Kia Seltos Starts At $10,900 In China. Here’s Why Americans Pay Over $31,000
by AutoExpert | 8 July, 2025
The Kia Seltos might look the same whether you're in China or the U.S., but the pricing tells a completely different story. In the U.S., the 2025 Seltos starts at around $24,700 and climbs to over $31,000 for the fully loaded version.
Meanwhile in China, the same Kia Seltos SUV starts at just $15,300 and can dip as low as $10,900 with seasonal discounts and student incentives.
And it’s not like the Chinese Kia Seltos is barebones. It comes with a panoramic sunroof, 17-inch alloy wheels, LED lighting, leather seats, and a 10.25-inch infotainment screen—features you’d struggle to find even in many used SUVs stateside.
Size-wise, both models are nearly identical, but under the hood things differ a bit. China offers a 1.5-liter or 1.4-liter turbo engine with front-wheel drive, while U.S. buyers get more powerful 2.0-liter or 1.6-liter turbo engines with optional or standard all-wheel drive.
As tempting as it sounds, importing one from China isn’t practical. Once you factor in taxes, shipping, and regulations, the price advantage vanishes. Still, it does make you wonder—how can the exact same car cost nearly double in one country compared to another?
