THE SUVS / CROSSOVERS
Kia Niro
The Niro was given a full do-over last year and thus returns mainly unchanged from 2023. Once again, hybrid (HEV), plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and full-electric models are available.
The HEV comes available in four trims: LX, EX, EX Premium and SX (which gets heated rear seats for the first time), all powered by a 1.6L 4-cylinder engine plus permanent magnet synchronous motor good for 139 hp and 195 lb-ft.
The PHEV model is available in a single EX trim, with its 1.6L 4-cylinder getting a further boost from a large lithium-ion battery, bringing total system power to 180 hp and 195 lb-ft and the ability to cruise for 22 km in EV mode.
The Niro EV completes the trifecta of Niro models in 2024, and it also falls in lockstep with the rest of Kia’s EV lineup by switching to the Wind, Wind+ and Wave nomenclature for its trims. The EV is the most powerful of the bunch, offering 201 hp and 188 lb-ft as well as offering over 400 km of range.
See: 2023 Kia Niro First Drive: Running the Electric Gamut
See: Kia Niro EV Long-Term Review, Part 1
Specification sheet of 2024 KIA Niro LX
Specification sheet of 2024 KIA Niro Wind EV
Kia Soul
The foxy Soul returns unchanged from 2023, although the EV variant is no longer, what with Kia moving more EV resources into its variety of PHEV models and newer EV models.
For 2024, the Soul is available in LX, EX, EX+, EX Premium and GT-Line Limited trims, all powered by a 2.0L 4-cylinder good for 147 hp and 132 lb-ft. Like the Forte, it also makes use of the ITV transmission.
Available colours include Fusion Black, Inferno Red, Snow White, Neptune Blue, Gravity Grey and Surf Blue.
See: 2023 Kia Soul GT-Line Review: Still Weird After All These Years, Despite a Few Tweaks
Specification sheet of 2024 KIA Soul LX
Specification sheet of 2024 KIA Soul EX
Kia Seltos
The Seltos receives a mid-cycle refresh for 2024, adding modified front and rear fascias, a new all-digital dash and 20 hp boost for its turbo 4-cylinder motor, for a total of 195 hp and 195 lb-ft, sent to all four wheels via an 8-speed automatic. There’s also a more rugged X-Line trim with special wheels, skid plates and side molding.
In addition to the 1.6L turbo, a 2.0L naturally aspirated 4-cylinder is also available, making 146 hp and 132 lb-ft; it gets the ITV instead of the 8-speed.
Trims include LX FWD, LX, EX FWD, EX, EX Premium, SX and X-Line. There are also two new colours: Valais Green and Pluton Blue.
See: 2024 Kia Seltos First Drive: Spit and Polish
See: Los Angeles 2022: Revised 2024 Kia Seltos Makes North American Debut
Specification sheet of 2024 KIA Seltos LX
Specifications sheet of 2024 KIA Seltos EX
Kia Sportage
The Sportage returns unchanged from last year, the lineup thus including HEV, PHEV and gas-only models. The two hybrids get 1.6L turbo 4-cylinder engines good for 177 hp and 195 lb-ft, while the PHEV unit gets a larger battery and up to 50 km of EV driving.
Trims offered of the electrified variants are HEV EX, HEV SX, PHEV EX Premium and PHEV SX - none of which can be had in Matte Grey as that colour’s been removed for 2024.
The gas-only model comes with a 2.5L 4-cylinder good for 187 hp and 178 lb-ft, and it is the only way to get the rugged X-Line trims. Available trims include LX FWD, LX, X-Line, EX, EX Premium and X-Line Limited.
See: 2023 Kia Sportage First Drive: Singin' in the Rain
See: 2023 Kia Sportage PHEV Review: An Option That Should Interest Many
See: 2023 Kia Sportage HEV Review: Win-Win
See: 2023 Kia Sportage pictures
Specification sheet of 2024 KIA Sportage LX
Specification sheet of 2024 KIA Sportage X-Line
Kia Sorento
Like its smaller Seltos sibling, the Sorento also received a refresh for 2024 so long as we’re talking about the gas-only vehicle - the HEV and PHEV don’t get the new look.
The change can mainly be seen in the front fascia, which is much more rugged and bolder than previous, even getting some headlight bulbs and lenses that recall the futuristic items on the new EV9 EV SUV. Around back, new vertical headlamps are also new and two new colours have been added: Jungle Green and Road Rider Brown and there’s a new X-Pro trim with increased tow capacity as well as special wheels and skidplates.
Power for the gas vehicle comes from either a 2.5L 4-cylinder good for 191 hp and 181 lb-ft, while the 2,5L turbo-four offers 281 hp and 311 lb-ft. Both engines come paired to an 8-speed auto, but only the turbo gets the dual-clutch variant.
As far as the HEV and PHEV go, they make their returns for 2024 spread across five trims: HEV LX, HEV EX, PHEV EX, PHEV EX+ and PHEV SX. Power for the hybrid is rated at 227 hp and 258 lb-ft, while the PHEV is good for 261 hp and 258 lb-ft as well as an all-EV driving range of around 50 km.
See: Los Angeles 2023: 2024 Kia Sorento Shows Off New Image
Specifications sheet of 2023 KIA Sorento LX+
Specifications sheet of 2023 KIA Sorento LX Premium
Kia Telluride
Not much has changed for Kia’s second biggest offering for 2024. It still comes available in five trims – EX, SX, SX Limited, X-Line and X-Pro – all powered by the same 3.8L V6 good for 291 hp and 262 lb-ft, fed through and an 8-speed auto transmission.
For 2024, all trims get amber DRLs and the two X-Line models get a gloss exterior garnish. The very cool Sage Green interior colour can now be had with Midnight Lake Blue exterior paint.
See: 2023 Kia Telluride X-Line Review: X Marks the Spot, to Keep Up With the Joneses
Specifications sheet of 2024 KIA Telluride EX
Specifications sheet of 2024 KIA Telluride SX