When is much less extra? Kia is asking that query with the up to date Seltos GT-Line SUV.
Together with extra know-how and a recent look on the surface, final 12 months’s replace to the Seltos introduced a brand new engine choice to the GT-Line – a much less highly effective, cheaper 2.0-litre four-cylinder lifted from decrease fashions within the vary.
Not solely is it cheaper than the extra highly effective 1.6-litre turbocharged engine that was beforehand the one choice within the GT-Line, it’s extra environment friendly in standardised testing. On paper it’s a compelling choice.
We’ve hopped behind the wheel of the turbocharged range-topper to analyze whether or not it’s been usurped by the brand new child on the block.
How does the Kia Seltos fare vs its rivals?
View an in depth breakdown of the Kia Seltos in opposition to equally sized automobiles.
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Seltos
How a lot does the Kia Seltos price?
- 2024 Kia Seltos S 2.0 FWD: $29,500 ($31,690 drive-away)
- 2024 Kia Seltos Sport 2.0 FWD: $32,700 ($35,390 drive-away)
- 2024 Kia Seltos Sport+ 2.0 FWD: $35,800 ($38,490 drive-away)
- 2024 Kia Seltos Sport+ 1.6T AWD: $39,300 ($41,990 drive-away)
- 2024 Kia Seltos GT-Line 2.0 FWD: $41,500 ($44,590 drive-away)
- 2024 Kia Seltos GT-Line 1.6T AWD: $44,900 ($47,690 drive-away)
All costs are earlier than on-road prices.
To see how the Seltos compares with its rivals, line it up side-by-side with any automobile you need utilizing our comparison tool.
What’s the Kia Seltos like on the within?
The pre-update Seltos already had one of many higher small SUV cabins, and the facelifted mannequin has taken one other step ahead.
The twin widescreen shows are built-in right into a slick single panel, and the redesigned centre console is cleaner and simpler to make use of than earlier than. There’s a touch of Mercedes-Benz to the design, all the way down to the configurable ambient lighting.
It’ll even pulse in time with the sound system for those who take pleasure in being distracted by your automobile’s dashboard at night time.
Behind the flashy bits, the basics are good right here. Entrance passengers sit in generously padded seats set excessive, for a commanding view of the street, and most of what you seize feels prime quality. The wheel is trimmed in leather-based, as is the gear knob, and a lot of the locations you relaxation your elbows are good and smooth.
Kia deserves credit score for sticking with buttons for the local weather controls. It’s straightforward to punch in your heated or cooled seat with out taking your eyes off the street, as a result of there’s a giant button subsequent to the gear lever, somewhat than a tiny icon on a distant show.
Kia’s new infotainment system is a combined bag. On the plus facet, it appears polished and responds shortly to inputs. The graphics are all good-looking, and it’s full-featured.
However the lack of wi-fi smartphone mirroring has been exhausting to grasp for some time now, and it’s exhausting to excuse as we swing into 2024. Sure, you get manufacturing unit navigation (able to exhibiting dwell visitors information), but it surely’s no match for Google Maps – and there’s no substitute for with the ability to reply to textual content messages utilizing your telephone’s native voice management.
The digital instrument cluster provides a lot of the data you want, but it surely’s not a patch on what’s on supply within the newest Volkswagen Group merchandise. Likewise the head-up show, which is projected on a chunk of glass as an alternative of the windscreen like in new Mazda automobiles.
The quantity of storage on supply is sweet. There’s a shelf beneath the centre stack giant sufficient for an outsized telephone or pockets, together with adequately-sized cupholders between the entrance seats, and a reasonably deep console bin. The door bins are on the shallower facet.
One USB-A and one USB-C port function up entrance, together with a 12V plug. A wi-fi telephone charger options beneath the sprint; though, you’ll be able to’t really use it if you wish to use Android Auto or Apple CarPlay.
This can be a greater tackle the small SUV formulation, with a number of legroom and headroom for passengers within the rear seats.
The wide-opening rear doorways and tall home windows make this one of many higher small SUVs on the market for households with tight parking areas, and imply you’ll extra simply have the ability to load youngsters or cumbersome little one seats than in some rivals.
You get two ISOFIX factors and a trio of high tethers again there. USB-C ports and air vents function too, which is able to maintain children comfortable on lengthy, summer time street journeys.
Once we first drove the Seltos it was a little bit of an outlier, however the competitors has caught up. The brand new Hyundai Kona is larger than earlier than, as is the brand new Nissan Qashqai. In that context the Seltos continues to be good, but it surely’s not fairly the standout it as soon as was.
Claimed boot area is 433 litres, and there’s a full-sized spare wheel beneath the ground. Folding the rear bench (60/40) expands that to 1393 litres.
What’s beneath the bonnet?
The 1.6-litre engine within the Seltos GT-Line is the range-topping choice, and the one engine paired with all-wheel drive. The vary can also be supplied with the naturally aspirated 2.0-litre engine mentioned earlier, which is attached to a CVT and front-wheel drive.
| Mannequin | Kia Seltos GT-Line 1.6T AWD |
|---|---|
| Engine | 1.6L 4cyl turbo |
| Energy | 146kW |
| Torque | 265Nm |
| Transmission | 8-speed computerized |
| Pushed wheels | All-wheel drive |
| Weight | 1495kg (tare) |
| Gasoline financial system (declare) | 7.4 litres per 100km |
| Gasoline financial system (noticed) | 10.5 litres per 100km (metropolis) |
| Gasoline tank measurement | 50 litres |
| Gasoline requirement | 91 RON |
To see how the Seltos compares with its rivals, line it up side-by-side with any automobile you need utilizing our comparison tool.
How does the Kia Seltos drive?
Extra energy is often an excellent factor, but it surely doesn’t essentially make for a greater Seltos.
The excellent news is, the swap from a dual-clutch transmission to a standard computerized makes the GT-Line really feel extra pure. Relatively than stuttering off the road, and awkwardly getting caught between first and second gears, the turbocharged Seltos feels extra at dwelling within the metropolis than earlier than.
The sunshine steering, stable visibility and high-resolution reversing digital camera make parking in tight areas easy sufficient, and the Seltos is a good measurement if you’d like a pretty big inside however spend a whole lot of time on small metropolis streets.
In comparison with cheaper fashions on smaller wheels, the GT-Line feels firmer across the metropolis. It nonetheless does an honest job conserving smaller lumps and bumps at bay, however you’re extra conscious of velocity bumps and sharp potholes right here due to the skinnier rubber and greater wheels.
If you happen to’re the type of driver who treats each visitors gentle like the beginning of a drag race, the turbo engine packs extra of a punch than the bottom 2.0-litre engine. The all-wheel drive system means you’ll be able to put your foot down exhausting off the mark, and within the moist there’s no wheel spin.
With that stated, the hole between it and the bottom engine is much smaller than you would possibly count on. The extra highly effective turbo isn’t an engine that loves being pushed exhausting, with a strained sound and fewer shove than you’d count on.
The additional grunt does repay on the freeway, although. It makes overtakes with folks and baggage on board simpler, with much less noise and fuss than you get within the 2.0-litre.
Past the engine, the Seltos is among the greatest for those who’re protecting lengthy distances. Street and wind noise are saved at bay, and the engine hums away under 2000rpm on the authorized restrict in Australia.
The GT-Line has a full suite of lively driver assists designed to lighten the load on lengthy street journeys. The adaptive cruise management system neatly maintains a spot to the automobile in entrance, and the lane-keeping help neatly nudges you again between the white traces while you stray.
Lane-centring is just too arms on; nonetheless, sustaining an iron grip on the automobile’s place in a manner that feels much less prefer it’s useful, and extra prefer it’s making an attempt to tear the wheel out of your arms.
Whereas we’re speaking about annoying security gear, the velocity restrict warning within the newest Kia and Hyundai merchandise is diabolically dangerous. Drift over the velocity restrict and it’ll beep at you. Drift again under, after which over it once more – even by a small margin – and it beeps once more.
Drive via a college zone outdoors of college hours and, regardless that the 40km/h restrict isn’t lively, it’ll beep at you for exceeding the college zone restrict.
It prompts each single time you begin the automobile, and takes a number of button presses to show off. I’d be seeking to the aftermarket to have it coded out, as a result of homeowners have confirmed it doesn’t get any much less annoying the longer you spend with the automobile.
What do you get?
Seltos S highlights:
- 16-inch alloy wheels
- Spare-saver spare wheel
- Computerized halogen headlights
- Computerized high-beam
- Halogen daytime operating lights
- Rear fog gentle
- Matte Black grille mesh
- Physique-coloured door handles
- Physique-coloured, power-folding facet mirrors
- Roof rails
- Rear spoiler
- Shark fin antenna
- 4.2-inch instrument cluster display screen
- 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- Wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- 6-speaker sound system
- 12V energy outlet in entrance console
- USB-A and USB-C outlet in entrance console
- Two USB-C retailers behind centre console
- Guide air-conditioning
- Second-row air vents
- Guide handbrake
- Folding key
- Fabric upholstery
- 6-way manually adjustable driver’s seat
Seltos Sport provides:
- 17-inch alloy wheels
- Full-size spare wheel
- Windscreen and entrance door Photo voltaic Glass
- Halogen (projector-style) entrance fog lights
- 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster
- 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- DAB+ digital radio
- Wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Satellite tv for pc navigation
- Sounds of Nature
- Kia Join (7yr subscription)
- Local weather management
- Driver window one-touch up and down
- Premium steering wheel
- Premium gear shifter
Seltos Sport+ provides:
- Heated facet mirrors
- Privateness glass
- AEB bicycle owner avoidance and junction turning help
- Adaptive cruise management
- Keyless entry and push-button begin
- Electrical park brake with auto-hold
- Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
- LED inside lights
- Illuminated vainness mirrors
- Entrance centre console armrest sliding operate
- Rear centre armrest
- Fabric and synthetic leather-based upholstery
The flagship Seltos GT-Line provides:
- 18-inch alloy wheels
- LED headlights
- LED daytime operating lights
- LED fog lights
- LED positioning lights
- LED rear mixture tail lights
- Premium Gloss Black grille mesh
- Satin silver belt line
- Tilt and slide sunroof (N/A with two-tone paint)
- Energy tailgate
- Rain-sensing window wipers
- Head-up show
- Wi-fi telephone charger
- 8-speaker Bose premium sound system
- Heated, flat-bottom steering wheel
- Inside ambient lighting
- Parcel shelf
- Premium synthetic leather-based upholstery
- Heated and ventilated entrance seats
- 10-way energy driver’s seat
- 2-way energy lumbar help
- 2-position reminiscence
- 8-way energy entrance passenger seat
Is the Kia Seltos secure?
The Kia Seltos was crash examined by ANCAP in 2019 and acquired a five-star security ranking.
It acquired an grownup occupant safety rating of 85 per cent, little one occupant safety rating of 83 per cent, weak street consumer safety rating of 61 per cent, and a security help rating of 70 per cent.
All fashions come customary with the next security options:
- Entrance, front-side and curtain airbags
- Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
- Blind-spot help
- Rear cross-traffic help
- Protected Exit Warning
- Clever Velocity Restrict Help
- Lane-keep help
- Lane Following Help (lane centring)
- Driver Consideration Alert
- Entrance and rear parking sensors
- Rear-view digital camera
- Tyre-pressure monitoring system
Sport+ and GT-Line fashions obtain AEB with bicycle owner avoidance and junction turning help, in addition to adaptive cruise management and lead-vehicle departure alert.
How a lot does the Kia Seltos price to run?
The Kia Seltos is roofed by a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee, with seven years of capped value servicing and as much as eight years of roadside help for those who service the automobile at an authorised Kia supplier.
Servicing is required each 12 months or 10,000km while you go for the turbo, down from 15,000km within the base engine.
The primary seven providers within the 1.6-litre are capped at $309, $502, $375, $653, $348, $632 and $673 respectively.
CarExpert’s Tackle the Kia Seltos
This isn’t the Seltos to purchase except you completely want all-wheel drive.
Though it retains the strengths of the broader vary, the GT-Line 1.6T AWD will get extra efficiency… at the price of financial system, and driveability.
It’s only a bit awkward, even after Kia swapped the stuttering dual-clutch transmission for an eight-speed computerized. The excellent news is, Kia now provides the GT-Line together with their much less highly effective 2.0-litre naturally-aspirated engine.
If you happen to’re after a spacious, properly outfitted compact SUV, the Seltos GT-Line stays a robust selection. Until you actually need all-wheel drive, it’s a extra compelling package deal with out the turbo engine on check right here.
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BUY: Kia Seltos
MORE: Everything Kia Seltos
