Kia Seltos GT-Line AWD 2020 Review

Like me, you might claim to be a sports sedan type of guy, but don’t be surprised if the quality and spec of the barrage of small SUVs arriving on the market is starting to wear you down.

The top-of-the-range 2020 Kia Seltos GT-Line AWD is a prime example. Dare I say it, I could see myself and my family in this car.

For starters, Kia has nailed the styling – with cues much like a compact Range Rover (or so my wife tells me) – and there’s a long list of standard equipment onboard, including items normally seen from the prestige Euro brands a price bracket higher.

And it’s not just me Kia is working its magic on. The Seltos range delivers pretty broad appeal with four model grades available. Starting off with the S, features are naturally added through the Sport, Sport+ and up to the GT-Line AWD tested here.

Aussies don’t typically group Kia with prestige brands but maybe it’s time to change that view. Straight up, the 2020 Kia Seltos GT-Line AWD could almost rival the base Audi Q3 Sportback, Volvo XC40 T4 Inscription and others in terms of overall user experience. Yes, it’s that good.

The 2020 Kia Seltos GT-Line AWD can be yours for $41,990 drive-away. Not exactly cheap but perhaps a better way to look at it is the value it represents.

The heart of the matter is a 1.6-litre turbo-petrol four mated to a seven-speed duel-clutch automatic transmission, with 130kW and 265Nm transmitted to the ground via all-wheel drive.

In comparison, entry-level Seltos variants get a 2.0-litre naturally-aspirated four-cylinder driving the front wheels via a CVT auto.

The turbo 1.6 doesn’t exactly deliver tyre-burning outputs but they are good, useable figures for a small SUV and more than enough to perform the odd brisk overtake.

Maximum torque comes in at 1500rpm and stays on until 4500, so the engine has a good spread of performance.

Two-tone paint options (Starbright Yellow/Cherry Black and Clear White/Cherry Black) are no-cost options but mean you lose the sunroof. For $520 you get the panoramic lid with a single-tone paint finish.

The list of bells and whistles takes off from here.

Dominating the interior is the massive 10.25-inch infotainment touch-screen infotainment system that can perform multiple functions at once (two phone applications or one phone plus its own satellite-navigation, for example).

The choice of Android Auto and Apple CarPlay is a given, along with best feature ever – ventilated seats (I do live in Queensland, after all!). And yes Victorians, they heat as well – as does the steering wheel.

Wireless phone charging is a pleasant surprise that should be in more cars and safety technologies like adaptive cruise, autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist and rear cross-traffic alert are at the top of the game in terms of rivals in this segment.

Kia’s seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty alone would be a good enough reason for some buyers to choose the 2020 Kia Seltos GT-Line AWD, but that would overlook this compact SUV’s long list of funky features, plentiful space and chassis poise.

Of the small SUVs I’ve driven this year, the Kia Seltos GT-Line AWD has impressed me most.

Yes, many cars have a very similar list of features and safety technology (in particular), so it’s hard to distinguish any major points of difference. However, there are always subtle differences and those subtleties warrant some serious consideration of the Seltos GT-Line if you’re in the market for a small SUV.

I’m talking about things like those vented seats (when most others offer just heating) and the massive touch-screen... But the Seltos also offers decent boot space (433 litres), has reasonable room across the back seats and it looks good! And the list goes on; indeed, there seem to be few compromises.

Although Kia has never claimed this is a performance vehicle, you may be surprised to know that this little SUV is a good couple of seconds up the road in terms of lap times around my private test track than any other similar vehicle I’ve tested to date.

It’s also nice to know that it can handle an emergency lane-change better than most and so it gets a big tick from me for active safety.

The 2020 Kia Seltos GT-Line AWD is aimed directly at small families.

Now, I drive a new test vehicle every week but the week of the Seltos’ visit was the only time I’ve received questions from the neighbours asking “how’d the Kia go?”.

Every house in my street shares a similar demographic – parents aged 30 to 40 with two kids – so it’s fair say there’s a natural affinity for vehicles like the Seltos. But why does the Seltos in particular attract so much attention? For some the answer focussed on Kia’s seven-year warranty, but for most of my neighbours it was the overall value equation.

If course this improves when you factor in the three cheaper Seltos variants. The Sport+ at around $5000 less may be the pick of the bunch – especially if you can do without things like the GT-Line’s head-up display or wireless phone charging. You still get still get the turbo engine and seven-speed transmission, however.

For me, the appeal of the top-of-the-range Kia Seltos also lies in its prestige feel and luxury features such a BOSE sound system, sound-linked mood lighting, LED headlights and the list goes on. Very competent handling and impressive ride quality are almost a bonus.

This review directs some pretty positive vibes towards the 2020 Kia Seltos GT-Line and deservingly so. I just found myself constantly saying ‘oh, I like that’ and frankly I struggled to find much to fault.

One gripe is that the flush seatbelt buckles in the rear row are a bit of a struggle to find and engage when you have the kids’ car seats onboard. Older kids may struggle clicking themselves in – something to keep on eye on.

When we first drove the Kia Seltos in Korea last year, we described its handling as less than perfect and hoped that local tuning of Aussie versions would better suit our conditions. Well, I’m pleased to report that the local suspension tuners did a great a job.

The ride quality even on low-profile 235/45 R18 tyres is impressive and the grip on offer exceeds any rival I’ve driven to date.

With just that little bit more room than some competitors, as well as boosted performance and more equipment than most, the 2020 Kia Seltos GT-Line AWD should be a force to be reckoned with in the compact SUV space.

A hot(ter) version would make it even tastier. How about it, Kia?

How much does the 2020 Kia Seltos GT-Line AWD cost?
Price: $41,400 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Engine: 1.6-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder
Output: 130kW/265Nm
Transmission: Seven-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel: 7.6L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 175g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2019)