Kia Seltos here in October
BY TUNG NGUYEN | 21st Jun 2019
KIA’s Seltos compact crossover contender has finally been uncovered in full, and will land in Australian showrooms from October to take on the hot-selling Mitsubishi ASX, Mazda CX-3 and Hyundai Kona.
Revealed overnight in Delhi, the Seltos will be built in India – an emerging market that Kia is prioritising to grow global sales – but Australian versions will be sourced from the Gwangju facility in South Korea.
As with all Kia Australia models, a bespoke suspension tune will be developed to suit local roads and conditions.
Two petrol engines, a 110kW 2.0-litre atmo motor and flagship 130kW 1.6-litre turbocharged unit, will be offered in the local Seltos range, mirroring the Hyundai Kona’s powertrain options.
As for transmissions, the 2.0-litre engine will be paired with a continuously-variable automatic, while the 1.6-litre unit is mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch shifter.
A 100kW 1.6-litre turbo-diesel engine is also available in overseas markets, but no oil-burning Seltos’ will be arriving Down Under.
While pricing is yet to be revealed, it is expected that the Seltos will target the budget-conscious buyer and “provide outstanding value for money”, according to Kia, which points to a low-$20,000 starting point.
For reference, the Hyundai Kona opens at $23,500 before on-roads, the Mazda CX-3 is available from $22,260 and the segment-leading Mitsubishi ASX starts from $23,490.
From the outside, the Seltos is obviously a Kia thanks to the signature ‘tiger nose grille’, while its strong shoulder lines and prominent underbody cladding denote its high-riding wagon status.
The Seltos also sports LED head-, tail- and daytime running lights, as well as three wheel-size options – 16, 17 and 18 inches – at least in overseas markets.
Inside, Kia says the Seltos is “aimed at youthful, tech-savvy buyers” thanks to a 10.25-inch central touchscreen infotainment set-up that features satellite navigation, split-screen functionality, driving data readout and new UVO Connect telematics subscription service.
The Seltos can also be equipped with Sound Mood Lighting that pulses colour-customisable in-door lights to the beat of music, 8.0-inch head-up display and a premium eight-speaker Bose sound system.
Safety is also a key tenet of the Seltos, with Kia building its new small-sized SUV with high-strength steel and aluminium for a rigid bodyshell.
Six airbags, electronic stability control, anti-lock brakes, traction control, hill-start assist, front and rear parking sensors, and brake-force assistance also features.
Kia Motors Corporation president and CEO Han-Woo Park said: “The Seltos is an important car for Kia as it will play a central role in the expansion of our global footprint, and especially in a priority market in India.
“Seltos is aimed at youthful, tech-savvy buyers and is packed full of our most cutting-edge technology and safety equipment,” he said.
