Kia Seltos – What you need to know

Since it first arrived in Australia in 2019, the Kia Seltos has proven itself a strong competitor in the crowded small SUV sector.

What’s more, a significant update was recently introduced, bringing an upgraded interior, improved performance, exterior styling tweaks and extra features with new levels of safety, technology and connectivity.

Carried over are the four trim levels – S, Sport, Sport+ and GT-Line – with a choice of front- and all-wheel drive, two different engines and two automatic transmissions.

What features distinguish each model grade and how much do they cost? Let’s unravel the specs to find the right one for you.

Kicking off the Kia Seltos range is the entry-level S with its 2.0-litre petrol engine that drives the front wheels through a continuously variable transmission (CVT).

The Seltos S starts at $29,500 plus on-road costs and has the following standard features:

Kia Seltos options

There are seven colours in the Kia Seltos palette, with premium finishes costing $520. Exclusive to the GT-Line is two-tone paint that’s a no-cost option.

Kia Seltos safety and driver assistance

With the Kia Seltos you don’t have to throw your cash at the top-spec GT-Line to get a swag of safety kit, as all models come with six airbags, autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with car and pedestrian avoidance, and forward collision warning.

Also standard are lane keep and follow assist (keeping you centred in the lane), auto halogen headlights with auto high beam, halogen daytime running lights, blind spot collision and avoidance assist.

But wait, there’s more…

All Kia Seltos models also include a reversing camera, front and rear parking sensors, rear cross traffic collision avoidance, hill start and downhill braking assist, a safe exit warning, speed limit assist and tyre pressure monitoring.

A step up to the Sport adds projector-style front fog lights while the Sport+ gains an auto-dimming rear-view mirror and driver attention and lead vehicle departure alerts, while cyclist avoidance and junction turn assist functions are added to the AEB system.

If you go for the GT-Line you get LEDs for the headlights, tail-lights, front fog lights and daytime running lights, along with rain-sensing windscreen wipers.

All Kia Seltos variants have cruise control, but only the Sport+ and GT-Line have adaptive cruise control.

Kia Seltos infotainment

An 8.0-inch LCD infotainment touch-screen comes standard in the Kia Seltos S, operating the wireless Apple CarPlay and wired and wireless Android Auto, Bluetooth music and phone streaming.

A 4.2-inch digital screen in the instrument cluster is standard in the Seltos S.

Move up to the Sport as a minimum and the infotainment screen and digital dash grow to 10.25 inches each in a dual-screen arrangement.

The infotainment system adds DAB digital radio, satellite navigation with 10 years of traffic mapping updates, ‘Sounds of Nature’ audio and seven years of Kia Connect, which allows you to connect to your Seltos remotely and access a host of services including real-time weather and traffic information.

All models except for the GT-Line have six speakers, with the GT-Line featuring a premium Bose audio system through eight speakers. All variants have steering wheel audio controls and voice commands.

Across the range are USB-A and USB-C outlets in the front console and two USB-C outlets behind the centre console for rear passengers.

Kia Seltos comfort and convenience

As we’ve come to expect from the Korean brand, the Kia Seltos is generously endowed, with standard features on the entry-grade S model including cloth upholstery, manual air-conditioning with second-row air vents, six-way manually adjustable driver’s seat, height and tilt adjust front head restraints, a pair of front cup holders in the centre console and a bottle holder in each door, and reclining rear seats with a rear arm rest.

Signing up for the Sport brings a premium steering wheel and shift lever, along with solar glass on the windscreen and front door glass.

Adding a touch of classy ambience to the Sport+ is the artificial leather- and cloth-trimmed seats, along with the convenience of a sliding front arm rest.

Do you want higher levels of comfort? Step up to the GT-Line for premium artificial leather seats with 10-way power adjustment, two-way lumbar support and two-position memory setting for the driver’s seat. There’s also eight-way adjustability for the front passenger’s seat, while both front seats also have heating and cooling for year-round comfort.

For those cold days, the driver is handed a heated steering wheel too.

What about the personalised comfort of climate-control air-conditioning? Forget the Seltos S and its manual system and make a beeline for at least the Sport and its three-zone system with auto defogging.

Do you want a head-up display in your Kia Seltos? It’s an exclusive GT-Line feature along with sound mood and sound reflecting lighting and wireless smart phone charging.  

Is a sunroof a deal-maker? It’s another exclusive GT-Line feature but not available with two-tone paint. Other GT-Line exclusives include the very handy powered tailgate and a cargo blind.    

Privacy glass is good for security and repelling outside heat and you only have to tick the Sport+ box for this feature, with the Sport+ also having heated door mirrors, LED interior lights and illuminated vanity mirrors.

With the update for 2023, Kia’s Seltos copped a new front bumper and larger grille, prominent skid plate garnish, indicators in the door mirrors and revised rear-end styling via new tail-lights.    

Differentiating the Kia Seltos variants are the gloss black grille on the GT-Line, with matte black on all other variants. And only the GT-Line comes with satin silver window surrounds and C-pillar garnish.

The wheels also set them apart, with 18-inch alloys on the GT-Line and 17-inch alloys on the Sport and Sport+ – all with a full-size alloy spare. At the entry level, the Seltos S has 16-inch alloys and a space-saver spare.

Kia Seltos engine and transmission choices

Carried over from the previous Kia Seltos and available across all model grades is a 2.0-litre 16-valve four-cylinder petrol engine producing 110kW and 180Nm of torque.

It’s tied to a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and drive is to the front wheels.

However, if you want something sportier and the budget can stretch a bit further, the sportiest engine of the range is reserved for the Sport+ and GT-Line.

In this case it’s a 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol that develops 146kW and 265Nm. It combines with an eight-speed automatic transmission and drives all four wheels.

Kia Seltos key dimensions and capacities

The Kia Seltos measures 4385mm long and 1800mm wide, while overall height is 1630mm for the S and 1635mm for all other models.

The Seltos offers 468 litres of cargo space with the rear seats upright and when a space-saver spare wheel is fitted, or 423L with a full-size spare.

The luggage capacity increases to 1428 litres when the rear seats are folded (1393L with full-size spare).

The towing capacity for the Seltos is 600kg with an unbraked trailer or, with trailer brakes fitted, 1100kg for 2.0-litre models or 1250kg for the 1.6-litre turbo.

Verdict on the Kia Seltos

The Kia Seltos may only have been with us for three years, but the updated model feels in many ways like a new toy with its refreshed looks, additional safety kit and upgraded cabin featuring the latest infotainment system and tech.

To me, the Sport with the 2.0-litre engine/CVT combo is a good choice for those having a long shopping list of features and a budget to stick to.

The bonus of extra grunt from the turbocharged engine and all-wheel drive head me in the direction of the Sport+ and its lengthy list of standard equipment.

There’s no shortage of comfort, convenience and safety features, and I really like the dual infotainment and digital dash screens.

The extra performance of the turbo engine also gives it a more dynamic and engaging feel on the road.

How much does the 2023 Kia Seltos cost?
S 2.0 FWD – $29,500
Sport 2.0 FWD – $32,700
Sport+ 2.0 FWD – $35,800
Sport+ 1.6T AWD – $39,300
GT-Line 2.0 FWD – $41,500
GT-Line 1.6T AWD – $44,900
* Prices exclude on-road costs

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