EV Rider reviewer Dan Scanlan takes a test drive in a 2027 Kia Seltos X-Line SX Turbo AWD, which takes a design page from its new big brother Telluride with a cool, chunkier, round-edged look. There’s a prominent sculpted black chrome-accented grill with squared-off LED headlights; black spoked alloy wheels wearing 19-inch KUMHO Majesty rubber; and geometric LED taillights following the tailgate’s lower shape.
This is a cool design, a subcompact that’s almost 2 inches longer, just over an inch wider, and has a 2.4-inch longer wheelbase than the last gen. Inside this crossover with 8.1-inches of ground clearance is a dark gray-on-gray plastic interior with some silver trim awaits, padded surfaces in touchable areas. There’s a wide digital display – 30 inch’s worth – with configurable info screens. The leather-like Syn Tex leatherette bucket seats were very comfortable and just supportive enough.
In back, very roomy rear seating with rear air vents, while the rear power hatch opens high to a 27.8-cu.ft. cargo area.
Under the bonnet, a sprightly turbocharged 1.6-liter engine with 190 hp and 195 lb.-ft. of torque, front-biased all-wheel-drive and an 8-speed transmission. There’s solid performance in Normal mode, usable in day-to-day driving, with 60 mph in 7.9 seconds. We had a fairly strong launch in Sport mode, 60 mph in 7.6 seconds. The Seltos was quiet at highway speed except for some tire and side mirror wind noise. Ride motions were well controlled, secure cornering with a touch of body roll.
So read lots more about this – 2027 Kia Seltos Gives Off More Compact Telluride Vibes – plus more interior and exterior images by EV Rider reviewer Dan Scanlan. And check out lots more views of EV, PHEV and ICE vehicles at EV Rider.