2024 Kia Seltos gets rugged styling, more power

LOS ANGELES — Kia revealed the freshened 2024 Seltos subcompact crossover Thursday at the Los Angeles Auto Show, with sharper styling, a new X-Line trim and more power from its turbo engine.

The Seltos, the brand's entry point, joins the ranks of its larger siblings — the Sorento and Telluride — in offering the more rugged-looking X-Line trim.

Its reworked front fascia features a larger tiger nose grille and new bumper design that creates a wider appearance. New vertical fog lights are incorporated into the daytime running lights, which reduces clutter and gives the small crossover a more commanding presence.

The restyled rear is cleaner, with a new tailgate lighting design and new backup lamps and rear reflector on the bumper.

The ruggedness of the X-Line is enhanced by 18-inch wheels, black roof rails and gloss black door trim.

For 2024, the vehicle is offered in LX, S, X-Line, EX and SX trims. The X-Line replaces the Nightfall Edition on the outgoing model. The X-Line and top SX trim get a turbocharged 1.6-liter engine paired with an eight-speed transmission that now gets 20 more hp for a total of 195.

The rest of the lineup gets a 2.0-liter four-cylinder mated to a continuously variable transmission, delivering 147 hp and 132 pound-feet of torque. All Seltos trims are all-wheel drive, but a front-wheel layout is offered on the S.

Kia also added an optional panoramic display with dual 10.2-inch screens — one in place of the gauge cluster and the other for the center touch screen. There are now four USB ports split between the front and the rear (up from two), and the SX Sunroof Package offers a power liftgate, ventilated front seats and Digital Key 2, which allows the crossover to be locked, unlocked and started via an Apple or Android smartphone or watch.

The Seltos' menu of advanced driver-assistance safety technology now includes standard Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with detection for pedestrians and cyclists as well as Blind-Spot Collision Warning for the S trim and above.

The SX now gets Intelligent Speed Limit Assist and Intelligent Speed Limit Warning, which alerts the driver if it detects the vehicle is surpassing a road's speed limit and can be set to restrict the vehicle's speed.

Kia did not disclose pricing for the 2024 model, but the base LX on the outgoing vehicle costs $24,135. The SX trim is priced at $29,635. Both prices include shipping.