Kia has priced the all-new 2027 Seltos, and the headline for actual buyers is pretty simple: this thing still starts under $25,000 before the $1,495 destination charge, but it no longer feels like a bargain-bin crossover. The redesigned Seltos starts at $24,990 for the LX FWD, grows a bit, and gets the kind of everyday stuff people actually use — a 12.3-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, and more cabin room. If you were already cross-shopping HR-V, Corolla Cross, or Crosstrek money, Kia just made that comparison more annoying in a good way.

The trim that jumps out is the X-Line S at $28,990. According to Kia’s public Seltos pages, the X-Line models bring the tougher styling, standard AWD, and up to 8.1 inches of ground clearance without immediately punting you into the low-$30,000 range. Yes, the X-Line SX is the quicker one with the 190-hp turbo and 8-speed automatic, and yes, that one is probably the version you’d rather brag about. But the X-Line S looks like the smarter payment-friendly pick for the people who want weather confidence and crossover utility more than stoplight heroics.

The rest of the buyer story is space and usefulness. Kia says the new Seltos offers about 27.8 cubic feet behind the second row and 64.1 cubic feet with the seats folded, which is the kind of number that matters a lot more than another dramatic press-release adjective. Add in the extra passenger room and the Seltos starts looking like one of those compact SUVs that can fake being a bigger vehicle most of the week. That’s a nice trick when midsize-SUV payments are starting to get a little unserious.

If I were shopping this segment, I’d start with the S AWD and X-Line S, then only stretch to the X-Line SX if I really cared about the turbo engine. The base LX FWD gets the price headline, but compact crossovers have a bad habit of feeling a little too stripped once you live with them for a year. One more thing: Kia says a hybrid version is coming later, so buyers who value mpg over immediate gratification may want to wait before signing anything.