2023 Kia Seltos

When shopping for the 2023 Kia Seltos, you can choose among five trims: LX, S, EX, Nightfall Edition, and SX. The SUV comes standard with tinted rear windows, front and rear skid plates, and 17-inch alloy wheels, but simply moving up one trim adds roof rails, fog lights, and LED daytime running lights and taillights. Available upgrades include a sunroof, cargo cover, and 18-inch alloy wheels. Choose among 12 exterior paint colors, eight of which are monotone and four are two-tone options. Three of the more notable colors include Mars Orange, Neptune Blue, and Starbright Yellow.

The 2023 Kia Seltos has two impressive powertrain options. The lower three trims have a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 146 horsepower. This engine uses a continuously variable automatic transmission. The other option is a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine that gets 175 horsepower. This engine uses a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. All trims except the S come standard with all-wheel drive — the S has either front- or all-wheel drive.

When it comes to gas mileage, the 2023 Kia Seltos achieves some of the best numbers in its class. When paired with the base engine and front-wheel drive, expect the SUV to get an EPA-estimated 29 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway. All-wheel-drive models with this engine achieve 27 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway. Those with the turbocharged engine get 25 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway.

Seating five people comfortably, the 2023 Kia Seltos has an upscale cabin, which makes you think you're entering a much pricier vehicle. Its well-constructed interior features many soft-touch areas along with hard plastics, but the overall appearance doesn't feel cheap. The SUV has one of the largest cargo areas at 62.8 cubic feet when you fold down the rear seats. The vehicle comes standard with an 8-inch or available 10.2-inch touchscreen display, where you can operate its infotainment system. Other standard features include a USB port and Bluetooth, as well as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.

Kia knows how important safety is, which is why the automaker outfitted every 2023 Kia Seltos with an abundance of standard driver-assistance features. A few of these key features include forward lane-departure warning with lane-keep assist, pedestrian detection, and driver-drowsiness monitoring. The S, EX, Nightfall, and SX trims include automatic emergency braking and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, while the top-of-the-line SX trim has adaptive cruise control and cyclist detection.