The not a project ownership log: 2023 Kia Seltos

All this talk of "what car" and new car options finally bit us. First new vehicle since 2006. Wife's Rio was ok, but with 2 70+lb long haired german shephards and us it was a tad tight. We'd talked about possible options but the typical requirements were :

30+mpg

big enough for dog cages and us

comfortable and quiet

cheap. Like, super cheap.

KNowing I'm a Korean car fanboi through and through thats my default first stop. I'd been having the conversation on another chat with a few GRM'ers about the Seltos but hadn't actually looked at one yet. Yesterday was kind of a crappy day so I said "hey, lets go look". They had one the same basic blue as her Rio in the S trim with the added infotainment package and floormats. Sticker price: $25010. FWD, 29/35 for fuel economy ratings so we were in the ballpark. Looked it over, made some measurements and headed home thinking that "in a year or so we might get it." But then reality set it. The 2024 are rumored to have a price hike. Used car market is still strong but will it be in 6 months? 

So I changed back the wheels and tires onto the Rio, she pulled 3 car loads of crap out of it she carries with her and I went down solo. Ended up trading her Rio in for about what I'd get on marketplace without hassling with marketplace and walked out the door with taxes/title fees for $22k. 

The drive home was eye opening. Average 36mpg in stop and go and 70+mph highway. The car is quiet, stable, capable and makes my Rio feel like an old pile of crap.... which it used to be the flagship of the fleet. The things I hate are easily turned off and the car keeps them off with opur individual profiles. Apple carplay, xm, standard bluetooth etc are all there. the navigation and screen are clear, modern and large (10.25") but unobtrusive.

Don't get me wrong, this thing will never win an autox or see an apex that isn't an on ramp. But it is a seriously capable people mover that doesn't punish you for being frugal. 

Pics incoming soon. It's raining and the wife doesn't want to get it dirty lol

Congratulations! It sounds like the right tool for the job. Looking forward to photos. 

Congrats! I really like my 2021. Which engine does it have? 

What platform is a Seltos?  I get all the small Kia Hyundai boxes mixed up these days.  Is it another Soul variation?

We just bought a Black EX Seltos, fwd, for the wife to commute in, seemed like the best bang for the buck.

Is that a normal automatic or a CVT?

In reply to Iusedtobefast :

2.0. 

In reply to ProDarwin :

Based off the soul/elantra/forte/veloster/accent/Rio.  beam rear strut front. 

In reply to Woody (Forum Supportum) :

Cvt/ivt. Has shift points and feels like a normal trans most of the time. Only occasionally do you sense it's a little.... off. 

Got it.  Yeah the venue, Kona, niro, Soul, and seltos all seem to overlap quite a bit

Was the Carnival even in the running?.......love the looks of this mommy van ...just sayin'

I like the blue!

In reply to 759NRNG :

Nope.  All the wrong things. Fuel economy and cost out it out plus she hates, bay loathes minivans 

Mrs Frog loves here new Carnival.  A big leap for us Honda lovers.  She needed to haul 5 grandkids at one time with multiple car seats.  8k miles so far, no complaints.

Purple Frog (Forum Supporter) said:

Mrs Frog loves here new Carnival.  A big leap for us Honda lovers.  She needed to haul 5 grandkids at one time with multiple car seats.  8k miles so far, no complaints.

Glad you found it out ....this is by far one of the most attractive mommy vans?  I've seen in along time ......sorry bobZ

In reply to 759NRNG :

I like em but we all know I already have questionable taste. The Seltos is a platform I pretty much know by heart now. She finally drove it yesterday and doesn't hate it so that's a win. Lol

In reply to bobzilla :

What's the word on the Hyundai/Kia CVT? Im generally against CVTs but I think overall Kia/Hyundai are doing great things right now. We almost purchased a new sorento for the wife about a month ago, but the reliability and drivability of the DCT kept us from getting it.

In reply to Opti :

That's the thing, I haven't heard any word. There are tens of thousands of these IVT/CVT's in rental fleets and fleet vehicles and not a peep. Theyve been out for several years. We had already found out the Saturn, Nissan and even the chain issue in the honda ones by a year in. 

All I can say is 32,000 miles and no complaints on the CVT. I was really worried about getting one but ever small vehicle seems to have them now. How soon til I need to have it serviced? I know what the book says but... 90% of my miles are highway without heavy loads

Well, it didn't take long. I need to rename my "team" to "nothing stays stock". Wife's only real complaint of the car were the headlights are not bright. Now that she drives very rural dark roads I wanted her safe. Her Rio had already had the projector low and fog lights changed over to LED. This one uses a 9005 for the hi/low headlight with a flap to control the beam. After some searching I found one short enough to not interfere with the flap and now she's happy again. 

Bonus now the low beams don't look yellow and match the LED strips in the grille. 

so, 6500 mile update. I've been relegated to this one with my bad wing (but still steal the Forte when she's not watching). Crossed 6500 miles this week and time for it's second oil change. 

Wife loves it. Fuel economy is slowly increasing for her, rapidly increasing for me. In fact, this morning I learned the IVT has 8 "gears" in manual mode.... apparently that is important.

the car is averaging 33.8mpg since purchase. This was this mornings drive in. This tank is averaging 38.5mpg, bumping it's estimated range to over 460 miles. I got a couple more days to bump that up a little more before I'm off for a couple weeks after surgery. 
 

if you'd have told me we would be able to average 38mpg in a car this size I would have laughed at you. Now who's laughing?

Bob, does the Seltos come with a spare tire?

In reply to Slippery :

YES

Glad its been a success so far. Look forward to more updates. These are weird cars. I like weird cars