The 2027 Kia Seltos starts at $24,990, with more space, nearly 30-inch screens, available AWD, turbo power, and a hybrid coming later.

A Small SUV With a Bigger Assignment

The 2027 Kia Seltos arrives at a useful moment for American car shoppers. New vehicles have become expensive enough that a starting price in the mid-$20,000 range now feels almost rebellious, especially when the vehicle attached to it is not a stripped-down commuter car. The redesigned Seltos starts at $24,990 before Kia’s $1,495 destination charge, giving buyers a compact SUV with five seats, useful cargo space and a long list of modern technology.

That price deserves context. The destination charge pushes the least expensive Seltos to $26,485 before taxes, registration, dealer fees or options, so this is not truly a sub-$25,000 vehicle once it reaches a driveway. Even so, the base figure matters because it keeps the Seltos within reach of shoppers who need one vehicle to handle commuting, family duty, grocery runs, pets and occasional bad weather without graduating to the cost or bulk of a larger SUV.

Kia has not simply changed the styling and updated the software. The 2027 model begins the Seltos’ second generation with a longer wheelbase, a roomier cabin, more cargo capacity, more available display area and a choice of three powertrain strategies. Gasoline models are arriving first, while the first Seltos hybrid is planned for later in 2026.

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Bigger Where Families Notice It

The new Seltos stretches its wheelbase by 2.4 inches. That does not sound dramatic on a specification sheet, but wheelbase growth usually matters more to passengers than decorative exterior changes. Kia says rear-seat legroom improves by one inch, while headroom, shoulder room and hip room also increase.

The result is a small SUV that should work better for adults in the second row and for parents installing child seats. Extra rear legroom also makes daily life easier when front-seat occupants are tall, children are growing or a family is trying to avoid the familiar battle between knees and seatbacks. Parents should still consult the vehicle manual and follow the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s child-seat guidance when selecting and installing a restraint.

Kia has kept the body upright, which should help outward visibility and make the cabin feel less confined than the sloping-roof crossovers that sacrifice usefulness for profile. The Seltos also remains considerably easier to place in a crowded city than a three-row SUV.

That manageable footprint is central to its appeal. The Seltos attempts to provide the useful seating position, hatchback access and flexible interior buyers expect from an SUV without creating the parking anxiety, fuel consumption or garage-space demands that come with a much larger vehicle.

Cargo Space for Real Life

Behind the rear seats, Kia estimates 27.8 cubic feet of cargo room. Fold the second row and the figure expands to 64.1 cubic feet. Those numbers give the Seltos enough flexibility for weekly groceries, airport luggage, sports equipment, camping supplies or a dog that believes the entire cargo floor was included for its personal use.

An adjustable cargo floor makes the space easier to configure, while Kia Add Gear attachment points are designed to secure smaller accessories and help organize loose items. Those details matter because maximum volume is only part of the cargo story. A wide opening, a sensible floor height and storage that prevents small objects from roaming freely can make a compact vehicle more useful than a larger one with awkward packaging.

For dog owners, the upright roof and broad hatch are especially relevant. The Seltos is not a substitute for a minivan or a full-size SUV when several large animals are involved, but it should be a practical fit for one or two dogs, their equipment and the humans who insist on traveling with them.

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A Dashboard That Keeps Its Buttons

Kia’s cabin design follows the brand’s recent habit of making affordable vehicles look as though they borrowed their dashboard from something more expensive. A 12.3-inch touchscreen is standard. An available 12.3-inch digital instrument display and five-inch climate display bring the combined screen area to nearly 30 inches.

The important detail is that physical controls survive. Frequently used climate and audio functions should not require the driver to navigate several layers of menus. That may sound like a modest victory, but simple controls are increasingly valuable as automakers move more basic functions onto touchscreens.

Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across the lineup. Multiple USB-C ports serve both rows, with rear charging connections mounted in the front seatbacks where passengers can reach them without searching beneath the center console. Kia Connect adds compatible phone-based remote functions, while the connected infotainment system supports over-the-air updates.

Available parked-car entertainment services include YouTube, Netflix and Disney+. Those features are intended for use while the vehicle is stationary, and their real value will depend on subscriptions, connectivity and how often owners wait in the car. More useful may be Kia’s generative AI assistant, activated by saying “Hey, Kia,” which is designed to process more conversational requests than a traditional voice-command system.

Three Powertrain Choices

The gasoline lineup begins with a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter four-cylinder producing 147 horsepower. It is paired with Kia’s Intelligent Variable Transmission and can be ordered with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. This is the sensible powertrain for buyers prioritizing price and fuel economy rather than acceleration.

Kia lists fuel-economy estimates of 28 mpg city, 33 highway and 30 combined with front-wheel drive. All-wheel-drive versions of the 2.0-liter are rated at 26 city, 30 highway and 28 combined. Shoppers can use the federal government’s official fuel-economy resources to compare published ratings, estimated annual fuel costs and competing vehicles.

The stronger option is a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder producing an estimated 190 horsepower. It uses an eight-speed automatic transmission and comes only with all-wheel drive in the X-Line SX. Kia lists 24 mpg city, 30 highway and 26 combined for the turbo model.

That engine is likely to be the more satisfying choice for drivers who regularly merge into fast traffic, carry several passengers or travel through hilly country. The tradeoff is straightforward: more confidence when accelerating, a higher purchase price and slightly greater fuel use.

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The Hybrid Could Be the Most Important Version

The third powertrain is the one that could change the Seltos’ place in the segment. The coming hybrid pairs a 1.6-liter gasoline engine with a six-speed dual-clutch transmission. Kia plans front-wheel-drive versions and an available electric all-wheel-drive system that can add rear-axle assistance on demand.

A conventional hybrid electric vehicle combines a gasoline engine with one or more electric motors and normally replenishes its battery through regenerative braking and the engine rather than external charging. That makes it different from a plug-in hybrid or fully electric vehicle.

Kia has not yet announced U.S. hybrid pricing, output or fuel-economy figures. That means shoppers should resist assuming it will automatically be the best value. A hybrid only makes financial sense when its price premium, expected annual mileage, fuel savings and insurance costs work together favorably.

Still, the concept fits the Seltos well. Small SUVs spend much of their lives in stop-and-go traffic, school lines and urban errands, where hybrid systems can recover braking energy and reduce fuel use. A well-priced Seltos hybrid could appeal to buyers who want better efficiency but are not ready to depend on charging infrastructure.

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All-Wheel Drive Without Off-Road Theater

Available Multi-Mode all-wheel drive and up to 8.1 inches of ground clearance give selected Seltos trims more confidence in snow, gravel and poorly maintained roads. Terrain settings can adjust the vehicle’s responses for conditions beyond dry pavement.

That does not make the Seltos a rock crawler, and Kia is not pretending otherwise. Its capability is aimed at ordinary problems: a snowy commute, a muddy trailhead, a gravel road to a vacation rental or a dog park exit that has turned into a small agricultural experiment.

The available X-Line appearance adds more rugged styling, while the turbocharged X-Line SX receives black 19-inch wheels. They look impressive, but buyers should remember that larger wheels usually mean lower-profile tires, potentially higher replacement costs and less cushioning over broken pavement.

Wheel size is only one ownership consideration. NHTSA’s TireWise safety information explains tire labeling, pressure, tread inspections and replacement considerations. Style has a maintenance budget, even when it arrives from the factory.

Safety Technology With the Driver Still in Charge

Kia equips the Seltos with a broad collection of standard driver-assistance technologies. The list includes forward collision avoidance with pedestrian and cyclist detection, junction-turning assistance, lane-keeping assistance, lane-following assistance, driver-attention monitoring, high-beam assistance and smart cruise control with stop-and-go capability.

Front and rear parking-distance warnings are standard. Available equipment includes side parking sensors, reverse parking collision avoidance, a surround-view camera and a blind-spot view monitor that displays a camera image when the turn signal is activated.

These systems can improve awareness and reduce workload, but they do not make the Seltos self-driving. NHTSA’s explanation of vehicle automation levels makes clear that assistance features still require an engaged and attentive driver. The person behind the wheel remains responsible for steering, braking, speed and observation.

The best safety feature may be the simplest one. The upright greenhouse should provide better outward visibility before cameras and warning tones become necessary. Technology can help cover a blind spot, but good basic visibility reduces the number of situations in which that help becomes essential.

Pricing Makes Trim Selection Important

The 2027 Seltos range starts with the LX front-wheel drive at $24,990 before destination. The S front-wheel drive begins at $26,390, while the EX front-wheel drive starts at $28,390. Adding all-wheel drive moves the LX to $26,690, the S to $28,090 and the EX to $30,090.

The X-Line S, which combines the 2.0-liter engine with all-wheel drive and rugged styling, begins at $28,990. At the top of the gasoline range, the turbocharged X-Line SX starts at $32,790. Every one of those figures excludes the $1,495 destination charge.

This spread shows why shoppers should evaluate equipment rather than focus only on the headline price. The least expensive Seltos delivers the basic shape, space and standard touchscreen, but many of the most eye-catching features are optional or restricted to upper trims.

The surround-view monitor, blind-spot camera, panoramic roof, upgraded displays, memory driver’s seat, streaming services and turbocharged engine can quickly move the transaction price well beyond the mid-$20,000 range. A disciplined buyer should decide which features solve an actual need before allowing an attractive options list to turn a value-oriented SUV into a considerably more expensive purchase.

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Who Should Put the 2027 Kia Seltos on the List

The redesigned Seltos is aimed at buyers who want one manageable vehicle to cover several jobs. It makes sense for urban commuters who occasionally need all-wheel drive, small families that value rear-seat room, empty nesters who want an easy step-in height, and dog owners who need a practical cargo area without buying a much larger SUV.

Drivers who regularly tow, carry more than five people or need serious off-road ability should look elsewhere. Buyers who want strong acceleration should also budget for the turbocharged model rather than expecting the base engine to feel energetic under every condition.

The 2027 Kia Seltos succeeds on paper because it concentrates on useful things. It is larger without becoming cumbersome, technologically ambitious without eliminating every physical control, and affordable enough at the entry point to keep the conversation grounded in value. The hybrid remains the unanswered question, but the gasoline models already make a persuasive case.

For families and dog owners who want big-SUV usefulness without big-SUV bulk, the new Seltos belongs on the shopping list. It does not promise to do everything. It promises to do the things most owners actually need, and that is usually the more valuable achievement.