2023 Kia Seltos

The 2023 Seltos is a pre-facelift first-generation (SP2) carry-over year: the volume LX/S/EX trims use the 146-hp 2.0L Atkinson four, with the 175-hp 1.6T reserved for the SX. 146 hp sits below the floor of the SUV band.

The volume 2.0L makes 132 lb-ft, peaking high at 4,500 rpm — barely above the bottom of the SUV band.

The 2.0L/IVT AWD volume configuration needs roughly 9.5 seconds to 60 mph, slow even for the class; the turbo SX is dramatically quicker but is not the volume trim.

The 2.0L is quiet at cruise but must be revved hard to make progress, where it turns buzzy and still feels underpowered. The SX's 1.6T is punchy with little lag, but it is the minority trim.

Kia's IVT with simulated steps feels more natural than a typical CVT in daily driving but drones under hard throttle. The SX's 7-speed dual-clutch shifts quickly once moving but can be hesitant and jerky at parking-lot speeds.

Kia publishes no US trailer-weight rating for the 2023 Seltos and offers no factory tow package, so it scores as not tow-capable. The 1,250 kg braked rating applies only to overseas markets.

AWD is standard on most 2023 trims (LX, EX, SX), with FWD offered only as a cost option on the S. The system includes a driver-selectable center Lock mode and AWD cars get a multi-link rear suspension — broader and slightly more capable than typical segment on-demand systems.

About 7.2 inches of ground clearance and AWD Lock mode help on snow and gravel trails, but there is no low range, locking differential, underbody protection or off-road trim (X-Line arrived only with the 2024 facelift).

Two gas engines — the 2.0L with IVT and the 1.6T with a 7-speed DCT — cover the range, but the turbo is confined to the SX and there is no hybrid, PHEV or EV variant in the US.

The volume 2.0L AWD configuration is EPA-rated 29 mpg combined; the FWD S reaches 31 and the turbo SX drops to 27. Mid-pack for a non-hybrid subcompact SUV.

EPA city rating for the 2.0L AWD volume configuration; with no electric assist it trails hybrid rivals but is competitive among gas subcompacts.

EPA highway rating for the 2.0L AWD volume trim; the FWD S is notably better at 35 mpg.

Computed from the 13.2-gallon tank and the 29 mpg EPA combined rating of the 2.0L AWD volume configuration; the small tank caps range.

EPA's published annual fuel cost for the 2.0L AWD volume configuration at its standard 15,000 mi/yr assumption and current regular-fuel price.

Both 2023 powertrains, including the 1.6L turbo, run on regular unleaded with no premium requirement anywhere in the lineup.

The pre-facelift 2023 Seltos earned a 4-star NHTSA overall rating, held back by a 4-star frontal result; the 5-star overall came only with the 2024 facelift retest.

The 2023 Seltos is an IIHS Top Safety Pick (with specific headlights) and rates Good in every crashworthiness test IIHS lists for it — both small overlaps, moderate overlap, roof strength and head restraints — though it falls short of TSP+ because only the SX Turbo's headlights qualify.

Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with pedestrian detection, Lane Keeping Assist, Lane Following Assist and Driver Attention Warning are standard on every trim, but blind-spot and rear cross-traffic systems skip the base LX and adaptive cruise is SX-only, so the volume trims miss key items.

IIHS rates both the standard camera-only and the optional camera/radar fusion systems Superior in vehicle-to-vehicle and daytime pedestrian front crash prevention; there is no nighttime pedestrian result to support the top band.

Blind-spot collision-avoidance (with active braking) and rear cross-traffic collision-avoidance are standard from the S/EX trims up, covering most of the sales mix, but the base LX goes without both.

Lane Keeping Assist plus Lane Following Assist centering is standard on every 2023 trim including the LX, which is generous for the class; Kia's system is generally reviewed as smooth if occasionally hesitant on faded markings.

Smart Cruise Control with Stop & Go is limited to the top SX trim; LX, S, EX and Nightfall buyers — the bulk of sales — get only conventional cruise control, a notable gap versus rivals that standardize ACC.

No hands-free highway driving system is offered on any 2023 Seltos trim; the available aids all require hands on the wheel.

Only the SX Turbo's LED reflector headlights rate Good; the halogen projectors on the LX, S, EX and Nightfall — the volume trims — rate Poor, the lowest IIHS grade.

The boxy, upright body and large glass area give good natural sightlines for the class, and a rear-view camera is standard, though surround-view camera coverage is not offered on the pre-facelift model.

IIHS rates LATCH ease of use Acceptable, with complete LATCH sets in two rear positions and a tether-only center seat; the rear seat is roomy for a subcompact but too narrow for three child seats across.

The 2023 Seltos is a pre-facelift first-generation (SP2) two-row subcompact SUV seating five on every trim (LX/S/EX/Nightfall/SX); no third row is offered.

40.0 in of front headroom on the non-sunroof volume trims is a strong figure for a subcompact SUV thanks to the tall, boxy roofline.

41.4 in of front legroom is mid-pack for the class and sits in the lower third of the SUV band, which is anchored to much larger utilities.

38.4 in of second-row headroom gives good adult clearance for a subcompact SUV.

38.0 in of rear legroom is a standout in the subcompact class — Capital One's tester notes the Seltos 'can easily hold grown-ups in the back seat'.

Strictly a two-row, five-seat SUV — no third row on any 2023 trim, so this scores in the bottom band by definition.

26.6 cu ft behind the second row is class-leading for a subcompact SUV but sits at the bottom of an SUV band that spans full-size utilities.

Folding the 60/40 rear bench opens 62.8 cu ft, aided by a dual-level cargo floor — strong for the class, low against the band.

Competitive everyday storage: a two-tier phone tray (wireless charger above on EX and up, deep bin with USB ports below), a dual-level cargo floor and class-normal console and door bins. Thoughtful but not innovative.

Front seats are fine around town but reviewers find them short on lower-back and thigh support on long drives; the reclining rear bench is comfortable and roomy for adults.

A consistent weak point: the suspension lets the body bounce and rock on uneven roads and sharp impacts shudder through the structure — below the softer-riding class leaders.

Freeway noise is excessive for the class; Kia added an acoustic windshield and noise-reduction tweaks for 2023, which help only marginally.

Heated front seats, power driver's seat and sunroof start at EX, automatic climate from the S/Nightfall level, rear A/C vents on most trims; ventilated front seats only in the SX sunroof package. Key comfort kit is mid-trim and up, with LX/S plainly equipped.

The 2023 LX comes standard with AWD and is the cheapest configuration Kia priced, at $22,840 before the $1,295 destination charge. That makes the Seltos one of the least expensive AWD SUVs sold in the US that year.

We treat the S AWD as the volume configuration. For 2023 it gained Blind-Spot Collision Avoidance and Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Avoidance for a small premium over the LX. It costs $24,390 plus $1,295 destination. Kia does not publish its trim mix, so the volume-trim choice is our estimate.

CarEdge puts five-year maintenance at about $2,600. We add roughly $1,500 for unscheduled repairs and wear items typical of the class. The 5yr/60k basic warranty covers most component failures in that window, and the naturally aspirated 2.0L in the volume trims is cheap to service.

Residual estimates vary widely. CarEdge projects 48% retained after five years, KBB cost-to-own data for this generation implies the low 40s, and iSeeCars is near 60%. We blend them to about 47%, below the subcompact-SUV norm and typical of mainstream-brand residuals.

Kia's 5-year/60,000-mile limited basic warranty applies to the 2023 Seltos. That is two years longer than the 3yr/36k mainstream norm.

The 10-year/100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty matches the best in the segment. It covers the original owner only; later owners get 5yr/60k.

Kia includes no complimentary scheduled maintenance, which trails ToyotaCare (2yr/25k) and Hyundai's 3yr/36k. Buyers do get 5-year/60,000-mile roadside assistance and a UVO/Kia Connect trial, which puts the Seltos in the 'basic roadside only' band.

$25,685 volume-trim price minus its estimated resale value after 5 years (47% retained, or about $12,072) leaves about $13,613 in depreciation. Add the projected $4,100 in 5-year maintenance and repairs, and owning this vehicle for 5 years costs about $17,713 in total.

J.D. Power rates the 2023 Seltos 'Great' on Quality & Reliability. Consumer Reports calls its reliability about average for the 2023 model year. With the two sources split, the score sits in the upper part of the average band, a little below the 2024 because the 2023 is directly affected by the piston-ring engine recall.

Across recent J.D. Power VDS/IQS studies Kia places in the upper half of mainstream brands, and Consumer Reports' brand rankings put it upper-mid-pack. That is good, but not consistently top-5.

The 2023 is covered by two serious NHTSA campaigns. The first is the piston-oil-ring recall, where a mis-manufactured ring can cause engine damage, failure or fire. The second is a park-outside fire advisory for the Idle Stop & Go electric oil-pump controller. Earlier piston-ring campaigns on the 2021–2022 cars show this is a repeated, generation-wide issue, so the score sits at the bottom of the typical band.

The volume 2.0L Smartstream with IVT is the engine family behind the 2021–2023 Seltos/Soul piston-ring oil-consumption recalls and Kia's warranty extension, and the 2023 falls inside the affected range. The optional 1.6T uses a 7-speed DCT, which has a mixed reputation. Kia's 10-yr/100k-mile powertrain warranty offsets some of the risk.

This is the pre-refresh cabin, with an 8-inch screen on most trims and a 10.25-inch screen only on the SX. Reviewers call it well laid out but note plenty of hard plastics, which is competitive for a subcompact SUV but not class-leading.

Reviewers describe the Korean-built Seltos as solidly assembled, with no widespread rattle or panel-gap complaints. J.D. Power's 'Great' quality rating supports good initial quality.

Kia has roughly 750–800 US dealers, so coverage is nationwide. Service satisfaction is about the mass-market average in J.D. Power's CSI.

The Seltos shares its platform and engines with the high-volume Kia Soul and Hyundai Kona, so parts are plentiful and repair costs are typical of the mainstream segment. Aftermarket support is moderate.

The pre-facelift 2023 Seltos uses an 8-inch touchscreen on the volume LX and S trims; the 10.25-inch navigation unit is standard only from EX up (the 2024 refresh widened it).

Kia's interface is quick, logically laid out and backed by physical climate and volume controls; reviewers call the 8-inch unit easy to use and the 10.25-inch widescreen a class highlight.

Wireless CarPlay/Android Auto is standard on the volume 8-inch LX and S trims, but the 10.25-inch nav unit on EX/Nightfall/SX is wired-only — buyers paying more lose the wireless convenience.

Built-in navigation with Kia Connect is limited to the 10.25-inch EX and up; the volume 8-inch trims rely on phone projection, and the native voice assistant is command-based.

Six-speaker audio is standard and adequate; the eight-speaker Bose system with Sound Mood lighting is confined to the top SX.

No full digital cluster is offered: LX through Nightfall use analog dials with a small mono/LCD display, and even the SX gets only a 7-inch TFT 'supervision' cluster between gauges. The 10.25-inch digital cluster arrived with the 2024 refresh.

The pre-facelift Seltos has no meaningful vehicle OTA; map/software updates for the 10.25-inch nav unit are dealer- or USB-based via Kia's Navigation Updater, and the 8-inch volume trims get none.

Kia Connect remote start/climate, lock/unlock and locate come only with the 10.25-inch head unit (EX and up); the volume LX/S have no connected-services app functions.

USB-A ports front and rear (rear ports on most trims) and a dedicated wireless charging tray from EX up; no USB-C or household AC outlet in the pre-facelift car.

Smart key with push-button start on the upper trims and remote start via Kia Connect from EX; the LX uses a conventional key and no digital key is offered.

A rear camera is standard and rear parking sensors appear on upper trims, but there is no surround-view or blind-spot view monitor on any 2023 US trim.

No head-up display is offered on any 2023 US Seltos trim; the HUD exists on Korean, Canadian and Indian versions only.

Class-leading 26.6 cu ft behind the rear seat and 38.0 in of rear legroom make the Seltos genuinely family-usable for its size, with square door openings. LATCH anchors set deep in the seat (IIHS Acceptable) and a bench too narrow for three seats across hold it back.

A 2023 IIHS Top Safety Pick with Good crashworthiness across the board and Superior AEB, plus FCA, lane keeping and lane following standard on every trim. Held back by a 4-star NHTSA overall rating, Poor halogen headlights on all but the SX, and adaptive cruise reserved for the SX.

The back seat is habitable for adults with rear A/C vents and USB ports, and cargo stays usable with five aboard, but a bouncy ride and excessive freeway noise limit it to medium-haul duty.

Compact size, light controls, good visibility and standard lane following make it easy in traffic; the 146-hp 2.0L/IVT is adequate in town but underpowered on merges, and the ride and noise add commute fatigue.

31 mpg combined in FWD form (29 AWD) on regular fuel and low scheduled maintenance make it inexpensive to run, but no hybrid is offered, so hybrid rivals beat it per mile.

About 172 in long with a tight ~35 ft turning circle and an upright greenhouse with good sightlines, the Seltos is easy to park; no surround-view camera on any 2023 trim keeps it out of the top band.

Kia publishes no US trailer rating and offers no factory tow package, so there is no sanctioned towing at all; a 146-hp unibody subcompact has nothing in reserve under load. The cargo hold is the only work-relevant asset.

Proven in consumer service and backed by Kia's 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, but nothing is built for abuse — no fleet track record, cloth/SynTex trim, no heavy-duty suspension or skid protection.

Roof rails, cargo tie-downs, a dual-level cargo floor and 60/40 split rear seat handle light gear; no AC outlet, no factory hitch and no upfit ecosystem.

About 383 miles of range (AWD) is adequate and Highway Driving Assist helps on the SX, but excessive freeway noise, a bouncy ride and seats short on lower-back support limit long-haul endurance.

AWD is standard on LX and most trims, with a center-lock mode and Snow drive mode, ~7.2 in of ground clearance and roof rails — a competent gravel-road companion. No tow rating, skid plates or off-road tires.

26.6 / 62.8 cu ft cargo leads the subcompact class, with a dual-level floor, 60/40 split fold and roof rails. No factory hitch for a bike rack or cargo tray.

Nimble and sure-footed on smooth roads, and AWD trims get a multi-link rear suspension, but body motion is poorly checked on uneven surfaces and grip is modest; reviewers place it mid-pack with the CX-30 as the class benchmark.

Accurate with a secure on-center feel on the highway, but typical electric-assist steering with little genuine feedback.

Panic stops from 60 mph around 135 ft are middling for the class; pedal feel is unobjectionable and no fade was reported.

The volume 146-hp 2.0L with Kia's IVT is underpowered beyond city driving (~9.5 s to 60 mph), though the stepped IVT avoids the worst rubber-band feel. The SX/Nightfall 1.6T with 7-speed DCT is punchy but can be jerky at low speed.

The 2.0L turns buzzy when revved hard to make progress, and the cabin does little to suppress it; Kia's 2023 noise-reduction changes are a modest improvement.

A tight ~34.8 ft turning circle from the short 103.5-in wheelbase sits at the favorable end of the SUV band — a real urban strength.

A fairly high hip point, upright greenhouse with expansive visibility and physical climate/audio controls make for good ergonomics; power driver's seat only from EX, and front seats are short on thigh support for long drives.

In volume 2.0L/IVT form it is transportation rather than entertainment; the 1.6T Nightfall/SX is appreciably livelier, but reviewers rank it mid-pack behind the CX-30 on driving enjoyment.

The 2023 LX costs $24,135 with destination and comes with standard AWD, which most subcompact rivals charge extra for. It also includes an 8-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and forward-collision avoidance with lane keeping. For 2023 the S added rear cross-traffic and blind-spot collision avoidance, but heated seats, the 10.25-inch navigation screen and the turbo engine still wait for higher trims.

One of the strongest content-per-dollar cases in the class: standard AWD from $24,135 and an available 175-hp turbo four in the SX at under $30,000 delivered. It also has the segment's longest powertrain warranty. The weak spots are the 146-hp base engine and below-average resale.

Six well-spaced configurations (LX, S FWD, S AWD, EX, Nightfall Edition, SX) span about $5,500 from base to loaded, with a choice of FWD or AWD on the S. The main gap is that the turbo is limited to the two top trims and front-drive exists only on the S.

US sales rose sharply to an all-time annual record of about 60,000 units in 2023, up roughly 31% from 2022. That is solid momentum, though still well behind volume leaders like the Crosstrek, HR-V and Trax.

Kia's image was rising in 2023 on the back of the Telluride, EV6 and its record US sales years, so the badge no longer drags on the model. It still trails Toyota, Honda and Subaru on resale and long-term reputation, and the 2022–23 anti-theft publicity around some Kia models also weighed on the brand that year.

The 2023 model year sold during tight post-pandemic inventory, when mainstream subcompacts commonly went at or near MSRP and factory cash was scarce. Modest APR and lease support returned through 2023 as supply recovered, putting it in the 'occasional modest incentives' band.

2023 was the third US model year of the first-generation (SP2) Seltos and the last before its 2024 facelift. The 2024 update brought a restyled front end, a new 195-hp turbo with an 8-speed automatic and dual 10.25-inch screens, so a 2023 buyer gets a car that was current but about to be updated.

Reviewers rated it well across the board, and KBB named it the #1 2-row SUV of 2023. US News ranks it #4 of 16 affordable subcompact SUVs and Edmunds gives it 7.6/10, citing roominess, tech and value against a sluggish base engine. It is a frequent podium finisher but rarely the outright class pick, and it won no major award such as 10Best or NACTOY.