Used 2022 Kia Seltos for Sale near California

How much does the 2022 Kia Seltos cost?

Prices have softened 8.24% compared to this time last year, making it a favorable time to shop this model year.

There are 1,501 listings available, which suggests you have a healthy amount of inventory to compare.

Is the 2022 Kia Seltos a good car?

Yes — the 2022 Kia Seltos earns a 4.8/5 user rating and a 7.5/10 expert rating. The standout strength is Safety at 9/10.

Owners consistently praise its comfort, smooth ride, and impressive fuel economy, and they also like the advanced features and handling. In use-case terms, that lines up well if you want a small SUV that feels practical, easy to live with, and well equipped for everyday driving.

The trade-offs are the irritating transmission and the noisy cabin, along with interior materials that can feel cheap. Even so, the Seltos is framed as a value-focused compact SUV with spaciousness and easy-to-use technology, and 35.4% of listings are priced as good or great deals.

Is the 2022 Kia Seltos reliable?

Owners rate it 4.8/5, a strong signal of long-term satisfaction.

User feedback points to a dependable, trouble-free feel in daily use, with owners especially noting comfort, smooth driving, and confidence in the vehicle over time. The expert notes also support that impression by describing the Seltos as a good value with a strong warranty and plenty of interior space.

Kia’s warranty coverage and roadside assistance add to the ownership case, and the model’s fuel economy should generally match the window sticker. For used buyers, the main long-term risk is more about drivability and cabin refinement than basic durability.

What should I look for when buying a used 2022 Kia Seltos?

Accident-free inventory is solid at 77.3% — always verify the vehicle history report.

You should still check the history report carefully, because accident-free status is only one part of the picture. Prioritize a thorough inspection of the transmission behavior, cabin condition, and road-noise levels, since those are the areas most likely to affect your day-to-day satisfaction. It also makes sense to compare trim equipment closely, because feature availability changes meaningfully across the lineup.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The LX, S, EX, Nightfall Edition, and SX each bring different equipment levels, and the base setup leaves out some features that appear on higher trims. The Nightfall Edition adds blacked-out styling, a turbocharged engine, a dual-clutch transmission, and more robust roof rails, while the SX is the most feature-rich choice.
• Powertrain: The LX, S, and EX use a 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 146 horsepower and a CVT, while the Nightfall Edition and SX get a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder with 175 hp and a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. The turbo setup is more engaging, but the CVT is the simpler base choice.
• Safety package: Standard equipment includes forward-collision avoidance, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, automatic high-beam headlights, and Rear Occupant Alert. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert are added on the EX and are optional on the S, while adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, Highway Driving Assist, and Safe Exit Assist are reserved for the SX.
• Infotainment: The available 10.25-inch touchscreen includes Bluetooth for two devices, navigation, connected services, satellite radio, a six-speaker stereo, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The LX and S use an 8-inch touchscreen with wireless smartphone connectivity, while the larger system requires a cable connection.
• Fuel efficiency: The Nightfall Edition returned 27 mpg in combined driving, and the base engine is described as efficient enough to match its window-sticker numbers.

Which 2022 Kia Seltos trim should I buy?

The 2022 Kia Seltos is offered in 5 trim levels: LX, S, EX, Nightfall Edition, and SX.

Here's the short version:

• LX: This is the entry point, and it gives you the core Seltos formula with the base 2.0-liter engine, standard AWD, and the simpler 8-inch touchscreen with wireless smartphone connectivity. It makes sense if you want the lowest-cost path into the model and can live without the richer feature set.
• S: This trim is the best-value starting point if you want more flexibility, because it can be had with FWD or AWD and can also be optioned with the larger 10.25-inch touchscreen. It’s the trim to watch if you want a balance of price and equipment without jumping too far up the range.
• EX: This is the smart upgrade if you want more everyday convenience, because it adds blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, and it also gets the 10.25-inch touchscreen standard. For many shoppers, this is the sweet spot.
• Nightfall Edition: This is the style-and-power choice, with the turbocharged engine, DCT, blacked-out exterior details, and more distinctive appearance. Choose it if you want the more engaging powertrain and the visual upgrades.
• SX: This is the top trim for shoppers who want the most advanced equipment, including adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, Highway Driving Assist, and Safe Exit Assist. It’s the right pick if you want the fullest safety and convenience package.

The safety package expands as you move up the lineup, with the SX getting the most advanced driver-assistance features.

Is now a good time to buy a used 2022 Kia Seltos?

This is a moderate market, so you can shop selectively without expecting a deep bargain on every listing.

• Deal availability: 35.4% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 1,501 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 8.24% compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 77.3% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $17,642, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

What is the 2022 Kia Seltos's resale value?

The current average of $17,671 sits slightly below last year's $19,258.

That decline suggests the market has softened, which can help you as a buyer today but may limit upside if you plan to resell soon. If you buy at the right price, you reduce the risk of taking a bigger depreciation hit later. The good news is that the Seltos still has broad appeal thanks to its practicality and feature content, which can help support demand.

Vehicles with strong owner satisfaction ratings, like this model year's 4.8/5, tend to retain buyer demand, which supports resale value over time.

Is the 2022 Kia Seltos safe?

The 2022 Kia Seltos earns a Top Safety Pick rating from IIHS, and it earns a four-star overall rating from NHTSA.

It earns a 9/10 safety score from our experts.

Kia equips the Seltos with forward-collision avoidance, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, automatic high-beam headlights, and Rear Occupant Alert. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert are added on the EX and are optional on the S, while adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, Highway Driving Assist, and Safe Exit Assist are reserved for the SX.

One caveat is that only the SX qualifies for the IIHS Top Safety Pick rating, while other versions do not because of headlight performance.

Should I buy a 2022 Kia Seltos or consider a different year?

If you're weighing the 2022 against nearby model years, here's how to think about it:

Choose the 2022 if:

• 35.4% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Accident-free inventory is solid at 77.3% — always verify the vehicle history report.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 8.24% compared with last year.
• Owners rate it 4.8/5 — a strong satisfaction signal.
• Kia expands the availability of its driver-assist systems and 10.25-inch infotainment to more trims for 2022.

Consider the 2021 if:

• At $15,802, the 2021 costs less than the current year's $17,671 average.
• It offers a high-quality cabin with refined driving dynamics and plenty of cabin and cargo space.

The bottom line: Choose the 2022 if you want the stronger market mix of features, safety availability, and current inventory. If your priority is spending less up front, the 2021 is the better value play, especially if you can find one in good condition.

How does the 2022 Kia Seltos compare to the 2022 Hyundai Kona?

Expert Pros & Cons (per CarGurus review team)

2022 Kia Seltos:

• Pros: Spacious, Easy-to-use technology, Great warranty.
• Cons: Irritating transmission, Interior materials feel cheap, Noisy.

2022 Hyundai Kona:

• Pros: Multiple powertrain options, Fun to drive, Excellent value for money.
• Cons: Cramped back seat, Not much cargo space.

Our experts score the 2022 Kia Seltos 7.5/10 and the 2022 Hyundai Kona 7.7/10. The Seltos is the roomier, more practical choice, while the Kona leans into driving enjoyment and powertrain variety. If you care most about space and convenience, the Seltos has the edge; if you want a more playful feel and stronger value, the Kona is the better fit.

Read our full side-by-side expert comparison here.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from October 27, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.