2026 Kia Seltos LX: Lakewood Buyers Guide

What you don't have to give up

The old script for a base trim was to strip out anything that felt modern and make you pay to get it back. The Seltos LX doesn't play that game. Wireless phone mirroring is there from the first dollar, so no cable clutter and no hunting for a USB port with a dead cable. The safety hardware — automatic emergency braking that watches for pedestrians and cyclists, lane-keeping, driver-attention monitoring — is standard, not a paywall, which matters more in Lakewood traffic near the outlet malls than any infotainment screen size ever will. What you're actually giving up versus the S and up is the bigger navigation touchscreen, some interior trim, and a few convenience items — not the fundamentals.

Front-drive or AWD: the first real decision

The LX runs the same 147-horsepower 2.0-liter and CVT as every non-turbo Seltos. In front-drive trim it's the efficiency champion of the whole lineup at an EPA-estimated 28 city / 34 highway. Stepping up to all-wheel drive for $1,200 trims that to about 27/31 but buys real peace of mind the first time an unplowed Jackson side street gets you after a January storm. For 2026, FWD finally being offered on the LX means budget-focused shoppers no longer have to jump to a pricier trim just to get the lower starting number — a genuine change worth knowing about if you compared Seltos pricing before this model year.

Who ends up in the LX

This trim tends to pull first-time Kia buyers and people who did the math and decided the extra screen real estate on higher trims wasn't worth the jump. The reviews at DiFeo Kia read that way too — buyers who came in cautious and left relieved, most of them working with Vito, the name that shows up across nearly every Seltos review at this store going back years. A 2023 buyer described it this way: "Vito made my day because he made something that I thought was impossible possible. I'm beyond excited about my 2023 Seltos!! ... He's my salesman for life." — Marion P. Another, on her first visit: "I couldn't be happier with the service I received from Vito. What a great guy and salesman. He took the time to help me find the right car... extremely helpful, and very understanding. I love my new seltos." — Stephanie H.

Frequently asked questions

How much is the 2026 Kia Seltos LX?

$23,790 MSRP for front-wheel drive, $24,990 for all-wheel drive, both before the $1,495 destination charge and New Jersey tax and fees. It's the least expensive way into a new Seltos; current incentives sit on the DiFeo Kia specials page.

Does the Seltos LX have Apple CarPlay?

Yes, and it's wireless — no cable required on the LX's 8-inch touchscreen. That's one reason the base trim doesn't feel stripped-down the way entry trims used to.

Is the LX available with all-wheel drive?

It is, for $1,200 over the front-drive price. That makes the LX one of only three Seltos trims (alongside S and EX) where you get to choose the drivetrain — the SX comes AWD-only.

What's the difference between the LX and the S?

About $1,700 and a meaningfully bigger touchscreen. The S steps up to a 10.25-inch navigation display with Kia Connect and adds blind-spot and rear cross-traffic collision alerts as standard equipment the LX doesn't include.

Is the base Seltos powerful enough for everyday driving?

For the Parkway commute, Route 9, and the run into Toms River, the 147-horsepower four and CVT handle daily duty comfortably. It won't feel quick merging onto the highway, and a fully loaded car will ask the engine to work — buyers who want noticeably more punch off the line should test the turbocharged SX before ruling the Seltos out.

The bottom line on the LX

The Seltos LX proves that "base trim" doesn't have to mean "missing the point." You get a genuinely current SUV with the safety tech and phone integration that matter, at the lowest Seltos price DiFeo Kia has offered in a while. See which LX builds are on the Lakewood lot, or book a test drive and settle the FWD-versus-AWD question in person.