A two-time winner in our Affordable SUV Challenge, the Kia Seltos combines upscale interior design, expertly balanced ride and handling, and a generous list of standard equipment at a budget-friendly price. Kia freshened the small SUV for the 2024 model year with updated styling and more power from the optional turbocharged engine. For 2026, the big news is that the black-trimmed X-Line is dropped. The base LX trim is $1,000 cheaper than it was for 2025, while the rest of the lineup starts $200 higher. The 2025 Kia Seltos starts at $25,085 (all prices include $1,395 destination charge).
Related: Is the 2024 Kia Seltos a Good SUV? 5 Pros, 3 Cons
Release Date and Pricing
The 2026 Kia Seltos will go on sale later in 2025. Full pricing is as follows:
- LX: $25,085
- S: $26,785
- EX: $27,785
- SX: $32,785
What Are the 2026 Kia Seltos’ Trim Levels?
Beyond the fundamental appeal of a spacious and efficient small SUV, the entry-level Seltos LX is rather basic. It rides on 17-inch wheels, and a rear spoiler with an LED stop light is its one notable exterior feature. Inside are cloth upholstery, manually adjustable front seats, six speakers, and an 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Safety technology is where the Seltos distinguishes itself from other similarly priced vehicles. Forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking are standard on many such cars and SUVs, but the Seltos also features pedestrian and bicyclist detection. Other standard driver assists include lane departure warning, lane departure steering assist, lane-centering steering, a driver-attention monitor and automatic high beams.
The S trim level sports LED daytime running lights, heated side mirrors, roof rails, and keyless entry and start. Its seats are upholstered in a blend of cloth and synthetic leather, and it gains automatic climate control and a larger touchscreen that includes navigation and measures 10.25 inches. Blind spot monitors and rear cross-traffic alert with automatic braking join the standard-equipment list for the Seltos S.
Satin-chrome exterior trim helps identify the EX, which also features full synthetic leather upholstery, heated front seats (power-adjustable for the driver), a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and wireless device charging.
Only available with a powerful turbocharged engine and AWD, the Seltos SX rides on 18-inch wheels and features LED headlights, a hands-free power liftgate, a flat-bottom steering wheel and an eight-speaker Bose sound system. The SX also gains adaptive cruise control, front cross-traffic alert and Kia’s Highway Driving Assist, which integrates the adaptive cruise and lane-centering steering systems to help maintain the driver’s position in lane on the highway.
What Are the 2026 Kia Seltos’ Powertrain Specs and MPG?
The LX, S and EX are powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 147 horsepower and 132 pounds-feet of torque and is coupled with a continuously variable automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive is standard with the 2.0-liter, and AWD is optional.
AWD costs more on the pricier trim levels; it adds $1,200 on the LX, $1,500 on the S and $2,200 on the EX; it is standard on SX. AWD models are also equipped with a more sophisticated multilink rear suspension for greater ride comfort and improved handling. With the 2.0-liter, the front-drive Seltos should return the same EPA-rated 28/34/31 mpg city/highway/combined as the 2025 model; the AWD model is rated at 27/31/29 mpg (official EPA ratings for the 2026 model are not yet available).
The range-topping Seltos SX is only available with a 190-hp, turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder good for 195 pounds-feet of torque. It is paired with an eight-speed automatic and standard AWD, and it returns 24/27/25 mpg.
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