2023 was a groundbreaking and very successful year here at Jim Butler Kia of St Louis: we had the pleasure of raking in esteemed rewards, listening to testimonials from our satisfied customers, and offering test drives of the finest vehicles around! The 2024 Kia Seltos is situated in a category that is ripe with firm competition, and an underlying need to always be relevant and satisfying. The new model offers an assortment of changes and upgrades, with the turbocharged four-cylinder commanding center stage as the life of the party.
The Dayton Daily News’ auto writing team was enjoying a blustery and cold day and prepping for their own test drive, when they noticed they were going to be sampling the turbocharged 1.6-liter 4-cylinder. This model cranks out 195 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque and offers a very athletic sprint while remaining cordial for daily driving duty. Here it is well-stated that there are many crossovers in this segment that feel a bit sluggish, and the optional 8-speed automatic transmission stepping in as a drastic improvement over the prior year’s CVT.
This warrants a crossover that is begging for attention beyond the typical errand list. The Seltos is held in high regard here for not falling into the “safe and frilly” design trap that characterizes so many other vehicles in the segment. Some long standing Kia fans have found the Seltos a bit too youthful for their taste, and the new model’s use of higher-quality materials inside allows for the finished package to rise quite nicely above ordinary. One vital and creature-comfort friendly stat that those on a winter’s long excursion are concerned with is headroom, which the Seltos also chalks up segment-leading results in.
The Kia infotainment system has long been a favorite among industry experts, as the Digital Trend contributors agree that it is now setting a high bar for how all these systems should work. It is like what a smartphone offers as a blueprint for access, and after swiping right there’s a functional and straightforward layout of maps and vital settings. The processing power under the hood allows for a very responsive operation style, as encountering an in-demand situation on the road calls for prompt reaction time.
The 8-inch touchscreen doesn’t completely overtake the dashboard, but still offers up all the great features desired along with the vital smartphone integration. USB ports are a commodity that is always appreciated, as the premise of transferring data or communicating with another device is that much easier. Many families and businesses on the rise are thrilled with the 26.6 cubic feet of cargo room behind the second row, and if you don’t have any passengers in tow, can boost things to 62.8 cubic feet. EPA ratings for the Seltos are currently situated at 25 mpg/city and 27 mpg/highway, with the average test drive yielding just over 25 mpg.
The Edmunds.com review crew praised the 2024 Seltos for being “stylish, roomy, and available with plenty of the latest technology and safety features.” The top-of-the-line Seltos SX gets up to 60 mph in just 8.1 seconds, with very responsive steering and excellent suspension rendering it great for time spent on the twisty two-lane that you’ve been neglecting. Finishing strong as a renowned finalist for U.S News & World Report’s 2023 Best Subcompact SUV for the Money award, the Seltos is an excellent example of what a budget-friendly model can do when it sets out to eloquently exceed expectations!
