On this week's episode, we share our first impressions of the redesigned 2027 Kia Seltos, Kia's least expensive SUV. Its roomy interior, comfortable ride, bold styling, and user-friendly controls make it feel surprisingly mature—but the sluggish 147-hp base engine is a major disappointment. We discuss whether the pricey turbo is worth the upgrade or if buyers should wait for the upcoming hybrid. Plus, we answer an audience question about balancing the financial benefits of keeping an older car with the safety improvements found in newer models.
Consumer Reports experts: Alex Knizek, Jeff Bartlett, John Williams
Join CR at https://CR.org/joinviaYT to access our comprehensive ratings for items you use every day. CR is a mission-driven, independent, nonprofit organization.
SHOW NOTES
-----------------------------------
0:00 - Intro
00:37 Overview: 2027 Kia Seltos
02:12 Mature Subcompact SUV
04:26 Ride Comfort and Handling
07:20 The Engine
08:43 Is the Turbo Worth it?
09:58 Upcoming Hybrid
12:39 Infotainment
14:23 Climate Controls and Interior Design Quirks
18:13 Door Handles
20:27 Interior Space, Cargo Room, and Rear Seats
22:12 Seat Comfort and Head Restraint Problems
25:29 Interior Quality
27:22 Audience Question: When Should You Replace an Older Car?
----------------------------------
Test Results: 2027 Kia Seltos
https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/kia/seltos/2027/overview/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT
Most and Least Satisfying Hybrids, Plug-In Hybrids, and EVs
https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/car-reliability-owner-satisfaction/most-and-least-satisfying-electric-vehicles-and-hybrids-a2825600877/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT
Which Brands Make the Best Cars?
https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/cars-driving/which-car-brands-make-the-best-vehicles-a6159221985/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT
Who Makes the Most Reliable New Cars?
https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/car-reliability-owner-satisfaction/who-makes-the-most-reliable-cars-a7824554938/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT
Popular Small SUVs to Avoid and What to Buy Instead
https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/suvs/popular-small-suvs-to-avoid-and-what-to-buy-instead-a1273704153/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT
Find the Safest New Car Using CR's Safety Verdict
https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/car-safety/how-to-find-safest-new-car-using-crs-safety-verdict-a3169270635/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT
Safest Car Brands Ranked by CR's Safety Verdict
https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/car-safety/safest-car-brands-a1065426408/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT
00:00:00
If you're a Talking Car fan, want to see
the Consumer Reports test track in person?
00:00:04
Here's your chance.
00:00:05
On October 17th, Consumer Reports
is hosting a 5K run and walk fundraiser
00:00:09
here at our auto test center
in Colchester, Connecticut.
00:00:12
It's a fun way to get outside,
00:00:14
see the cars we talk about every week,
and support our mission all at once.
00:00:18
And if you can't join us in person,
there's a virtual option
00:00:20
to go to CR.org/5K to learn more
00:00:23
and register.
00:00:36
Welcome to the Talking Cars podcast.
00:00:38
I'm Alex Knizek.
00:00:39
I'm Jeff Bartlett. And I'm John Williams.
00:00:41
All right.
00:00:42
So today we are talking about the 2027
00:00:45
Kia Seltos that we just,
purchased for our testing program.
00:00:49
And this is essentially Kia's
now least expensive SUV.
00:00:54
You know, the entry point to their SUV
is the line up, right?
00:00:57
It's essentially an entry level hatchback
that you can get all wheel drive on,
00:01:01
and especially now that the Kia Soul
has been discontinued,
00:01:04
you know, it's kind of filling,
some of that gap, so to speak.
00:01:07
So, yeah.
00:01:08
And, you know, this segment overall
has been growing, right.
00:01:11
You have more entries,
you know, Chevrolet Trax, Hyundai Kona,
00:01:15
all these different vehicles
kind of coming in and, trying to appeal
00:01:19
to the small end of the SUV segment
we bought for our test program, a
00:01:23
s all wheel drive.
00:01:25
So 2027, powertrain is a base powertrain.
00:01:28
So it's a two liter four cylinder, makes
147 horsepower, which we will definitely
00:01:32
talk about, CVT transmission
and then we did get the all wheel drive.
00:01:37
So the mSRP on our test
car was 28, $90.
00:01:41
We got format's destination
fee of about $1.
00:01:45
In the end, $29.
00:01:49
So kind of surprising
seeing that number for it being there.
00:01:52
The only other less expensive
00:01:53
car that Kia makes is the K four right in
from an entry point.
00:01:56
So while the least expensive,
not cheap 29, almost 30 for,
00:02:01
this entry level trim,
so to speak, is is still quite high.
00:02:05
We also borrowed, an X-Line SX all wheel
drive that has a different powertrain.
00:02:10
So we rounded out some of our experience.
00:02:12
But, all that said, Jeff,
what really stood out to you,
00:02:16
you know, as the the major thing
that when you drive this car?
00:02:19
Well,
I was surprised at how mature it felt
00:02:22
and how big it grew on paper.
00:02:26
And I suppose in your driveway it's only
about an inch bigger in every dimension.
00:02:30
But the presence of it,
it just feels more substantial.
00:02:33
The shape of it's a little box here,
so feels like a little bit more interior
00:02:37
volume to me.
00:02:39
My initial impression
00:02:39
was really that kind of stepped up
almost beyond the subcompact,
00:02:43
which when it first came out,
that whole class of vehicles,
00:02:47
understandably, were trying
to make little hatchback cars cool again.
00:02:52
And they all came feeling a little cheap,
a little inexpensive.
00:02:57
They felt like compromise vehicle.
00:02:59
Yeah I understand
the segment RV and trailblazer.
00:03:03
Yeah they all kind of felt like you were
compromising quite a bit right.
00:03:06
Perfectly have their place
for some people, some situations,
00:03:09
but not really the kind of vehicle
you'd want to have for years.
00:03:12
Yeah, yeah.
00:03:12
Nothing exciting about it either,
you know. No.
00:03:15
Certainly not.
00:03:15
Oh, the styling was pretty neat,
00:03:16
but this one just feels like something
you could live with.
00:03:18
Longer goes a little quieter,
a little bit more substantial around.
00:03:22
Yeah.
00:03:22
Yeah, totally.
00:03:23
I think the wheelbase grew.
00:03:24
So you get more interior space.
00:03:26
And then yeah, the boxy shape,
we'll see when we measure cargo
00:03:30
and things like that.
00:03:30
But yeah, the old one was more of,
you know, basically like a raised
00:03:34
hatchback made more car shaped,
I guess is what I'm trying to say.
00:03:38
Sure.
00:03:38
Sleeker. And so they really made this
00:03:41
a lot more boxy
kind of looks like a little Telluride.
00:03:43
It does like they just took the Telluride
and scaled it down.
00:03:46
Yeah. Yeah.
00:03:46
And I mean,
00:03:47
I do think personally
this is one thing that stands out
00:03:50
about this car
in the segment is in for Hyundai Kia.
00:03:53
In general they really go for it with
the styling both interior and exterior.
00:03:57
That's bold.
00:03:57
So yeah, a lot of the other,
vehicles that we listed off
00:04:00
here are going to be more
in the background styling wise.
00:04:04
Right. And this is more, in your face.
00:04:06
But anyway, John, what what really stood
out to you about this when you drove it?
00:04:10
Yeah, I think exactly what you said, Jeff,
even if it's not dimensionally
00:04:14
that much bigger, it feels that even,
you know, sitting inside of it,
00:04:17
and just in general, kind of like
you were describing the typical subcompact
00:04:22
experience that I have in my head,
anyway, is something that's,
00:04:25
you know, rides really firm.
00:04:26
It's kind of tinny.
00:04:27
You're compromising comfort.
00:04:29
This is a lot different than that.
00:04:30
We'll get into that later.
What those differences are.
00:04:33
But it's just very, I think differentiated
from a lot of the others in the class.
00:04:36
Yeah, I think a big part of that is
the ride you just mentioned, right? Yes.
00:04:39
You get into something like an RV
or not to pick on
00:04:43
any of these vehicles in particular.
00:04:44
But as you mentioned,
the trend in the segment
00:04:46
is they're usually pretty stiff riding.
00:04:48
They're loud, kind of thing.
00:04:49
I didn't get that impression driving
00:04:51
both the borrowed one
and the one that we bought.
00:04:54
In terms of the ride comfort
stood out to me.
00:04:56
Yeah, I think the ride is part
of what the lends a kind of mature feel
00:05:00
because it isolates
more than the other vehicles do.
00:05:03
To me, you know, kind of the last
generation of all these subcompact,
00:05:07
the suspensions not only felt more brittle
00:05:09
but they resonated frequencies
through the body more.
00:05:12
Yeah.
00:05:13
So it just kind of contributes
to the noise
00:05:14
and just general busy
not feeling the most refined.
00:05:17
No not at all.
00:05:18
And this has an element of serenity
almost for the class.
00:05:21
Yeah. In terms of, how quiet it is.
00:05:24
But the ride is also part of it.
00:05:25
It's it's a comfortable,
you know, daresay soft ride.
00:05:28
Yeah.
00:05:28
Yeah, yeah, this is very soft,
especially for the, the size of it.
00:05:32
And I think that's something where.
00:05:33
Depends kind of what you're,
what you're looking for right.
00:05:36
Like I think a lot of these subcompact
they almost have inherently good handling
00:05:40
because they're so stiff and they have
a short wheelbase relatively light.
00:05:44
Yeah. Yeah.
This you're kind of giving that up.
00:05:46
But that might be okay because,
you know most people aren't buying this
00:05:49
to be a race car.
00:05:50
Most people are buying it
probably for comfort.
00:05:52
So a concession I'd love to make.
Yeah. Yeah.
00:05:55
Especially when I, you know,
00:05:56
right or wrong,
I think of these cars is probably like
00:05:59
well suited to cities
or maybe even colleges,
00:06:02
but potential areas
00:06:03
that have some pretty rough roads
and potholes and and so forth.
00:06:07
The, the places
00:06:08
where a little softness
might be appreciated
00:06:10
and you might not even have
the opportunity to,
00:06:12
you know, hit a twisty road. Sure. Yeah,
absolutely.
00:06:14
I mean, I went to college in, in Worcester
and you basically have moon craters
00:06:17
in the road.
00:06:18
Something like this would be great.
00:06:19
Yeah. Those Massachusetts
roads are old. Yeah. That's rough.
00:06:22
I couldn't help but when I was driving,
00:06:24
think about the Nissan Kicks,
which is also in this class.
00:06:27
Right.
00:06:27
And this is similar in the sense that they
they put a lot of effort
00:06:31
into the interior materials and styling
and trying to make it feel a little bit
00:06:34
more premium, I guess, than
maybe you would expect in the segment.
00:06:36
But it still has the traits
that you're talking about, John,
00:06:39
where it's like it's pretty stiff, handles
relatively well, all things considered.
00:06:43
But yeah, it's kind of jarring
when you hit bumps in that car and things
00:06:46
like that.
00:06:47
So this is taking a completely,
different approach that I think
00:06:51
does mirror the trend of the kicks,
feels a little bit more mature.
00:06:55
It's a little more spacious
than the previous. Right.
00:06:57
Almost feels like it's a little more
appropriate for the US market
00:07:00
where, you know, we'd like
a little bit of elbow room and so forth.
00:07:03
Yeah.
00:07:04
So hopefully we'll see this trend emerge
from other vehicles in the class as well.
00:07:07
Yeah, I would think so.
00:07:09
And I think, you know, as refined
as the vehicle feels and in the ride
00:07:13
and maybe even some of the handling
aspects, the powertrain
00:07:16
stood out to me
as maybe not following that trend, right.
00:07:20
At least for now. Right.
00:07:21
And this is a vehicle
where there are options.
00:07:23
And let's talk about that.
00:07:25
But at least the the base powertrain
that we got with the all wheel drive,
00:07:28
you know, not necessarily
the most engaging powertrain,
00:07:31
noisy, all these things.
00:07:32
So yeah, let's let's get into that part.
00:07:34
Yeah.
00:07:34
Unfortunately that is the clear
disappointment of this vehicle.
00:07:38
Yeah.
00:07:39
Because everything else
is pretty enticing.
00:07:41
Yeah. But it just doesn't have the umph.
00:07:44
Now the engine in it is very similar.
00:07:47
You know same output it had before. Right.
00:07:50
But yet it's grown.
00:07:51
It's larger, it's heavy.
00:07:53
It weighs almost 300 more pounds.
00:07:55
Yeah. Added 300 pounds.
00:07:56
And it was having a couple extra
passengers on. Exactly. Yeah.
00:07:59
It wasn't exactly quick or thrilling
before so.
00:08:02
Yeah. Right.
00:08:03
And now I understand the keep
a price point often you,
00:08:06
you know
you make a sacrifice here or there.
00:08:08
But I think one of the issues
00:08:10
is it doesn't appear to have stellar
fuel economy.
00:08:13
Yeah.
Yeah we'll look forward to testing it.
00:08:15
But it doesn't with some vehicles
you're like,
00:08:17
oh well at least I'm getting great fuel.
00:08:19
It comes right
this I'm not sure what you gain.
00:08:22
What were you guys getting.
00:08:23
Just kind of anecdotally driving around
I mean I didn't see anything
00:08:27
too impressive.
00:08:28
So I saw between 25 and 27
I think the window sticker said 28.
00:08:32
Yeah. That was right around 26. Yeah.
00:08:34
Yeah, yeah. So great.
00:08:37
Now again, if it was the base trim
00:08:39
and then you could jump into an upgrade,
that's great.
00:08:43
But in fact that the line ups
are kind of inverse in that regard.
00:08:47
Only the very top tippy top trim
00:08:50
gets the turbo engine,
which is much more appropriate.
00:08:54
It's not a hot rod, it's just a pro. Yeah.
It just feels like.
00:08:56
Right. John, we were talking.
00:08:57
It feels like it's
what should be in there anyway.
00:08:59
Yeah, I honestly I felt as though the
turbo engine should be the base engine.
00:09:04
It kind of almost reminds me
of what happened with the Subaru Crosstrek
00:09:07
where they had. Yeah. Yeah.
00:09:09
You know, slightly, not slightly
very underpowered engine in the base.
00:09:13
And they eventually dropped that
and got rid of it because people yeah,
00:09:16
they just made the, the, the larger,
more powerful engine, the base.
00:09:19
Exactly. You know analogy. Yeah.
00:09:21
Yeah. Totally agree.
00:09:22
But to your point,
you have to step up to that highest trim
00:09:25
to get to even have access
to this, this more powerful engine.
00:09:28
Right.
00:09:29
So it's not like you can get the s that we
got and equip this better engine, right?
00:09:33
Which is unfortunate
because realistically,
00:09:36
you know, they're not going to sell
many of the tippy top trim.
00:09:39
Our the one we borrowed from Kia
00:09:42
with,
you know, a couple options and so forth
00:09:44
that got up near the price of much larger,
more capable vehicle.
00:09:49
Yeah.
00:09:49
It was priced like a Cr-V
or Rav4 $37 on the windows.
00:09:53
Yeah. That's right.
00:09:54
You're getting into some money
that could get you a potentially bigger
00:09:57
nicer vehicle. Yeah. Yeah.
00:09:58
Maybe a hybrid
you know CRV or something like that.
00:10:02
Right. Where exactly?
00:10:03
I spend a little bit more of an aggregate
getting better fuel economy larger.
00:10:06
All the things
for which there is a Seltos hybrid coming.
00:10:10
Absolutely.
Yeah, there is. And that's good to see.
00:10:12
Could be the one to way for.
Yeah that might be the sweet spot.
00:10:15
Yeah. Yeah.
00:10:16
In which case get rid of this base engine.
00:10:18
Yeah. Yeah. Right.
00:10:19
And that would be unique in this segment
too right.
00:10:22
I mean you do have Corolla Cross.
00:10:24
Yes. Hybrid. Yeah.
00:10:25
But correct me if I'm wrong.
00:10:26
It's really
your options are quite limited.
00:10:29
Crosstrek hybrid
00:10:30
which is a little bit
of a different type of thing
00:10:32
with the way they have their all wheel
drive setup and whatnot. Yeah.
00:10:34
So I think for them can't really come soon
enough.
00:10:37
The hybrid version. But exactly.
00:10:39
So this base engine real quick
before we move away from it, what exactly?
00:10:42
I mean, it's underpowered right? Right.
00:10:43
But what else about it is making it kind
of detracting from the driving experience.
00:10:48
Right.
00:10:49
You know, in terms of like
how cultured it is.
00:10:52
Yeah. Right.
00:10:52
Like the refinement
00:10:53
we're talking about how the ride is quite
refined for the segment.
00:10:56
And features and so on, so forth.
00:10:58
But then you just do drive it.
00:10:59
And yeah,
I mean, it simply it's underpowered
00:11:03
and it treats the accelerator pedal
like it's a suggestion box.
00:11:06
Correct.
00:11:07
You know, you you know,
you wish it would go a little faster.
00:11:10
It would merge
whatever you're putting around town.
00:11:13
It's okay. Yeah.
00:11:15
But where the weaknesses really expose is
if you have to make a rapid merge
00:11:19
on the highway.
00:11:20
Yeah, I agree,
that's exactly what I was thinking is
00:11:22
if you do a lot of highway driving,
00:11:24
that's when you're really going to be kind
of having a bad time with this car.
00:11:28
Like you said, just going around town
30, 45 miles an hour, roads, it's fine.
00:11:32
It's adequate. But highway driving,
it really is.
00:11:34
If you want to pass somebody at highway
speeds, you're putting in your requests
00:11:38
three business days in advance and just
kind of better not be over a weekend or.
00:11:43
Yeah. And amidst protest. Right.
00:11:46
You will hear it sounds like it's laboring
and of course, yeah.
00:11:49
And it's not going to be
the most smooth power delivery.
00:11:51
And, you know,
00:11:52
these are the types of powertrains
that give CVT is maybe a bad rap, right?
00:11:56
Is because you're
because it's so underpowered.
00:11:59
It doesn't. Yeah.
00:12:00
Yeah.
00:12:00
The CVT is letting the engine RPM flare
00:12:02
and all this stuff
and it just kind of drags on.
00:12:04
The speaking of the CVT, it's
not even that bad in this car.
00:12:07
It's actually I thought,
tunes pretty well.
00:12:09
It does simulated shifts.
00:12:11
But you're not going to notice
that when you need to go on the highway
00:12:13
because you have the floor,
you just just going.
00:12:15
Yeah. Yeah.
00:12:16
Totally. Right.
00:12:17
And then you see the revs go up,
but the speedometer is not moving.
00:12:20
Exactly. Yeah.
00:12:22
It's an odd disconnect.
00:12:23
Yeah.
00:12:24
So you know at this point I would consider
the the the turbo like we talked about.
00:12:29
But again then price becomes problematic.
00:12:31
So it's really like
00:12:31
you just got to wait for the hybrid
and see see what that's like.
00:12:34
It's such an Achilles heel
00:12:35
because otherwise it's
a pretty appealing vehicle for its class.
00:12:38
Yeah you get a lot of features right.
00:12:39
So it might be okay
if you just live in a city
00:12:41
and you're not going over
25 miles an hour, maybe it's okay.
00:12:45
All right.
00:12:45
Yeah. So features for the money, right.
00:12:47
Kia, tends to do well here.
00:12:49
They'll even at this s trim level
that we're talking about
00:12:52
which is kind of mid-pack, even lower,
made out of all the things they offer.
00:12:56
You're getting a lot or at least
00:12:57
feels like you have big screens
and and all that stuff.
00:12:59
So, you know, John, maybe,
you know, walk me through that.
00:13:02
Just what are you getting?
00:13:04
How does it compare to
to others in the segment?
00:13:07
Yeah.
00:13:07
I mean, ours,
I believe is ours have heated seats.
00:13:10
I think it does, which is kind of unusual
for something that cheap.
00:13:13
Like you said, the big screens.
00:13:15
I think personally,
00:13:16
I really like the current generation
Hyundai Kia infotainment system.
00:13:20
It's really easy to use.
00:13:21
There's just these nice big, clear
tiles, easy to tap on those things
00:13:25
when you're driving.
00:13:25
It's a good portal to your CarPlay.
00:13:27
Yeah, well,
I was going to bring that up too,
00:13:29
because I think that they right now
are some of the best in the business
00:13:32
as far as phone connection
and reconnection, which it's not a given,
00:13:35
you would think, you know,
even if you spent $70 on a car,
00:13:38
that your phone would reconnect easily
00:13:40
every time you've learned that
that it's nowhere close to the truth.
00:13:43
Yeah.
00:13:43
But every time, pretty much
that I get in one of these Honda
00:13:46
Kia vehicles, my phone pairs quickly
without any issue.
00:13:50
And that's really nice when you.
00:13:52
Yeah, it's something everyone appreciates
and that the initial pairing is
00:13:56
so pleasing
compared to some, you know, it's rapid.
00:13:58
You get the graphics on your phone right.
00:14:00
It's a much different experience.
00:14:02
They've got that down.
00:14:03
Yeah, yeah.
00:14:04
I mean, look,
you're buying something like this
00:14:05
not because you want to go
carve up the back roads on a weekend.
00:14:10
You want the car to just
00:14:11
fit your lifestyle and be convenient
and and easy to live, easy to live with.
00:14:16
And this is one of these things
where you take it
00:14:18
for granted on a vehicle
where your phone does
00:14:19
connect every single time, reliably
and then it stops and it becomes annoying.
00:14:23
So it does go a long way.
00:14:25
Yes, as Toyota repeatedly teaches you,
they're always good for this.
00:14:29
One thing
I thought was interesting on the screens.
00:14:32
So this one has two
very horizontal screens right?
00:14:35
That's the turbo version.
00:14:38
We had the X-Line, whatever.
00:14:41
Added a little screen in between
for the climate.
00:14:44
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:14:45
That you absolutely can't see
because the stern wheels in the way,
00:14:49
if your hands are on the steering wheel,
which is recommended,
00:14:52
it's definitely can't be seen.
00:14:55
So in a way,
00:14:57
that was a to me,
a detracted from getting the top trim
00:15:00
just because it had
just seemed a little silly.
00:15:02
And it also changed the climate buttons.
00:15:04
Yeah, you get fewer physical controls
now right in that trim.
00:15:07
Yeah.
00:15:07
The climate stuff is interesting
because what you just mentioned,
00:15:10
Jeff, it's
exactly what we have on our Telluride.
00:15:12
So we tested kind of the same same issues
with your hand kind of blocking it.
00:15:16
So any of the higher trims
that have an automatic climate system,
00:15:20
you get that kind of setup. That's right.
00:15:22
Whereas our
00:15:24
we have the S trim with the Seltos
that has a manual climate system,
00:15:27
which you could argue
is maybe a little unusual for these days.
00:15:30
Okay. For that one. Yeah.
00:15:32
Yeah, yeah.
00:15:33
So when you have the manual system,
you get this row of physical
00:15:36
toggle switches
and you're just using that.
00:15:38
And then when you've the automatic system,
you're kind of doing both.
00:15:41
You have some buttons
and then you have the screen.
00:15:44
You talked about that.
00:15:45
Yeah. Yeah.
00:15:45
So I think it's unfortunate because either
00:15:49
both options
I should say aren't really the best.
00:15:52
I mean, I'd rather the one that we have.
00:15:54
But now with this long row of buttons
you're talking about,
00:15:57
the two that I want to use
the most are at the opposite ends
00:16:00
of the bar, ones behind the steering wheel
and speeds back there.
00:16:04
You know, my my soapbox is apparently
we just don't care about that anymore.
00:16:07
It used to be a specific thing
you would avoid in car design is like,
00:16:11
don't block stuff by the wheel.
We just have given that up.
00:16:13
And then the other one, which I think is
the temperature one, is on the far
00:16:17
right side.
00:16:17
So it's like you're almost way
over here in the cemetery or whatever.
00:16:20
But yeah, yeah.
And it's just an up down toggle. Yeah.
00:16:23
Yeah, yeah.
00:16:24
With little LEDs it's like,
do you want two hearts?
00:16:27
Three hearts? Yeah. It's charming.
00:16:29
Yeah. It's simple.
00:16:30
But there's a strange design choices
00:16:33
in between, the fan and the temperature.
00:16:36
There's a row of buttons
that dictates where the air comes out.
00:16:39
Right. Your torso, your feet or whatever.
00:16:44
I don't remember another car.
00:16:45
They were during a long time
that you'd have so many individual choices
00:16:48
as opposed to a single mode button.
00:16:50
Yeah. You just have to slice three.
Yeah. Right. Right.
00:16:53
So they're using up all these buttons for
something you probably almost never you.
00:16:57
And then the thing you need is now
you know a pretty good stretch.
00:17:00
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
00:17:01
Because now that it's,
it's a manual system.
00:17:03
So you're kind of always playing
with the balance of fan speed.
00:17:06
And I'm not trying to look first world
problem. Yes.
00:17:09
That's ultimately it.
00:17:10
It is air conditioning in a car
and that's great.
00:17:12
But yeah you're just manipulating
those two buttons as often you know
00:17:16
compared to the other ones.
00:17:17
And they're as inconveniently placed
as any of those can be.
00:17:20
But that being said, lots of physical
controls in this car in general, right?
00:17:24
Which we should take a moment
to say thank you for that.
00:17:27
And, and we'll take physical
climate controls,
00:17:30
even if they are in a bar like that,
surely.
00:17:32
Sure. You feel them.
You know where you're here, right?
00:17:35
And all of the the buttons are actually
big enough for your fingers, which is. No.
00:17:40
We've had a few cars recently
that the buttons
00:17:42
even something like I was noticing,
this week,
00:17:45
the park button could be smaller
than the tip of your finger.
00:17:49
Your thumb? Sure.
00:17:51
That doesn't make any sense. Yeah, yeah.
00:17:52
Which on that point, we have a physical
lever style shifter here.
00:17:55
Right. So some traditional controls here.
00:17:59
Yeah. Can't really go wrong.
00:18:01
As for window switches,
00:18:04
something you can't take for granted.
00:18:05
It no longer.
00:18:06
Right.
00:18:07
But, John,
00:18:07
we were talking, you know, kind of
in this realm about the door handles,
00:18:10
something a little bit less traditional,
a little a little less traditional.
00:18:13
They're physical, I suppose. Right.
00:18:15
It's not a button, but, they're not
they're not regular door handles, right?
00:18:20
No. So you have
these kind of flush mounted door handles
00:18:22
that we've seen,
especially on a lot of EVs.
00:18:24
So I think these are on the Ioniq five
and the Ioniq six as well.
00:18:28
I think, it's just
kind of flush mounted on our trim.
00:18:31
They pop out on approach
and you kind of grab it.
00:18:34
I think, Jeff, the analogy
you always use that
00:18:37
I really like is
it's like shaking hands with a finger.
00:18:39
You kind of is you can't
you can't wrap your hand around.
00:18:41
It's just a little. Yeah.
00:18:43
But something I think that is worth
calling out about these
00:18:46
is that on the base trim.
They're not actually powered.
00:18:49
Yeah. That's that's a choice.
00:18:52
So what that means is
they're still flush mounted.
00:18:55
But you kind of have to do the whole
I guess motion pioneered by Tesla
00:18:59
where you're kind of jamming
your thumb in there.
00:19:01
And yeah, you pop it out manually.
00:19:03
Yeah. Yeah, I get it.
00:19:04
I'm sure people get used to it.
00:19:06
And we'll say that, you know,
we're complaining about something
00:19:08
minor, but, you know,
you think about people
00:19:10
with arthritis or other, issues
with dexterity and things like that.
00:19:14
And there's nothing wrong with normal door
handles, guys,
00:19:17
but it does bring those back, please.
00:19:19
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I'm with you.
00:19:20
At least they they
the little finger power's out on approach
00:19:24
in a timely manner.
00:19:26
Right. Credit for that.
00:19:27
Yeah, but not by the base.
00:19:29
Just not the base. Right. Yeah. Right.
00:19:31
So clearly don't do that. Yeah,
but yeah, you're right.
00:19:33
It senses when you're there,
you sell a regular keyfob. Right.
00:19:36
And so the proximity
seemed pretty reliable.
00:19:38
And yeah, you weren't
waiting for it to pop up necessarily.
00:19:41
Yeah.
00:19:42
I think on balance, yeah.
00:19:43
I'd rather just have
a traditional simple handle.
00:19:45
And if that saved a few bucks,
you could add it to a little accent
00:19:49
for the interior, which was a bit plain.
00:19:51
Sure.
00:19:52
Yeah.
00:19:52
It's one of the it's funny, it's
00:19:54
a decision that I think
somebody inside the company lost.
00:19:58
Right.
00:19:58
Because it's a battle they lost.
00:20:00
You're going for a vehicle that you do
00:20:01
want to be super easy to live with,
and some conventionality really helps.
00:20:05
But I think styling
must have one on that one right there.
00:20:07
Going for kind of this bold
exterior styling and the handles,
00:20:11
I suppose you could argue
lend itself to that.
00:20:13
Well, pizzazz always makes an impression
in the show road course
00:20:17
and but so easy to live
with on the inside once you get inside,
00:20:22
once you get into, if you get inside,
00:20:24
if you can manage your way inside the car
I found.
00:20:27
Yeah, I mean, it's it's a small car, so
you don't have the most storage options,
00:20:31
but they tend to do pretty well on
just giving you places to put stuff,
00:20:35
whether it's cupholders or bins
or things like that.
00:20:37
So just yeah, I guess living with it
in that way felt pretty conventional.
00:20:41
Easy. Yeah.
00:20:42
I think in general, Kia is very thoughtful
in terms of the interior design.
00:20:46
Never easy to live with.
00:20:48
Is the simplest description. Yeah.
00:20:50
You know, the front seat in particular
is very easy to get in.
00:20:52
There's enough space,
you know, as much room as you would expect
00:20:56
in a vehicle that size
to stow your things.
00:20:59
So, yeah, I think easy to live with
is the best description.
00:21:02
Yeah, yeah.
00:21:02
And then the boxy styling,
the seats fold down in the back.
00:21:05
So your cargo area is now larger
and things like that.
00:21:08
So it just kind of lends itself to that.
00:21:10
Yeah.
00:21:10
Utility which speaking of the seat,
00:21:12
I think we should talk about the rear
seat.
00:21:13
Sure. And let's let it rip. Yeah I mean
00:21:16
I was honestly pretty impressed with it.
00:21:18
Again, just most of these cars,
a lot of them don't have seats really.
00:21:21
Even made for humans. Right.
00:21:23
The rear seat,
this thing access was a little bit tough.
00:21:27
I think you mentioned Jeff with the.
00:21:28
You got duct size at the door.
00:21:30
Okay, it's the ducking issue,
but the seat base is higher.
00:21:32
Got it. Okay.
00:21:33
But once you get in there,
at least for me, I'm five seven.
00:21:35
I had quite a bit of knee space,
foot space in front of me.
00:21:38
Even decent amount of headroom.
00:21:39
And the seat back
actually reclines fairly far back as well.
00:21:42
So this is a rear seat you could use with,
you know, even older kids or adults.
00:21:47
Yeah, yeah, we seem to,
you know, a lot of these SUVs,
00:21:49
when they do get larger,
a lot of it's going to the rear.
00:21:52
I mean, you just saw
with a different segment. Sure.
00:21:54
But the CX five. Right.
00:21:55
Really prioritizing
giving more rear seat comfort.
00:21:58
So yeah, that's that's good
because you think a subcompact
00:22:01
tend to be focused on the driver
or the driver and partner.
00:22:05
This is tailored
to people who have friends.
00:22:07
Yeah, yeah, maybe even families.
00:22:08
It's not for me then. Oh, no.
00:22:11
Yeah.
00:22:12
And the rest of the seating. Right.
I know the front seats.
00:22:14
They were, you know, they tend to be hit
or miss in this segment, right.
00:22:18
In terms of how comfortable
they're going to be. Sure.
00:22:19
I think they work decently well for me.
00:22:21
I don't know what you guys thought,
00:22:22
but again, comfort wise in combination
with ride comfort, it's pretty decent.
00:22:26
I thought it was pretty good
for the class.
00:22:27
Yeah. Yeah. Often, yeah.
00:22:30
Seats are something that
the amount of money that spent on them
00:22:33
can very, very widely and in car seats
can get expensive to design
00:22:37
something that's really nice. Yeah.
00:22:38
These for the class
I think we're pretty good there. Yeah.
00:22:40
They're mildly bolstered.
00:22:42
They're wider
and soft in the middle of it.
00:22:45
Yeah I enjoyed
yeah I would agree with that.
00:22:47
For the most part.
00:22:48
The minor caveat I have,
which I think a few of the other staff
00:22:51
shared, as well as the head restraints.
00:22:53
So they're this kind of adjustable design
that you can move them for AFT.
00:22:58
But even in their furthest rearward
setting, for me
00:23:01
it felt like they were kind of
forcing my neck forwards.
00:23:03
Yeah, I this isn't the first vehicle
we've we've seen this one,
00:23:07
but it's just sort of a an odd choice,
I guess, to have it protrude
00:23:10
that far forwards.
00:23:11
They're trying to accommodate
our forward head postures from life,
00:23:15
staring at our devices. Yeah, right.
00:23:17
I guess I got to do more.
00:23:18
Yeah.
00:23:18
As you get older that your head will
come forward like he sees the work out.
00:23:22
Well, it's pretty light, I think.
00:23:23
I stay up, but yeah, I mean I think
it just goes to what we always say, right?
00:23:28
Don't just buy a car sight unseen online.
00:23:31
Go to the dealer,
spend as much time as you can in the seat.
00:23:34
I did some some fun math for you guys.
00:23:37
So if you assume a 20 minute commute,
00:23:40
you work 50 weeks out of the year
and you keep the car for ten years,
00:23:44
how long do you think
you're spending in that front seat?
00:23:46
Don't. Boy. Too long. Yeah,
00:23:49
I hate me.
00:23:49
I'm not doing the math.
00:23:50
Yeah, okay. Comes out to about 70 days.
00:23:53
Oh. So. Wow.
00:23:54
So that's a pretty modest commute.
00:23:57
Yeah. Yeah. 20 minutes. Yeah.
So it's worth taking the time.
00:23:59
Just like when you buy a mattress.
00:24:00
They say, you know, spend a lot of time
with it to make sure it's comfortable.
00:24:04
Try to sleep in the store if you can,
okay. Yeah.
00:24:07
Don't sleep in the car.
00:24:08
Now, it struck me as surprising that
00:24:11
the two different versions of the Seltos
we drove had two very different headrests.
00:24:15
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Thank you for bringing that up.
00:24:17
Yeah, the the borrowed turbo top trim had
it was like a softer mesh.
00:24:22
Almost. Right.
It was almost like a pillow.
00:24:23
Yeah. Yeah, yeah, it was weird.
00:24:25
So you were able to kind of push your.
00:24:26
Yeah.
00:24:27
That was push your head forward
00:24:28
and that was more comfortable for me
because even though it was sort of
00:24:31
in that same physical location, like you
said, I could push further back into it.
00:24:35
I mean, that's really squishy.
Yeah. It is enjoyable. Yeah.
00:24:37
I would highly recommend it for napping.
00:24:40
The other one was extremely firm.
00:24:43
Yeah.
00:24:43
Well, yeah,
00:24:44
I am glad you brought that up because when
I first got into the Seltos, I was like,
00:24:48
why can't I get into a position
that that is comfortable, right?
00:24:52
I ended up having to lean the seat
further back than I normally would gesture
00:24:56
because of the head. Yeah,
because of the headrest. Yeah.
00:24:58
So it wasn't so much
the shape of the bolstering or whatever.
00:25:01
But yeah,
it forced me to lean the seat back,
00:25:04
which now in combination
with the amount of,
00:25:07
which is a typical amount of adjustment
from the steering column in and out,
00:25:11
my arms are now stretched out a little bit
more or than have to slide forward.
00:25:14
So it's just not an ideal position
in that way.
00:25:17
The rest of the driving position was okay.
They tend to do pretty well
00:25:19
with the armrests, positioning
and things like that.
00:25:21
But yeah, so maybe the taller driver
should pay a little extra attention
00:25:25
that you're obviously taller than we are.
00:25:27
Yeah.
00:25:28
So again another point
for going for that higher trim.
00:25:30
But now it's as you pointed out
you're you're cross shopping
00:25:34
with larger more expensive vehicles
anyway so might not be worth it.
00:25:38
Yeah.
00:25:38
Which I think points out the Seltos
feels a little bit like a tweener.
00:25:42
Like it definitely.
00:25:43
You know it definitely you know smokes the
the older competition.
00:25:48
And is getting a little closer
to the next class.
00:25:50
Yeah.
00:25:51
But and a positive of that I think
is from a fit and finish perspective,
00:25:55
I thought the interior and the exterior
by the you know
00:25:57
we don't score the exterior necessarily,
but it looks cool or different at least.
00:26:01
But interior wise I thought,
you know, they're trying different things.
00:26:05
They've got some chrome stuff on the door
and whatever the,
00:26:08
the little stripe across the seats
I thought was kind of nice.
00:26:11
But the big thing that stood out for me,
from a more practical standpoint,
00:26:15
is that even at this trim level,
you don't get a plastic steering wheel.
00:26:18
It was actually wrapped with a leather
like material and just,
00:26:23
you know, it sounds nitpicky,
but it it's the thing you hold ideally
00:26:26
every time you drive the car. Right?
00:26:28
So you kind of want it to be comfortable.
00:26:30
Oh, was I was happy to see that.
00:26:31
Yeah I agree with that.
00:26:32
It makes a good impression.
00:26:34
Yeah.
00:26:34
You know again
that's something he has been very good
00:26:36
at especially in recent years.
00:26:38
Yeah.
00:26:38
The the one thing that was a little odd
00:26:40
is on the door,
I'm looking at a picture of it now.
00:26:42
They've got these like chrome bars
or whatever that kind of come down to meet
00:26:47
where the armrests are.
And they just like filled it with plastic.
00:26:49
It looks a little weird, like
00:26:50
they tried to do something there
and it didn't quite work out.
00:26:53
So some interesting choices.
00:26:54
But you know, it's
not your run of the mill interior design.
00:26:56
I suppose this is the point or exterior
or I still think it looks like
00:27:00
if Darth Vader
were to design a subcompact, but
00:27:04
especially if you get in black,
maybe exactly that we got.
00:27:06
But yeah, so anyway, so that's the,
the 27 Seltos.
00:27:10
Again, we'll check back
for our full results as we test it.
00:27:14
And then definitely when the hybrid comes
out, we'll also be buying one of those,
00:27:18
so we'll see how it does
in terms of fuel economy.
00:27:20
Hopefully that powertrains
a little bit more refined
00:27:22
and rounds out the experience.
I would say so. Yeah.
00:27:24
So we'll move on to audience questions.
00:27:27
And a little bit different now,
but please send your questions
00:27:31
to talking cars@consumer.org.
00:27:34
And then if we use your question
on the show, we'll send you some swag
00:27:37
t shirt or something like that.
00:27:39
So our question
this week is John from new Jersey.
00:27:42
And he says hi talking cars.
00:27:44
Thanks for the great show.
00:27:46
We own a 2020
Sienna and a 2019 Lexus NX hybrid.
00:27:51
We originally planned
on keeping them for 15 years.
00:27:53
I remember reading in CR that
keeping your car for that long saves
00:27:56
you the most money, but we were wondering
where safety fits into this equation.
00:28:01
They were.
00:28:01
Cars seem to be getting safer
faster than they used to,
00:28:04
and I was wondering
if the team had any insight on this.
00:28:07
Thank you.
00:28:08
So, we actually turned to Emily Thomas,
who is our, you know, kind of resident
00:28:13
safety expert, and she can answer this
better than any of us can.
00:28:16
So we're going to throw to her
and see what she has to say.
00:28:19
Great job
picking two CR recommended vehicles.
00:28:22
And on top of that, your hybrid was also
00:28:25
an IHS Top Safety Pick
Plus awardee for that year.
00:28:29
Unfortunately, it's difficult
to say whether or not
00:28:33
you should always replace your vehicle
for safety after X number of years.
00:28:38
The answer is quite a bit
more nuanced than that.
00:28:41
However, that being said, in the past
5 to 6 years we have seen a lot of changes
00:28:46
in safety technology as well as
the standard for a crash protection.
00:28:51
There's been more rigorous
00:28:52
crash tests, particularly focusing
on receded passengers.
00:28:56
So if you are someone who is carrying
a lot of passengers often and you're
00:29:02
using your back seat re typically
or you have kids in the back seat,
00:29:06
then it might be worthwhile for you
to take a look at some of the newer models
00:29:11
and look at how they are performing
for safety.
00:29:14
Our new safety robotic rating
does this for you.
00:29:17
It looks at both crash avoidance
as well as crash protection,
00:29:21
and it's pulling together
the pieces that are most important.
00:29:25
So you want to make sure that you have
standard crash avoidance technology
00:29:28
on your vehicle.
00:29:29
And we also want to make sure
that your vehicle is performing well.
00:29:33
And the most important crash tests.
00:29:36
If you head over to see Aurora,
00:29:37
you're able to check out the safety ride
for free.
00:29:40
Ultimately, though,
00:29:41
even if you're not able to get a new car
00:29:44
right now, you can still be practicing
safe driving every single day
00:29:49
by not partaking in any risky behaviors
like speeding and making
00:29:52
sure that all of your passengers
are buckled up for every single car ride.
00:29:56
So thank you, Emily, for answering that.
00:29:59
You know,
00:29:59
she's got a lot of pretty amazing insights
into into safety and things like this.
00:30:03
So, happy
she was able to answer that for us.
00:30:06
Right?
00:30:06
Safety, of course, is a big concern
for most people shopping for a car.
00:30:10
We've got a ton of information
online at CR Dawg, including that
00:30:14
safety verdict, which is available
on all of the new car model pages.
00:30:18
It distills down a ton of data
into a very simple rating,
00:30:22
and Emily's been wonderful in crafting
that to make it easier
00:30:26
for people to make decisions.
00:30:27
So we definitely recommend
safety is Important to you. Yeah.
00:30:30
Take a look at those model.
00:30:31
Yeah, yeah,
there's a lot of information out there.
00:30:33
It gets complicated pretty quickly.
00:30:34
So it's really what it's all about.
00:30:36
So that'll do it for our episode today.
00:30:39
Just another reminder.
00:30:40
Send your questions to Talking cars@consumer.org, and we will see you next week.