2027 Kia Seltos Review: The Smart AWD Choice
Editorial note before publication: Confirm Nik’s test vehicle year, trim, window-sticker price and weeklong driving observations. This draft is based on verified U.S. specifications and buying analysis; it does not claim measured Test Miles results.
2027 Kia Seltos review: The less expensive all-wheel-drive models may be the cleverest buys. Here is what you gain, what you give up and when the turbo earns its price.
The most interesting Seltos is probably not the one wearing the biggest wheels. Kia offers all-wheel drive with its ordinary 2.0-liter engine, letting a buyer choose extra traction without also buying the more expensive turbocharged version. That separation is valuable. Snow on the way to work is a different problem from wanting quicker acceleration.
Our earlier look at the redesigned Seltos covered its launch, extra space and technology. This 2027 Kia Seltos review asks a narrower shopping question: which version gives a household the most useful small SUV for its money? Nik has had a Seltos for a week, but the exact test trim, sticker and drive notes have not yet been supplied for this article. The comparisons below use Kia’s published figures, rather than pretending a brochure can report how a particular test car felt.
You may also enjoy this KIA Seltos video:
2027 Kia Seltos Review: The Useful Middle
Early verdict: The 2.0-liter Seltos with all-wheel drive deserves a close look if you want an upright, five-seat SUV for ordinary weather, parking and family errands. Its advantage is choice: AWD is not tied to the 190-horsepower turbo. Its limitation is equally plain: the 147-horsepower engine offers less passing power on paper, and equipment varies substantially by trim.
Best for: A buyer who values a manageable vehicle, a useful back seat and AWD more than a quick launch. Skip if: You regularly carry a full load on steep roads, require substantial towing, or need room for several large dogs and their people.
Pros: AWD available with the lower-cost engine; 27.8 cubic feet of Kia-estimated cargo space behind the rear seat; standard wireless phone projection; several price steps rather than a single costly AWD trim.
Cons: The turbo is confined to a higher trim; desirable camera and comfort features can raise the price; no independent 2027 crash-test result should be assumed from the previous generation.
2027 KIA Seltos
What Each AWD Dollar Buys
Kia lists the 2027 Seltos LX front-wheel drive at $24,990 before its $1,495 destination charge. The LX AWD is $26,690 before destination, a $1,700 difference. The S AWD starts at $28,090, the EX AWD at $30,090 and the X-Line S AWD at $28,990. The turbocharged X-Line SX starts at $32,790. Verify live pricing and equipment against Kia’s official price schedule and the window sticker of the vehicle you actually buy.
That makes the LX AWD $28,185 including destination, before taxes and dealer charges. Compared with the turbo X-Line SX, it saves $6,100 in base MSRP. The gap buys more than power because trim equipment changes too, so the sensible comparison is not simply 147 versus 190 horsepower. Make a list of features you will use every week, then price the least expensive Seltos that has them. A surround-view camera may be worth more to a city parker than an engine upgrade. Somebody who spends every weekend crossing a mountain pass may reverse that judgment.
The EX AWD is the version I would price alongside the LX and S because it tests whether added comfort is worth the jump. Do not presume it is the universal sweet spot. Compare the equipment on Kia’s trim-by-trim feature chart, then ask for an out-the-door quote rather than financing a prettier monthly-payment number. Our broader look at what a $25,000 SUV actually costs explains why the headline MSRP is only the beginning.
2027 KIA Seltos
Power Without Paying for Performance
Most gasoline Seltos trims use a 2.0-liter four-cylinder rated at 147 horsepower and paired with an intelligent variable transmission. The X-Line SX brings a 1.6-liter turbo rated at 190 horsepower, an eight-speed automatic and standard AWD. Those are Kia’s published specifications, not acceleration times measured by Test Miles. Until the weeklong drive notes identify Nik’s exact test car, a claim about throttle response, ride, engine noise or transmission behavior would be guesswork.
The positive case for the standard engine is straightforward: many buyers pay for AWD because of the few slippery mornings in a year, then spend the rest of their time in ordinary traffic. Kia lets them solve that problem without making turbo power compulsory. The positive case for the turbo is different. If a full car, hills and brisk motorway merging are routine, a test drive in both engines is worth more than another ten minutes staring at the price chart.
Kia lists combined fuel-economy figures of 30 mpg for 2.0-liter FWD, 28 mpg for 2.0-liter AWD and 26 mpg for the turbo AWD. Those are official estimates; no Test Miles fuel-economy result is available for this draft. Check the exact configuration on the federal fuel-economy site. At 12,000 miles a year, the difference between 28 and 26 mpg is about 33 gallons, before driving style and local fuel prices enter the picture. Fuel alone may not settle the trim choice.
2027 KIA Seltos
The Cabin Is the Better Argument
Kia says the redesigned Seltos gained 2.4 inches of wheelbase and an inch of rear legroom. It estimates 27.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and roughly 64 cubic feet with them folded. Dimensions promise useful packaging; they cannot tell you if a particular child seat, dog crate or folded wheelchair fits through the opening. Bring the awkward object to a dealership. The hatch is more persuasive when it swallows your belongings than when a spreadsheet says it should.
That makes this Seltos a candidate for households that need five seats occasionally but do not want to park a larger crossover every day. It also makes a useful comparison with the other small SUVs buyers are choosing. A parent should try the child seat with the front seats set for the actual drivers. A dog owner should measure the usable floor and hatch opening, not just quote the maximum volume to a Labrador that has never read a specification sheet.
The large central display and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard according to Kia. The more elaborate instrument and climate screens vary by specification. Crucially, Kia retains physical controls for frequently used functions. The benefit is less time hunting through a screen for temperature or volume, although the exact ergonomics of Nik’s test car remain to be recorded. Our earlier look at Kia’s small-SUV strategy explains why the brand has put larger-vehicle ideas into this class.
2027 KIA Seltos
Safety Equipment Is Not a Crash Rating
Kia lists forward collision-avoidance assistance, lane-keeping functions and several parking alerts in the new Seltos range. Availability and function can vary by trim. Such systems assist an attentive driver; they do not make the car self-driving. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s guidance is a useful explanation of what the systems are designed to do. Check the specific vehicle’s equipment and ask for a demonstration.
Do not transfer a crash-test score from the previous Seltos to this redesign. Before using a rating in a buying decision, look up the exact model year at IIHS and NHTSA. A vehicle can carry plenty of warning systems without yet having an independently published score for its new body.
Who Should Buy Which Seltos?
Start with the LX AWD if traction and a low purchase price are your two requirements. Compare the S and EX AWD if a particular comfort or camera feature will genuinely change the daily routine. Take the X-Line SX for its turbo engine and additional equipment only after driving both powertrains. Its larger wheels and stronger engine may be delightful, but they answer a different question from a snowy commute.
There is one further reason to pause: Kia plans a Seltos hybrid later in 2026. Its price and certified efficiency will determine whether waiting pays. A buyer who cannot wait need not treat the gasoline AWD as a consolation prize. The unusual strength of this lineup is that it lets you buy the traction, space and equipment you need without forcing every customer into the same top trim. That is a more useful kind of choice than another badge on a tailgate.
2027 Kia Seltos Buyer Questions
What is the cheapest 2027 Seltos with AWD?
The LX AWD is $26,690 before Kia’s $1,495 destination charge, or $28,185 including destination before tax, title, registration and dealer charges. Confirm the live order guide and request a written out-the-door figure. AWD availability on the inexpensive 2.0-liter engine is the key distinction in this review.
Does the Seltos need the turbo engine?
That depends on your usual load and roads. The 147-horsepower 2.0-liter is the lower-cost route, while the 190-horsepower turbo is offered in the pricier X-Line SX with AWD. Drive both with the passengers you normally carry, ideally on a hill or motorway ramp. The specifications establish the difference in output, not which engine will satisfy you.
How much cargo can a Seltos carry?
Kia estimates 27.8 cubic feet behind the rear seat and roughly 64 cubic feet with the seat folded. The shape of the space matters at least as much as volume for a stroller, dog crate or mobility equipment. Measure the cargo floor and opening with the rear seat positioned as your household actually uses it.
Should I wait for the Seltos hybrid?
If lower fuel costs are the central reason you are shopping, wait for confirmed U.S. hybrid pricing and economy before deciding. Kia plans the hybrid for later in 2026, but a future trim’s purchase price and your annual mileage determine whether it beats the gasoline model financially. Avoid treating an unpriced model as an automatic bargain.
