THE MOST FUEL-EFFICIENT COMPACT CROSSOVER ON SALE IN 2024
- The 2024 Kia Seltos leads in fuel efficiency, offering 31 MPG with front-wheel drive trims.
- Pricing starts at $24,490, with additional options for all-wheel drive and turbocharged engine.
- With class-leading interior space and high-quality finishes, the Seltos also offers top safety features.
Throughout the automotive industry, very few segments are growing as rapidly as the crossover SUV. Building off the sedan's platform and combining it with the practicality of the standard SUV, it comes as no surprise that so many manufacturers are investing so heavily in the segment.
While electric and hybrid crossover SUVs are making huge strides, there will still be plenty of gas-powered models to choose from in 2024. With so many standout models available, the choice is becoming harder and harder to make, but Kia manages to give us a great reason why their model should be a top pick.
In today's market, having the best fuel economy possible is one of the key elements that both manufacturers and customers look for. While the competition is tough, the Kia Seltos sits at the top of the crossover SUV segment in 2024. Also coming in at an affordable price, here's a closer look at the class-leading 2024 Kia Seltos.
In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from Kia and other authoritative sources, including Fueleconomy.gov, CarBuzz, and HotCars.
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Historically, SUVs haven't been able to provide the same efficiency as smaller cars simply because they require more energy to drive. However, in recent years, SUVs have managed to claw back some of the deficit, especially when it comes to crossover SUVs.
In 2024, the Kia Seltos will be the top-rated crossover SUV for fuel efficiency, offering EPA-estimated ratings of 28 MPG in the city and 34 MPG on the highway, averaging 31 MPG combined. However, this is for the front-wheel-drive trim, which isn't available on the base LX trim. With a total driving range of 409 miles, you shouldn't have to stop for fuel too often.
Starting At $24,490
The first trim that unlocks the front-wheel-drive driveline is the S trim, which starts at $25,090. The base LX trim gets all-wheel-drive as standard without the option for front-wheel-drive, but it starts at a lower $24,490. In fact, only two trims give you the choice of front-wheel-drive: the S and the EX. If you want the all-wheel-drive driveline for the S trim, you'll have to spend an extra $1,500 on top of the starting MSRP.
The FWD And AWD Trims Compared
Of course, the all-wheel-drive driveline provides different efficiency ratings than with front-wheel-drive, which is expectedly lower as the power has to travel to the rear axle as well as the front. The EPA estimates that the all-wheel-drive 2024 Kia Seltos offers 27 MPG in the city, 31 MPG on the highway, and 29 MPG combined.
The difference between the two drivelines isn't much, but it is still noticeable in the long run. For the front-wheel-drive Seltos, annual fuel costs total $1,750 on average, whereas the all-wheel-drive costs $1,900 per year. Overall, the front-wheel-drive 2024 Seltos saves up to $1,000 on fuel costs compared to the average new vehicle, making the Kia all the more attractive as a compact SUV.
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For the first three trims of the 2024 Kia Seltos, the compact crossover SUV is fitted with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. This small but efficient engine produces 146 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque. While this might not seem like much compared to its rivals, the Seltos is more affordable than most of its closest competitors.
For the front-wheel-drive driveline, the 2.0-liter four-cylinder allows the compact SUV to go from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 8.8 seconds, which increases to 9.6 seconds with all-wheel-drive. While the initial getaway for the front-wheel-drive trim comes out on top, both drivelines have a maximum top speed of 118 miles per hour.
The front-wheel-drive driveline's acceleration would be ideal for driving in the city, but if you're expecting to drive the Seltos on longer journeys, the all-wheel-drive option would be better equipped to handle potentially tricky conditions. The all-wheel-drive option also comes with a center-locking differential, which delivers 50 percent of the power to each axle. This feature is particularly beneficial off-road.
The Top-Spec 1.6-Liter Four-Cylinder
Starting with the X-Line trim, which costs a minimum of $28,790, you get a smaller yet more powerful 1.6-liter four-cylinder, which receives its extra boost from the turbocharger. Producing 195 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque, the turbocharged 2024 Kia Seltos subsequently sees improvements in performance, with Car and Driver achieving a 0 to 60 miles per hour speed of 6.9 seconds.
The 1.6-liter four-cylinder trims also only come with all-wheel drive, which further affects their efficiency ratings overall. Due to increasing the power output, the turbocharged engine already loses out on fuel economy, with an EPA-estimated 25 MPG in the city, 27 MPG on the highway, and 26 MPG combined. According to the EPA, you'll be spending $2,100 per year on fuel.
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In addition to seeing a slight increase in power, the small SUV's design has been updated inside and out. While not a complete redesign, the 2024 model introduces plenty of changes to keep the Seltos looking and feeling modern as the brand begins to usher in a new minimalist design style across the board.
For the exterior updates, the most notable changes can be found at the front with the all-new grille design. It's now longer and wider than before, adding an extra touch of sportiness and sophistication. New wheel designs and a rear lightbar connect the taillights for 2024.
Class-Leading Interior Space With High-Quality Finishes
It's not just the Kia Seltos' fuel efficiency ratings that put it ahead of the curve, the small SUV also offers class-leading cabin space and second-row legroom. Despite receiving changes to the design, the dimensions are almost identical to last year's Seltos. For headroom, you get 40 inches in the front and 38.4 inches in the rear. The legroom measures 41.4 inches in the front and 38 inches in the rear, with the hip room coming in at 53.5 inches in the front and 52.8 inches in the rear.
As well as offering a roomy interior, the 2024 Seltos comes with top-quality materials throughout the cabin to bring in an element of luxury. With the S trim, Kia's Syntex material is available for the seat upholstery, in either all black or blue and black. Further standard features include sound-absorbing windshield glass, leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear shift knob, and interior LED lighting.
Ample Safety And Driver Assistance Features
The technology for the 2024 Seltos has also been updated, including the latest driver assistance and safety features that Kia offers. Inside the cabin, the all-new Seltos comes with an available 10.25-inch dual panoramic display integrated into the updated dashboard design, which provides all the information in the most intuitive way possible.
As is the case with all new Kia models for 2024, the Seltos crossover SUV comes with the Kia Drive Wise technology package. However, not all safety features come with the lower trims; all features only come as standard with the top-spec SX trim. The Drive Wise technologies for the S trim with front-wheel-drive include:
- Blind-Spot Collision Warning
- Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist w/ Pedestrian & Cyclist Detection
- Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist
- Lane Departure Warning
- Lane Keeping Assist
- Lane Following Assist
- Driver Attention Warning
- Rear Occupant Alert
- Safe Exit Warning
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With the compact crossover SUV segment being one of the fastest-growing in the industry, it comes as no surprise that the Kia Seltos faces multiple ultra-competitive rivals in 2024. Alongside the manufacturers across Asia constantly raising the bar, brands Stateside have also entered the crossover scene with some standout models.
Tough Competition Throughout Asia
In Japan, few manufacturers offer as large a fleet as Honda. In 2024, the compact HR-V competes directly with the Kia Seltos, with the Honda starting at $24,600 for the front-wheel-drive trim. The HR-V is cheaper than the Seltos but can't match the Kia's fuel efficiency ratings, coming in at 28 MPG combined.
Moving back over to South Korea, the 2024 Hyundai Kona manages to match the Kia Seltos' fuel efficiency rating of 31 MPG combined, as per the EPA. However, the Kona has a lesser overall range than the Seltos, only managing 384 miles on a full tank. As for pricing, the front-wheel-drive trim starts at $24,250, also slightly cheaper than the Kia.
Fierce Rivals From The United States
First introduced to the U.S. market in 2015 was the Chevrolet Trax, which, in 2024, remains one of the most competitive compact crossover SUVs on the market. Starting at a very affordable $20,400, the Chevrolet Trax only just falls short of the Kia Seltos with an EPA-estimated 30 MPG combined.
A compact crossover SUV that's been on the market for longer is the Ford Escape. Despite being discontinued moving forward as Ford looks to revamp their SUV lineup, the 2024 Escape still remains competitive, also offering 30 MPG combined. However, it starts at $29,345, making it one of the most expensive rivals for the class-leading 2024 Kia Seltos.
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