Category Average: 1497.0 cc
Seltos: 1482.0 - 1497.0 cc
Category Average: 17.47 kmpl
Seltos: 17-20.7 kmpl
Category Average: 131.4 bhp
Seltos: 113.0 - 158.0 bhp
Introduction
The Kia Seltos is a popular mid-size SUV which had its first-generation launch in 2019. The Seltos went through a facelift in 2023 which brought updates to the powertrain and introduced Level-2 ADAS along with new features and cosmetic upgrades. With its wide range of features, dynamic powertrain, and practicality, the Kia Seltos is one of the most popular SUVs in its segment and has contributed greatly to the carmaker’s overall sales in the first half of 2024.
Kia Seltos Price:
The Kia Seltos is offered within the price range of Rs 10.90 lakh (ex-showroom) and Rs 20.37 lakh (ex-showroom). The GT Line starts at Rs 18.99 lakh (ex-showroom) and the X-Line starts at Rs 19.64 lakh (ex-showroom).
When was Kia Seltos launched?
The first generation of the Kia Seltos was launched in 2019 and the SUV received a subsequent facelift in 2023. This facelift brought along a new turbo-petrol powertrain, along with Level-2 ADAS and additional cosmetic upgrades. The front fascia received a bigger front grille along with bigger air intakes and a new design for the LED DRLs. The rear end received updated tail lamps which were connected with a thick LED bar that stretches across the boot.
How many variants of the Kia Seltos are available?
The Kia Seltos is offered in ten variants spread across three broad categories – the HT Line (or the Tech Line), the GT Line, and the premium X-Line that gets an exclusive exterior matte black finish. The Seltos is available with seven colour options, namely Imperial Blue, Aurora Black Pearl, Intense Red, Pewter Olive, Glacier White Pearl, Sparkling Silver, and Gravity Grey. The X-Line receives an Xclusive Matte Graphite exterior colour option and an all-black interior with sage green inserts.
While the base variants receive all the standard convenience and safety features, the Seltos receives ADAS functionality from the GT Line onwards. The X-Line gets a Piano Black front-grille and skid plates along with Sun Orange accents. This variant is further distinguished by the ‘X-Line’ badging and its set of 18-inch glossy black alloy wheels.
What features are available in the Kia Seltos?
The 2023 facelift introduced a new dual-screen housing for the infotainment display and the digital instrument cluster. Both screens measure 10.25-inch in size and are part of a panoramic housing that stretches from behind the driver’s wheel to the centre console. Right below the housing sits the AC vents and the HVAC control panel in the centre console. The Seltos 2023 further features sequential DRLs, dual-pane panoramic sunroof, and dual-zone automatic climate control. Further highlights include an eight-way power adjustable driver’s seat, ventilated seats in the front, rain-sensing wipers, wireless charging capability, and an air purification system. The Seltos further comes with Kia Connect, a platform for smartphone integration that allows for home-to-car connectivity and control.
What are the engine, performance, and specifications of Kia Seltos?
The 2023 Kia Seltos is offered with three engine configurations, which include two petrol powertrains and one diesel unit. The 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine produces 113 bhp and 144 Nm of torque and can be paired with either a six-speed manual transmission or an iVT. The other petrol unit is a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine that can be paired with either a six-speed iMT or a seven-speed DCT. This combination is able to put out 158 bhp and 253 Nm of torque. The 1.5-litre diesel engine pushes 114 bhp and serves 250 Nm of torque.
What is the Kia Seltos mileage?
The Kia Seltos receives an ARAI-claimed mileage of between 17 kmpl to 20.7 kmpl and receives a 50-litre fuel tank.
What is the ground clearance and boot space of Kia Seltos?
A 190 mm ground clearance aids the Kia Seltos in manoeuvrability over uneven terrain and the SUV provides for a decent amount of usable storage, with a boot space of 433 litres.
What is the seating capacity of Kia Seltos?
The Kia Seltos 2023 is a five-seater SUV.
What is the safety rating of Kia Seltos?
The Kia Seltos was awarded a three-star safety rating from the Global New Car Assessment Programme in 2020. It brings features such as six airbags, hill assist, 360-degree camera with blind view monitor and TPMs. The SUV features parking sensors on both ends, ISOFIX mounts in the rear, and three-point seatbelts all around.
The SUV further features Level-2 ADAS that brings 19 additional safety features such as both frontal and rear collision alerts and avoidance assists, lane driving and departure assists, smart cruise control and blind spot monitoring.
What cars does the Kia Seltos rival in its segment?
The Kia Seltos slots into the mid-size SUV segment and is pitted against the likes of the Hyundai Creta, Skoda Kushaq, and Volkswagen Taigun, Honda Elevate, and Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder.
Kia Seltos SUV has had a solid run in the Indian car market despite being one of the newer offerings in the highly lucrative and highly competitive mid-size SUV space. That Seltos holds a very special place in the Kia India lineup is evident from the fact that it was the debut model for the company when it came calling back in 2019. Earlier this year, Seltos surpassed the key milestone of five lakh units in sales, another testament to its popularity.
The updated Seltos sticks to its core strengths of looking very sporty while now offering even more features in the cabin. The real power punch is promised from the introduction of Level 2 ADAS and the debut of the 1.5-turbo petrol engine on the model. The recipe is just right for the momentum to continue but how does the 2023 Seltos fare in the real world?
Brands like Kia and Hyundai offer a whole lot of options to the customer in terms of engine, transmission, colours, styling, features and more. And while having the power of choice is great, it can be very complicated for the common buyer to pin down on just the right choice for him or her.
The 2023 Kia Seltos continues to be offered in as many as 18 variants across three broad trim lines - Tech Line, GT Line and the pinnacle X Line. Essentially, the X Line is the one that gets the matt finish on the body.
Features and styling updates varies from not just variant to variant within a specific trim line but between trim lines as well. For the sole purpose of clarity, one is advised to choose between the three engine and five transmission choices first before homing in on the trim and variant, if and where available.
The biggest strength of the updated Kia Seltos will continue to be its very sporty visual appeal from the outside. There are as many as eight single-tone colour options and two dual-tone hues, apart from the matte graphite on the X-Line. Of all of these, the new Pewter Olive shade is my personal favourite and looks extremely premium.
As for the major updates to the styling, the trademark tigernose front grille - with chrome or gloss blak outline - has grown in size and has an even more imposing presence on the face. Cutting across it from either ends are new design language of the DRLs, referred to by the company as Star Map LEDs. The LED head light units also elevate the visual appeal of the face while the design of the now four-point fog light system at the bottom is also new. The front grille and the air intakes now grow in size.
Depending on the trim and variant, the Seltos sits on 16, 17 and 18-inch alloy wheels. The crystal-cut black alloy wheel design has also been crafted with the sole purpose of adding to the aesthetic appeal of the vehicle. The character lines, creases and chrome underlining the windowline remain.
Over at the rear, the Seltos now gets an all-new design for the LED tail lights while an LED light bar yawns across the length of the trunk door. There is a prominent skid plate at the bottom (see pic below) and if opting for the GT or X Line trims, there are also two exhaust vents (see pic above).
Seltos was always a sporty-looking SUV and the confluence of all the fresh updates further elevates its appeal. It may not be for those who prefer a more conventionally-styled model but then again, Kia has always aimed for the crowd rather than the distinct.
2023 Kia Seltos: Dimensions | |
Length | 4,365 mm |
Width | 1,800 mm |
Height | 1,645 mm |
Fuel-tank capacity | 50 litres |
The cabin of the Seltos continues to offer the same amount of space and comfort as was available in the preceding models. This means that while it is a great option for even five passengers, the relatively small rear windows remain unchanged. But a lot has changed in almost every other way.
Continuing with the over-arching ideas of offering a mile-long list of options to choose from, the 2023 Seltos gets multiple upholstery colour options depending on the trim line. The Tech Line can be had with Brown leatherette seats and Black interiors with Brown inserts - tacky for my personal senses. It can also be had with Black and Beige Leatherette seats with Black and Beige interiors, and Beige leatherette seats with Black and Beige interiors. There are all black interiors too with fabric seats. Then there is the GT Line with Black leatherette seats and all-Black interiors with White inserts. And the top-end X-Line comes with Sage Green Leatherette seats with all-Black interiors with Sage Green inserts.
In terms of features, the Seltos now gets its 10.25-inch main display and the 10.25-inch MID encapsulated in a stretched housing. This is across variants and trims although the functionalities, obviously, would differ. The display units are typically sharp and intuitive to use.
On top is a dual-pane sunroof while the other highlights include rain-sensing wipers, eight-way power adjustable driver seat, ventilated front seats, dual-zone climate control, eight-speaker Bose sound system, D-shaped steering wheel with mounted controls, air-purification system, wireless phone charging, plenty of USB charging slots and plethora of storage spaces all around. Small details like rear window shade across variants is a good move.
The latest Kia Seltos is offered across three engine options - two petrol and one diesel. The 1.5-litre naturally-aspirated petrol motor continues to offer 113 bhp and 144 Nm of torque. It is mated to a six-speed manual gearbox and an iVT. Then there is the 1.5-litre CRDi diesel motor that puts out 114 bhp and serves 250 Nm of torque. We did not get a chance to drive either of these in this review.
The spotlight, however, is clearly on the return of the turbo petrol motor, now in a 1.5-litre guise. This engine is paired to a six-speed iMT and a seven-speed DCT. There is a delicious dose of power and torque - 158 bhp and 253 Nm - and this is not just restricted to figures but manifests itself into performance in the real world.
The turbo petrol motor - paired with the seven-speed DCT - is the clear winner in the Seltos lineup, a romance made in automotive heaven. The power delivery is linear, yet strong, with the gearbox effortlessly working the right numbers in response to the intensity of throttle inputs. While the Eco drive mode has enough power to perform on highways, the Normal and Sport modes further elevate the spirit of the SUV.
But when the engine gets paired to the semi-automatic gearbox or iMT, it is a comparatively calmer experience where you would have to work the gearbox with precision to extract the performance of a similar nature. On its own, it is hardly shabby but it really has nothing on the much-acclaimed DCT.
Because triple-digit speeds are fairly easy for the Seltos, credit is due for a very firm grip on exterior noise because whether it is the engine or ambient sounds, not much manages to filter into the cabin of the Seltos. Keep a light grip on the throttle and the well-weighted steering and the Seltos pushes forward well while remaining planted for most parts.
And then there is the ADAS technology which seeks to be the cherry on the proverbial cake. I may personally continue doubting the feasibility of ADAS in Indian conditions but it is still billed as a key safety features by many. The Seltos makes use of one front camera and three radars - one in front and two at the rear - to offer as many as 17 safety and preventive drive highlights. During the course of this review, we put features like Lane Keep Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control and Foward Collision Warning to the test and it worked precisely. Do note that all of these were done on an open and clear stretch of highway with a second Seltos review unit for testing.
Not every Kia move in India has paid it rich dividends. The Carnival was a big gamble while the EV6 is a flagship that is more a statement than a sales driver. The Sonet sub-compact SUV sells in good numbers but is not a leader in its segment. The Seltos, therefore, is the most formidable Kia India model and now with its slew of changes, updates and additions, emerges as a very, very solid option.
Compared to some of its rivals, the new Seltos still does not have certain highlights like all-wheel drive capabilities and/or strong hybrid technology. But enhancing its core strengths while also offering ADAS should hold it in very good stead in the market, at least till the time Hyundai updates its Creta in a similar manner.
Rear AC Vents | Yes |
Airbags | Yes |
Body Type | Compact SUV |
Max Torque | 144-253 Nm |
Mileage | 17 kmpl |
Transmission | Manual, Automatic |
Engine | 1482-1497 cc |
Sunroof | Yes |
Fuel Type | Petrol,Diesel |
Kia Seltos | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
₹11.13 Lakhs* | ₹12.49 Lakhs* | ₹17.49 Lakhs* | ₹10.6 Lakhs* | ₹11.42 Lakhs* | ₹16.75 Lakhs* |
User Rating 124 Reviews | User Rating 23 Reviews | User Rating 10 Reviews | User Rating 3 Reviews | User Rating 31 Reviews | User Rating - |
Airbags 6 | Airbags 6 | Airbags 6 | Airbags 6 | Airbags 6 | Airbags 2 |
Safety Rating* - | Safety Rating* - | Safety Rating* - | Safety Rating* | Safety Rating* - | Safety Rating* - |
Power 114 bhp | Power - | Power 148 bhp | Power 113 bhp | Power 91 bhp | Power 138 bhp |
Torque 250 Nm | Torque - | Torque 215 Nm | Torque 250 Nm | Torque 122 Nm | Torque 320 Nm |
Ground Clearance - | Ground Clearance 190 mm | Ground Clearance 186 mm | Ground Clearance 195 mm | Ground Clearance 210 mm | Ground Clearance 233 mm |
Length 4365 mm | Length 3994 mm | Length 4310 mm | Length 4540 mm | Length 4345 mm | Length 4390 mm |
Height 1645 mm | Height 1616 mm | Height 1637 mm | Height 1708 mm | Height 1645 mm | Height 2095 mm |
Width 1800 mm | Width 1811 mm | Width 1810 mm | Width 1800 mm | Width 1795 mm | Width 1865 mm |
Turning Radius - | Turning Radius 5.3 metres | Turning Radius 5.35 metres | Turning Radius - | Turning Radius 5.4 metres | Turning Radius 6.3 metres |
Boot Space 433 litres | Boot Space 350 litres | Boot Space 500 litres | Boot Space 216 litres | Boot Space 265 litres | Boot Space - |
Body Type Compact SUV | Body Type SUV | Body Type SUV | Body Type MUV | Body Type SUV | Body Type SUV |
Transmission Manual, Automatic | Transmission - | Transmission - | Transmission Manual, Automatic | Transmission Manual, Automatic | Transmission Manual |
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