Kia Seltos

How is the exterior design?

Kia Seltos has an upright and square look that is loved by all Indians just like Creta. Seltos model is bigger than the Creta model. The presence of Seltos is felt because of its wider grille. The LED bar and full-LED headlamps give a premium look to the grille making it distinctive. The lower variants of Kia Seltos have projector lamps in place of the LED bar. Seltos has a sportier look with large silver bash plates. The skid plates, brake clippers, and side cladding are done in red. The GT-Line variants have distinctive 17-inch alloy wheels with a crystal-cut look. The lower variants of Seltos have 16-inch steel wheels or alloy wheels. 

How does it drive?

The engines of Kia Seltos are BS6 compliant since their inception. It offers four transmission options and three engines. Seltos is available in one diesel engine and two petrol engines.

The GDI turbo petrol motor of 1.4-litre produces a horsepower of 138 bhp and a maximum torque of 242 Nm. It comes with a 7-speed automatic transmission and a 6-speed manual transmission.

The NA petrol of 1.5-litre produces a power of 113 bhp and a peak torque of 144 Nm. It is paired with an IVT automatic transmission and a 6-speed manual transmission.

The VGT diesel of 1.5-litre produces a power of 113 bhp and a peak torque of 250 Nm. The variant comes with a torque converter of 6 speed having automatic transmission and a 6-speed manual.

What are the features?

The Kia Seltos is loaded with features such as an air purifier, a 10.25-inch infotainment system touchscreen, UVO connects, an 8-inch display, and ambient lighting. It also offers a power-adjustable seat (driver), ventilated front seats, a Bose sound system with 8 speakers, a sunroof, and a multi-function display of 7-inch. The additional features are the smart-key remote, a Hello Kia wake-up command, and smartwatch connectivity.

The other features are power steering, air conditioner, power windows front, anti-lock braking system, driver airbag, passenger airbag, fog light, automatic climate control, and alloy wheels.

How comfortable is Kia Seltos?

Kia Seltos also offers several features for the comfort and convenience of the occupants. The features offered are as follows:

• Manual Air conditioner
• Heater
• Steering Mounted Audio
• Power Outlets 12V
• Paddle Shift
• Cruise Control
• Rear Parking Camera and Sensor
• Steering Adjustment -Tilt
• Front and Rear Armrest
• Premium Fabric upholstery
• Front cup holders
• Climate Control
• Emergency Stop Signal (ESS) Standard
• Auto/manual Vehicle diagnostics Alert
• Al Voice Command

How's the interior?

The premium looks of the interior make it appear worth more than Rs. 20 lakhs. The colour combinations, cabin design, material quality, and overall look of the cabin give a premium feel. There is a soft touch of leather in the gear level, steering wheel, crash pad, and elbow pad. The silver finishing around the console and the impressive steering-mounted buttons quality gives Seltos the looks of a luxurious car. The hard plastics used in Kia keeps a check on the price. The sensible design of the car makes it worth buying. The manual air conditioner vents are big that you can shut as per your wish. The front seats have comfortable armrests too. The Tech Line variant has hexagonal quilting white-colored seats. The GT Line variant has either all-black leather with contrast stitching or dual-tone seats. It also has brushed aluminum pedals that add up to the sporty quotient of the vehicle. It is an ideal car for large occupants as it has spacious seats. The GTX+ and GTX variants have a power-adjustable seat that makes the driving position easier and helps in reaching the adjustable steering wheel.

The lower variants of Seltos make the support of the under-thigh for the front seat occupant feel a bit lacking. 

There is also enough headroom and knee room to stretch out. The manual sunshades and recline adjustable seats help passengers relax too. The cabin feels quite airy and the window line is designed low. The vehicle does not have the third row. The vehicle has a boot space of 433 litres that gives it an upper hand over Creta that has a boot space of 400 litres. The boot space is deep and wide that provides luggage and the boot floor is high.

How’s the tech? 

MG Hector has more connected features but the UVO tech of Seltos offers as much s 37 connected features. There is a free subscription of three years offered under 5 different categories such as vehicle management, navigation, remote control, convenience, safety, and security. 

The navigation tool includes car location, destination sharing, car tracking, a destination set along with schedule, live traffic information, send destination route, find my car, and desired destination search. Some of the security and safety features are the UVO system that helps to send notifications on auto collision, panic notification, SOS-emergency assistance, roadside assistance, stolen vehicle tracking, stolen vehicle immobilization, safety alert, and stole vehicle tracking. 

There is also a remote control feature that allows the occupant to control an air purifier, AC, ignition, horns & lights, tyre pressure monitor, and door locks via the mobile application. The system is offered with powered Voice Recognition and Artificial Intelligence. You can also control other features like navigation and maps, making phone calls, voice command, and climate control. 

How’s the storage? 

Seltos offers a cargo space of 433 litres and is, therefore, considered the best in this department. Hyundai Creta has a cargo space of 400-litres. You can also expand the boot space for further use. The rear seats have a 60-40 split rear seating capacity. 

How’s the mileage of Kia Seltos? 
As per ARAI, the mileage of Kia Seltos ranges from 16.8 kmpl to 20.8 kmpl. 

How is the performance?

All the variants of Kia Seltos are BS6 compliant and have also been tested on the BS4 fuel. Kia is available with six transmission and engine combinations. The top petrol engine variant, 1.4 litre turbocharged engine having a seven-speed dual-clutch or a six-speed manual transmission offers 140 PS. The manual version feels very energetic on highways and is easy for commuting in the city. The engine and clutch are light and responsive. When accelerating the vehicle fast, the revs quickly delivers quite a strong clutch. The petrol engine is quiet and smooth. The 1.4 litre petrol motor having automatic transmission performs a bit differently. The gearshifts and power delivery feel out of sync when driven on stop-go city roads. But the transmission is smooth and quick which does not make gear shifting noticeable. There is still unwanted dullness when unnecessarily and sudden acceleration is done. It feels tiring when driven at slow speeds. The available drive modes/options are very helpful and it covers up the little flaws. The Eco mode softens power delivery and slows the gearboxes' eagerness. This makes it calmer and enjoyable for city use and daily commuting. The Sport mode is great at overtaking on highways as it keeps lower gear for a bit longer thus making the vehicle very responsive. 

How safe is Kia Seltos?

The Kia Seltos offers dual-airbags with EBD and ABS as standard features. The GTX+ and GTX variants have six airbags. There are also other safety features such as the Electronic Stability Control (ESC), hill hold, and Vehicle Stability Management. You will not get these features with a 1.5 Litre petrol or diesel engine. The diesel engine variant also lacks a 360-degree view camera. The Tech Line’s variants HTX+ and HTX offer tyre pressure monitoring and front parking sensors.

Is it a good value for money? 

Kia Seltos is a good value for money as both the interior and exterior of the vehicle are classy and premium. It offers many combinations of transmission and engine. The premium features, aggressive styling, and great performance make it one of the best choices in the compact SUV segment.