Volvo has spent many years development one of the crucial revered names within the automobile business. The Volvo XC40, which arrived for the 2018 style yr, introduced that recognition into the compact SUV phase. No longer strangely, it earned a faithful buyer base at the power of its Scandinavian roots, which might be obvious all the way through the car, from its inner design to its protection credentials.
Suggesting that the 2027 Seltos from a mainstream logo like Kia can dangle its personal in opposition to a Volvo may sound like a stretch, however spend a while with the knowledge and the spec sheets, and the comparability turns into more difficult to forget about. Very similar to an previous comparability we did between the Audi Q3 and the Seltos, the latter seems to punch above its magnificence at each flip.
The Seltos debuted on the 2026 New York World Auto Display with a bolder design, up to date powertrains, and a generation suite that invitations comparability with automobiles costing way more, just like the Q3 and XC40.
Even though respectable pricing has no longer but been showed, in response to the outgoing style, be expecting the 2027 Seltos to begin underneath $30,000, with the top-trim X-Line SX most probably touchdown within the low-to-mid $30,000 vary. The 2026 XC40 begins at $41,295 for the B4 front-wheel pressure (FWD) style, with the B5 all-wheel pressure (AWD) starting at $43,995.
- Base Trim Engine
-
2.0-liter 4-cylinder
- Base Trim Transmission
-
CVT
- Base Trim Drivetrain
-
Entrance-Wheel Power
Two other approaches underneath the hood
Seltos wins by means of a large margin on gas economic system
The 2027 Seltos provides two engines, relying at the trim degree.
The LX, S, X-Line S, and EX run a 2.0-liter Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder generating 147 horsepower and 132 lb-ft. of torque, paired to a often variable automated transmission. In the meantime, the X-Line SX steps you as much as a 1.6-liter turbo four-cylinder making 190 horsepower and 195 lb-ft. of torque, matched with an eight-speed automated. All-wheel pressure is same old on X-Line S and X-Line SX.
The XC40 additionally provides two powertrains, each light hybrids. The B4 FWD produces 194 horsepower and 221 lb-ft. of torque, whilst the B5 AWD produces 247 horsepower. Each use a seven-speed dual-clutch automated and regenerative braking for greater efficiency and potency.
QuizKia Seltos
Learn on after which examine your wisdom
Suppose Kia’s in style compact SUV? Put your wisdom to the examine with those Seltos questions.
DesignEfficiencyOptionsHistorical pastSpecifications
During which yr did the Kia Seltos make its world debut?
That is proper! The Kia Seltos used to be formally unveiled in 2019 and went on sale in markets world wide in a while after. It used to be presented to fill the space between the smaller Stonic and the bigger Sportage in Kia’s SUV lineup.
No longer rather — the Kia Seltos debuted in 2019. Kia introduced it globally to compete within the booming compact SUV phase, and it temporarily was one of the vital logo’s best-selling fashions in markets like India, Australia, and the USA.
The identify ‘Seltos’ is encouraged wherein determine from Greek mythology?
Right kind! The Seltos identify is derived from Celtos, the son of Heracles in Greek mythology. Kia selected the identify to rouse a way of power, journey, and mythical heritage — becoming for a rugged-looking compact SUV.
If truth be told, Seltos is encouraged by means of Celtos, the son of Heracles from Greek mythology. The identify used to be selected by means of Kia to offer the SUV a way of power and heroic personality, tying its adventurous styling to a mythical lineage.
Which of the next engines used to be to be had within the Kia Seltos at its North American release?
Spot on! The Kia Seltos introduced in North The usa with a 1.6L turbocharged four-cylinder engine generating round 175 horsepower, paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. It presented a sportier using really feel in comparison to the bottom 2.0L naturally aspirated possibility.
The proper solution is the 1.6L turbocharged four-cylinder engine. This engine produced roughly 175 horsepower and used to be paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, giving the Seltos a extra dynamic using personality than its base engine possibility.
What’s the identify of Kia’s infotainment device featured within the Seltos?
That is proper! UVO Hyperlink is Kia’s hooked up automotive and infotainment platform, presented within the Seltos to supply navigation, faraway car keep watch over, and smartphone connectivity. The device helps each Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for seamless instrument integration.
The appropriate solution is UVO Hyperlink — Kia’s proprietary hooked up automotive platform. It options navigation, faraway get started features, and helps Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, making the Seltos cabin a tech-friendly house for contemporary drivers.
What’s the approximate shipment capability of the Kia Seltos at the back of the rear seats?
Right kind! The Kia Seltos provides roughly 26.6 cubic ft of shipment house at the back of the rear seats, which is aggressive for its magnificence. With the rear seats folded, that quantity expands considerably, making it a sensible selection for on a regular basis hauling.
The Seltos in fact supplies round 26.6 cubic ft of shipment house at the back of the rear seats. This places it in a powerful place amongst compact SUV competitors, and folding the rear seats opens up much more room for greater pieces.
Which nation used to be the principle preliminary marketplace that won the Kia Seltos prior to its wider world rollout?
Completely proper! India used to be the principle release marketplace for the Kia Seltos, and it was a large hit there nearly in an instant. Kia used the Indian marketplace as a strategic access level, and the Seltos helped identify Kia as a significant automobile participant within the nation.
India used to be in fact the principle preliminary marketplace for the Kia Seltos. The SUV introduced there to monumental luck and helped Kia temporarily construct a powerful foothold in one of the vital global’s fastest-growing automobile markets prior to rolling out globally.
Which of those external design parts is a signature styling characteristic of the Kia Seltos?
Great paintings! The Seltos includes a unique two-tone floating roof design, the place the roof is obtainable in a contrasting colour to the frame. This styling cue provides it a sporty, younger look and has turn into certainly one of its maximum recognizable visible characteristics.
The signature styling characteristic is in fact the two-tone floating roof, the place the roof panel is painted in a contrasting colour to the frame. This design selection used to be a planned transfer by means of Kia to attraction to more youthful patrons and provides the Seltos a daring, unique glance.
Which transmission is paired with the bottom naturally aspirated engine within the Kia Seltos for the North American marketplace?
Right kind! The bottom 2.0L naturally aspirated engine within the North American Kia Seltos is paired with an 8-speed torque converter automated transmission. This setup prioritizes clean, relaxed using, making it well-suited for day-to-day commuting and freeway cruising.
The bottom naturally aspirated engine within the North American Seltos is in fact paired with an 8-speed torque converter automated. This transmission kind is understood for its clean shifts and reliability, complementing the engine’s center of attention on on a regular basis convenience over outright efficiency.
Your Rating
/ 8
Thank you for enjoying!
On paper, the XC40’s mild-hybrid badge suggests a fuel-economy merit. In observe, it does no longer ship one.
EPA estimates put the XC40 B4 FWD at 25 within the town, 32 at the freeway, and 27 mixed. The B5 AWD is available in at 23 in town, 30 at the freeway, and 26 mixed.
The bottom Seltos with front-wheel pressure returns 28 within the town, 33 at the freeway, and 30 mixed, edging out each XC40 variants on the pump without a hybrid help generation.
On guaranty, the space is similarly transparent. Kia backs the Seltos with a five-year/60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper guaranty and a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain guaranty. Volvo covers the XC40 with a four-year/50,000-mile bumper-to-bumper and powertrain guaranty, with hybrid elements receiving a longer eight-year/100,000-mile guaranty. Kia’s powertrain protection runs two times as lengthy.
The maths at the back of the light hybrid
The place the XC40 falls quick
Hybrid generation is incessantly advertised as a trail to gas financial savings, however as my How-To Geek colleague Tyler Dupont has famous, patrons want to imagine the “payback timeline” when deciding whether or not a hybrid makes monetary sense. Since hybrids incessantly have the next MSRP relative to a fuel car, the gas financial savings don’t technically get started straight away.
The use of the present 2026 beginning MSRPs ($41,295 for the XC40 B4 FWD and $23,790 for the Seltos), the XC40 carries a $17,505 top class on the access degree. When you’ve got a brand new hybrid in thoughts, here’s a formulation you’ll be able to use to decide how lengthy it could take to recoup that top class thru gas financial savings:
- Hybrid MSRP – Non-hybrid MSRP = Top class for hybrid style.
- Collection of miles you could pressure in a yr ÷ EPA mixed MPG = Gallons consistent with yr.
- Gallons consistent with yr x Reasonable nationwide gas value = Value of gas consistent with yr.
- Non-hybrid price of gas consistent with yr – Hybrid price of gas consistent with yr = Hybrid gas financial savings (consistent with yr).
- Top class for hybrid style ÷ Hybrid gas financial savings consistent with yr = Payback time in years.
Run the ones numbers right here, regardless that, and one thing sudden occurs. On the present nationwide reasonable of $4.53 consistent with gallon (on the time of this writing) and 13,500 miles pushed consistent with yr, the bottom Seltos at 30 mpg mixed makes use of kind of 450 gallons every year, costing round $2,038 in gas.
The XC40 B4 FWD at 27 mpg mixed makes use of about 500 gallons, costing round $2,264. The general step of the formulation, dividing the cost top class by means of the once a year gas financial savings, has no significant solution as a result of there aren’t any gas financial savings to divide by means of. The Seltos is inexpensive to shop for and less expensive to gas. The payback clock by no means begins.
The XC40 has different causes to justify its value, however gas financial savings isn’t certainly one of them.
Overlook the Toyota RAV4—the Kia Seltos simply proved it is the smarter purchase
To signify the Kia Seltos can stand toe-to-toe with the mighty Toyota RAV4 is a daring declare. However right here we’re.
Same old tech and security features
Each the Seltos and XC40 are well-rounded
Volvo’s cabin is modest but subtle, constructed round top quality fabrics and a structure that prioritizes simplicity for the driving force. The XC40 includes a nine-inch Google-powered infotainment display with built-in Maps, Assistant, and the Play Retailer, a blank and intuitive setup that helps over-the-air updates for ongoing enhancements.
The 2027 Seltos additionally takes the tech-forward means. Each Seltos ships with a 12.3-inch touchscreen, wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and Bluetooth connectivity for 2 gadgets concurrently. The X-Line SX provides an to be had 12.3-inch virtual tool cluster, a five-inch local weather keep watch over show, and an to be had Harman Kardon eight-speaker audio device with an exterior amplifier and subwoofer.
Motive force help generation is the place the Seltos makes certainly one of its most powerful arguments, even in opposition to the likes of a car just like the XC40. Good cruise keep watch over with stop-and-go, ahead collision avoidance, lane following help, lane departure caution, motive force consideration caution, and entrance and rear parking sensors are all same old. Blind spot collision caution, rear cross-traffic collision avoidance, and secure go out warnings are same old from the S trim onward.
The XC40 has Volvo’s well-regarded protection suite, together with Town Protection with automated braking, lane-keeping aids, highway signal knowledge, blind-spot tracking, and cross-traffic indicators same old around the lineup. Volvo’s protection recognition is well-earned. The place the Seltos demanding situations that isn’t essentially in characteristic high quality however in how a lot of that listing comes same old with out leaping to raised trim ranges.
- Subject matter
-
Oxford
- Particular Function
-
Foldable
This 13.5-gallon trunk organizer options compartments to arrange and retailer groceries, sports activities apparatus, emergency provides, and different day-to-day necessities.
Shipment house and passenger room
Seltos edges out the XC40
The XC40 provides 20.1 cubic ft of shipment house at the back of the second one row. The Seltos provides 27.8 cubic ft at the back of the second one row and 64.2 cubic ft with seats folded, a significant on a regular basis merit at a cheaper price.
Passenger room favors the Seltos as properly. It delivers 41.3 inches of entrance legroom and just about 39 inches of rear legroom. The XC40 provides about 41 inches up entrance and a little bit over 36 inches within the rear.
Entrance headroom and not using a sunroof is 40.5 inches within the Seltos as opposed to 39 inches within the XC40 and not using a panoramic roof. For taller patrons, the ones numbers are price a test-sit since they’re so shut.
XC40 for top class, Seltos for price
The XC40 is a top class compact SUV with a construct high quality and logo id that the Kia Seltos does no longer try to reflect. For patrons who price Scandinavian design, Volvo’s protection heritage, or the possession enjoy of a Eu luxurious logo, the XC40 is 2nd to none.
However the 2027 Kia Seltos reframes what price seems like on this phase. It provides extra shipment house, extra rear legroom, extra same old generation, higher gas economic system, and an extended manufacturing facility guaranty, all at a beginning value greater than $17,000 less than the XC40. The Kia Seltos will almost definitely by no means reproduction the texture of a Volvo, however it’s going to get extra other folks house with extra money of their wallet.
Respectable 2027 Seltos pricing has no longer but been showed, however in response to the outgoing style and the phase developments, that cheaper price will most probably attraction to a large swath of SUV patrons.
