Kia Seltos

The Kia Seltos gets a cabin that feels both upscale and intuitive. Like in any compact SUV, the front seats are the most spacious The driver and front passenger enjoy well-bolstered seats with ample lumbar support. Top trims offer power-adjustable driver’s seat with ventilation and heating function. The rear bench-type seat is spacious for a compact SUV, with generous legroom and headroom for average-sized adults. The rear seat backrest reclines slightly, enhancing long-distance comfort. A central armrest with adds to the convenience.

The Kia Seltos uses a combination of soft-touch materials and textured plastics that create a nice balance between cost-efficiency and tactile satisfaction. The dashboard of the higher trims get soft-touch material. Base trims get more hard plastic, but it’s textured and doesn’t feel cheap. The door panels get padded armrests with leatherette inserts in the top trims. Lower trims use durable plastic. 

Higher models get leatherette upholstery in top variants. Lower variants get fabric seats. The leatherette feels durable and upscale. The central console gets solid-feeling switches and rotary knobs. Piano black trims around the infotainment and air-conditioning controls add to the premium look. But they attract fingerprints.

Cabin noise insulation is impressive for the segment. Engine and road noise are well-contained.

Pros and Cons

Pros: Spacious cabin

Cons: Hard plastics in lower trims

Features and Technology

The Kia Seltos gets a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment unit in higher trims. It’s connected to an eight-speaker Bose premium sound system. The touchscreen interface is user-friendly with crisp graphics. This system supports Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The split-screen functionality allows users to operate multiple applications simultaneously. The system integrates with the Kia Connect car technology, providing features like remote engine start-stop, climate control, and vehicle tracking. 

The car comes with an air purification system integrated into the front armrest. This system filters out pollutants and offers virus and bacteria protection. Users can monitor real-time air quality through the infotainment screen and choose from Ocean, Lavender, and Forest fragrance options.

Higher trims get a 7.0-inch color display that provides essential information like speed, fuel efficiency, and turn-by-turn navigation. Top variants get an 8.0-inch head-up display that projects critical data onto the windshield, allowing drivers to stay informed without diverting attention from the road. 

Pros and cons

Pros: Smart connectivity with Kia Connect

Cons: Smaller instrument panel in lower trims

Boot Space and Storage

With all seats up, the Kia Seltos provides a generous 433 litres of cargo space. The space is both wide and features a flat load-lip, facilitating the loading of heavier items. For larger cargo, the 60:40 split-folding rear seats can be folded down, expanding the storage area to an impressive 1,401 litres. The flexibility allows to transport bulkier items without compromising passenger comfort. Small storage compartments are present on either side of the boot, suitable for storing items like first-aid kits or tools.

Inside the cabin, the Kia Seltos is equipped with various storage compartments designed for convenience. These include a front central console that gets a removable plastic divider to allow the space to be converted into cup holders as needed, door pockets, and cup holders. The spacious 7.85-litre glovebox, provides ample room to keep essential documents and small items

Pros and Cons

Pros: Generous boot

Cons: limited expansion of boot space

The Kia Seltos measures 4,385mm in length, 1,800mm in width, and 1,620mm in height. It has a wheelbase of 2,630mm. The Kia Seltos facelift version comes with a series of exterior enhancements that strengthens its visual appeal and road presence. In the front, the car sports a larger tiger-nose grille with an intricate honeycomb pattern. The daytime running lights (DRLs) have been reimagined to extend towards the center of the grille, adding a sophisticated touch. The car gets all-around LED lighting. The bumper has been re-sculpted to incorporate angular fog lamp housings and a pronounced skid plate.

The Kia Seltos, from the sides, looks largely consistent with the previous model. It maintains its well-balanced proportions. Notable updates include new 18-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels that introduce a sharper design, contributing to a sportier stance. The door cladding now features body-colored inserts.

Significant transformation has been carried out at the back. The Kia Seltos now boasts of an all-new taillight cluster connected by an illuminated strip, aligning it with Kia's global design language. The tailgate has been redesigned for smoother curves, moving away from the previously sculpted look. The rear bumper has been updated with thicker cladding and functional dual-exhaust tips in the higher models reinforce the vehicle's sporty appeal. ​But the rear-end may appear over-styled to some. 

The car is available in Snow White Pearl, Pluton Blue, Aurora Black Pearl, and Gravity Gray colour options. 

Pros and cons

Pros: Distinctive front fascia

Cons: Overstyled front end

The 1.5-litre powertrain achieves approximately 21kmpl fuel economy when cruising at an average speed of 90kmph. It returns around 14kmpl under light traffic conditions. The 1.4-litre powertrain is a more dynamic option and offers a balance between performance and efficiency. It returns a city mileage of approximately 10kmpl, while highway efficiency ranges between 17 to 18kmpl.

Pros and cons

Pros: Efficient powertrain

Cons: Some rivals offer better highway mileage

The suspension of the Kia Seltos is tuned slightly on the firmer side. It benefits handling and body control, but can make low-speed rides over rough roads a bit jarring. The damping does a good job of soaking up mild to moderate bumps, but sharper potholes and broken roads tend to send more shock into the cabin than ideal. At low speeds, the car feels composed. On highways, the ride quality improves noticeably. The car feels stable and planted, with minimal floaty feel.

Handling is one of the stronger points of Seltos. The electric power steering is light at low speeds. It’s great for city driving. But it lacks feedback during enthusiastic driving. The car feels confident in corners with limited body roll. The firmer suspension helps it stay composed.

Pros: Sharp and confident handling

Cons: Firm low-speed ride

The Kia Seltos gets two powertrain options. The entry-level LX and EX are equipped with a naturally-aspirated, four-cylinder, 1.5-litre petrol engine that produces 113 PS/145 Nm. The motor is mated to a Kia's Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT). The combination provides smooth acceleration and commendable fuel efficiency. The top-level model is equipped with a turbocharged, four-cylinder, 1.4-litre petrol engine that produces 140 PS/242 Nm. The motor is paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT) that facilitates rapid gear shifts. However, some drivers have noted that the DCT can exhibit slight hesitation during low-speed maneuvers or on inclines. Drivers get Smart, Eco, Comfort, Sport, and Custom driving modes, allowing them to adapt to various driving conditions.

Pros and cons

Pros: Refined powertrain

Cons: Lack of certain features in base models

The Kia Seltos comes with a 360-degree camera system that practically eliminates all blind spots. Cameras mounted on the outside mirrors project live footage of the car's blind spots onto the instrument cluster when the turn signals are activated. The compact SUV gets a Level 2 Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) comprising 17 features that enhances driving convenience and safety. The Kia Connect’s optional navigation system supports voice commands that promote hands-free operation and minimizes distractions.

The Kia Seltos also gets six airbags, electronic stability control (ESC) and vehicle stability management (VSM), hill-start control a tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS), and an emergency stop signal.  

Pros and cons

Pros: Comprehensive safety system

Cons: Some features are excluded from the base model

Competitor Comparison

The Toyota Rush is a close competitor of Kia Seltos. The latter sports a more modern design, a refined 1.5-litre engine, and a tech-rich interior, ideal for urban drivers seeking comfort and style. In contrast, the Toyota Rush features a rugged seven-seater setup, making it practical for families and rougher roads. While the Kia Seltos compact SUV boasts of better ride quality and premium features, the Toyota Rush stands out for its affordability, higher ground clearance, and the Japanese manufacturer’s reliability. The Kia Seltos suits solo professionals or small families, while the Rush appeals to larger households needing space and utility on a budget.

Conclusion and Final Verdict

The Kia Seltos impresses with its bold styling, tech-savvy interior, and solid performance. It strikes a fine balance between practicality and personality, making it a standout in the compact SUV segment. For buyers seeking value, versatility, and flair, the Kia Seltos delivers a well-rounded package that exceeds expectations.