2026 Kia Seltos: mileage, fuel cost, safety and recalls
The 2026 Kia Seltos gets 25 to 29 miles per gallon combined, depending on the version. The best is the 2026 Seltos AWD (4-cyl 2.0 L) at 29 mpg.
How the Seltos ranks in its class
In the Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD class for 2026, the Seltos ranks 19th (tied with 1 other) of 66 for combined mileage (29 mpg), 17th (tied with 1 other) of 66 for yearly fuel cost ($2,150 for its cheapest version, cheapest first) and 22nd of 66 for tailpipe CO2 (309 grams per mile for its lowest version, lowest first). The middle model of the class gets 27 mpg, costs $2,500 a year and puts out 329 grams per mile.
Across all 235 2026 models in the file that burn fuel, the middle best-version figure is 24 mpg and the highest is 57 mpg (Toyota Prius). Of the 234 other models, 60 get more miles per gallon than the 2026 Seltos's best version, 7 other models get the same and 167 get less. The 2026 Seltos's cheapest version costs $2,150 a year to fuel by the agency's figure; of the 225 other models with a cost figure, 48 cost less, 4 the same and 173 more.
Nearest models in the class (places 17 to 21 of 66)
Open the best-mileage list of this class for 2026. 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 | 2026 Lincoln Nautilus | 2026 Nautilus HEV AWD | 30 | $2,100 | 297 |
| 17 | 2026 Nissan Kicks | 2026 Kicks AWD | 30 | $2,100 | 299 |
| 19 | 2026 BMW X3 | 2026 X3 xDrive30 | 29 | $2,650 | 299 |
| 19 | 2026 Kia SeltosThis car | 2026 Seltos AWD (4-cyl 2.0 L) | 29 | $2,150 | 309 |
| 21 | 2026 BMW X1 | 2026 X1 xDrive28i | 28 | $2,750 | 311 |
| 21 | 2026 BMW X2 | 2026 X2 xDrive28i | 28 | $2,750 | 314 |
| 21 | 2026 Hyundai Kona | 2026 Kona AWD w/Stop-Start | 28 | $2,200 | 319 |
Your fuel cost
Pick a 2026 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.
2026 Seltos AWD (4-cyl 2.0 L), 4-cyl 2.0 L: 27 mpg city, 31 highway, 29 combined. The agency's own estimate for the 2026 Seltos version is $2,150 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 2026, 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 $522 less to fuel each year.
Over 5 years the Seltos costs $2,610 less to fuel than the X3 (5 times the yearly difference, at these miles and these prices).
- 2026 BMW X3
- 2026 BMW X1
- 2026 BMW X2
The Seltos against its nearest rivals
Dollar gaps use each car's best-mileage version.
| Rival in 2026 | Best version | Combined | Fuel a year, agency (15,000 miles) | Against the Seltos (mileage) | Agency yearly fuel cost against the Seltos | Side by side |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 BMW X3 | 2026 X3 xDrive30 | 29 mpg | $2,650 | same figure | $500 more a year | - |
| 2026 BMW X1 | 2026 X1 xDrive28i | 28 mpg | $2,750 | 1 lower | $600 more a year | - |
| 2026 BMW X2 | 2026 X2 xDrive28i | 28 mpg | $2,750 | 1 lower | $600 more a year | - |
Every version of the 2026 Kia Seltos
EPA test figures for 2026; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Seltos AWD (4-cyl 2.0 L) | 4-cyl 2.0 L | Automatic (AV-S8) | All-wheel | 27 | 31 | 29 | $2,150 | 309 | cheapest |
| 2026 Seltos AWD (4-cyl 1.6 L) | 4-cyl 1.6 L | Automatic (S8) | All-wheel | 24 | 27 | 25 | $2,500 | 350 | +$350 |
Does a cheaper-to-fuel 2026 version pay back?
Enter the price difference you were quoted for the 2026 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 2026 Seltos AWD (4-cyl 2.0 L) puts out 309 grams per mile; across the 2 tested versions the figure runs from 309 to 350.
EPA scores (1 to 10, 10 best) for the 2026 Seltos AWD (4-cyl 2.0 L): 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 2026 model.
| Model year | Best gas version | Versions tested | Against 2026 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 31 mpg | 3 | 2 mpg higher than 2026 | |
| 2022 | 31 mpg | 3 | 2 mpg higher than 2026 | |
| 2023 | 31 mpg | 3 | 2 mpg higher than 2026 | |
| 2024 | 31 mpg | 3 | 2 mpg higher than 2026 | |
| 2025 | 31 mpg | 3 | 2 mpg higher than 2026 | |
| 2026This page | 29 mpg | 2 | this page |
Compared with the 2025 model: 3 versions were tested then and 2 now; the best figure went from 31 to 29 mpg (down 2).
| Version in 2026 | 2026 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Seltos AWD (4-cyl 2.0 L), 4-cyl 2.0 L | 29 mpg | 29 mpg | no change |
| 2026 Seltos AWD (4-cyl 1.6 L), 4-cyl 1.6 L | 25 mpg | 25 mpg | no change |
1 2025 version has no match in 2026.
Safety record
Crash-test ratings, 2026
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 KIA SELTOS SUV N/A AWD | 5 of 5 | 5 of 5 | 5 of 5 | 4 of 5 |
| 2026 KIA SELTOS SUV N/A 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 4 complaints, 0 recalls, 0 investigations.
Owner complaints, 2026
4 complaints for the 2026 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 | |
|---|---|---|
| Hydraulic | 2 | |
| Service Brakes | 2 | |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 | |
| Air Bags | 1 | |
| Engine | 1 |
1 of the 4 reports say the car was in a crash, 0 mention a fire and 1 mentions an injury. One report can name more than one part.
Safety recalls
The U.S. safety agency's model list has the 2026 Kia Seltos (as SELTOS). The U.S. safety agency's database returned no recalls for the 2026 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 2026
Other 2026 models of the same agency class, each with its best combined figure. The Seltos itself is at 29 mpg.
Other Kia models of 2026
More Kia models that have a 2026 page here, with the class of each and its best combined figure.
Common questions
Which 2026 Kia Seltos gets the best mileage?
The 2026 Seltos AWD (4-cyl 2.0 L) with 29 mpg combined (27 city, 31 highway).
How much does a 2026 Kia Seltos cost to fuel for a year?
The 2026 Kia Seltos costs between $2,150 and $2,500 to fuel by the agency's estimate, which assumes 15,000 miles a year. The cheapest is the 2026 Seltos AWD (4-cyl 2.0 L) at $2,150; the dearest is the 2026 Seltos AWD (4-cyl 1.6 L) at $2,500. Use the calculator above for your own miles and fuel price.
How does the 2026 Kia Seltos rank among 2026 Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD models?
The 2026 Kia Seltos is 19th of 66 for combined mileage. The top of the class is the 2026 Toyota Corolla Cross at 42 mpg, and the middle figure for the class is 27 mpg. In the list, the next one ahead is the 2026 BMW X3 at 29 mpg and the next one behind is the 2026 BMW X1 at 28 mpg.
Did the Seltos change from 2025 to 2026?
The 2025 model had 3 tested versions and the 2026 model has 2. The best figure went from 31 to 29 mpg (down 2).
How did the 2026 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 2026 KIA SELTOS SUV N/A AWD: overall 5 of 5, front 5, side 5, rollover 4; 2026 KIA SELTOS SUV N/A 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 2026 Kia Seltos?
4 complaints for the 2026 Kia Seltos are on file at the safety agency (checked 2026-11-14); the part named most often is Hydraulic (2 reports). Complaints are reports owners sent in, not proven defects.
Does the 2026 Kia Seltos have recalls?
The agency's database returned no recalls for the 2026 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 2026 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 2026 Kia Seltos: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, fueleconomy.gov vehicle file (file dated 2026-11-04). Recalls for the 2026 Kia Seltos: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (checked 2026-11-14). Crash-test ratings for the 2026 Kia Seltos: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (checked 2026-11-14). Complaints for the 2026 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.