Since its global debut in India, Kia Seltos has captured the imagination of auto enthusiasts and industry rivals alike making it one of the most anticipated car launches of 2019.
The reason for all the interest and excitement is quite simple to understand since the compact and mid-SUVs are the segments that’s driving industry growth in an otherwise dismal time. Also the fact that the Seltos marks Kia’s foray into the world’s fourth largest auto market makes this vehicle all the more important.
Therefore, when Kia invited us to Goa for an exclusive media drive, we were naturally thrilled to get behind the wheel of the Kia Seltos. So what are you waiting for? Hop in with us to find out how it fared.
Design and Engineering
Kia’s very first product for India flaunts a bold, distinctive and dynamic design. It is a collaborative effort of Kia’s global design centres that did extensive research on the current and upcoming trends of car design around the world and tailored it for the Indian market.
The design of the Seltos is sure to spark conversations and turn heads wherever it goes. From the dominating front fascia with the wide signature tiger nose grille, the muscular shoulder line and intricately and sharply designed front and rear full LED lights the Seltos looks commanding and confident all-round. The crystal cut alloys compliment the dimension of the Seltos and lends it a powerful stance.
The robust design character of a conventional SUV co-exists with sophisticated exterior design details and is drawn out from real life inspirations, such as a long hood, a robust and sophisticated character line on the front bumper, and sharp lines pressed into the bodywork. Its strong shoulder line, matched with a glasshouse, which tapers towards the rear of the car, as well as rear bumper with a metallic muffler effect, lends the compact SUV an air of sportiness.
The engineers have done a wonderful job keeping the NVH levels well contained resulting into a quiet passenger cabin. Seltos will be available in eight attractive colour combinations and five two-tone colour options. By using different colours and two-tone roof combinations, customers can select their car based on their tastes.
It is common knowledge that Hyundai and Kia share their R&D, and the Seltos is built on what is essentially is the next-generation Creta platform (due in 2020). Compared to the current Creta, the length has been increased by 45mm (4315mm) and the width by 20mm (1800mm), while the height has been decreased by 45mm (1620mm). The wheelbase has been increased by 20mm (2610mm) and this has translated into more legroom for rear passengers. Despite the lower height, headroom seems to be as much as that on the current Creta, while boot space, at 433 litres, is 28 litres more than the Creta.
Interior and Comfort
Step inside the Kia Seltos and you will be welcome into a spacious, stylish and premium passenger cabin. One can choose between an all-black interior or beige, however, both look nice. Interior quality is top notch and fit and finish is easily the best-in-segment. Both the front and rear seats are large and comfortable with adequate leg, shoulder and headroom.
The Seltos comes equipped with features such as 8.0-inch heads-up-display, an embedded SIM with a full connectivity suite, 10.25-inch HD touchscreen, a hi-tech sound mood lamp, a rear shade curtain, 360 degree surround view monitor, blind spot monitoring, world’s first connect air-purifier, highly advanced proprietary UVO connect system for seamless and wireless communication with the car, 8-Speaker Bose Hi-Fi sound system and more.
Performance and Handling
The Kia Seltos will be powered by Smartstream – newly developed third generation BS VI compliant powertrain for high efficiency and powerful performance. The Seltos, by offering BSVI diesel and petrol engines, reiterates Kia Motors’ commitment towards offering cleaner mobility solution. The vehicle will come in petrol (1.5-litre), turbo-petrol (1.4-litre) and diesel (1.5-litre) powertrain options and will be offered in three automatic transmission options – IVT, (Intelligent continuously variable transmission) 7DCT, 6AT and, along with 6-Speed Manual Transmission – giving customers options to choose the combo that conforms to their driving style.
The 1.5-litre petrol that puts out 115 hp and 144 Nm is paired with a CVT automatic, while the 1.4-litre direct-injection turbo-petrol that puts out 140 hp and 242 Nm of torque, is mated to a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic. On the 1.5-litre diesel unit that makes 115 hp and 250 Nm, the auto option is a 6-speed torque converter.
To further elevate the driving experience the Seltos gets multiple driving modes that alters the responsiveness of the car and transforms the car’s driving character aiming to optimize the performance on all conditions. Drivers can choose from ‘Normal’, ‘Eco’ and ‘Sport’ mode. The Eco mode is tuned to maximise vehicle range by using fuel-saving measures, while Sport mode increases responses from the steering and electric motor to maximise the dynamic driving feel of the car. Normal mode provides a healthy balance between the two. It also comes equipped with multiple grip controls. Drivers can choose from mud, wet and sand mode depending on road condition.
We tested the 1.5-litre diesel automatic. The engine delivered linear power from as low as 1,200 rpm and responded well to throttle inputs. The ride and handling is better when compared to the Hyundai Creta. The suspension set up is well tuned for Indian roads and irons out the broken stretches with relative ease. The body roll is well contained and the braking is confidence inspiring. Overall, the Kia Seltos was a joy to drive and grabbed eyeballs wherever we went.
Safety and Technology
Kia Seltos comes equipped with the globally famous UVO connect, an advanced connected car technology which offers an array of convenience and safety features. The UVO boasts 37 smart features under five distinct categories i.e. Navigation, Safety and Security, Vehicle Management, Remote Control and Convenience. The UVO facility will be free for the first three years for its users.
Kia has paid utmost attention to ensure that every drive in the Seltos is relaxing and safe. It offers a full range safety which includes, active, passive, health safety, security and maintenance. The Seltos gets six airbags, ABS with EBD, ESC, HAC, VSM and is built on robust structure, which has high usage of advanced high strength steel (AHSS) that fortifies the Seltos’s core and keeps the occupants safe in an unfortunate event of a crash.
Additionally, the front and rear parking sensors, blind view monitor ensures that the visibility of unseen vehicles is not compromised, giving the driver confidence at all times. Working in tandem with the safety tech, the Seltos comes equipped with an array of advanced UVO connected car technology features. The UVO technology can be summoned via a dedicated button on the IRVM. The IRVM also has dedicated roadside assistance and SOS button that alert the dedicated call centre– in case of an emergency. The car is fitted with an Anti-lock Braking System, a Traction Control System, a Brake-Assist System and Hill-start Assist Control, as well as front and rear parking sensors, for assistance when parking.
Safety being central to all Kia products, the Seltos, also gets, rain sensing wipers and auto headlamps, thus allowing the driver to focus more on the road conditions ahead.
Verdict
The Kia Seltos features contemporary and stylish design with plush and spacious interiors. The vehicle boasts many segment firsts with class leading safety features, making the vehicle capable to disrupt the segment and create a niche for itself. The Kia Seltos will be available in two trims – Tech Line and GT Line – and will get features such as 8.0 heads-up-display, 10.25 HD touchscreen, a hi-tech sound mood lamp, a rear shade curtain, 360 degree surround view monitor, blind spot monitoring, world’s first connect air-purifier, highly advanced proprietary UVO connect system for seamless and wireless communication with the car, 8-Speaker Bose Hi-Fi sound system and more.
Kia has dropped a bomb in the industry with it aggressive pricing strategy with the Seltos with introductory ex-showroom prices starting at Rs 9.69 lakhs for the base HTE 1.5-litre petrol variant. When one compare the price with all the creature comforts and features that’s pact inside the Seltos, it turns out to be one of the best value propositions in the market presently and it sure to give all its rivals a run for their money.
Kia aims to reach out to every possible customer even in the remotest corners of the country. The company plans to begin retail sales with the highest number of touch points for any new car entrant in India. The company will cater to its customers through 265 customer touch points owned by Kia authorised dealer partners, spread across 160 cities. As part of the company’s customer-centric strategy, on/offline sales system will be available from day one of sales, while digitizing the entire customer journey from sales to services, including introduction of digital showroom.
Power Drive 