The New 2025 Kia Seltos is Finally Here, And This’s Our Thoughts on it

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Hello and welcome to NewCars-Data.com, Today we will take a good look at the new Seltos. This new 2025 Kia Seltos comes in five different trims to suit a variety of preferences: LX, S, EX, X-Line, and SX. This new 2025 Kia Seltos is one of Kia’s most budget-friendly SUVs, sitting between the larger Sportage and the smaller Soul in terms of size and price. It’s a great option for those who want more space than the Soul offers or are looking for an SUV that comes with all-wheel drive, something the Soul doesn’t provide.

If you need a reliable, compact SUV but don’t want to splurge on the larger Sportage, the Seltos is a perfect middle-ground option.

2025 Kia Seltos
The new 2025 Seltos. Starts at $25,965. Image Credit: KIA.

One thing to note about the Seltos is that, unlike some of Kia’s other SUVs, it doesn’t come with a hybrid engine option. However, it does make up for this with a turbocharged engine in the higher trims, which gives it more power for those who want extra performance. This feature is available in the top two trims, so if you’re after a bit more speed and capability, it’s worth considering one of those.

2025 Kia Seltos Prices

The starting price for the 2025 Seltos is $25,965 for the base LX Model. But if you want the fancier one, the 2025 Kia Seltos SX MSRP start From $32,465. So the price you pay depends on the trim you choose:

Trims/Models Prices
2025 Kia Seltos SX  

$32,465.

 

2025 Kia Seltos X-Line  

$30,665.

 

2025 Kia Seltos EX   

$27,465.

 

2025 Kia Seltos S  

$26,465.

 

2025 Kia Seltos LX   

 $25,965.

 

You May Like To Read: The New 2025 Kia Sorento Specs, Prices, and Release Date.

How about The Warranty and Maintenance Coverage? Kia offers one of the best warranties in the industry, giving drivers peace of mind with long-term coverage. The 2025 Seltos comes with a limited warranty that lasts for 5 years or 60,000 miles, which covers most basic repairs.

On top of that, Kia provides a powertrain warranty that covers major engine and transmission components for 10 years or 100,000 miles, so you’re protected for a long time. This level of coverage is hard to beat, with only Hyundai offering something similar. However, it’s important to note that Kia doesn’t include free scheduled maintenance, so you’ll need to handle routine service on your own.

2025 Kia Seltos New Design

For 2025, Kia didn’t make any major changes to the Seltos, since it received a refresh last year. Same as the previous model, this new 2025 Kia Seltos is a small SUV, but it still offers a good amount of space for both passengers and cargo. It measures 172.6 inches in length, 70.9 inches in width, and stands 63.4 inches tall. This size makes it easy to handle on city streets, while still giving you enough room inside for a comfortable ride.

If you’re sitting in the back, you’ll find 38.4 inches of headroom, so even taller passengers won’t feel cramped, and 38 inches of legroom, which is plenty for most people.

When it comes to carrying stuff, the Seltos doesn’t disappoint. With the rear seats up and in place, you get 26.6 cubic feet of cargo space, which is great for everyday use like grocery runs or fitting in a couple of suitcases. If you need more room, you can fold down the rear seats to open up the full 62.8 cubic feet of space. This is perfect for bigger items like bikes, furniture, or camping gear.

Infotainment System

Now about the infotainment and connectivity! The Seltos’s entry-level model includes an 8-inch touchscreen that’s easy to use for things like navigation or media controls. You’ll also find a 4.2-inch display in the instrument cluster, which shows key information like speed and fuel levels.

Audio is delivered through six speakers, and for convenience, the Seltos includes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, so you can seamlessly connect your smartphone without needing any cables. Three USB-C ports are included to keep devices charged, and Bluetooth allows for hands-free calls and audio streaming.

As you move up the trims, the technology becomes even more advanced. The S trim upgrades to a larger 10.25-inch touchscreen and adds built-in navigation, making it easier to get around. It also switches to wired smartphone compatibility and includes satellite radio for more entertainment options. A front USB-C port is also added for quicker charging.

The EX trim steps things up even further with a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, offering a more modern and customizable display of driving information, plus a wireless charging pad to keep your devices powered up without needing to plug them in.

At the top of the range, the SX trim offers a premium sound experience with an 8-speaker Bose audio system, giving music lovers the best sound quality in the lineup.

Safety Features

Alright, let’s talk about safety here! Right out of the gate, every model includes forward collision warning, which alerts you if you’re getting too close to the car in front, and pedestrian and cyclist detection, which can spot people and bikes crossing your path. It also has lane departure warning and lane keeping assist to help you stay in your lane, as well as lane following assist to make driving easier by subtly steering to keep you centered.

On top of that, automatic high-beam assist helps with visibility at night by adjusting the lights automatically, and a driver attention monitor checks if you’re getting drowsy or distracted. Rear occupant alert ensures you don’t accidentally leave anything—or anyone—behind in the back seat.

As you move up the trims, the safety features become even more advanced. The S trim adds blind spot monitoring, which is great for changing lanes, and rear cross-traffic alert, which helps when backing out of tight spots. Safe exit warning is also included to make sure it’s safe to open your doors when parked.

The EX trim steps it up with rear parking sensors for easier maneuvering in close spaces, while the top-of-the-line SX trim goes all out with features like intersection assist, adaptive cruise control, and Kia’s Highway Driving Assist, which helps keep you centered and at a safe distance on the highway. It also includes intelligent speed limit assist, which adjusts your speed based on the posted limits, making the SX a highly advanced and safety-focused option.

2025 Kia Seltos Power Options

Alright, let’s talk about the new Seltos power here! This 2025 Kia Seltos offers two engine options. The base engine is a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder that produces 146 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque. This engine comes paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), which helps the Seltos deliver smooth acceleration and decent fuel efficiency for daily driving.

The base LX trim comes standard with all-wheel drive (AWD), giving you better traction and stability in challenging road conditions. For the S and EX trims, front-wheel drive (FWD) comes standard, but you can add AWD for extra cost—$1,500 on the S trim and $2,200 on the EX trim—if you need more grip for things like bad weather or light off-roading.

If you want more power, the X-Line and SX trims offer a turbocharged 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine. This turbo engine bumps up the performance with 195 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque, making the Seltos quicker and more responsive on the road. Unlike the CVT in the base engine, the turbocharged models come with an 8-speed automatic transmission, which provides a sportier feel and more control over gear changes. All-wheel drive is standard with the turbocharged engine.

Kia Seltos Fuel Economy

The 2025 Kia Seltos is a fuel-efficient option, especially for those looking for a small SUV that won’t break the bank at the gas pump. According to EPA estimates, the front-wheel-drive models with the base 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine can get up to 34 miles per gallon on the highway. This makes the Seltos a great choice for long road trips or daily commutes, helping you go farther on a tank of gas.

Our Thoughts on The New 2025 Kia Seltos:

The 2025 Kia Seltos continues to stand out as a versatile and budget-friendly subcompact SUV. It offers a range of trims and two engine options, including a more powerful turbocharged engine for those seeking extra performance.

The new 2025 Kia Seltos Infotainment and connectivity
The new 2025 Kia Seltos Dashboard. Image Credit: KIA.

The interior is spacious for a small SUV, with plenty of room for passengers and cargo, plus advanced tech features like wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and available navigation. Kia also backs the Seltos with one of the best warranties in the industry, providing peace of mind with long-term coverage. Its strong fuel economy, especially with the base engine, makes it an efficient choice for everyday driving.

However, the Seltos isn’t without its downsides. It lacks a hybrid option, which some competitors offer for better fuel efficiency. The absence of complimentary scheduled maintenance is also something to consider, as you’ll be responsible for routine service costs.

Source: CarsDirect, CarAndDriver, and KIA.