Kia Seltos 2022 Review

The 2022 Kia Seltos is a relatively new entry to the small crossover SUV class. The Seltos debuted last year and sits in the Kia lineup between the smaller Soul and the larger Sportage. It seeks to stand out from its competitors with a stacked headlight design and an available two-toned roof.

The Seltos' interior is filled with premium-feeling materials that help it seem like a more expensive vehicle. And though it's a subcompact SUV, four adults can fit comfortably inside. If you need to transport cargo, the rear seats fold down to provide up to 62.8 cubic feet of cargo space — that's more than most other SUVs this size offer.

Overall, we're impressed with the Seltos' styling, technology and spacious cabin, but there are a few drawbacks that keep it from the top of our extra-small SUV rankings. Take a look at our detailed Seltos Expert Rating to learn more.

Which Seltos does MatoCar recommend?

The 2022 Seltos is available in five trim levels: LX, S, EX, Nightfall Edition and SX. You'll generally get progressively more features on each one, plus a more powerful engine for the Nightfall Edition and SX. Standard feature highlights include:

LX Starts you off with:

• 146-horsepower four-cylinder engine
• Continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT)
• All-wheel drive
• 17-inch wheels
• Keyless entry
• Tinted rear windows
• 8-inch touchscreen
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration
• One USB port
• Six-speaker audio system
• Automatic headlights

Every Seltos also comes with:

• Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)
• Lane departure warning (alerts you if the vehicle begins to drift out of its lane)
• Driver attention warning
• Lane keeping assist (steers the car back into its lane if it begins to drift over the lane marker)
• Automatic high beams (can brighten or dim automatically)

S Comes standard with front-wheel drive, though you can get all-wheel drive as an option. The S trim also adds:

• Roof rails
• Foglights
• Optional two-tone paint
• Heated outside mirrors
• LED daytime running lights and taillights
• Cloth and simulated leather upholstery
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel
• 10.25-inch touchscreen
• Navigation system and satellite radio
• Automatic climate control with rear vents
• Rear center armrest

EX Gains back standard all-wheel drive and further gets you:

• Sunroof
• Proximity keyless entry and push-button start
• Full simulated leather upholstery
• Heated front seats
• Power-adjustable driver's seat
• Wireless phone charger
• Blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while in reverse)

Nightfall Edition Lacks the leather upholstery, sunroof, power-adjustable driver's seat and wireless charger of the EX. But in return the Nightfall Edition has:

• 175-hp turbocharged engine
• Seven-speed automatic transmission
• 18-inch wheels
• Unique blacked-out exterior trim and wheels

SX Tops off the Seltos line with the features of the EX and the more powerful engine and bigger wheels of the Nightfall Edition. It also has:

• LED headlights
• Bose premium audio system
• Upgraded driver information display
• Sport steering wheel
• Adaptive cruise control (adjusts speed to maintain a constant distance between the Seltos and the car in front)
• Lane keeping system (makes minor steering corrections to help keep the vehicle centered in its lane)
• Cargo cover