2027 Kia Seltos S AWD Review: The Baby Telluride Your Family Can Actually Afford

Cory Fourniquet   |  

Jul 15, 2026

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The world rejoiced when Kia launched the Telluride and turned Kia into a mainstream brand worthy of a spot in your garage. Then the world cried when Kia lost its Soul. Literally. Now we have the 2027 Kia Seltos S AWD, and it feels like Kia found a way to bake the best of both of those vehicles into one, all for under $30,000.

Big thanks to Peltier Kia here in Tyler, Texas, for the time with this sub-$30,000 2027 Kia Seltos S all-wheel drive. These are just hitting dealer lots, and if you want one, Peltier has a couple that could be yours. Here is my first take.

The Best of Two Kias in One

For years, Kia gave enthusiasts and families the boxy, lovable Kia Soul on one end and the premium, three-row Telluride on the other. The Seltos splits the difference in the smartest way possible. Its overall size and upright, boxy shape call straight back to the Soul, while the front end wears a clear evolution of the Telluride’s face, from the vertical-slat grille to the wide-set vertical running lights.

The result is a subcompact crossover that looks like it costs a lot more than it does. For a family shopping on a real budget, that matters. You get styling you can be proud of in the school pickup line without the payment that keeps you up at night.

A Simple Powertrain That Should Age Well

Under the hood sits a 2.0-liter four-cylinder sending power to all four wheels through an Intelligent Variable Transmission. A hybrid version is coming later, but for now, this is the base engine, along with a turbocharged 1.6L 4-cylinder in the top trim.

This is a very simple powertrain that is not going to be a big headache long term. No hybrids, no turbos, nothing complicated waiting to surprise you at 90,000 miles, hopefully. In a world where nearly everything is boosted, hybridized, or both, there is real value in a drivetrain that just works. It is not the quickest thing on the road, and you will hear a little drone from the engine/transmission under hard acceleration, but for daily commuting and family duty, it does the job without drama. For a first-time driver or a household that just needs dependable transportation, simplicity is a feature, not a compromise.

Baby Telluride Styling Under $30K

Kia has never been shy with design, and the Seltos proves you don’t lose that just because you are shopping the affordable end of the lineup. Even on this near-base S trim, the 18-inch alloy wheels look sharp, with a triangular cut inner section and a machined outer face wrapped in 215/55R18 Kumho Majesty Solus tires.

Move to the side, and the Soul-meets-Telluride DNA is obvious. It is genuinely premium-looking for the money. Around back is where you can spot a few smart cost cuts for the sub-$30,000 price. You miss the LED taillights and the full-width light bar, and there is no power hatch. But the manual hatch opens easily, the styling still reads unmistakably Kia, and the automatic pop-out door handles add a slick, upscale touch that retract flush when you drive off.

Space, Cargo, and Family-Friendly Touches

Open that hatch and the Seltos delivers what families actually need. Kia claims class-leading cargo space, and there is a lot to like: multiple tie-down points, side cubbies to keep groceries from rolling around, and a false load floor hiding a compact spare and the tool kit.

Our favorite trick is the adjustable load floor. Pull it out and drop it down about three inches for extra vertical space, great so your grocery cans don’t come tumbling out the second you open the hatch on a steep driveway. It is a small thing that tells you Kia thought about real life.

There is one miss worth flagging. There are no levers or latches in the cargo area to fold the 60/40 rear seats. You have to walk to the side doors to drop them. In a vehicle that gets so much right, that stands out as an oversight.

Inside: Premium Feel for the Price

The cabin is where the Seltos really earns its keep. You get a Telluride-style steering wheel with a drive mode button and a 4WD Lock button, a wide, panoramic-looking digital dash, and a standard 12.3-inch touchscreen running Kia’s newest operating system. You can even download screen themes, including Star Wars and Marvel graphics, from the Kia Connect store.

For an S trim under $30,000, the equipment list is impressive: heated front seats, a power driver’s seat, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a Qi wireless charger, and three USB-C ports. The two-tone cloth seats look and feel premium, with darker material down low so new blue jeans don’t stain them and a lighter tone up top so it never feels like a dark cave in there. Physical climate buttons keep things easy to use, and the back seat is genuinely spacious, with reclining seatbacks, rear USB ports, and plenty of room behind a five-foot-ten driver.

On the Road

Out in the real world, the Seltos behaves exactly like a well-sorted affordable crossover should. There is a decent amount of get-up-and-go for daily driving, and while the variable transmission adds a bit of drone when you push it, normal commuting is quiet and comfortable. Those Kumho tires keep road noise low, and even a rough railroad crossing barely registered inside the cabin. It is not buttery smooth, but it never feels cheap.

Visibility is a standout thanks to that boxy shape, with big windows all around and an extra window behind the rear seats for better over-the-shoulder views. Safety and driver-assist tech punch above the price too, with blind-spot monitoring, traffic sign recognition, lane keeping and lane following assist, and smart cruise control with stop and go all on board.

Who the 2027 Seltos Is For

The Seltos is not a direct replacement for the Soul, and it trades a little of that quirky personality for Kia’s more grown-up design language. But what you get in return is a lot: baby-Telluride style, a genuinely premium cabin, class-leading cargo space, all-wheel drive, and a simple powertrain built to go the distance, all for under $30,000.

It gives larger, more popular Kias like the Sportage a real run for their money, and it makes a strong case for any family that wants something affordable, stylish, and easy to live with for the long haul. If that is you, put the 2027 Kia Seltos S AWD on your shortlist.

2027 Kia Seltos S AWD Specs

Powertrain

• 2.0-liter MPI Atkinson-cycle inline-4 (1,999 cc)
• 147 hp @ 6,200 RPM
• 132 lb-ft @ 4,500 RPM
• Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT)

Drivetrain

• Torque-Vectoring AWD with Center-Locking Differential (4WD Lock)
• Drive Mode Select
• Ground Clearance: 7.9 inches

Chassis

• Front Suspension: MacPherson Strut
• Rear Suspension: Multilink (AWD)
• Steering: Rack & Pinion, electric power (13.6:1)
• Brakes: Ventilated front disc / solid rear disc

Wheels & Tires

• 18-inch Alloy Wheels (7.0J)
• P215/55R18 Tires
• Compact Spare Tire

Seating & Interior

• Seating Capacity: 5
• Cloth Seat Trim
• Power Driver’s Seat with Power Lumbar
• Heated Front Seats
• 60/40 Split-Folding and Reclining Rear Seats
• LED Interior Lighting
• Rear Occupant Alert (without sensors)
• Cargo Volume: 27.8 cu ft behind 2nd row / 64.2 cu ft behind 1st row

Gauges & Infotainment

• 12.3-inch Touchscreen Display
• Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Kia Connect with Complimentary 3-Year Ultimate (where available)
• SiriusXM with Free 3-Month Subscription
• Front and Rear USB Charge Ports

Driver Assistance

• Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (Cyclist / Junction Turning)
• Lane Keeping Assist and Lane Following Assist
• Driver Attention Warning and High Beam Assist
• Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist
• Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist
• Parking Distance Warning (Forward / Reverse)
• Safe Exit Warning
• Smart Cruise Control with Stop & Go

Tech & Comfort

• Wireless Phone Charger
• Smart Key with Push-Button Start and Remote Start
• Single Zone Air Conditioning

Exterior

• Gloss Black Exterior Trim Accents
• Automatic Pop-Out Outside Door Handles
• LED Reflector Headlights with Auto On/Off
• LED Daytime Running Lights
• Power-Adjustable Heated Outside Mirrors with LED Turn Signals
• Rear Privacy Glass and Rear Spoiler

Efficiency

• EPA Estimated Fuel Economy: 26/30/28 (city/hwy/cmb)
• Unleaded Gasoline with 13.2-Gal Tank
• Annual Fuel Cost: $1,650 (EPA estimate)

Warranty

• Basic: 5 Year / 60,000-Mile Limited
• Powertrain: 10 Year / 100,000-Mile Limited
• Anti-Perforation: 5 Year / 100,000-Mile
• Roadside Assistance: 5 Year / 60,000-Mile

Colors

• Exterior: Ivory Silver
• Interior: Black / Gray

Pricing

• Starting MSRP: $24,990 (LX FWD)
• Total MSRP as Tested: $29,785