Kia Seltos review
The Kia Seltos is a regular hybrid family SUV with a smooth ride
Family SUV
Hybrid
Long warranty
Jump to:
Introduction
Performance & drive
Interior
Passenger & boot space
Buying & owning
Dan Jones
Updated: 26 May 2026
How we test cars
You probably haven’t heard of the Kia Seltos, but it’s actually one of Kia’s most successful cars. In fact, it’s the brand’s second-best-selling model across the globe, coming second only to the Kia Sportage. It makes you wonder then, if it’s so good, why doesn’t Kia sell it in the UK? Well, that’s about to change.
But what actually is it? At around the same size as the Kia Niro, the Seltos sits in between the Kia Stonic and Kia Sportage in the brand’s SUV range. That means it lands in the UK and instantly has its work cut out for it, placing it right in the crosshairs of very popular family SUVs including the Nissan Qashqai and Skoda Karoq.
Kia Seltos video review
So, is the Seltos really worth the hype and can it beat those rivals in the UK? That’s what we’re going to find out in this review.
What's new?
- May 2026: We drive the Kia Seltos in South Korea
- December 2025: Kia unveils the second-generation Seltos family SUV
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Verdict
With a comfortable ride, solid and practical interior and a potentially competitive price tag, Kia could be on to a winner with the Seltos. Just bear in mind the bigger Sportage might not cost you much more.
Pros
- Comfortable ride
- Spacious boot
- Good interior quality
Cons
- Entry-level engine could do with a little more power
- Some rivals are better to drive
- No reliability or safety data yet
Performance & drive
What it's like to drive, and how quiet it is
Strengths
- Comfortable ride
- Easy to drive
Weaknesses
- Entry-level version could do with more power
- Not particularly dynamic
How fast is it and which motor is best?
There are two versions of the Kia Seltos available, and both come with a 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine, a small electric battery and at least one electric motor. Both versions also come with a six-speed automatic gearbox.
The difference between the two is how much power they have and where that power is fed. Starting with the entry-level version, it sends 150bhp to the front wheels and can officially sprint from 0-62mph in 10.4sec. That’s pretty much a match for the entry-level Nissan Qashqai.
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In reality, it’ll get you up to motorway speeds with relative ease, but needs working fairly hard in the process, or when you need a sudden burst of pace.
The e-AWD version should fix this because it increases the power to 175bhp and, as the name suggests, gets all-wheel drive courtesy of an additional electric motor on the rear axle – a first for Kia.
We’re yet to try this version but, with a 0-62mph sprint of 9.7sec, it should feel more spritely and also offer more grip in wet weather or on loose surfaces. Kia says that the e-AWD also has actual off-road ability.
Is it agile and is the ride comfortable?
With suspension that’s fairly soft, the Seltos is definitely designed for comfort. It does a great job of damping out sudden drops in the road but isn’t so soft that you’re wobbled around in your seat over undulations.
On a winding road, the Seltos is composed and easy rather than exciting, leaning through faster corners more than firmer rivals, and featuring steering that’s quite light. While that’s fine around town and in normal driving, more weight build up would be preferred during more dynamic driving. Even the Sport mode, which does add a bit more weight, the steering still isn’t that feelsome.
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Be a little more conservative, however, and the Seltos is easy to drive and has more than enough front end grip.
Is it quiet and how easy is it to drive smoothly?
You can run on the electric motor for short periods and, as you might expect, the Seltos is almost silent when you do. When the engine does kick in, there’s sometimes a slight jolt but, even though you have to work the engine quite hard at times, it’s still quite hushed.
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Wind and road noise at motorway speeds are both well contained, with only a small amount of noise coming from the mirrors. Turn the radio on and it’s easily drowned out.
The brake pedal is well-judged, making slowing down smoothly a doddle. You can also use multiple levels of brake regeneration to slow down (using the energy from the brakes to charge the battery). All the modes feel quite natural, including the auto regen setting, which varies the amount of braking force depending on how close you are to other vehicles or when you approach a bend.
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“While there aren’t any official mpg figures for the UK yet, over our 250km (155-mile) route the Seltos was averaging some impressive figures, which bodes well.” – Dan Jones, Senior reviewer
Tips & Advice
How to test drive a car
There’s no substitute for a test drive in a new car. Take it on a variety of roads and surfaces to ensure it measures up.
Interior
The interior layout, fit and finish
Strengths
- Some physical climate controls
- Easy to use infotainment system
Weaknesses
- Climate control touchscreen is hard to see
- Not many soft touch materials
What does the interior look like and is it well made?
If you’ve sat inside any of Kia’s new electric cars, then the interior of the Kia Seltos will feel very familiar. Indeed, it has pretty much the exact same layout that you’ll find in every Kia EV except the Kia EV6.
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That isn’t a bad thing, though, because we’re fans of those interiors. For starters, it means that the Seltos’ interior is a bit more out there than the more conventional design that you’ll find in the Nissan Qashqai.
Plus, while there aren’t as many soft touch surfaces as the Kia Sportage, there’s a good mix of materials, and it doesn’t feel cheap. Instead, it feels robust and like it’s been put together well.
Is the driving position comfortable and is it easy to see out?
While Kia is yet to announce exactly which seats you’ll get with each version of the Seltos, the top-tier seats that we’ve tried were comfortable and supportive. Better still, electric adjustment, including lumbar support, made it easy to find the perfect driving position.
For the first time outside of one of its EVs, Kia has also equipped the Seltos with relaxation seats, allowing you to recline the seat at the touch of a button and get comfortable should you be stuck in the car for a while.
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You sit fairly high within the Seltos, helping to increase your view out over the bonnet, while thin windscreen pillars let you see plenty at junctions. The view over your shoulder, meanwhile, is helped by large cutouts in the rear pillars and rear visibility is good courtesy of a decent back window.
When it comes to parking, the Seltos will be available with front, rear and side parking sensors, as well as a surround view camera. Again, though, we’re not sure which versions will come with all of that kit.
Is the dashboard and infotainment system easy to use?
Just like Kia’s EV models, the Seltos comes with a pair of 12.3in screens on top of its dashboard, taking care of your digital driver display and the touchscreen infotainment system.
Starting with the former, the graphics are sharp and easy to read at a glance but it isn’t particularly customisable, allowing you to change the information in the center but not show things like a fullscreen map.
You can also get a large head-up display with the Seltos, which replicates the information right in your eyeline and is particularly good at showing you directions and which lane you should be in.
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The infotainment touchscreen, meanwhile, shares the same sharp graphics and reacts really quickly as you start to tap around the system. Better still, the menus are straightforward, making it easy to navigate and get used to. Of course, if you’d rather, you can use Apple CarPlay or Android Auto smartphone mirroring instead.
Between the two large screens is a smaller 5.3in touchscreen that gives you control over the car’s climate control system but, like in other Kias, the steering wheel’s rim means it’s hard to see. Luckily, you get some physical controls as well, allowing you to change the temperature and fan speed without using the screen or taking your eyes off the road.
“Along with a Harman Kardon stereo system, the Seltos’ front seats have extra speakers in them, extenuating bass in songs. It’s a bit gimmicky but I found that it makes music more immersive.” – John Howell, Deputy reviews editor
Passenger & boot space
How it copes with people and clutter
Strengths
- Big boot
- Lots of rear leg room
Weaknesses
- Rear headroom isn’t overly generous
- No ski hatch
How much space does it have for people?
Even if you’re six-feet tall, you’ll have no issues getting comfortable in the front of the Seltos, thanks to it offering lots of head, leg and shoulder room.
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It’s a bit more of a mixed bag in the rear, though. You see, while there’s loads of leg room for six-footers to get comfortable, head room isn’t as generous. Sure, anyone up to six-feet tall will have enough, but once you go over that, you’ll be touching the rooflining, even if you recline the rear seats.
In fact, providing you have the panoramic roof installed, your tallest friends will want to sit in the middle, due to the extra head room that it’ll afford them. Meanwhile, shoulder room is decent for three adults but a fairly tall transmission tunnel fills their foot space.
How much room does it have for luggage?
You get a 536 litre boot in the Seltos, which is smaller than the Kia Sportage’s, but bigger than you’ll find in more direct rivals, including the Nissan Qashqai and Skoda Karoq.
In more relatable terms, you’ll be able to easily fit a large food shop or plenty of holiday luggage into the boot of the Seltos, especially if you put the adjustable boot floor into its lowest position. In the highest position, the boot floor removes the boot lip, making it easier to load heavy items in.
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When you need to load longer items into the boot, the Seltos matches its rivals with 60/40 split-folding rear seats, but doesn’t feature a ski hatch you can use to load long items through from the boot.
“I like that you get the handy AddGear mounting points in the Seltos, like we first saw in the PV5. They allow you to mount custom accessories in the boot, including bag hooks and dividers.” – Lawrence Cheung, New cars editor
Tips & Advice
Will the car fit your needs?
As part of the test drive, fill the car with regularly-carried luggage, and make sure the family can get comfy before you buy
Buying & owning
Everyday costs, plus how reliable and safe it is
Strengths
- Long warranty
- Plenty of standard safety kit
Weaknesses
- Sportage likely won’t cost much more
- Quite a few unknowns
How much does it cost and what equipment do you get?
Kia is yet to reveal exactly how much the Seltos will cost you to buy, but has said to expect pricing to range from around £32,000 to £42,000. If that is the case, it’ll mean the entry-level Seltos is pretty much a match for the Nissan Qashqai N-Connecta and Skoda Karoq SE L Edition.
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That will also mean that the price tag is only around £2000 less than the price of the Kia Sportage HEV, something that you’ll want to bear in mind if you’d like a little extra interior space.
As with pricing, UK trim levels are yet to be defined, but we do know that there will be three, with the rugged X-Line likely to sit at the top of the range. That version will come with 19in alloy wheels, while the other trim levels will get 16in and 18in wheels.
The rest of the Seltos’s equipment will be confirmed when trim levels are announced, but we know that you’ll be able to get a head-up display, a large panoramic roof and, for the first time on a non-electric car, vehicle-to-load (V2L), allowing you to use the car’s battery as an electricity source for things like a kettle or laptop.
Is it reliable, and how long is the warranty?
As you might expect, the Seltos being a brand new model in the UK means that it wasn’t included in the 2025 What Car? Reliability Survey.
Kia as a brand, meanwhile, claimed 8th place out of the 30 included manufacturers, placing it higher than Skoda (16th) and way above Nissan, which placed way down in 29th. Better still, the Seltos comes with Kia’s seven-year/100,000-mile standard warranty, giving you peace of mind should anything go wrong.
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How safe is it, and is it easy to steal?
While the safety experts at EuroNCAP are yet to test the Seltos, it’s encouraging to see that you get plenty of safety equipment. That list includes automatic emergency braking (AEB), lane-keeping assistance, rear-cross traffic alert and safe exit warning.
“I find it impressive that the Seltos comes with Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) but I question exactly how much power its tiny battery will be able to deliver and how long for.” – Stuart Milne, Digital editor
Buy it if...
- You want a family SUV that’s comfortable and easy to drive
- Reliability and a long warranty is important to you
- You’re after a big boot
Don’t buy it if…
- You want the best handling family SUV
- You need loads of rear head room
- You want the fanciest interior
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FAQs
Is the Kia Seltos coming to the UK?
Yes, with the launch of the second generation Seltos, it’ll finally go on sale in the UK. We aren’t sure of pricing yet, but it should start around £32,000.
Is Kia Seltos bigger than Sportage?
No, Seltos is around the same size as the Kia Niro, meaning that it’s slightly smaller than the Sportage.
Is Kia Seltos a good car?
While we’re yet to try Seltos in the UK, we were impressed by it when we drove it in South Korea. With a comfortable ride, a good interior and potentially a competitive price tag, it should be a great Kia.
Is Kia Seltos a luxury car?
The Kia Seltos might have a nice interior compared with its rivals, but it still isn’t a luxury car.
About the writer
Name: Dan Jones
Title: Senior Reviewer
Follow Dan Jones on
Dan joined What Car? in 2021 and is now the road test team's Senior Reviewer. In that role, he produces new car reviews for Whatcar.com and What Car? magazine, alongside occasional contributions for Autocar and Move Electric.
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