Kia Seltos 2022 Review

The 2022 Kia Seltos (MY23) is priced from $29,500 plus on-road costs for the entry-level S model, which marks a $2210 increase on its predecessor.

Similar price hikes have been applied across the updated four-model MY23 Seltos range (from $2010 to $2710, depending on model), with the line-up topping out at a lofty $44,900 plus ORCs for the GT-Line 1.6T AWD tested here.

The pricing increases are met with more safety and equipment as standard, Kia says.

The regular engine is a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol driving the front wheels. Variants Sport+ and up are offered with the choice of a 1.6-litre turbo-petrol engine and all-wheel drive underpinnings, which imposes a $3500 premium.

As before, the Seltos is backed by a seven-year/unlimited-kilometre factory warranty and roadside assist.

Service intervals are every 12 months or 10,000km (whichever comes first) for the 1.6-litre turbo-petrol ($1989 for five years/50,000km), while the 2.0-litre gets 12-month/15,000km intervals ($1914 for five years/75,000km).

The entry-level 2022 Kia Seltos S (MY23) is fitted standard with cruise control, a six-speaker sound system, power-folding mirrors, air-conditioning and 16-inch alloy wheels.

Stepping up to the Sport (from $32,700 plus ORCs) nets bigger 17-inch alloys and a full-size spare wheel (up from a space-saver) as well as a premium steering wheel, auto up/down driver’s window, climate control and solar glass.

The Sport+ (from $35,800 plus ORCs) ups the ante with an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, keyless entry/start, synthetic leather-accented upholstery, sliding centre arm rest, adaptive cruise control and illuminated vanity mirrors.

At the top of the tree, the GT-Line (from $41,500 plus ORCs) comes loaded with full LED exterior lighting, 18-inch wheels, heated and ventilated front seats (with power adjustment and memory function for the driver), an eight-speaker Bose sound system, wireless phone charging, a head-up display, heated flat-bottom steering wheel, rain-sensing wipers, smart rear tailgate, powered sunroof and full synthetic leather upholstery.

All 2022 Kia Seltos (MY23) models are now fitted standard with autonomous emergency braking (AEB), blind spot monitoring and collision assist, rear cross traffic alert, safe exit warning, lane keeping system, driver attention alert, automatic high beam, front and rear parking sensors and intelligent speed limit assist.

There’s also a full suite of airbags and the usual driver safety acronyms.

There’s quite a big caveat with safety, and that’s the way some of those systems intervene and often detract from the driving experience. More on that in the sections below.

The Seltos retains a five-star ANCAP safety rating, backdated to 2019.

At the entry level, standard technology on the 2022 Kia Seltos S (MY23) comprises a new 8.0-inch infotainment system and 4.2-inch ‘supervision’ instrument cluster, wireless smartphone mirroring and Bluetooth.

From Seltos variants Sport up, there’s a bigger 10.25-inch infotainment interface, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, sat-nav, digital radio and the introduction of Kia Connect, which allows owners to control a range of vehicle functions from a smartphone app.

Oddly enough, the larger 10.25-inch touch-screen display only offers a corded Apple CarPlay connection, whereas the lesser system gives you the option of wireless connection.

As before, S, Sport, Sport+ and GT-Line grades of the 2022 Kia Seltos (MY23) are offered with a carryover 110kW/180Nm 2.0-litre normally-aspirated petrol engine, driving the front wheels through a CVT transmission.

The optional updated 1.6-litre turbo-petrol engine features on Sport+ and GT-Line models with a newly-matched eight-speed torque-converter transmission. It drives all four wheels.

The turbo-petrol engine is the one driven here, and offers a claimed 12 per cent increase in power and carryover torque, with outputs totalling 146kW and 265Nm.

Additionally, the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission has been replaced by Kia’s eight-speed torque-converter automatic (8AT), a move which should give way to smoother low-speed passage.

It also improves the 0-100km/h acceleration time marginally, to 8.4sec.

All Kia Seltos models are underpinned by a MacPherson strut front suspension. Front-drive models couple this with a torsion beam rear axle while the all-wheel drive variants score a more advanced multi-link configuration.

Claimed fuel consumption for the 1.6-litre turbo-petrol engine in the 2022 Kia Seltos (MY23) has dropped to 7.4L/100km on the combined cycle.

The front-driven 2.0-litre petrol Seltos offers a fuel consumption claim of 6.9L/100km on the combined cycle.

The 2022 Kia Seltos (MY23) is a civilised and user-friendly small SUV.

Its small footprint and nippy 10.6-metre turning circle facilitate easy, stress-free passage through tighter car spaces and in inner-city driving, while the suspension compliance and cabin acoustics are generally kept to tolerable levels.

That brings us to safety. The Kia Seltos boasts a broader safety suite across all models for MY23, but we take strict exception to some of the driver aid interventions.

The focal point, in particular, is the speed sign recognition. It’s both a potential deal-breaker and a distraction, chiming every time you change speed zone and sounding an alarm each time you exceed the speed limit – even if it’s by 1km/h.

Some might rightly argue you shouldn’t speed, but we’d suggest driving the Seltos on a busy Australian road with constant speed zone changes before delivering judgement. The other problem is the system picks up school zone postings even outside the specified times.

The problem is so bad that Kia left a form in our test car explaining how to turn the function off. Sadly, you’ll need to do this every time you start the car.

Moving on…

The Seltos boasts a good ride and handling mix, though without reaching the lofty, polished heights of other recent Kia products, including the Sorento and Sportage.

Much of that is owed to the shorter 2630mm wheelbase of the Seltos, which makes it more susceptible to jiggling over bumps and slower to recover from larger hits in the road.

Dynamically, the all-wheel drive Seltos changes direction confidently and shakes off mid-corner bumps without fuss.

Ultimately, we found the updated 1.6-litre turbo-petrol smoother with its new eight-speed automatic transmission. It builds speed steadily for around-town passage and no longer lurches or hesitates from a standstill.

The engine ultimately lacks the torque and refinement that Kia has improved on in recent years; it leans hard on the gearbox to keep it in the optimum rev bandwidth and tends towards thrashy as you approach higher rpm.

The engine’s insistence on maximising that narrow rev bandwidth leads to heavier fuel consumption; we averaged 8.8L/100km in a mix of conditions.

The 2022 Kia Seltos (MY23) is surprisingly roomy inside, and the presentation and storage are strong too.

The driver is set low in the cabin, with adequate outward vision to the front and rear and easy access to the key controls.

Similarly, the infotainment and tech suite is up to speed, with relatively sound software and menus that are easy to navigate.

Even with the new touch-screen display and digital instrument cluster in our GT-Line flagship, the cabin still has a budget feel, with cheaper, hard plastics comprising most of the dashboard real estate.

The dashboard centre fascia brings a wealth of different physical buttons and switchgear, and we welcome that. Amid this current fascination with touch-screens, there’s something so simple about just pressing a button!

The second row offers ample space for a couple of adults or little ones alike, the latter facilitated by ISOFIX attachment points on the outboard pews and three top-tether points. Rear air vents and a separate power outlet are also provided.

Meanwhile, the 433-litre boot space is flat and will happily accommodate a full-size suitcase or two, or a designer pram. And in a boon for practicality, a full-size alloy spare wheel is slung underneath!

The 2022 Kia Seltos demonstrates another sound and compelling SUV from the South Korean brand, particularly with the MY23 changes.

The increase in purchase price, cheaper-feeling interior and annoying safety interventions are all marks against this small SUV, while the languid engine and smaller footprint lose it some points where dynamics are concerned.

Interior packaging and general passenger amenities are both noteworthy.

We’d sum up by saying it’s a safe, competent SUV. But perhaps not the award-winning DNA we’ve come to expect from Kia in recent years.

2022 Kia Seltos GT-Line 1.6T AWD at a glance:
Price: $44,900 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Engine: 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 146kW/265Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel: 7.4L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 175g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2019)