Dearest Gentle Reader, it has come to this author’s attention that the House of Kia has unveiled its newest conveyance at the New York motor exhibition, and one finds oneself compelled to offer commentary.
The Seltos, you see, has long occupied that most precarious of positions in society: respectable enough to be seen in, yet never quite the belle of any ball.
Until now, perhaps.
Above: Geely Starray and Which Driveline Is Best for You
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ABOVE: 2027 Kia Seltos X-Line exterior and interior gallery
The Matter of Propulsion
The mechanical arrangements on offer are, I confess, rather more varied than one might expect from a carriage of this station.
The sensible arrangement presents a 2.0-litre engine paired with a continuously variable transmission. One’s mother would approve. It conveys one to the markets and back without incident or scandal. Perfectly adequate for those whose ambitions extend no further than adequacy.
The spirited arrangement employs a 1.6-litre turbocharged engine producing approximately 190 horsepowers, mated to an eight-speed automatic gearbox. This variant, christened “X-Line” in a manner most American, includes all-wheel propulsion and sits some 8.1 inches above the ground. For those who fancy themselves adventurers on the weekends, I suppose.
And then, Gentle Reader, there is the hybrid. Kia’s first electrically assisted all-wheel conveyance of this type. The specifications remain shrouded in mystery, which is either strategic intrigue or, as I suspect, the House of Kia has not yet determined what they are selling. How very… modern.
The Interior Appointments
I shall not dissemble: the interior has exceeded even my most generous expectations.
Twin screens of 12.3 inches apiece come fitted as standard. Not as optional extravagance, but as birthright. A further five-inch display dedicated solely to climate management may be procured by those who find three screens insufficient. The effect, I am told, resembles having a gaming apparatus of the Nintendo variety take up residence in one’s carriage. The youth appear to find this desirable.
But here is the true victory, and I shall say it plainly: they have retained physical buttons for the climate controls. PHYSICAL BUTTONS. Someone within the House of Kia possesses sense. After years of touch-sensitive surfaces that respond to neither touch nor sense, this is a triumph of rationality over fashion.
The X-Line variant presents an interior of monotone black with mesh headrests described as “Telluride-inspired.” Four-way lumbar support is provided, presumably for those whose occupations involve excessive hunching over computational devices. One suspects this describes rather more of us than we care to admit.
Entertainment for the Stationary
When parked, and only when parked, one must stress, occupants may stream theatrical entertainments from Disney+, Netflix, and YouTube. For those awaiting companions who are perpetually delayed, this represents a considerable improvement over staring at passing carriages and contemplating one’s life choices.
More remarkably, the display may be configured to represent any of thirty basketball sporting associations. One may have one’s entire dashboard adorned in the colours of the Los Angeles Lakers, should one’s taste run to such spectacle. America remains, as ever, utterly unhinged, and I mean that with genuine affection.
The voice assistant responds to “Hey Kia” and purports to employ generative artificial intelligence. Whether the carriage shall develop opinions on one’s musical selections remains to be seen. I confess some trepidation.
Dimensions and Practicalities
The Seltos has grown. Additional legroom fore and aft, an extra inch of accommodation in the rear quarters. The luggage compartment expands to 64.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, which is to say: sufficient for the modest effects of a weekend journey, though Simmons would sniff at the lack of space for proper Louis Vuitton trunks.
Ground clearance has increased from 7.3 to 8.1 inches on the elevated variants. Not sufficient for true wilderness expedition, but adequate for poorly maintained car parks without inducing palpitations.
New colour options include Frost Blue and something called Terrain Brown. Brown. The audacity.
Safety Considerations
Lane-keeping assistance, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability are fitted as standard. There is a new system that prevents one from pulling into traffic at inopportune moments, which seems useful for those whose gap judgement leaves something to be desired. No judgement, Gentle Reader. Intersections are trying for us all.
Additionally, a Safe Exit Warning alerts occupants if velocipedes approach before opening one’s door. As one who has witnessed the chaos of such collisions from the comfort of one’s drawing room window, I applaud this feature unreservedly.
Availability
The Americans shall receive this conveyance in the second quarter of 2026, with the hybrid variant following later in the year. Australian availability remains unconfirmed, though one expects a delay of six to twelve months, as is customary. Whether the basketball display themes shall cross the Pacific is unclear. One suspects Brisbane shall not be repping the Celtics, as the youth say.
The Verdict
The Seltos has long been the conveyance one selects when one requires a small sporting utility vehicle and cannot be bothered to think overly hard about it. Solid. Sensible. Fine. This new iteration aspires to more. It wishes to be the small conveyance about which one becomes genuinely enthusiastic.
Does it succeed? One cannot say without experiencing it firsthand. But the screens are commendable, the physical buttons represent a victory for civilisation, and the hybrid option intrigues, even if it does not yet properly exist.
The competition remains formidable. The Toyota Corolla Cross, the Honda HR-V, the Mazda CX-30, the Hyundai Kona. All perfectly acceptable. What distinguishes this? Screens, basketball themes, and a hybrid that remains more promise than reality.
Time, as ever, shall tell.
Yours in perpetual judgement,
Dame Tuesday Knight
Dame Tuesday Knight writes from her country residence, where she has been contemplating whether thirty inches of screens might be considered excessive or merely adequate for modern life. Her current Bentley finds the whole affair rather beneath it.
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Alan Zurvas is the founder and editor of Gay Car Boys, Australia's leading LGBTQI+ automotive publication. Before launching GCB in 2008, Alan's automotive writing was published in SameSame.com.au and the Star Observer. With over 16 years of hands-on car reviewing experience, Alan brings an honest, irreverent voice to every review — championing value and innovation over brand loyalty.
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