The 2026 Kia Seltos Is Cheaper Because of This One Change

The average price of a new car is nearing $50,000, and consumers are increasingly shifting to more affordable alternatives. Unwilling to let those cost-conscious buyers go unserved, Kia has altered the Seltos lineup for 2026, cutting the starting price by $1,000 with the launch of a new entry-level front-wheel-drive trim.

The Seltos will now start at $25,085 for the LX FWD (all prices include the $1,395 destination charge). Every other trim receives a $200 price bump, with the range-topping SX AWD now starting at $32,785. But it comes with quite a lot of kit.

LED lighting, 18-inch alloy wheels, a power liftgate, wireless charging, premium Bose audio, and a 10.25-inch infotainment screen are standard equipment on the SX. Buyers can upgrade even further, with a 10.25-inch dual-screen setup and heated seats as available options.

It’s also the only trim available with the 190-horsepower turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine. The 2025 Seltos X-Line trim, which featured the powertrain, isn’t available for 2026.

The rest of the 2026 Seltos lineup continues to use the 147-horsepower 2.0-liter engine. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard with the 8.0-inch touchscreen on the LX, while the S and EX trims come with the 10.25-inch display that’s also available on the SX.

Kia didn’t say when the 2026 Seltos will begin reaching dealers, but it should be soon.