How Long Do Kia Seltos Last? (Miles & Years)

The Kia Seltos is the company’s newest addition to its lineup of SUVs.

The model has a cargo space that is larger than the cabin size of most subcompact SUVs.

It also has a distinct headlight design and a two-tone roof that sets it apart from other Kia vehicles.

Before we dive in, Check out the most common issues with the Kia Seltos models.

How long will this vehicle last? Let’s find out.

Here is the short answer to how long a Kia Seltos lasts:

The Kia Seltos should have no issues lasting 200,000 miles or more with proper care and maintenance. If you are like the average driver and average 15,000 miles per year, you can expect about 13 years of service from the vehicle. 

How Many Miles Can You Expect from a Kia Seltos?

Kia only released its first model early this year, so it may be challenging to determine the lifespan of the vehicle.

That said, most Kia vehicles last for an average of 200,000 miles. So, it may be safe to say that your Kia Seltos will probably last for 200,000 miles.

The quality of maintenance and user habits will ultimately determine the longevity of your Kia Seltos. So, be diligent in fixing any issue that comes up and use the car conscientiously, and you probably will have no issues clocking those round figures.

How Soon Should You Expect Rust on Your Kia Seltos?

There are no complaints about rust in the Kia Seltos online. This may be because the Kia Seltos is a brand new model, with only one model year available.

Still, the absence of customer reports about rust in the Kia Seltos indicates that it is a high-quality vehicle.

How Long Do Kia Seltos Last Compared to Similar Cars?

Since the Kia Seltos is a new model, we cannot say precisely how long we expect the model to last by considering the Seltos alone. However, if we draw assumptions from other similar Kia models, we can speculate that the Kia Seltos should last for 200,000 miles.

We will compare the Kia Seltos with other subcompact SUVs using the assumption that its average lifespan is 200,000 miles:

Kia Seltos vs. Honda City

The Honda City will most likely last longer than the Kia Seltos. W

hile the Kia Seltos may last an average of 200,000 miles, a Honda City can travel as far as 300,000 to 400,000 miles.

Kia Seltos vs. Volkswagen Taigun

Your Kia Seltos will probably be more durable than the Volkswagen Taigun. Most Volkswagen Taiguns last for 100,000 miles.

On the other hand, you should expect to travel about 200,000 miles on your Seltos before it experiences a significant breakdown.

Kia Seltos vs. Chevrolet Trailblazer

Your Kia Seltos will probably last for the same amount of time as a Chevrolet Trailblazer. With proper maintenance, both vehicles may last for 200,000 miles or more.

The comparison above shows that the Kia Seltos is just as durable as its peers. So, you should consider the Kia Seltos if you are looking for a durable subcompact SUV.

Related: How Long Do Kia Sedonas Last (9 Important Facts)

How Reliable Is a Kia Seltos?

The Kia Seltos is fairly reliable.

Given that Kia only added the vehicle to its SUV lineup in 2021, the available customer reviews on the internet are inadequate for standard reliability ratings. This is why car reliability authorities like Consumer Reports relied on technical knowledge instead of customer reviews to predict the dependability of the Seltos.

Consumer Reports awarded the 2021 Seltos a predicted reliability rating of 3/5, which is only about average. Also, the agency ranked the Seltos as the 5^th best car out of 16 subcompact vehicles.

Related: How Long Do Kia Sportages Last? (9 Questions Answered)

The Best and Worst Model Years for Kia Seltos

Kia has only released one model year of the Seltos: the 2021 Kia Seltos. So, the number of available Kia Seltos model years is insufficient for a comparison.

That said, the 2021 Kia Seltos is an outstanding vehicle. According to Consumer Reports, the Kia Seltos is quite spacious for a small SUV. The organization also commends the debut model for its impressive mileage.

Nevertheless, the 2021 Kia Seltos has a few weaknesses. A road test by Consumer Reports revealed the inadequacy of safety features in the car and its stiff ride.

What About Recalls for These Model Years?

Kia recalled certain 2021 Kia Seltos to fix a manufacturing error in the vehicles’ piston rings.

Because the manufacturer may not have heat-treated the piston oil rings properly, they can damage the Seltos’ engine. In addition, a damaged engine may increase the risk of an accident.

Also read our article about How Long Do Kia Stingers Last?

Kia Seltos Model Year List

There is currently one model year for the Kia Seltos, which is 2021.

Are Kia Seltos Expensive to Maintain?

Kia Seltos are cheap to maintain.

According to yourmechanic.com, the average maintenance cost for Kia Seltos is $110 per year. On the other hand, it costs about $466 yearly to maintain a subcompact SUV.

The low maintenance cost is probably because the vehicle is still new. We expect the cost of maintaining the Seltos to rise as it ages.

How Long Do Kia Seltos Brake Pads Last?

Your Kia Seltos brake pads should last between 30,000  to 70,000 miles. You should change your brake pads if your vehicle makes loud screeches or vibrations whenever you use the brakes.

Kia Seltos drivers who reside in cities with many busy roads may find their brake pads wearing out faster than usual. Driving around in heavy traffic often means that you have to stop your car several times within a short period. This can affect your brake pads negatively.

How Long Do Kia Seltos Tires Last?

If you maintain your Kia Seltos tires regularly, they will probably last for about 50,000 to 60,000 miles. Change your tires once they start breaking apart at the sidewalls.

You can increase the lifespan of your Kia Seltos tires by rotating them at least every 5,000 miles. Also, wheel alignment can help you improve the durability of your tires.

How Long Do Kia Seltos Transmissions Last?

After studying similar Kia vehicles, we can infer that your Kia Seltos transmissions will most likely last for 200,000 miles. You may never have to change your transmissions throughout the lifespan of your Kia Seltos.

When your transmission is due for replacement, your vehicle may emit burning smells or produce clunking noises.

How Long Do Kia Spark Plugs Last?

Your Kia Seltos spark plugs will probably last between 20,000 to 30,000 miles.

If you notice that it takes longer for your car to start or there is a sudden dip in performance, consider checking and replacing your spark plugs.

Related: How Long Do Kia Souls Last? (9 Questions Asked)

How About Insurance Cost for Kia Seltos?

On the average, annual insurance policies for Kia Seltos cost about $151 per month and $1812 per year, according to finder.com. That said, certain factors may affect the actual insurance premium you pay for your Kia Seltos. These factors include:

1. Age: Many insurance companies offer vehicle insurance services to teenage drivers at costly prices. Data shows that younger drivers are more likely to cause car crashes because they are inexperienced. In contrast, drivers above 60 years enjoy car insurance at lower costs.
2. Occupation: Car insurers require people in high-risk professions to pay expensive premiums.
3. Gender: Vehicle insurance policies are often cheaper for female drivers than male drivers. Coverhound.com states that men pay costlier premiums than women do because they tend to drive more dangerously.
4. Driving Record: Usually, drivers who have accidents and speed tickets may need to pay a lot of money for their vehicle insurance.
5. Your Location: Your vehicle insurance company may charge you heavily for coverage if your area is notorious for crimes.

Tips for Prolonging the Life of Your Kia Seltos

Do you want to know how to make your Kia Seltos more durable? The following tips might help you:

1. Always replace your faulty Kia Seltos components with high-quality parts. While inferior vehicle parts may be cheap, they are more likely to get damaged easily. Besides, using defective parts may affect your Kia Seltos’ performance.
2. Never miss a scheduled vehicle maintenance appointment.
3. Maintain your Kia Seltos at licensed Kia service shops.
4. Rotate your Kia Seltos tires after every 5,000 miles.
5. Always remember to refill your engine oil every time your vehicle hits the 7,500-mile mark.
6. Apply wax to your Kia Seltos at least once every two years.

Sources

2021 Kia Seltos | carcomplaints.com

Kia Seltos | consumerreports.org

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