Kia Seltos S 2025 Review

In an ultra-competitive market where profit margins are slim, the 2025 Kia Seltos S is the cheapest way to get behind the wheel of the Korean small SUV.

However, it isn’t as cheap as it once was, with the mild refresh of 2023 also ushering in price increases of around $2000.

That means the base-model S just scrapes beneath the $30K marker at $29,850 plus on-road costs (ORCs).

The rest of the 2.0-litre front-wheel-drive range comprises the $33,050 Sport, $36,150 Sport+ and $41,850 GT-Line. Add about $3500 to the latter two grades if you want turbocharged grunt and all-wheel-drive traction.

Myriad rivals are coming in hot and they’re all trying to best the Seltos ethos. A slew of cheap Chinese competition includes the likes of the Chery Omoda 5 and Tiggo 4 Pro as well as the GWM Haval Jolion and MG ZS.

Elsewhere you could also consider the Kona from parent company Hyundai, as well as the hybrid-only Toyota Corolla Cross, Nissan QASHQAI and long-serving Mitsubishi ASX to name a few.

It might be an entry-level variant, but the 2025 Kia Seltos S isn’t totally bereft of kit.

Gone are the steel wheels and hubcaps; instead, every Seltos is fitted with alloy items – measuring 16 inches for the S. The revised styling incorporates Kia’s new corporate badge and rear light bar, while elsewhere there’s plastic body cladding and roof rails as standard.

Inside, there’s cloth trim, manual air conditioning, cruise control, auto headlights, automatically folding exterior mirrors as well as rake and reach adjustment for the steering wheel. Essentially, it’s back-to-basics motoring.

Still, there are some niggles. Yes, monetary constraints are real, but in 2025 it’s a shame to see yellowed halogen headlights instead of bright LED units. Some might like the old-school nature, but having to slot a key in the ignition will grate with others.

The Seltos is covered by a seven-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty. This remains impressive but is bested by MG’s 10-year plan.

Roadside assistance is also included for up to eight years if you take your Seltos to an authorised Kia dealer.

Servicing is every 12 months or 15,000km (whichever comes first) and capped prices are offered for up to seven years or 105,000km. It equates to a total of $3061 – or an average of $437 each visit – which is on the more expensive side.

Safety kit is relatively generous across the board and the 2025 Kia Seltos S holds a five-star ANCAP rating (2019).

As a base model it scores autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with car and pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring and collision assist, rear cross-traffic alert, safe exit warning, lane keeping system, driver attention alert, automatic high beam, front and rear parking sensors, reversing camera and intelligent speed limit assist as standard.

There are six airbags, dual ISOFIX points in the rear (outboard) seats and three top-tether anchorages.

It’s a bit of a shame that not all the safety features available are fitted to the S. Step up in the range and the AEB gains cyclist and junction detection, while an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, driver attention alert and lead vehicle departure alert are added, too.

There are annoyances with the implementation of key safety tech, too. The speed limit warning produces incessant audible chimes every time the speed limit changes or if you breach it – even by a single kilometre. It must be debunked upon each start-up and requires delving into the trip computer to do so.

To be fair, what the 2025 Kia Seltos S offers for a sub-$30K small SUV is commendable.

Okay, it isn’t the fancy dual-screen arrangement offered in higher grades. However, there’s a new 8.0-inch touch-screen for the infotainment and a small 4.2-inch instrument cluster.

Even Apple CarPlay can be wirelessly connected (Android Auto is wired), something you don’t get in the higher grades fitted with the 10.25-inch screen. There’s also Bluetooth, native sat-nav, USB-A and USB-C ports as well as a six-speaker audio system.

When it comes to the powertrain, the Korean giant has applied the KISS method with the 2025 Kia Seltos S and kept it simple.

That means the 2.0-litre naturally aspirated engine carries over with 110kW and 180Nm. It’s tied to a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) and drives the front wheels only.

To be fair, with a kerb weight of less than 1400kg, it’s all the engine you really need. It’s swift enough to keep up with city traffic and isn’t a fish out of water in the suburbs or country.

Even the CVT has pseudo ratios to mimic actual gears and lessen the sensation of perched revs. Although, with peak power and torque being produced quite high in the rev range, it can become quite vocal when you need to get up a steep incline or perform a highway overtake.

There are currently no hybrid or plug-in hybrid options, yet the 2025 Kia Seltos S isn’t overtly thirsty.

The official combined fuel-consumption is 6.9L/100km – respectable compared to like-for-like competition. After a week behind the wheel, we managed 7.7L/100km, which isn’t a bad effort over varied city, country and highway scenarios.

The Seltos S is happy drinking cheaper 91 RON fuel and it has a 50-litre tank, which equates to a maximum of 893km before it requires replenishing.

For what the 2025 Kia Seltos S needs to be – an easy to live with small SUV – it achieves the brief.

The taller shape affords great all-round vision, the Australianised suspension tune is compliant enough and the overall body control will keep occupants happy. In general, the Seltos S provides a driving experience free of drama.

The MacPherson strut front suspension is paired with a slightly less sophisticated torsion-beam axle at the rear. The ride quality is generally obedient, but there is a level of business at times over sharp potholes and poor surfaces.

Overall agility is acceptable for a budget-minded small SUV, even without the multi-link rear suspension found in the AWD variants. There are three driving modes (Eco, Normal and Sport), but you’re best just sticking to Normal or Eco given not much is altered between the trio.

Thanks to the lithe weight, the Seltos S deals with changes of direction keenly and the steering is on the heavier side in terms of weighting. The feedback is appreciated at speed more so than when pootling around a car park, where lighter responses would be preferred.

However, while road sensations are largely nullified (the S runs on chubby 60-profile Kumho tyres), you do hear big hits through the cabin. There’s also constant tyre roar on highways and coarse-chip tarmac.

Kia has trademarked X-Line in Australia, the badge denoting a rugged makeover in markets where this Seltos variant is offered. However, with only 170mm of ground clearance, the Seltos S will spend most of its time within city limits. And here is where it does its best work.

Much like the exterior styling, if you’re comparing the cabin of the 2025 Kia Seltos S with other offerings from the brand, you might be disappointed. It’s built to a price point.

Not that you’re likely to go around constantly touching your dash, but there aren’t any premium soft-touch materials. What you will be feeling every day is the steering wheel, gear selector and handbrake. So, it’s a shame they aren’t wrapped in some form of leather, even something of the low-cost faux variety.

However, it’s aesthetically appealing and screwed together tightly.

Plus, in a world bombarded by touch-screens and a lack of physical controls, the Seltos S’s relatively Spartan approach is somewhat refreshing given everything is so simple to use. The manual air-conditioning controls might not look appealing, but you’re never in doubt of their settings and they aren’t fiddly to operate. Simplicity reigns.

That way of thinking extends to the infotainment, too, with handy shortcut buttons flanking the screen. It responds well enough to touch inputs and while the graphics for it and the instrument cluster are rudimentary, they further aid ease of use.

As you’d expect with its small SUV designation, the Seltos S is on the more diminutive side at 4385mm long, 1800mm wide and 1630mm tall. That has benefits for apartment buildings with car stackers and for nipping in and out of traffic.

Interior space hasn’t been compromised in the process. Rear-seat leg, toe, shoulder and headroom are generous for the class. Adults could certainly undertake longer journeys in the back. And their life is made easier thanks to amenities like air vents, dual USB-C ports and door bins.

Although sadly the Seltos S misses out on map pockets and a rear centre arm rest. Otherwise, general storage options are solid.

The base S also has the biggest boot with a capacity of 468 litres. That’s 45 litres more than the rest of the range. However, it comes at the cost of a full-size spare wheel. Instead, a space-saver item is fitted. Stow the rear 60/40-split folding back seats and the available space swells to 1428 litres.

Despite ‘only’ being around since 2019, the 2025 Kia Seltos S now finds itself in a very different context.

It’s main thrust of cheap but quality motoring is under attack by a Chinese onslaught that seems to grow by the month. It is also at odds with a Kia line-up that is progressing up the quality and monetary ranks with every new release.

You could step up model grade ranks to gain more kit, but we see little need to venture too far. And while the 1.6-litre turbo with AWD provides more performance, it doesn’t really make financial sense given the cheaper and more efficient engine gets the job done.

Ultimately, if you’re after a straight-forward, do-it-all small SUV with a proven reputation, the cheapest Seltos S is appealing. However, it only does just enough to prove its worth within Kia’s ever-evolving portfolio.

2025 Kia Seltos S at a glance:
Price: $29,850 plus on-road costs
Available: Now
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol
Output: 110kW/180Nm
Transmission: Continuously variable
Fuel: 6.9L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 157g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five stars (ANCAP 2019)

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