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 gets a firm suspension setup and low-speed ride quality is a bit stiff. It’s not uncomfortable but sharper edges do filter through, especially on 215/60 R17 tyres. At highway speeds, too, the stiffness is noticeable, and the ride, especially on the petrol versions, is quite busy. It doesn’t pitch or bob like the Creta, and it rides a lot flatter but you are aware of the road surface most of the time. Over bad and broken roads, the Seltos doesn’t feel as tough or as robust as a Renault Duster or a Nissan Kicks.

Scores well on stability and composure, and it feels balanced around corners.

‘Balanced’ is the best way to describe the SUV’s handling character. Body roll is well-contained and the chassis is taut, so direction changes feel confidence-inspiring. The steering is light, and it weights up quite consistently with speeds, although there’s no feel or feedback to speak of. In the variants that get driving modes, the steering gets noticeably heavier in Sport mode, although the difference in weight between ‘Eco’ and ‘Normal’ is barely noticeable. The brakes are progressive and the pedal feel is well-judged; the diesel-automatic’s pedal, however, felt spongier than the rest.