First Drive: The Coming of Age of All-New Seltos
The second generation Kia Seltos has arrived in India, boasting significant updates and a new turbo-petrol engine, reinforcing its status as a competitive player in the mid-size SUV market.
It was Seltos that established the South Korean Kia brand in the fiercely competitive car market in India when it was launched in 2019. It was an instant hit with buyers and, since then, it has never looked back.
In 2023, the Seltos was given some updates, including a new turbo-petrol engine. Six years on since it first hit the road, the carmaker, to beat the growing competition, has unveiled the second generation Seltos for the Indian market.
Does the new Seltos lives up to its promise? It took it for a long spin to check it out first hand.
The Exterior
Built on Kia’s new K3 platform, the second generation Seltos is big and tech rich. The car is nearly 100mm longer than before, 30mm wider and rides on a wheelbase that has grown by 80mm, which alters its proportions and its position on the road. On first look, what strikes you is its altogether new style. While the headlights, grille and front bumper might look a bit extravagant, the designers have complimented them by smoothing out the bonnet surface with subtle creases.
From the side, the new Seltos appears to be an evolution of its earlier version, with glossy black cladding on the wheel arches and sides with body coloured inserts. Other features are glossy black ORVMs, 18-inch crystal cut alloy wheels and flush-fitting door handles. The car has got a dual-pane panoramic sunroof, sharkfin antenna and roof rails.
At the rear, the Seltos gets a prominent roof spoiler, Star Map LED connected tail-lamps, bumper with a glossy large black insert, LED reversing lamps, and vertically oriented reflectors.
The Interior
As you step in, you will notice familiar Kia bits but this time it is all top-notch. The fit and finish is great with minimal panel gaps, and the material used for the cabin is all high quality with good texturing on the surfaces.
The car features new 12.3-inch screens for the infotainment system, the driver instrument cluster, and a third 5-inch screen for HVAC controls right in between the two. The graphics are crisp, clean, and well laid-out. The touchscreen is very crisp to use, and the feed from the 360-degree camera is also sharp.
Other features are a Bose sound system, a panoramic sunroof, wireless phone charging, ambient lighting, front cooled seats, and a powered driver’s seat with a memory function for its position as well as that of the outside rearview mirrors (ORVMs). It also has an entry and exit function. But it does not have an air purifier.
The car is equipped with 6 airbags and electronic stability control (ESC), as well as downhill brake control and a full ADAS suite. It has also got the lane-departure correction. As for safety rating, the new Seltos has not yet been crash-tested under the GNCAP or BNCAP protocols.
The Drive Experience
Buyers have an option to choose between a 115HP 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol, a 160HP 1.5-litre turbo-petrol and a 115HP 1.5-litre diesel, paired with a wide selection of manual and automatic gearboxes.
I drove the 1.5-litre diesel automatic which provided a smooth operation between shifts. The power delivery is linear, and it works as a comfortable cruiser. Driving at 1,500rpm, the Seltos take off nicely, providing a comfortable drive. However, the engine does feel lacking in punch and urgency even in Sport mode. While the gearbox is smooth, it is somewhat a slow shifter, even via the paddles. However, when you cruise at triple digit on the highway, the engine feels relaxed, proving you comfortable driving. The NVH levels of the new Seltos have also been improved and when travelling at highway speeds, you don’t feel the noise inside the cabin. However, it does make itself audible after you move past 2,000 RPM. Both in the city and on the highway, sharp-edged potholes are dealt with easily and the ride quality is exceptional.
Should I buy it?
With the price tag of Rs 10.99 lakh-Rs 19.99 lakh, the new Seltos which has become more desirable than before for all segments of buyers. With a wide range of features, driving dynamics, best-in class cabin, including robust safety suite, the car stands out in the highly competitive mid-size SUV in India at present. For young buyers, the new Seltos is undoubtedly a family SUV with overall comforts and safety.