Kia Seltos review, road test

We put Kia’s first offering in India through our exhaustive test to find out whether it is worthy of the hype.

Published on Apr 04, 2020 06:00:00 AM

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At 433 litres, the boot can accommodate a decent load of luggage.

Gearshift lights in Sport mode lend a racy feel, but DCT feels too snappy for city driving.

It’s easy to accidently press SOS button while adjusting the mirror.

The Seltos is offered under a HT (Tech) Line and a GT Line, with four variants each. The range comprises three engines which get two transmission options each, and 13 colour schemes (including five dualtone options). All variants get basic kit like dual airbags, ABS with EBD, parking sensors, four disc brakes (base 1.5-litre petrol has only front), projector headlamps, Bluetooth audio system, steering controls, rear AC vents, driver-side armrest and remote key entry.

In-built air purifier and selectable fragrances add to cabin’s feel-good factor.

The 1.5-litre petrol is available only in the higher mid-spec HTX (Tech Line) which comes with features like auto LED headlamps, a 10.25-inch touchscreen with Android and Apple connectivity, UVO connected apps, auto-dimming inside mirror, climate control, cruise control, air purifier, 17-inch alloys, electric folding mirrors, camera, and rear wiper and washer. The top-spec diesel-manual is the HTX Plus that adds a Bose sound system, a sunroof, ventilated seats, wireless charging and some more features. However, despite its price of Rs 15.34 lakh (ex-showroom, India), it misses out on side and curtain airbags, as well as ESP.

Sound quality from the Bose speakers is crisp and clear.

The 1.4-litre turbo-petrol manual and automatic are available only in the GT Line which is the sportier of the two trim lines. The top-spec GTX plus is available with the turbo-petrol manual and automatic, and diesel automatic. Over the top-spec diesel manual, it gets six airbags, ESP, a heads-up display, rain-sensing wipers; the automatics also get multidriving modes and traction control.