2026 Kia Seltos EX: Manahawkin Buyers Guide
Quick Answer: The 2026 Seltos EX
The Seltos EX starts at $26,490 MSRP front-wheel drive or $28,690 all-wheel drive, before the $1,495 destination charge. It keeps the 147-hp 2.0-liter/CVT powertrain and adds SynTex synthetic leather upholstery, heated front seats, a wireless charging pad, standard Parking Distance Warning-Reverse, and a smart power liftgate standard on the AWD version. An $800 EX Sunroof Package brings a power sunroof and new-for-2026 17-inch gloss-black wheels, and the EX is one of only two trims (with SX) that can add Kia's dual 10.25-inch panoramic display cockpit. It's the trim most families land on at Manahawkin Kia.
Where the comfort upgrades land
EX is where the Seltos stops feeling like a value pick and starts feeling like a small luxury SUV in the details. SynTex synthetic leather replaces cloth, front seats get heat for the boardwalk-to-blizzard temperature swing New Jersey throws at you, and a wireless charging pad means one less cable tangled in the console. Parking Distance Warning-Reverse becomes standard, useful backing out of a packed Manahawkin municipal lot, and AWD versions add a hands-free smart power liftgate — a real convenience with arms full of beach gear or grocery bags.
The screen option worth asking about
EX is where the optional dual 10.25-inch panoramic display setup becomes available — a combined instrument cluster and touchscreen that reads as one wide glass panel, the same architecture the SX gets standard-adjacent. It's not standard on EX, so confirm the configuration with Manahawkin Kia's sales team before you fall in love with a specific window sticker. The $800 EX Sunroof Package layers in a power sunroof plus the new-for-2026 17-inch gloss-black wheel design; a Gentle Brown interior color package is available at no extra cost but only alongside the Sunroof Package.
What buyers say about the EX
One recent EX buyer described the whole process this way: "We saw an ad for a Kia Seltos we liked; we test drove it and bought the Kia Seltos all within a few hours! ... Our finance manager Scott was also very helpful and explained the paperwork thoroughly." That kind of same-day, no-drama purchase shows up again and again in Manahawkin Kia's 4.81-star average across more than 2,800 Google reviews — buyers walking in undecided and driving out in an EX by the afternoon.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Kia Seltos EX worth the upgrade over the S?
If heated seats, real leatherette, and wireless charging matter to your daily routine, yes — those are meaningful comfort items most small-SUV shoppers notice immediately. The roughly $1,000 gap over the S (at the same drivetrain) buys a genuinely nicer cabin, not just badge trim.
Does the Seltos EX have a sunroof?
Not standard — it's part of the $800 EX Sunroof Package, which also brings the new 17-inch gloss-black wheels for 2026.
Is the smart power liftgate standard on the EX?
Standard on EX AWD; check with Manahawkin Kia on whether a specific FWD EX in stock has it configured, since it isn't guaranteed on every build.
MSRP excludes the $1,495 destination charge plus taxes, title, registration, and dealer-installed options; the dealer sets the actual selling price. Equipment and availability can change with configuration and production timing — confirm current specs with Manahawkin Kia. Customer quotes are excerpts from public Google reviews of Manahawkin Kia.
Warranties include 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain and 5-year/60,000-mile basic. All warranties and roadside assistance are limited. See retailer for warranty details.