Kia America is having a banner year. The company reported this week that its October sales were its best ever with a total of 69,002 units, and it’s on track to set more records for the third straight year in a row. Part of that success is in part due to the Kia Seltos, for which sales is up an impressive 32 percent over October 2024.
The Seltos is an affordable small SUV starting at $25,135 (with destination fees) in the base front-wheel-drive LX trim. Now in the sixth year of this generation, the 2026 Seltos costs a little less than the previous year due to the addition of the front-wheel drive option.
Kia Seltos Trim Breakdown
Available in four trims (LX, S, EX and SX), there’s a Kia Seltos for everyone. A Seltos LX is standard with front-wheel drive, equipped with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine good for 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque.
Working your way up the trim ladder, a Seltos S adds upgraded interior upholstery, keyless entry, foglights, heated mirrors, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, an integrated navigation system, a 10.25-inch center touchscreen, and roof rails, among other features. Kia also adds blind-spot and rear cross-traffic warning technology and safe exit warning.
Choosing the EX trim brings more niceties like a power driver’s seat, digital instrument panel, heated synthetic leather front seats, and a wireless phone charger. If you opt for all-wheel drive, you also get a hands-free power liftgate.
And at the top of the trim food chain, the Seltos SX also comes with a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder producing 190 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque. As such, I had no trouble getting the SUV up to speed and even passing a semi on the roads between Needles, California and Las Vegas, Nevada. The 2026 Seltos tops out at $32,835 with front-wheel drive; all trims are eligble to add all-wheel drive, which includes an upgraded suspension.
Tech Features In The Kia Seltos
Every 2026 Kia Seltos is equipped with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. A six-speaker audio setup is standard in the first three trims, while the top SX gets an upgraded eight-speaker Bose setup. Kia does a great job with its infotainment controls and adding favorites to the list is intuitive.
On the safety side, Kia includes forward collision warning with automatic braking, lane departure warning, lane keeping assistance, and driver attention warning on the base model. The S model adds blind-spot warning and cross-traffic assist and the Seltos EX includes rear parking sensors. Only the SX includes adaptive cruise control, plus intersection collision mitigation, lane centering, and highway driving assist.
2026 Kia Seltos: Verdict
As a whole, the Seltos is an affordable ride with modern amenities in a hot subcompact SUV category. To compare, the comparably-priced Mazda CX-30 has a more sophisticated interior design but clunky audio controls, and the Chevrolet Trax costs a little less but has cheaper-feeling materials in the cabin. The 2026 Kia Seltos is a great first vehicle for a new driver, professional, or small family. Even drivers with mobility issues will appreciate the easy entry and exit from this versatile vehicle.