Your Guide to the Trims of the 2025 Kia Seltos

Style-minded buyers who want a subcompact SUV that stands out from the crowd often seek a Kia Seltos for sale. It’s no wonder, too, since Kia’s wildly popular SUV lineup continues winning over drivers and journalists in record numbers. The Seltos anchors the Kia lineup, offering an affordable front- or all-wheel drive ute that comes in five trim levels. Car and Driver calls the 2025 Seltos “efficient, handsome, affordable, and nice to drive,” which is high praise from one of the industry’s most discerning reviewers.

Though fuel efficiency and affordability are commonly touted as the Seltos’s main benefits, buyers are flocking to this little SUV for its elegant curb profile and refined, ergonomic cabin that is chock full of next-gen driver assistance and infotainment technology. Kia’s generous allotment of standard features—even on the base Seltos LX—includes nine different safety technologies. Features buyers crave, such as wireless smartphone connectivity, are also included across the entire trim range.

Which features are the biggest showstoppers on the 2025 Kia Seltos? The list is long and surprisingly similar to luxury imports that cost thousands more. Luckily, buyers don’t have to travel to the top of the trim series to find a nicely equipped Seltos, and every trim includes Kia’s industry-leading warranty, excellent safety ratings, and athletic styling enhanced by a palette of available exterior hues. Here is a comprehensive overview of the 2025 Kia Seltos…

The Seltos LX

Available in four exterior colors, the extremely affordable 2025 Kia Seltos LX starts at just under $25k, making it a great choice for first-time buyers and shoppers on a budget who aren’t willing to compromise on style and convenience features. The Seltos LX comes with remote keyless entry, variable intermittent windshield wipers, and a day/night rearview mirror, along with 17-inch alloy wheels. Power-adjustable side mirrors are also included. A 60/40 split folding rear seat makes storing oversized cargo a breeze.

Every Seltos LX comes with an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, a 4.2-inch driver instrument display, and a 6-speaker audio system. Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are also included in the base price, as are automatic LED headlights and the automaker’s High Beam Assist system, which automatically switches between low- and high-beam settings. The Seltos LX comes standard with all-wheel drive.

The Seltos S

Moving up to the Seltos S adds a total of eight available exterior colors, including a pair of two-tone options that enhance the SUV’s sleek lines. Available in either front- or all-wheel drive, this Seltos trim adds more driver assistance features, including Blind Spot Collision Warning, which alerts you when a vehicle is in your blind spot as you attempt to change lanes, along with Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist, which monitors either side of the vehicle and sends an alert when it’s unsafe to back up.

The Seltos S adds a push-button start, heated power side view mirrors with integrated LED turn signals, and automatic climate control. Heated front seats are available as an option to take the chill out of those cold winter mornings. Kia upgrades the seating surfaces with SynTex and cloth trimming for a leather-like appearance and adds a leather-wrapped gear shift knob and steering wheel for a touch of additional luxury. LED interior lighting also comes standard, along with a larger 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen with standard navigation. 

The Seltos EX

Choosing the mid-range Seltos EX is a great financial decision because the MSRP (at just a hair over $26k) is still a great value, yet your Seltos is full of additional niceties. Assistive driver assistance features include a Park Distance Warning sensor that sounds when you are close to an object as you back up. The Seltos EX includes a 10-way power driver’s seat, standard heated front seats, special solar control glass to deflect the sun’s heat, an available power sunroof, and SynTex seating surfaces.

Adding to the Seltos EX’s appeal are a pair of illuminated visor vanity mirrors and a massive 10.25-inch driver display. Also, Kia throws in a standard wireless device charging pad as an extra convenience. A smart power liftgate is optional, and fog lights are included. The Seltos EX is available with either front- or all-wheel drive.

The Seltos X-Line

The 2025 Kia Seltos X-Line—available exclusively in all-wheel drive—manages to stay under $30k while adding a more powerful 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that makes 195 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque—nearly 50 hp more than less expensive Seltos trims. The X-Line also ditches the standard continuously variable transmission for an eight-speed automatic transmission. Kia adds standard 18-inch gloss black alloy wheels, roof rails, and a trim-exclusive gunmetal-finished front grille. Front and rear gunmetal skid plates are also standard.

The X-Line is perfect for drivers looking for more dynamic road handling and boosted performance and acceleration. Interior cabin appointments are similar to the EX, with a few differences. First, the driver’s seat has a manual adjustment feature. Solar control glass is not included, and the power sunroof is not available. The Seltos X-Line’s seating is the same SynTex and cloth found on the S. Buyers will receive the larger 10.25-inch touchscreen and instrument display on this Seltos trim.

The Seltos SX

The top-of-the-line Seltos SX combines the best performance and luxury features to deliver a trim for discerning buyers who aren’t willing to compromise. Multiple advanced driver assistance features are added to the list, including the Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with Pedestrian, Cyclist, and Junction Turning Detection System. It’s a mouthful, but this feature warns and assists with braking after the left turn signal is switched on at an intersection, helping the driver navigate more safely.

Inside the well-equipped cabin, the Seltos SX offers available ventilated front seats, a standard leather-wrapped flat-bottom steering wheel, and a powerful Bose Premium Audio System that includes eight speakers and an innovative connected mood lamp wired into the front door speaker lights, which pulsates and changes color to the beat of the music. A smart power liftgate is included, along with gloss black 18-inch wheels and LED headlights, fog lights, and taillights.

Selecting the Best 2025 Kia Seltos for You

When deciding which Kia Seltos works best for you, consider your lifestyle, driving needs, and budget. Buyers looking to optimize affordability will love the base Seltos LX, with its lower price tag and a smattering of useful cabin convenience features. Choosing the S adds extra luxury touches, while the EX expands to include more technology features, such as a wireless device charger, which appeals to many buyers who dislike cord clutter.

Choosing the X-Line adds the more powerful turbocharged engine while keeping the price in the mid-$20k range by dialing back the luxury goodies. The top-end Seltos SX incorporates a long list of driver assistance features that aren’t found on the other Seltos trims while also adding the turbocharged powertrain. The Seltos SX rivals more expensive luxury SUVs for standard equipment and performance capability.

Still unsure? Your best bet is to test-drive the trims in your price range to decide what’s important to you. If you don’t need the extra oomph of a turbocharged engine but love the extra bells and whistles, the Seltos EX makes sense. If you’re a commuter, you’ll be glad to know that every Seltos delivers excellent fuel economy figures, with front-wheel drive versions achieving the best. The dynamic 2025 Kia Seltos lineup offers something for every subcompact SUV buyer who values style and fun!