The SUV market is booming, but not everyone can afford to spend a fortune on a new vehicle. That's why Cars.com conducted the 2023 Affordable SUV Challenge, where they tested six popular subcompact SUVs priced around $30,000 to determine which offers the best value, performance, and features. The winner of this challenge was the 2024 Kia Seltos SX, a stylish, spacious, and fun-to-drive SUV that impressed the judges with its long list of amenities, turbocharged engine, and dual-screen infotainment system. Here's why the Seltos SX deserves your attention if you're looking for a budget-friendly SUV that doesn't skimp on quality.
What Makes the Seltos SX Stand Out?
The Seltos is Kia's newest entry in the subcompact SUV segment, slotting between the smaller Soul and the larger Sportage. It debuted in 2021 and received a refresh for 2024 with updated exterior and interior styling, a more powerful turbocharged engine, and a new X-Line trim that adds some rugged flair. The Seltos SX is the top-of-the-line model, and it comes with a host of features that make it feel more premium than its price tag suggests.
One of the most noticeable features of the Seltos SX is its dual-screen infotainment system, which consists of a 10.25-inch touchscreen and a 7-inch digital instrument cluster. The system is easy to use and offers crisp graphics, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, in-dash navigation, and a Bose premium sound system. The Seltos SX also comes with a wireless smartphone charging pad, a 10-way power-adjustable driver's seat, heated front seats, faux-leather upholstery, LED headlights and taillights, a rear light bar, and 18-inch alloy wheels.
Another highlight of the Kia Seltos SX is its turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, which delivers 195 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque. This engine is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission that replaces the previous seven-speed dual-clutch unit. The new transmission offers smoother shifts and better drivability, especially around town. The Seltos SX also comes standard with all-wheel drive, which enhances its traction and stability in various road conditions.
The 2024 Kia Seltos SX is well-equipped, powerful, spacious and versatile. It offers more cargo space than most of its rivals, with 26.6 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 62.8 cubic feet with them folded down. The rear seats also slide and recline to provide more legroom or cargo room as needed. The Seltos SX also has plenty of storage cubbies and cupholders throughout the cabin and a smart key system that allows you to unlock the doors and start the engine without taking the key out of your pocket.
How Does the Seltos SX Perform?
The Seltos SX may not be the sportiest SUV in its class, but it offers a satisfying driving experience that balances ride comfort and handling agility. The turbocharged engine provides brisk acceleration and ample passing power while the transmission shifts smoothly and responsively. The all-wheel-drive system also adds confidence and grip on slippery or uneven surfaces.
The Seltos SX handles well for its size and height, with minimal body roll and good steering feedback. It also has a drive mode selector that lets you choose between Normal, Sport, Smart, or Snow modes depending on your driving preferences and conditions. The Sport mode sharpens the throttle response and steering feel, while the Smart mode adapts to your driving style and optimizes performance and efficiency.
The ride quality of the Seltos SX is generally comfortable and composed, although some may find it stiff over rough roads or bumps. The cabin is also fairly quiet at highway speeds, with little wind or road noise. The brakes are strong and easy to modulate, while the visibility is good all around, thanks to the large windows and slim pillars.
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How Does the Seltos SX Compare to Its Rivals?
The Seltos SX faced some tough competition in the 2023 Affordable SUV Challenge by Cars.com, where it competed against five other subcompact SUVs: the 2024 Chevrolet Trax Activ, the 2023 Honda HR-V EX-L, the 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid S, the 2023 Volkswagen Taos SE, and the 2024 Subaru Crosstrek Premium. Here's how they ranked after being evaluated by three judges on various criteria:
- 2024 Kia Seltos SX (Score: 1,001 points)
- 2024 Subaru Crosstrek Premium (Score: 948 points)
- 2024 Chevrolet Trax Activ (Score: 928 points)
- 2023 Honda HR-V EX-L (Score: 922 points)
- 2023 Volkswagen Taos SE (Score: 909 points)
- 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid S (Score: 899 points)
The Seltos SX emerged as the clear winner, scoring the highest in most categories, including driver-assist tech, interior quality, usability, cargo space, child-safety seat fitment, and value. It also had the second-best real-world fuel economy, achieving 28.8 mpg on a 200-mile drive route, which was only slightly behind the hybrid Corolla Cross's 29.1 mpg. The Seltos SX also had the quickest acceleration, sprinting from zero to 60 mph in 6.9 seconds, which was more than two seconds faster than the next quickest SUV, the Taos SE.
The Seltos SX's closest rival was the Crosstrek Premium, which came in second place with a respectable score of 948 points. The Crosstrek Premium impressed the judges with its smooth ride, spacious cabin, standard all-wheel drive, and off-road capability. However, it fell short in terms of power, performance, and features compared to the Seltos SX. The Crosstrek Premium's 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine produces 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque, which is significantly less than the Seltos SX's turbocharged engine. The Crosstrek Premium also has a smaller touchscreen (8 inches versus 10.25 inches), fewer driver-assist features (no blind-spot monitoring or rear cross-traffic alert), and a higher price tag ($31,345 versus $29,165).
The other four SUVs in the challenge had their own strengths and weaknesses, but they could only match the overall appeal of the Seltos SX. The Trax Activ was praised for its value, handling, and styling but criticized for its lackluster engine, cheap interior, and poor visibility. The HR-V EX-L was commended for its versatility, reliability, and resale value but panned for its sluggish performance, outdated infotainment system, and bland design. The Corolla Cross Hybrid S was lauded for its fuel efficiency, safety features, and warranty coverage but faulted for its slow acceleration, noisy cabin, and limited cargo space. The Taos SE was admired for its refinement, technology, and comfort but knocked for its high price, low fuel economy, and dull driving dynamics.
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Is the Seltos SX Worth Buying?
The 2024 Kia Seltos SX is a great choice for anyone looking for an affordable SUV that offers a lot of bang for your buck. It combines style, space, and features with a powerful engine, a smooth transmission, and an all-wheel-drive system, making it fun and capable on the road. It also has a generous warranty covering the powertrain for 10 years or 100,000 miles and the whole vehicle for five years or 60,000 miles.
The Seltos SX could be better, of course. It could use a softer ride, a more engaging steering feel, and a sunroof option. It also lacks some advanced safety features available on other Kia models, such as adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assist. However, these are minor drawbacks compared to the many benefits of the Seltos SX.
Suppose you're interested in buying a new Seltos SX or any other trim level of the Seltos lineup. In that case, you can visit Kia's official website to learn more about this SUV's features, specifications, pricing, and availability.
The 2024 Kia Seltos SX is a worthy winner of the 2023 Affordable SUV Challenge by Cars.com, and it deserves your consideration if you're looking for a small SUV that delivers big value.
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