Autoblog and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article.From the moment I set my sights on the all-new 2027 Kia Seltos in Newport Beach, California, I almost couldn't believe how dated the model it replaces looks by comparison. The old Seltos always felt like a car that was never really intended for the North American market, still shoehorned into our bloated, oversaturated crossover SUV segment anyway to give the brand's dealers a fighting chance against the Subaru Crosstreks, Toyota Corolla Crosses, and Chevrolet Traxes of the world, though it was never quite as appetizing. Now, though, thanks to a ground-up redesign that aims to recapture the essence that buyers love so much about the larger Telluride, albeit in a smaller and more accessible package, the Seltos is no longer simply a global-market stand-in hoping to snag some stray buyers in local auto malls. Thanks to its 2027 redesign, the new Kia Seltos feels more ready than ever to not only more effectively take on its rivals, but to absolutely dominate them.The first thing that struck me about the 2027 Kia Seltos is that it no longer looks as if it's ashamed of its small proportions. Compact SUVs can be tricky things, and size really does matter in what is quickly becoming one of the more hotly contested segments in the contemporary automotive industry. But, as most of us have surely accepted by now, how something utilizes its size is much more important than merely how much of it it offers. Having taken some valuable advice from its big brother—the Telluride—the all-new Kia Seltos aims to attract with more rugged charm, boxier shapes, cyber-futuristic styling, more muscle, and an experience so refined you wouldn't believe how little it costs.2027 Kia Seltos X-Line SXCole AttishaKia knows this, of course. Its own campaign for the new Seltos leans into the idea that rival small SUVs can look a bit like toys next to it, and while that's the kind of claim every automaker would love to make, Kia isn't entirely wrong to think this way. The second-generation Seltos is boxier, bolder, and more substantial than ever before, with a design that feels more aligned to the Ford Bronco Sport playbook than the typical melted-lozenge crossover school of thought.AdvertisementAdvertisementKia invited me to drive the new Seltos from Newport Beach to Lake Elsinore and back, across freeways, canyon roads, and urban streets, in a production-spec X-Line SX finished in Terrain Brown over black. This is the top-of-the-line gas-powered model for now, until hybrid models eventually arrive next year, and it pairs a 190-hp 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder with all-wheel drive and an 8-speed automatic. It starts at $32,790 before destination, which means this is far from the kind of bargain-bin Seltos you'll eventually see in every rental fleet. It's the one meant to prove Kia can make a small SUV feel like something larger, more emotionally compelling, and more complete as an aspirational daily driver. After about five hours behind the wheel, I think Kia has mostly pulled it off.2027 Kia Seltos X-Line SXCole AttishaWhat's New With The 2027 Kia Seltos?The 2027 Seltos is fully redesigned and larger than before. Kia says the wheelbase has grown by 2.4 inches to 105.9 inches, overall length is up 1.8 inches to 174.4 inches, width increases to 72.0 inches, and height rises slightly to 64.9 inches. Cargo space is listed at 27.8 cubic feet behind the second row and 64.2 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, while passenger volume is listed at 103.5 cubic feet.2027 Kia Seltos SpecsLX FWD (Base Trim)X-Line SX AWD (Top Trim)Starting price$24,990 before destination$32,790 before destinationDestination charge$1,495$1,495Engine2.0L naturally aspirated I41.6L turbocharged I4Horsepower147 hp190 hpTorque132 lb-ft195 lb-ftTransmissionIVT (Intelligent Variable Transmission)8-speed automaticDrivetrainFWDAWDEPA combined fuel economy30 mpg26 mpgGround clearance7.5 inUp to 8.1 inCargo space27.8 / 64.2 cu-ft27.8 / 64.2 cu-ftNotable featuresStandard 12.3-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, ADAS suiteX-Line styling, 19-inch black wheels, AWD, Terrain Mode, panoramic sunroof, heated steering wheelThinking about selling your car? Get an instant cash offer online now. Click here to get started.The lineup currently includes a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with 147 horsepower and 132 lb-ft of torque, plus a 1.6-litre turbocharged engine with 190 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque. Kia says a new 1.6-litre hybrid is coming, with certification still in process; according to the event timing, that model is expected closer to Q1 2027. The hybrid is especially important because this segment still has surprisingly few hybrid options, and Kia's version will bring an available electric on-demand all-wheel-drive system. For now, though, the turbo AWD X-Line SX is the most well-equipped gas model.2027 Kia Seltos X-Line SXCole AttishaExterior Design: The Baby Telluride Angle WorksThe Seltos looks even better in person than it does in photos. Its proportions are more convincing, the boxier body gives it real presence on the road, and the Terrain Brown paint works particularly well with the X-Line's contrasting black trim. It's still small, obviously, but it no longer feels as if it wants to merely blend in with the sea of generic-looking crossovers flooding North American roadways these days.2027 Kia Seltos X-Line SXCole AttishaKia says the design takes cues from the Telluride, and this is one of those rare cases where the family resemblance feels valuable rather than forced. The upright front end, amber daytime running lights, clean side profile, available flush door handles, squared-off greenhouse, and X-Line cladding all make the Seltos look more like a real SUV than an economy car wearing stilts.2027 Kia Seltos X-Line SXKiaAdvertisementAdvertisementPowertrain: Enough Turbo, But This Isn't A Hot Hatch With A Lift KitDespite sharing its powertrain with the K4 GT-Line Hatchback, the Seltos X-Line SX doesn't quite feel as athletic. The 1.6-litre turbo provides enough power to feel relatively effortless in urban driving and freeway cruising, and it has no trouble settling into the rhythm of Southern California traffic. It feels refined for the price point, too. The engine can sound a little coarse at higher revs, but less so than many rivals in this class.Where it works noticeably harder is on canyon roads, highway onramps, and when overtaking. The Seltos has enough power to get those jobs done, but it sometimes needs to rev itself out to find it. The eight-speed automatic is generally smooth, though occasionally confused in full-auto mode. A few times, it held a higher gear longer than I wanted, then kicked down abruptly once it realized I needed more. You can manually shift using the console shifter, but there are no paddle shifters. Fuel economy, though, was a pleasant surprise. The 1.6T AWD is rated at 26 mpg combined, and I saw 27 mpg without really trying, despite spending most of the drive in Sport mode.Shopping for a new car? Click here to get a great deal on your next vehicle. Powered by Carvana, no haggle pricing, 100% online.2027 Kia Seltos X-Line SXCole AttishaDriving Impressions: Easy Is The WordThe best way to describe the Seltos from behind the wheel is simple: it's easy. It's not exactly thrilling, nor is it especially dull. The steering is a bit vague, but harmlessly so. It isn't the kind of steering that makes you actively seek out canyon roads, but it also never makes the car feel disconnected or nervous. Ride quality was sufficient, freeway stability was good, and the Seltos felt much more mature than the outgoing model. It handled canyon roads better than expected, with less body roll than I anticipated from something this upright.It's not a driver's car, and it is not trying to be. What impressed me most was its calibration. The throttle, brakes, transmission, and ride all work together to make every kind of driving feel low-effort. Freeway? Fine. City? Fine. Canyon road? Also fine, just don't expect it to suddenly transform into a VW GTI wearing cargo pants. The all-wheel-drive system was largely invisible in normal driving, which is generally how these systems should behave, but with the turbo engine, it seemed useful. There was no tire chirping, no torque steer drama, nor any sense that the Seltos was ever struggling to put power down. The Seltos inspires confidence with its effortlessness, and that's precisely what many compact SUV buyers are looking for.2027 Kia Seltos X-Line SXKiaInterior: Quirky Headrests, Real ComfortThe cabin might be where the new Seltos will win over most of its buyers. The Telluride influence is obvious inside, not just in the dashboard's horizontal layout, but in the way Kia has tried to give this small SUV a palpable sense of width and structure. The nearly 30-inch combined display setup looks clean and upscale, and the available panoramic roof makes the cabin feel airier and more expensive than expected. The Seltos offers a standard 12.3-inch touchscreen, standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and an available 12.3-inch instrument display with a 5-inch climate display panel.2027 Kia Seltos X-Line SXKiaThen there are the mesh headrests. They look odd, but they work beautifully. They act almost like soft cushions and were immediately comfortable. The X-Line's black interior was overall quite cushy, and the materials felt both impressive for the segment and good for the price. There is one strange packaging detail worth mentioning, however: the passenger seat is manually adjustable even on trims that can offer heated and ventilated front seats. A manually adjustable ventilated passenger seat isn't something you see every day. It feels a bit cheap, but not unforgivable—it's more amusing than it is offensive. Rear-seat space is fine, cargo space is genuinely useful, and visibility is excellent thanks to the upright greenhouse.2027 Kia Seltos X-Line SXKiaAdvertisementAdvertisementTech And Features: The Lineup's Breadth Is The TrickKia's real play here isn't just making one good Seltos—it's that it's made several. The 2.0-litre models keep the price attainable, the X-Line models add a rugged visual attitude, and the 1.6T offers buyers more power. The upcoming hybrid could be the one to watch, especially for shoppers cross-shopping the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid or the Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid. That breadth is the Seltos' best feature. Kia is running a two-lane strategy here: standard trims for buyers who want value, X-Line trims for buyers who want something more emotional, and eventually a hybrid for buyers who want greater efficiency without giving up the SUV packaging.Available tech features such as Surround View Monitor, Blind-Spot View Monitor, Multi-Mode AWD, over-the-air updates, flush door handles, and the panoramic roof all help the Seltos feel more upscale than it is. The catch is that higher trims aren't exactly cheap. A $32,790 top-of-the-line Seltos before destination is still a competitive value in today's market, but it takes the value-forward compact SUV into somewhat aspirational territory for many buyers. Start piling on features and packages, and the value proposition becomes more nuanced.2027 Kia Seltos X-Line SXCole AttishaVerdict: A Small SUV That Feels Proud Of What It IsEven after just five hours behind the wheel, there's no denying that the 2027 Kia Seltos is a legitimately excellent small SUV. It looks far better in person than expected, drives with real maturity, feels well-refined for the price, offers useful space, and successfully channels enough Telluride energy to make the "baby flagship" idea believable. It's not as athletic as its turbocharged powertrain might suggest, and the steering could use more feedback, but those complaints feel almost redundant in a vehicle designed primarily to make everyday driving easy.The hybrid version might eventually become the smartest version when it debuts. That's the one I'd keep an especially close eye on, because it has the potential to result in the most well-rounded Seltos yet, and perhaps even one of the most well-rounded models in its segment. But even as a turbo AWD X-Line SX, the new Seltos works well. It's easy to drive, easy to like, and easy to imagine as a first new SUV for young professionals, young couples, or emerging families who want something smaller than a Sportage but more substantial than most entry-level crossovers. It may be small, but it makes up for it in all the right ways.AdvertisementAdvertisementAutoblog aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.This story was originally published by Autoblog on Jul 21, 2026, where it first appeared in the Reviews section. Add Autoblog as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
