The last year’s introduction of Kia’s new small crossover went pretty well and not only that the reception was pretty good, but the sales numbers are pretty nice as well. Therefore, we have no doubt that the 2023 Kia Seltos, which will represent the third production year of the generation, will come without more important changes. We count on the same design and features, though there is always room for minor updates regarding new standard equipment and similar things.
So, you may count on a small crossover that comes with a couple of pretty good things. We like that, even though a subcompact crossover, the Seltos features a pretty spacious cabin, with comfortable seats and a pretty generous cargo area. The interior quality is decent as well, while we particularly like the infotainment system, which is super-easy to use. Finally, both engines are fuel efficient, though the base unit lacks power in our opinion.
Since there are no significant changes to come, we expect that the 2023 Kia Seltos will hit the market sometime in the last quarter of the year.
2023 Kia Seltos Design
As we’ve just mentioned, the 2023 Kia Seltos will represent the third production year and it probably won’t feature any notable change. Therefore, we count on a familiar design, whether it’s about aesthetics or mechanics. Aesthetically, this model follows the brand’s contemporary design language and looks quite appealing. It’s not the most handsome crossover in the class, but its relatively conservative look should help it age well.
Mechanically, this model has a lot in common with models like Hyundai Kona and Kia Soul. Still, the chassis and suspension setup is slightly different, which results in a little bit less agile handling. On the other hand, the Seltos is easy to drive and quite comfortable, perfect for daily commuting.
Interior
The best part about this crossover is its interior. This particularly refers to the amount of interior space. It comes with two pretty spacious rows of seats, where even the second row accommodates adults with ease, which is a pretty rare thing in this segment. Also, the front seats are massive and supportive, the driving position is good, and the rearward visibility is pretty decent as well.
The cargo area is pretty impressive. You may count on about 26.6 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats. Fold them down, and you’ll open a total of 62.8 cubic feet, which isn’t just impressive for a subcompact SUV, but a number that beats many compact SUVs as well.
Besides plenty of space, this SUV also offers a pretty good interior quality. The dashboard looks good, while the build is at a high level as well. Of course, there are some hard-plastics surfaces here and there, but that’s typical for this segment and price range. In any case, the Seltos won’t disappoint you in this aspect.
Features
Besides good interior quality, this small crossover also features a pretty decent list of standard equipment. We expect that the 2023 Kia Seltos will continue in the same way and come with standard features like an 8-inch touch screen, Bluetooth, a six-speaker stereo, a USB port, Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay. Among upgrades, we expect to find things like a 10.25-inch touch screen, a 7-inch digital instrument display, an additional USB port, navigation, satellite radio, an eight-speaker Bose stereo, wireless device charging, push-button start, remote start, proximity keyless entry, automatic climate control, and a sunroof.
When it comes to safety features, all models should come standard with things like a rearview camera, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, lane follow assist, automatic high beams, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection etc. Among optional safety features, expect to find things like adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, cyclist detection, safe exit assist etc.
2023 Kia Seltos Engines
The base model will continue with a familiar 2.0-liter four-cylinder that puts out 146 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque. It comes in pair with a CVT and, as you may presume, it doesn’t impress in terms of performance. Still, it could be a great choice for daily commuting, especially if we consider the average fuel economy that goes around 29 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway.
For more ambitious drivers, there is a 1.6-liter turbo-four, which puts out 175 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque. Also, this engine comes paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission, so the overall driving experience is way better. However, this version is notably thirstier, as it returns around 25 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway.
2023 Kia Seltos Release Date and Price
We expect that the 2023 Kia Seltos will hit the market sometime in the last quarter of the year, with a starting price of around 23.000 dollars. Key competitors should be models like Jeep Renegade, Chevrolet Trax etc.
This article has good information. I searched many times on the internet but
could not find it. Thanks for the good article and I hope you will write more.