2024 Kia Seltos First Drive: Refreshing an already aggressive utility car

NEWPORT, R.I. — A robust case may very well be made that the Kia Seltos wasn’t actually in want of any important updating. A nip right here, a tuck there – keep in mind that we stated in our final evaluation of the 2023 mannequin that “it’s a terrific little SUV that’s equal elements wise and classy” – and the Korean automaker’s smallest all-wheel-drive crossover would certainly stick with it successful hearts and discovering its approach into tens of hundreds of driveways annually for the foreseeable future.

The truth that Kia noticed match to bestow the 2024 Seltos with a big selection of significant updates and enhancements goes to indicate how vital the quickly increasing subcompact crossover section is right here in America. It’s not an off-road car, regardless of the inclusion of all-wheel drive, however that simply means it’s higher geared up to cope with the precise lives of consumers who dwell within the land of the freeway and residential of the pavement. It’s an city runabout that’s large enough to really feel fairly properly geared up for freeway slogs, and it’s bought simply sufficient floor clearance and traction that it’ll serve soft-roaders and tenting {couples} fairly properly.

Factor is, all of that may very well be stated of the 2023 version, too. So what’s been executed to enhance the Kia Seltos for 2024?

There are minor tweaks to the Seltos’ entrance and rear styling for the brand new mannequin 12 months, however it stays a well-proportioned, chunky two-box design that immediately reads SUV, not wagon. The brand new-for-2024 X-Line mannequin will get barely darker trimmings, distinctive 18-inch wheels and a helpful roof rack. All fashions acquire restyled lighting models at every nook. The highest-level Seltos SX will get its personal 18-inch wheels whereas the bottom S and step-up LX get 17-inchers.

Inside, the inside has been rejiggered to characteristic a digital sprint design with large, horizontally positioned screens in entrance of the driving force and lengthening towards the middle touchscreen to accommodate Kia’s well-designed infotainment system. Base LX fashions get a 4.2-inch instrument cluster bracketed by digital gauges and an 8-inch middle display. A bigger and vibrant 10.25-inch instrument cluster and matching 10.25-inch middle infotainment show come customary beginning with the S trim. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are customary.

We’re happy that Kia has chosen to supply the 2024 Seltos with some enjoyable colours in and out. The Pluton Blue you see pictured here’s a beautiful shade in particular person, and it joins two different ocean- and sky-hued shades. There’s an attention-grabbing Mars Orange, an attention-grabbing Valais Inexperienced and even 4 completely different two-tone choices. Inside, fashions geared up with the fabric and artificial combo may be ordered in a blue and black mashup, and the upper trim ranges with full SynTex acquire brown and inexperienced choices along with the usual black.

Nothing has modified in terms of the Seltos’ inside or exterior dimensions. We’ve determined to label its section midcompact because it sits midway between subcompact and compact. It’s roomy sufficient for a pair, and has a again seat sized appropriately for teenagers or teenagers or the occasional pair of grownup buddies. Its 26.6 cubic ft of cargo room behind the again seat is similar as earlier than, and beneficiant compared with equally positioned opponents just like the Mazda CX-30 and Subaru Crosstrek.

The updates proceed with the powertrain. As earlier than, a 2.0-liter four-cylinder comes customary, and it spins out 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque by means of a constantly variable transmission to all 4 wheels within the base Seltos LX. Entrance-wheel drive may be chosen with the S trim or the mid-grade EX, the place AWD is non-obligatory. The off-road-styled X-Line (which is new for 2024, changing the earlier Dusk Version) and top-level SX get customary AWD and a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine rated at 195 hp and an identical 195 lb-ft of torque.

Regardless of being available on the market since 2021, we’ve by no means been capable of drive a Kia Seltos with the bottom 2.0-liter engine. We’ve by no means cherished the texture of constantly variable transmissions (CVTs), together with Kia’s so-called IVT with simulated gear ratios in different fashions from the automaker, however we’d wager a guess that the bottom powertrain bundle may doubtless be described as “satisfactory” for a lot of the commuting-buyer inhabitants.

The turbo engine is similar dimension as what was provided for 2023, however for 2024 a bounty of small updates, together with some new ones and zeros within the engine’s software program, imply it’s 20 horses mightier than it was final 12 months. Additionally new for 2024 is an eight-speed automated transmission. That’s up one gear in comparison with the earlier model, and as a substitute of a flowery dual-clutch design, the brand new unit depends on a tried-and-true torque converter.

The brand new eight-speed auto works with zero hiccups, with easy gear adjustments in regular driving however noticeable hesitation when a fast downshift is named upon for passing maneuvers — that’s its greatest dynamic demerit in comparison with the older DCT. As soon as the gear change does occur, energy from the turbocharged engine feels plentiful for this small ‘ute, and positively higher than the favored Subaru Crosstrek, even with that mannequin’s bigger 2.5-liter engine choice. The smaller Hyundai Kona (a company sibling to the Kia) provides an non-obligatory Seltos-matching 195 hp and nonetheless makes use of the dual-clutch transmission. If energy is de facto your factor, the Mazda CX-30 provides as a lot as 250 horses (on premium fuel) and stands out as the recent rod of the section.

One other precise real-world concern that’s doubtless tied to each the rise in efficiency from the turbo engine and the transfer from the DCT to the standard automated is a discount in gas effectivity. The previous turbo Seltos achieved 25 miles per gallon within the metropolis, 30 on the freeway and 27 mixed. The brand new model scores decrease at 25/27/26, respectively. In the actual world, the EPA figures that the common driver will spend a couple of hundred {dollars} extra per 12 months to gas the 2024 version over the 2023 at as we speak’s (Might 2023) fuel costs. The extra mundane 2.0-liter mannequin will get 29 metropolis, 35 freeway and 31 mixed with front-wheel drive, or 27/31/29 with all-wheel drive.

Transferring previous the powertrain, the remainder of the Seltos driving expertise is mainly the identical because it ever was. It typically errs on the facet of consolation over efficiency; its steering may very well be described as leisurely however direct, and its trip is softly sprung and properly damped. There’s a noticeable change in its demeanor when Sport mode is engaged, however it by no means crosses into what we’d take into account precise sportiness. That strikes us as applicable contemplating the Seltos’ mission as an entry-level small crossover. Not like mum or dad firm Hyundai’s N-badged line – together with a Kona N – there’s no overtly sporty model occupying the Kia showroom. And that’s nice.

The 2024 Kia Seltos begins at $25,715 (together with $1,325 for vacation spot) and contains all-wheel drive. The step-up S loses customary all-wheel drive however positive factors the larger digital screens inside for $26,315. Add AWD and the sticker rises to $27,815. The brand new X-Line runs $30,015, and the top-level SX that we examined begins at $31,315. These costs are largely up by a grand or two in comparison with the outgoing model, however nonetheless in the appropriate ballpark for the Seltos’ midcompact class.

We take into account the Kia Seltos one of many strongest choices in its section. That was true in 2023, and it stays true with the 2024 refresh. It was good, and it bought higher, because it’s presupposed to (however doesn’t all the time) occur when a preferred mannequin is refreshed. It’s handsomely trendy, roomier and extra snug than a lot of its greatest rivals, and is priced competitively. All in all, it’s a really compelling small crossover and precisely what we predict a giant swath of American consumers are clamoring for.