Kia Seltos

Kia Seltos at a glance

The Seltos is a front-engined, front- or four-wheel-drive crossover with a monocoque body that makes wide use of advanced high-strength steel (AHSS). It is offered with naturally aspirated and turbocharged petrol engines and a choice of transmissions. More Kia models are listed in our Kia catalogue, and its close relative is covered in our Hyundai Creta article.

Design

Apart from the badge, the Seltos looks quite unlike other Kias. The short, upright front end gives a good view of the road, the bonnet is sculpted, and a trapezoidal grille with chrome strips and coarse black mesh sits between large headlights with separate low and high beams (xenon and LED depending on version). The bumper has a large lower intake, a metal-look skid plate and fog lamps in side recesses, protected by unpainted plastic.

In profile there are flowing creases edged with thin black and chrome lines, almost triangular mirrors with indicators, chrome-trimmed door handles and large wheel arches with plastic cladding. Ground clearance is 185 mm, and wheels range from 16 to 18 inches. At the rear, a gloss-black spoiler, large tail lights with chrome inserts, rear fog lamps and a black bumper with dummy exhaust trims complete the look; the real exhaust is hidden underneath.

Interior and practicality

The dashboard has a strongly horizontal layout, with few physical buttons grouped into neat blocks. The infotainment screen stands on top of the dashboard: a basic radio on entry versions, an 8-inch screen in the middle and an optional 10.25-inch touchscreen. An 8-inch head-up display with a pop-up glass panel is available. Hard plastics dominate, with softer materials where hands rest. Seats are fabric or perforated leatherette, with optional ventilation. The instrument panel is a familiar Kia design with analogue dials and a large trip computer screen, and a Drive Mode selector sits on the tunnel.

Rear passengers have enough knee room, a fold-down armrest, a USB port and reclining backrests — a feature many rivals lack. The boot holds 433 litres with a full-size spare; versions with a space-saver gain about 35 litres, and folding the rear seat increases the space by about two and a half times.

Engines and transmissions

The turbo version reaches 100 km/h in 8.4 seconds, and Kia quotes consumption of 5.5–8 l/100 km depending on the version. Higher trims have Drive Mode with Eco, Sport and Normal settings. All-wheel drive uses a Magna multi-plate clutch that can be locked at speeds up to 60 km/h; it is a simple system intended for occasional slippery conditions rather than serious off-roading.

Chassis

Front suspension uses MacPherson struts. Front-wheel-drive versions have a semi-independent twist-beam rear axle, while all-wheel-drive versions get an independent multi-link rear, which makes them more comfortable. The ride is smooth on good roads, though joints and potholes are felt clearly. Steering is electrically assisted, and the brakes are discs all round, ventilated at the front.

Safety and equipment

The Seltos offers six airbags, stability control, emergency brake assist, hill-start assist, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assistance, a parking collision warning and smart cruise control. Entry versions include air conditioning, LED daytime running lights, heated folding mirrors, a 3.5-inch TFT display, rear parking sensors and tyre-pressure monitoring. Higher trims add heated steering wheel and front seats, front-seat ventilation, remote engine start, full-LED lights, roof rails, leather upholstery, a head-up display, heated rear seats, a surround-view camera, a Supervision cluster with a 7-inch colour screen, adaptive cruise control, an eight-speaker Bose system and a sunroof.

Key specifications

Strengths and weaknesses

Owners like the Seltos's looks, performance, handling and suspension, a good infotainment system even on mid-range versions, reasonable fuel consumption, the availability of all-wheel drive and a high level of safety. Criticisms include weak sound insulation and interior plastics that scratch and mark easily; some owners also reported a burning smell and CVT failures after driving on rough roads, so CVT versions are best kept on the tarmac. Rivals include the Hyundai Creta, Nissan Kicks, Honda HR-V, Toyota Corolla Cross, Volkswagen Taigun and Suzuki Vitara.