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The redesigned Seltos adds more power and a nicer cabin, significantly improving its entry-level value.
The average transaction price of a new automobile remains expensive, but there are several entry-level small crossovers that are designed to maximize your earnings. The Kia Seltos has performed admirably in this position, with sales up 30% year on year and the buying pool among the youngest in the segment. Capturing the attention of the younger generation is difficult, as anyone who creates TikToks can attest, but the upgraded 2025 Seltos offers everything you need.
The 2025 Seltos seems similar from the front, with the exception of a larger grille, revised headlights, and beefier-looking trim underneath. The back has a brighter glow, with redesigned taillights that look much more modern. If you want to go any farther, the new X-Line model, which replaces the Nightfall Edition, adds a model-specific grille, alternative wheels, a black roof rack, and high-gloss black trim to the Seltos.
The most noticeable modification is to the 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine in the X-Line and SX grades. Horsepower improves from 20 to 195, while torque remains constant at 195 pound-feet. The new engine has a smaller bore and longer stroke than the old 1.6-liter engine, as well as a larger turbocharger, redesigned camshaft, new injectors, and changes to thermal and cylinder head management. (The 2.0-liter inline-four engine in lower trim levels stays intact, providing the same 146 horsepower and 132 pound-feet.)
With the 1.6-liter engine and all-wheel drive (front-drive is only available on the 2.0-liter unit), the feds estimate the 2024 Seltos to get 27 mpg on the highway, 3 mpg less than the 2023 model. The combined efficiency reduces from 27 to 26 mpg, but the city figure stands at 25 mpg, matching our national average. However, in our 75 mph highway test, the new Seltos achieved an EPA-beating 32 mpg, two mpg more than the 2021 model.
Despite these upgrades, the redesigned Seltos remains a budget-friendly option for consumers with growing families. The base LX comes with a 2.0-liter engine and all-wheel drive (yep, it's standard on the bottom rung) for $25,715. The $26,315 S and $27,115 EX trims come standard with front-wheel drive; adding all-wheel drive raises the price by $1500 and $2200, respectively. If you want to take advantage of the 1.6-liter turbocharged engine, the X-Line costs $30,015, while the SX with all the bells and whistles costs $31,315. |