2025 Kia Seltos: mileage, fuel cost, safety and recalls
The 2025 Kia Seltos gets 25 to 31 miles per gallon combined, depending on the version. The best is the 2025 Seltos FWD at 31 mpg.
How the Seltos ranks in its class
In the Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD class for 2025, the Seltos ranks 17th (tied with 5 others) of 76 for combined mileage (29 mpg), 15th (tied with 3 others) of 75 for yearly fuel cost ($2,150 for its cheapest version, cheapest first) and 24th (tied with 1 other) of 76 for tailpipe CO2 (309 grams per mile for its lowest version, lowest first). The middle model of the class gets 26 mpg, costs $2,600 a year and puts out 339 grams per mile.
Across all 250 2025 models in the file that burn fuel, the middle best-version figure is 25 mpg and the highest is 57 mpg (Toyota Prius). Of the 249 other models, 38 get more miles per gallon than the 2025 Seltos's best version, 13 other models get the same and 198 get less. The 2025 Seltos's cheapest version costs $2,000 a year to fuel by the agency's figure; of the 241 other models with a cost figure, 33 cost less, 9 the same and 199 more.
Nearest models in the class (places 17 to 23 of 76)
Open the best-mileage list of this class for 2025. Cost and CO2 in the table are each model's lowest figure over its versions; plug-in hybrid and fuel-cell versions have no fuel cost and are left out of the cost column.
| Place | Model | Best version | mpg | Fuel a year, cheapest version | CO2 g/mi, lowest version |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 | 2025 Alfa Romeo Tonale eAWD | 2025 Tonale eAWD | 29 | - | 120 |
| 17 | 2025 BMW X3 | 2025 X3 xDrive30i | 29 | $2,650 | 299 |
| 17 | 2025 Dodge Hornet | 2025 Hornet PHEV AWD | 29 | $2,600 | 120 |
| 17 | 2025 Kia SeltosThis car | 2025 Seltos AWD (4-cyl 2.0 L) | 29 | $2,150 | 309 |
| 17 | 2025 Mazda CX-30 | 2025 CX-30 4WD #1 | 29 | $2,150 | 309 |
| 17 | 2025 Subaru Crosstrek | 2025 Crosstrek AWD (4-cyl 2.0 L) | 29 | $2,150 | 300 |
| 23 | 2025 BMW X1 | 2025 X1 xDrive28i | 28 | $2,750 | 318 |
Your fuel cost
Pick a 2025 version, then set your miles and fuel price. Fuel price as of 2026-11-14, U.S. Department of Energy / EPA. The price box starts at the dated price of the fuel the picked version burns (regular, midgrade or premium gasoline, diesel, E85 or electricity) and sets the price of that fuel. Miles are limited to 1,000 to 60,000 a year and the price to $0.01 to $20.00; a value outside that is worked out at the nearest limit.
2025 Seltos FWD, 4-cyl 2.0 L: 28 mpg city, 34 highway, 31 combined. The agency's own estimate for the 2025 Seltos version is $2,000 a year (15,000 miles, the agency's fuel prices).
Compare with a rival
The 3 nearest rivals in the Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD class for 2025, picked by closest combined mileage; only versions with a fuel-cost figure are listed. Same miles as on the left. The price box on the left is the price of the fuel of the version you picked: a rival that burns the same fuel uses that price, a rival that burns another fuel keeps the dated price of its own fuel. The 5-year line is 5 times the yearly gap.
The Seltos costs $656 less to fuel each year.
Over 5 years the Seltos costs $3,280 less to fuel than the X3 (5 times the yearly difference, at these miles and these prices).
- 2025 Alfa Romeo Tonale eAWD
- 2025 BMW X3
- 2025 Dodge Hornet
The Seltos against its nearest rivals
Dollar gaps use each car's best-mileage version.
| Rival in 2025 | Best version | Combined | Fuel a year, agency (15,000 miles) | Against the Seltos (mileage) | Agency yearly fuel cost against the Seltos | Side by side |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Alfa Romeo Tonale eAWD | 2025 Tonale eAWD | 29 mpg | - | 2 lower | - | - |
| 2025 BMW X3 | 2025 X3 xDrive30i | 29 mpg | $2,650 | 2 lower | $650 more a year | - |
| 2025 Dodge Hornet | 2025 Hornet PHEV AWD | 29 mpg | - | 2 lower | - | - |
Every version of the 2025 Kia Seltos
EPA test figures for 2025; the last column is the yearly fuel cost against the cheapest version.
| Version | Engine | Gearbox | Drive | City | Highway | Combined | Fuel a year | CO2 g/mi | Fuel vs cheapest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Seltos FWD | 4-cyl 2.0 L | Automatic (AV-S8) | Front-wheel | 28 | 34 | 31 | $2,000 | 288 | cheapest |
| 2025 Seltos AWD (4-cyl 2.0 L) | 4-cyl 2.0 L | Automatic (AV-S8) | All-wheel | 27 | 31 | 29 | $2,150 | 309 | +$150 |
| 2025 Seltos AWD (4-cyl 1.6 L) | 4-cyl 1.6 L | Automatic (S8) | All-wheel | 24 | 27 | 25 | $2,500 | 350 | +$500 |
Does a cheaper-to-fuel 2025 version pay back?
Enter the price difference you were quoted for the 2025 Seltos; this page has no prices. Miles come from the calculator. The fuel price box there sets the price of the fuel of the version picked there; a version here that burns another fuel keeps the dated price of its own fuel. Versions with no fuel-cost figure are not listed.
Type the price difference you were quoted to see the payback.
Emissions
Tailpipe CO2: the 2025 Seltos FWD puts out 288 grams per mile; across the 3 tested versions the figure runs from 288 to 350.
EPA scores (1 to 10, 10 best) for the 2025 Seltos FWD: fuel economy score 6 (5 to 6 across versions), greenhouse gas score 6 (5 to 6 across versions).
Mileage by model year
Best combined figure of the Seltos gas version each model year since 2016, set against the 2025 model.
| Model year | Best gas version | Versions tested | Against 2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 31 mpg | 3 | same as 2025 | |
| 2022 | 31 mpg | 3 | same as 2025 | |
| 2023 | 31 mpg | 3 | same as 2025 | |
| 2024 | 31 mpg | 3 | same as 2025 | |
| 2025This page | 31 mpg | 3 | this page | |
| 2026 | 29 mpg | 2 | 2 mpg lower than 2025 |
Compared with the 2024 model: 3 versions were tested then and 3 now; the best figure went from 31 to 31 mpg (no change).
The 2026 model has 2 tested versions.
| Version in 2025 | 2025 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Seltos FWD, 4-cyl 2.0 L | 31 mpg | 31 mpg | no change |
| 2025 Seltos AWD (4-cyl 2.0 L), 4-cyl 2.0 L | 29 mpg | 29 mpg | no change |
| 2025 Seltos AWD (4-cyl 1.6 L), 4-cyl 1.6 L | 25 mpg | 26 mpg | -1 mpg |
Safety record
Crash-test ratings, 2025
Crash-test stars from the U.S. safety agency's 5-Star Safety Ratings, checked 2026-11-14. 5 is the best.
| Vehicle | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Kia Seltos SUV AWD | 5 of 5 | 5 of 5 | 5 of 5 | 4 of 5 |
| 2025 Kia Seltos SUV FWD | 5 of 5 | 5 of 5 | 5 of 5 | 4 of 5 |
The agency lists 2 variants; all 2 are shown.
The agency's record for the first rated vehicle also lists 13 complaints, 0 recalls, 0 investigations.
Owner complaints, 2025
13 complaints for the 2025 Kia Seltos are on file (checked 2026-11-14). Complaints are reports that owners sent to the safety agency. They are not proven defects, and the counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold.
| Part named in the reports | Reports | |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 3 | |
| Exterior Lighting | 3 | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 3 | |
| Unknown Or Other | 3 | |
| Lane Departure | 2 |
1 of the 13 reports say the car was in a crash, 0 mention a fire and 0 mention an injury. One report can name more than one part.
Safety recalls
The U.S. safety agency's model list has the 2025 Kia Seltos (as SELTOS). The U.S. safety agency's database returned no recalls for the 2025 Kia Seltos on 2026-11-14. Recalls can be added later; check your own car by its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
More Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD for 2025
Other 2025 models of the same agency class, each with its best combined figure. The Seltos itself is at 29 mpg.
Other Kia models of 2025
More Kia models that have a 2025 page here, with the class of each and its best combined figure.
Common questions
Which 2025 Kia Seltos gets the best mileage?
The 2025 Seltos FWD with 31 mpg combined (28 city, 34 highway).
How much does a 2025 Kia Seltos cost to fuel for a year?
The 2025 Kia Seltos costs between $2,000 and $2,500 to fuel by the agency's estimate, which assumes 15,000 miles a year. The cheapest is the 2025 Seltos FWD at $2,000; the dearest is the 2025 Seltos AWD (4-cyl 1.6 L) at $2,500. Use the calculator above for your own miles and fuel price.
What mileage does the all-wheel-drive Seltos get?
2025 Seltos AWD (4-cyl 2.0 L): 29 mpg combined (27 city, 31 highway); 2025 Seltos AWD (4-cyl 1.6 L): 25 mpg combined (24 city, 27 highway).
How does the 2025 Kia Seltos rank among 2025 Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD models?
The 2025 Kia Seltos is 17th of 76 for combined mileage. The top of the class is the 2025 Kia Sportage at 43 mpg, and the middle figure for the class is 26 mpg. In the list, the next one ahead is the 2025 Dodge Hornet at 29 mpg and the next one behind is the 2025 Mazda CX-30 at 29 mpg.
Did the Seltos change from 2024 to 2025?
The 2024 model had 3 tested versions and the 2025 model has 3. The best figure went from 31 to 31 mpg (no change).
How did the 2025 Kia Seltos do in crash tests?
In the agency's 5-Star Safety Ratings (checked 2026-11-14; 5 is the best), the stars are 2025 Kia Seltos SUV AWD: overall 5 of 5, front 5, side 5, rollover 4; 2025 Kia Seltos SUV FWD: overall 5 of 5, front 5, side 5, rollover 4. The agency lists 2 variants; all 2 are shown.
Do owners complain about the 2025 Kia Seltos?
13 complaints for the 2025 Kia Seltos are on file at the safety agency (checked 2026-11-14); the part named most often is Electrical System (3 reports). Complaints are reports owners sent in, not proven defects.
Does the 2025 Kia Seltos have recalls?
The agency's database returned no recalls for the 2025 Kia Seltos on 2026-11-14 (its model list has this car). Check your own car by its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
How fresh these numbers are
For the 2025 Kia Seltos: EPA file 2026-11-04; fuel price 2026-11-14; crash tests 2026-11-14; complaints 2026-11-14; recalls 2026-11-14. Not covered: purchase price, towing, reliability, repair and insurance costs.
Mileage and fuel cost for the 2025 Kia Seltos: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, fueleconomy.gov vehicle file (file dated 2026-11-04). Recalls for the 2025 Kia Seltos: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (checked 2026-11-14). Crash-test ratings for the 2025 Kia Seltos: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (checked 2026-11-14). Complaints for the 2025 Kia Seltos: NHTSA (checked 2026-11-14). Fuel prices: U.S. Department of Energy / EPA (2026-11-14). Your own mileage depends on how and where you drive. Where our numbers come from.