2027 Kia Seltos X-Line SX: A Small SUV That Grew Up in All the Right Ways

The 2027 Kia Seltos has undergone a serious transformation. The first-generation model was a competent but forgettable subcompact SUV. The second-generation version, however, looks like a mini Telluride and feels like a much more refined vehicle. It’s bigger, quieter, and packed with features that were previously unavailable.

The result is a small crossover that now competes with confidence.

The biggest change is under the skin. 4 inches, which pays off in rear legroom that now leads the class at 39 inches. Cargo space is up by a cubic foot, and the cabin feels noticeably wider. The longer wheelbase also transforms the ride. Even with passive dampers, the suspension absorbs bumps with a suppleness that feels a class above.

The cabin is quieter, too, and the chassis responds smoothly to steering inputs. It’s not a corner-carver, but the trade-off in ride comfort is a clear win.

The one area where the Seltos stumbles is under the hood. 6-liter four-cylinder in our test car still makes 190 horsepower. But the new model weighs 3668 pounds, 336 pounds more than before, and that extra heft shows. 2 seconds, and the quarter-mile is nearly a second slower. Braking distance from 70 mph stretches to 181 feet, compared to 162 feet in the previous car.

Still, in the context of rivals like the Chevy Trax, these numbers are competitive.

Where the weight pays off is in equipment and comfort. 3-inch touchscreen. Fuel economy actually improved by 3 mpg on the highway, hitting 30 mpg, despite the extra pounds. Pricing starts at $26,485 for a base front-wheel-drive model and climbs to $37,250 for this top-spec all-wheel-drive version.

The 2027 Seltos is more expensive than before, but it’s also more SUV than it used to be.