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The Drive’s Adam Ismail argues that Kia’s current design language has begun to feel overdone, based in part on his experience with the redesigned Seltos. The Seltos’s reported U.S. sales were up 45% through September 2026 compared with the same period in 2025, suggesting the reviewer’s personal reaction is not reflected in that sales measure. Kia did not comment in the source material, and it gives no sales totals or explanation for the increase.
The redesigned Kia Seltos drew sharp design criticism from The Drive writer Adam Ismail even as the model’s U.S. sales were reported up 45% through September 2026 from the same period a year earlier. The contrast is the central point of Ismail’s opinionated review: he says Kia’s angular, technology-focused design has begun to wear on him, while the available sales figure suggests buyers are still choosing the small SUV.
Ismail describes the new Seltos as rigid, blocky and visually busy, contrasting it with the previous model, which he found more appealing. He says Kia’s recent styling once felt like a clear step forward, citing the compact K4 as a car he initially liked. In his view, the distinctive look now risks dating quickly as fashion changes. That is the writer’s assessment, not a statement from Kia or evidence that buyers share the same reaction.
His criticism also extends to the cabin. Ismail says the Seltos has acceptable fit and finish for an entry-level model and notes that it retains physical buttons, but objects to a climate-control panel positioned between the instrument cluster and infotainment screen. He says the steering wheel obscures it from the driver’s view, making it awkward to use. These observations come from his test drive; the source provides no independent usability testing or responses from owners.
The review also describes the vehicle as having pleasant road manners, even while questioning its design and value. Ismail reported that his SX all-wheel-drive test vehicle had a $37,250 sticker price, which he considered too high. That figure applies to the particular tester described in the article, not necessarily every Seltos trim or transaction.
Sales and Styling Tell Different Stories
The Seltos example shows why a reviewer’s design judgment and a model’s market performance are not the same measure. Ismail’s objections are personal and specific: he dislikes the exterior’s angular look and finds the climate controls poorly placed. The reported 45% year-over-year sales increase indicates stronger sales for the model over the stated period, but it does not establish why more buyers chose it or whether they prefer its styling.
For shoppers, the review raises practical questions alongside aesthetic ones. The control-panel placement may matter to drivers who prioritize easy access, while the test vehicle’s price can prompt buyers to compare trims and alternatives. The source does not provide owner-survey results, competing-model comparisons, or enough data to link the design directly to sales. The takeaway is limited but useful: one critic’s changing taste has not prevented reported sales growth.
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Kia’s Recent Design Direction
Ismail places the Seltos within a broader shift in Kia’s styling. He recalls initially welcoming a design approach that combined muscular shapes with diagonal lines, describing the K4 as an example of the direction’s early appeal. His concern is that a look built to stand out can lose its appeal as trends move on. That is a judgment about design and fashion, not a measured finding about how Kia’s models age with owners.
The article briefly extends the same concern to Hyundai, mentioning the Tucson and the Avante, which Ismail says is set to form the basis for the U.S. Elantra. He contrasts those brands with Genesis, which he views as more aspirational. These comparisons are the writer’s impressions; the report does not offer sales figures or consumer research for those vehicles.
“Car design is really just fashion, and fashion doesn’t follow logic.”
— Adam Ismail, The Drive
What the Sales Figure Cannot Show
The source reports that Seltos sales in 2026 were up 45% through September, but gives no unit totals, monthly breakdown, or further detail about the comparison. It does not specify other factors that may have affected sales, such as inventory, pricing, incentives, or changes in demand. The figure therefore supports a year-over-year increase for the stated period, but cannot explain its cause or establish whether the trend will continue.
It is also unclear how representative Ismail’s reactions are of Seltos owners or prospective buyers. The article cites no customer polling, owner feedback, or formal evaluation of the climate-control layout. Kia’s response is not included in the source material, and no future sales forecast or additional company statement is provided.
More Sales Data Will Add Context
The next useful reference point would be a complete sales comparison covering the rest of 2026, including unit totals and the same period in the prior year. Those figures could show whether the increase reported through September persisted, but would not alone identify what drove it. The source does not announce a Kia response or a specific upcoming product update tied to the review.
For buyers considering the Seltos, the review points to a direct next step: try the controls from the driver’s seat and compare the tested trim’s price with other configurations. Ismail’s assessment is one reviewer’s view; the vehicle’s layout, road manners, and cost should be judged against each shopper’s needs and budget.
Key Questions
What is the main development in the report?
The Drive published Adam Ismail’s criticism of the redesigned Kia Seltos’s styling and control layout while reporting that U.S. Seltos sales rose 45% through September 2026 compared with the same period a year earlier.
Does the sales increase prove buyers like the design?
No. The reported increase shows that sales were higher for the stated period, but the article supplies no buyer survey or evidence linking the change to the Seltos’s design.
What does the reviewer criticize inside the Seltos?
Ismail says the climate-control panel is difficult to see and reach because it sits behind the steering wheel’s right edge. That is his assessment from a test drive, not a finding from an independent usability study.
What price did the review cite?
Ismail said his SX all-wheel-drive test vehicle had a $37,250 sticker price and considered it too expensive. The figure refers to that tester and does not establish the price of every Seltos trim.
Source: thedrive.com
