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2024 Kia Seltos SX Turbo: How Fast is Kia Seltos SX Turbo? – We’ve had the pleasure of living with a Kia Seltos for the last time in our ongoing evaluation fleet, the Seltos is a compact crossover that we have a good understanding of and loved. It was, however, the model of 2021, and 2024 introduced a significant refresh on the Seltos. The list of changes is more striking looks, improved technology and, for models equipped with turbocharged engines the power is increased and there’s an upgraded transmission.
We have brought in a 2024 Seltos SX, the range-top model that comes with improvements, to try to determine if these modifications would help us enjoy the car even more.
Review
A subcompact SUV that is among the best available gets an overhaul in 2024. The Kia Seltos was introduced in 2021. Kia Seltos is awe-inspiring by its driving style as well as its spacious interior. it is now getting the first update.
The 2024 Seltos is a comfortable and compact SUV. Its smooth ride, easy steering, and the natural feel of its brakes make it simple to drive. Also, it’s quieter in the city than competitors, which we discovered when we wrote the First Drive review. Inside it’s a simple design that continues with a touchscreen that responds quickly to inputs. There are plenty of storage spaces as well, and even though we’ve proved that it’s able to accommodate a four-person family it’s a comfortable fit. It’s an SUV of a smaller size, in the end.
In the course of running the 2024 Seltos through our test procedures, however, it did not show significantly more impressive performance statistics despite having more power. This is a shame considering its fuel efficiency was down a bit compared to the previous year. While we were living with it on the road but the Seltos showed us that it’s an all-around competent and comfy day-to-day driver. Its suspension tuning shows refinement uncommon among subcompact crossovers. The materials feel basic, however overall, the quality is high and features like driver assist are helpful.
Although it’s not the most enjoyable or effective subcompact SUV the Seltos deserves a closer look to see how comfortable it is in its everyday use. Based on the cost and the market it’s competing with, the majority of our complaints are merely minor nitpicks.
A choice of a 10.3-inch gauge cluster display is an enormous upgrade from the 7.0-inch screen that was available before and is the same size as the touchscreen in the center (we believe that the original 8.0-inch touchscreen to be available also). Kia incorporates the digital instrument cluster and the 10.3-inch infotainment display in one screen to create a dramatic appearance. For lower trims, the instrument cluster in itself has been revamped and has the standard 4.2-inch screen. Additionally, there are several than the standard USB ports inside the cabin too three in front and two in rear. Headlights that are available with LED projection with power liftgates, as well as the front seats that are ventilated have been updated and also.
The brand is also expanding Seltos’ Kia Connect subscription-based remote capabilities and services to 2024. The new features include an upgraded digital key, as well as the ability to receive update updates over the air for the infotainment system.
Interior
The Seltos remains a pleasant day-to-day driver, with a lot due to its versatile comfortable interior. The SX model’s brand-new dashboard, which houses two 10.3-inch digital screens, is amazing and has some of the most expansive display screens among smaller SUVs. Beyond just being attractive the Kia’s interface for infotainment is simple to navigate as well. The lower shelf beneath the touchscreen is a good location to keep your hands steady when tapping.
Even though the display is more expansive in Kia’s SUV known as the Sportage Seltos Seltos has a distinct advantage. With the Sportage, it is the standard control of the climate and other media are housed in a stylish however overly complex dual-function display. The Seltos is equipped with standard physical buttons that stay in the right place and are simple to operate while keeping your eyes off the road.
We found that, as we did with our lengthy review Seltos has enough storage space for passengers and cargo for an entire family to take an ideal weekend getaway. Its compact form allows for a more comfortable space, and the space is efficiently utilized. In addition to the pocket on the door, there are several storage areas integrated into the central tunnel, which is easily accessible. The wireless charging pad has been cleverly built into a shelf beneath the panel for buttons.
Even with top-of-the-line specifications, however, the overall cost location is apparent through the plethora of plastic that is hard. The hard and pebbled plastic covers the central tunnel as well as doors, separating from the soft-touch surface on the dashboard and armrests. The steering wheel, and it’s among the thinnest and most solid we’ve ever felt. Kia made a splash by molding amazing patterns with textured designs into the cover of the speakers, but in general, the Seltos interior trim is lower-end than the other models, even though it’s built to a high level of quality.
Engine
The Seltos with its turbocharged engine has a displacement of 1.6 milliliters and generates an output of 195 pounds-ft however for 2024, it increases by 20 horsepower (now at 195 horsepower) due to enhancements in the turbocharger’s cooling circuit. In contrast to the past, it’s connected to an 8-speed standard auto transmission, instead of an auto with seven speeds. Seltos models that have this turbocharged engine feature an all-wheel drive feature in the standard.
The new power swept the 2024 Seltos from 0-60 speed in 7.3 seconds, which is the same speed that a 2021 Seltos equipped with the same engine. Two of the 2021 Seltos models that we tried were able to reach 60 mph within 7.4 as well as 6.9 seconds. Additionally, the 2024 model’s additional power didn’t improve its quarter-mile time: 15.7 seconds at 90.1 miles per hour isn’t much better than the previous.
This non-existent improvement in performance is uncomfortable for Kia given that the increased power harms fuel efficiency, which is now being rated by EPA at 25/27 mpg for highway and city in comparison to 25/30 mpg in the previous year.
If you are driving it regularly in normal driving, the Seltos can keep pace with moving traffic well despite an unrestricted power supply. The engine starts to kick in with an ebb and flow, heavily dependent on its turbocharger to offset its tiny capacity. Although it is very quick while stepping into the pedal to join and pass over the freeway. Except for high-rpm moments, it is quiet as the engine spins on the other side of the road.
The transmission is smooth to shift however it takes a while. This means that things appear a little slow on the move The gearbox may be quicker in dropping gears to have power accessible. In the meantime, waiting for the automatic to shift down and for the engine to discover a boost can cause problems when rapid acceleration will be required.
The Seltos SX Turbo accelerates to 60 mph in 7.5 minutes. The basic 2.0-liter engine produces 146 horsepower and its 1.6-liter turbocharged engine puts 175 HP. The highest speed of the 2022 Kia Selto is estimated to be 125 mph. 2024 Kia Seltos SX Turbo
Price
In 2024, the Kia Seltos is available in five trims, ranging from $25,715 up to $31,315 — an increase over 2023’s initial prices between $24,185 and $29,635. With the increased price however, the Seltos can still compete with other models like the Corolla Cross (which starts at $24,945 before rising to $32,400 in the highest trim) and also the new Subaru Crosstrek ($26,290 to $32,190).
We’ve learned from our experience with the vehicle that Kia intends to attract potential Crosstrek customers with the updated Seltos due to its focus on creating AWD as cost-effective as possible as well as its power increase in comparison to the Subaru on the upper range. The Crosstrek is renowned for its off-road toughness which it Seltos aren’t able to beat, and considering that the Crosstrek has been completely revamped in 2024, and the Seltos is just being upgraded, that could be something to consider too.
Though it’s certainly not the Crosstrek in the sense of dirty, however, the Seltos is as clean for a day-to-day driver as it gets. It’s comfortable and easy to operate and acclimate to. And it’s pretty and that’s an added benefit. Also, it comes with many choices and trims that will please even the most discerning purchaser. Some things perform when we need them, and at most, at least after our first experience of the 2024 Seltos appears to be one of them.