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The Drive’s Adam Ismail argues that Kia’s angular, tech-focused design has begun to lose its appeal to him, using the redesigned Seltos as an example. Yet Seltos sales were up 45% through September 2026 compared with the same period a year earlier, a sign that his criticism may not reflect the broader market. Kia’s sales figures do not establish why buyers chose the vehicle.
Kia Seltos sales rose 45% through September 2026 compared with the same period in 2025, even as The Drive reviewer Adam Ismail said the redesigned SUV’s styling and some cabin controls no longer work for him. The contrast is the central point of his review: his reservations are personal, while the sales increase suggests the Seltos has found buyers during its first year after a redesign.
Ismail describes the new Seltos as rigid, blocky and tech-focused, with a busy exterior that he finds less appealing than the previous model. He recalls liking the older Seltos’s flared fenders and curved front fascia, which he thought gave the small SUV a purposeful look. By comparison, he sees the new design as part of a wider Kia style that may feel tied to a particular moment in fashion.
His criticism also covers the interior. Ismail says the cabin’s fit and finish are acceptable for Kia’s least expensive model, but calls some plastics tacky and bland. He notes that the car has physical buttons, while objecting to a climate-control panel positioned between the instrument cluster and infotainment display. In his assessment, the steering wheel partly blocks the panel, making it awkward to see and use.
The review also describes the Seltos as a broadly capable vehicle with pleasant road manners. Ismail’s test car was an SX all-wheel-drive model with a listed price of $37,250; he considered that too expensive for the vehicle. The reported 45% sales gain is a comparison through September, but the source does not give total unit sales or explain the factors behind the increase.
Sales Outpace One Reviewer’s Reservations
The contrast matters because design criticism and market performance measure different things. Ismail is describing his own reaction to the styling and controls; the reported sales figure reflects how many Seltos vehicles Kia sold over a stated period. The increase shows that the redesign has not prevented stronger sales so far, but it does not show that buyers purchased the vehicle because of its appearance.
For shoppers, the review points to a practical issue beyond taste: control visibility and ease of use. A layout that one reviewer finds difficult to see may be worth checking in person, especially during a test drive. The reported price also highlights a distinction between the Seltos’s position as Kia’s least expensive model and the substantially higher cost of the SX all-wheel-drive test vehicle.
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A Redesign Meets a Changing Taste
Ismail frames Kia’s recent styling as a deliberate move toward distinctive, angular design, rather than shapes designed to win broad approval at first glance. He says he initially liked the Kia K4 when it was revealed, including its mix of muscular surfaces and diagonal lines. His concern is that a style that feels striking when new may not age as well once trends shift.
The comparison with the earlier Seltos gives that argument a specific reference point: Ismail preferred its softer curves and understated rugged cues. He also mentions newer Hyundai designs, including the Tucson and the Avante, which is expected to underpin the Elantra in the United States. Those examples are part of his opinion about a broader design direction, not evidence that buyers share his assessment.
“Car design is really just fashion, and fashion doesn’t follow logic.”
— Adam Ismail, The Drive reviewer
What the Sales Figure Cannot Show
The source reports that Seltos sales were up 45% through September 2026 compared with the same period in the prior year, but it does not provide the underlying sales totals. It also does not identify how much of the change can be attributed to the redesign, pricing, availability, marketing or other factors. Ismail offers possible explanations, including that buyers may appreciate the styling, but presents them as theories rather than established causes.
The review does not provide a broader survey of consumer opinion, a direct comparison of competitor sales or a detailed assessment of every Seltos trim. The critique of the climate panel is the reviewer’s account; the source offers no usability study or information about whether Kia plans to change the layout.
More Sales Data and Buyer Feedback
The next useful measure will be whether the Seltos’s sales performance continues beyond the period covered by the report. Later figures could show whether the 45% year-to-date increase persists, but sales totals alone would not establish what buyers think of the redesign. More detail on trim-level results and buyer priorities would help clarify the reasons for the growth.
For now, the review leaves prospective buyers with a straightforward choice: judge the styling for themselves and test the cabin controls from the driver’s seat. The source does not report any announced design changes or a Kia response to Ismail’s criticism.
Key Questions
How much did Kia Seltos sales increase?
The report says Seltos sales were up 45% through September 2026 compared with the same period in 2025. It does not include the unit totals behind that percentage.
What does the reviewer dislike about the redesigned Seltos?
Adam Ismail criticizes its angular, tech-focused styling and says the climate-control panel is partly obscured by the steering wheel. These are his assessments, not findings from a consumer survey.
Does the review say the Seltos is a poor car?
No. Ismail calls it a broadly fine vehicle with pleasant road manners, while criticizing its design and some interior details. He also says his $37,250 SX all-wheel-drive test model cost more than he thought it should.
Does the sales increase prove buyers like Kia’s new design?
No. The increase shows stronger sales for the stated period, but the source does not establish why sales rose or whether design was a deciding factor for buyers.
Source: thedrive.com
