Everyone likes the idea of being able to boldly drive through any terrain, but let’s be honest—very few of us actually do it on the regular. The crossover and SUV look is everywhere in the automotive world, but what vehicles are really up to the task and what ones just are keeping up appearances?

In this article, insurance super app

Jerry

will be taking a closer look at this model. We’ll cover just what makes up a true off-road vehicle, and see if the Seltos has what it takes. And to top it all off, we’ll tell you how to save big on your

Kia Seltos car insurance costs

Can the Kia Seltos go off-road?

Yes—but in moderation. While the

Kia Seltos

can absolutely get you through a gravelly road to remote trailhead or a forest road to a secluded campsite, it’s not a vehicle for actual off-road action.

Starting at $22,840 and available in five trim levels, the 2022 Seltos is positioned between the

Kia Soul

and the Niro in terms of size. Its available all-wheel drive, great infotainment options, and roomy cabin and cargo area make it a cost-effective vehicle for the urban adventurer who likes to get a little grubby on the weekends.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the key specs of the Kia Seltos.

Ground clearance

When it comes to off-roading, ground clearance is an important number to know. It’s the distance between the ground and the lowest part of your vehicle’s chassis, and it makes all the difference in the world when it comes to what kind of terrain you can successfully navigate.

Most off-road experts recommend that you have a ground clearance of 8.8 and 10.8 inches to be able to off-road safely. The higher your vehicle’s clearance, the wider range of terrain you handle without worrying about damaging your car’s undercarriage—or getting stuck, which is super embarrassing.

The ground clearance of the Kia Seltos is 7.3 inches, which means it falls short of hitting the recommended mark. While it may be enough for a country road, it’s not enough for scenarios with no roads.

Torque

You’ll hear a lot about horsepower when people are discussing cars, but when it comes to off-road abilities torque is the number you want to talk.

A good off-road vehicle will supply a good amount of low-end torque—in other words, high amounts of torque at a lower rpm. More torque means more power, and when it comes to crawling over rough terrain you want a strong, steady push rather than a burst of speed.

The Seltos has two engine options depending on the trim level. The LX, S, and EX will supply 132 lb-ft of torque at 4500 RPM, while the Nightfall and SX trims deliver 195 lb-ft at 1500 RPM.

If you are looking to maximize your Seltos’ ability to handle rough terrain, then the two higher trim levels are definitely the ones you want to consider.

Tires

A new Kia Seltos will come with a set of all-season tires that are designed for quiet comfort and on-pavement performance. They’ll suit an urban driver’s needs in a wide variety of weather conditions, but if you plan on doing a lot of adventuring with your Seltos you might want to consider investing in a set of

all-terrain tires

These are designed for drivers who want a mix of performance both on and off the pavement. They won’t last as long as standard all-season tires, but the more aggressive tread pattern provides better traction when you’re on the backroads versus the blacktop.

Drivetrain

Even folks who don’t go off-roading know that you need all four wheels engaged to do it. All-wheel-drive is standard on all trims except the S, and it’s available as an option on that trim if you really want it. Even if you never go off-road, all-wheel drive can be a great feature to have if you live in an area that’s prone to a lot of rain, snow, or ice.

Angles

Another set of figures that you need to pay attention to is your angles—specifically, the approach and departure angles of your vehicle. Here’s what those mean:

Approach angle: the maximum angle at which a vehicle can climb without interference

Departure angle: the maximum angle at which a vehicle can descend without interference

This is an area where the Kia Seltos stack up decently well: it has approach and departure angles of 28 degrees each, meaning that you can handle some ups and downs in the road, as long as they’re too steep.

Off-road rating: In a Pinch

Time for the verdict! We’ve rated the Kia Seltos using

Jerry’s

super-technical DIRT rating system:

Rating	Meaning	Description
D	Don’t Try It	Vehicles better suited to highway conditions
I	In a Pinch	Vehicles that can handle off-road conditions in certain circumstances
R	Rough and Ready	Vehicles designed for casual off-roading
T	Trail Boss	True off-road vehicles capable of tackling a range of terrain

While great for urban adventures and some light outdoor activities, the Kia Seltos should really be only taken off road In a Pinch. It’ll handily get you down the dirt road to the backcountry, but then that’s about as far as it should go.

MORE:

The best old-school off-road vehicles

The best off-road alternatives to the Kia Seltos

With the current popularity of SUVs and crossovers, the good news is that there are a lot of fish in this sea. Whether you want something a little more posh or a little more rugged, here a few other contenders for off-road adventures:

Alternative	Model	Price	Description
Best affordable alternative	2022 Hyundai Kona	$21,300	The Kona is very similar to the Seltos, and also comes with Hyundai’s industry-leading warranty.
Best eco-friendly alternative	2022 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid	$34,300	The hybrid Santa Fe has all-wheel-drive, a little more ground clearance, and will get you up to 36 mpg in the city.
Best alternative for luxury off-roading	Kia Telluride	$33,390	If you want a Kia that you can confidently take off road in comfort, then this is the one.

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How to find affordable car insurance for off-road vehicles

A downside of owning an off-road ready vehicle is that they’re often more expensive to insure. Traversing rough terrain means that there’s a greater chance for damages to your vehicle, and insurance providers will charge higher premiums as a result.

But if you use

insurance super app

Jerry, you’ll handle that bump in the car insurance shopping road with ease. How?

Jerry

does all the hard work for you, by comparing policies from over 50 top insurance providers to bring you the very best ones.

All you’ll need to do is pick the one that works best for you, and sign up can be taken care of through the top-rated app. The typical Jerry user saves more than $800 a year, which perhaps you can use for some cool new gear for your next outdoor adventure.