Months / 60,000 Miles
Major Components Months
120 Months / 100,000 Miles
Included Maintenance Months
Roadside Assistance Months
60 Months / 60,000 Miles
Corrosion Perforation
60 Months / 100,000 Miles
Accessories Months
60 Months / 60,000 Miles

Used 2022 Kia Seltos for Sale

9 vehicles found within 50 miles of your area
Kia
S
Color: Gravity Gray
Price

$18,498

Mileage

32,533 mi

Map location icon

Norm Reeves Honda Superstore West Covina (31 mi)

Phone: (855) 935-3962
Kia
S
Color: Gravity Gray
Price

$20,849

Mileage

16,193 mi

Map location icon

Car Pros KIA Glendale (17 mi)

Phone: (818) 745-1090
Kia
S
Color: Starbright Yellow/Black Roof
Price

$20,992

Mileage

24,101 mi

Map location icon

Chevrolet of Montebello (18 mi)

Phone: (323) 366-3325
Kia
S 4dr Front-Wheel Drive
Color: White
Price

$21,500

Mileage

26,119 mi

Map location icon

Kia of Alhambra (19 mi)

Phone: (626) 553-4133
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