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The Drive writer Adam Ismail says Kia’s recent design direction, including the redesigned Seltos, no longer works for him. He reports that U.S. Seltos sales are up 45% through September 2026 compared with the same period a year earlier, suggesting his design objections are not reflected in the model’s sales performance. Kia has not provided a sales explanation in the source report.
The redesigned Kia Seltos is selling better even as The Drive writer Adam Ismail says he has soured on Kia’s recent styling. The report says U.S. Seltos sales were up 45% through September 2026 from the same period a year earlier, setting up a contrast between one reviewer’s reservations and the model’s reported market performance.
Ismail’s piece is an opinionated review and design analysis, not a report that Kia has announced a change in strategy. He describes the new Seltos as rigid, blocky and visually busy, and says he preferred the previous model’s curved front and subtly flared fenders. His criticism focuses on Kia’s wider design direction, which he says initially struck him as a distinctive step forward but now feels less appealing as the style has become more familiar.
The review also addresses the cabin. Ismail says the fit and finish is acceptable for Kia’s least expensive model, while describing some plastics as tacky and bland. He notes that the vehicle retains physical buttons, but objects to the climate-control panel’s position between the instrument cluster and infotainment display. In his view, the steering wheel partly blocks the panel, making it awkward to see and use.
Ismail also reports that his SX all-wheel-drive test vehicle carried a $37,250 sticker price, which he considers too high for the Seltos. At the same time, he calls the vehicle broadly competent and says its road manners are pleasant. The sales growth figure and the review’s judgments are separate points: the former is a reported comparison, while the latter reflects one writer’s experience and taste.
Sales Outpace One Reviewer’s Doubts
The contrast matters because car design is judged both as an individual experience and as a commercial choice. Ismail’s account highlights concerns a shopper might have about visual longevity, cabin usability and price; the reported sales increase suggests that these concerns have not prevented more buyers from choosing the Seltos during the measured period.
That does not establish why sales rose. The report offers possibilities, including that Kia’s broader rebrand may be helping or that buyers in an affordable vehicle segment may welcome a more distinctive look. Those are the writer’s theories, not confirmed causes. The comparison is useful as a reminder that a reviewer’s reaction cannot stand in for the preferences of the overall market.
For shoppers, the piece also separates styling from practical evaluation. Ismail criticizes the control-panel placement and materials but says the Seltos drives pleasantly. People considering the vehicle may want to check whether the controls are easy for them to reach and whether the tested trim’s price fits their budget, rather than treating either the review or the sales trend as a complete verdict.
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Kia’s Design Direction in Focus
Ismail says he initially welcomed the design language Kia introduced with the K4, describing its mix of muscular forms and diagonal lines as a meaningful change for a brand he felt had lacked a clear identity. His broader concern is that a style that feels fresh at launch can lose its appeal as trends shift. He applies that concern to the new Seltos, contrasting it with the outgoing model, which he found more purposeful and less busy.
The article also briefly references Hyundai’s newer Tucson and the Avante, which Ismail says is set to underpin the U.S. Elantra, as examples of a related design direction that he finds increasingly adventurous. He contrasts those mainstream brands with Genesis, Hyundai’s aspirational marque, while suggesting that timeless styling may be easier to find at a higher price. These are his impressions rather than stated company design objectives.
The report identifies the Seltos sales comparison as covering 2026 through September and comparing that period with the previous year. It does not provide monthly totals, trim-level breakdowns or details about other factors that could affect sales. Its headline’s contrast is therefore grounded in a reported sales increase and a reviewer’s personal assessment, not in a formal consumer survey.
““Car design is really just fashion, and fashion doesn’t follow logic.””
— Adam Ismail, The Drive
What the Sales Figure Cannot Explain
The source report does not identify what drove the 45% increase, give the Seltos’ underlying sales totals, or specify whether the comparison is affected by inventory, incentives, availability or other market factors. It also does not cite Kia on the sales result or include a company explanation of the redesign’s reception.
Ismail’s account is a single reviewer’s assessment. The article provides no polling, buyer interviews or broader measure of how consumers view the styling or climate controls. The sales figure shows a reported change in purchases, but it cannot by itself establish that buyers like the design or explain their reasons for buying the vehicle.
More Sales Data, More Buyer Feedback
The next useful comparison would be full-year Seltos sales, followed by Kia’s subsequent reporting on the model and its lineup. That could show whether the increase through September continued, though sales figures alone would still not reveal which features mattered most to buyers.
For now, the source offers no announced follow-up from Kia and no further milestone for the redesign. Readers weighing the Seltos can compare trims and prices, test the cabin controls themselves, and look for updated sales information as it becomes available.
Key Questions
What is the main development in this report?
The Drive published Adam Ismail’s critical assessment of Kia’s recent design direction while reporting that U.S. Seltos sales rose 45% through September 2026 compared with the same period a year earlier.
Does the sales increase show that buyers like the Seltos design?
No. The reported increase shows a change in sales, but the source does not provide buyer surveys or evidence about why customers purchased the Seltos. Sales alone do not establish design preference.
What does the reviewer criticize about the new Seltos?
Ismail finds the exterior too blocky and busy and says the climate-control panel is difficult to see around the steering wheel. He also criticizes some cabin plastics and the $37,250 price of the SX all-wheel-drive test vehicle.
Does the review say the Seltos is a poor car to drive?
No. Ismail describes it as broadly fine and says it has pleasant road manners. His main objections concern styling, cabin details and the price of the tested trim.
Why did Seltos sales rise?
The source report does not establish a cause. Ismail suggests Kia’s rebrand or the appeal of distinctive styling in an affordable segment could be factors, but labels these as theories rather than confirmed explanations.
Source: thedrive.com
