The facelifted 2023 Kia Seltos vary has arrived in Australia, boasting new design, inside gear and technological developments that ought to assist preserve it close to the sharp finish of the extremely aggressive small SUV phase.
The Seltos rivals small SUVs which have related intent – practicality in a compact footprint – such because the Toyota Corolla Cross and Nissan Qashqai, each of that are all-new fashions with types of hybrid know-how obtainable.
The Seltos doesn’t have any hybrid petrol-electric powertrain supplied.
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On this take a look at, we’re driving the Sport+ 1.6-litre turbo-petrol model, which may very well be the candy spot for many who love a little bit of a speedy drive of their compact crossover.
There’s a cheaper model with the nonetheless superb 2.0-litre engine and CVT auto, but it surely’s front-wheel drive, so mightn’t swimsuit those that suppose they’ll really enterprise exterior town limits.
Regardless of which model of the 2023 Kia Seltos Sport+ appeals to you although, it’s lacking a couple of essential objects that needs to be commonplace for the worth – learn on to seek out out extra.
How a lot does the Kia Seltos Sport+ 1.6T AWD value?
You will get right into a Seltos Sport+ for $35,800 plus on-road prices, however you gained’t be getting the fascinating turbocharged petrol engine for that cash – the Seltos Sport+ 2.Zero FWD mannequin with the CVT automated transmission is the sub-$36ok supply.
However if you happen to can justify the additional spend on the turbo engine, eight-speed auto and all-wheel drive, the Seltos Sport+ 1.6T AWD mannequin is available in at $39,300 plus on-road prices or $41,990 drive-away. So, the distinction in record value is a not-insubstantial $3500, or simply beneath 10 per cent of the price of the non-turbo.
That’s a giant step up, and that’s not the tip of the additional spending you’ll must do for this turbo-petrol mill, both; it’s dearer to service, and it wants servicing extra repeatedly, too. Extra on that additional down.
2023 Kia Seltos pricing ($RRP):
- Kia Seltos S 2.Zero FWD: $29,500
- Kia Seltos Sport 2.Zero FWD: $32,700
- Kia Seltos Sport+ 2.Zero FWD: $35,800
- Kia Seltos Sport+ 1.6T AWD: $39,300
- Kia Seltos GT-Line 2.Zero FWD: $41,500
- Kia Seltos GT-Line 1.6T AWD: $44,900
Costs exclude on-road prices
Kia Australia additionally provides the next nationwide drive-away costs:
- Kia Seltos S 2.Zero FWD: $31,690
- Kia Seltos Sport 2.Zero FWD: $35,390
- Kia Seltos Sport+ 2.Zero FWD: $38,490
- Kia Seltos Sport+ 1.6T AWD: $41,990
- Kia Seltos GT-Line 2.Zero FWD: $44,590
- Kia Seltos GT-Line 1.6T AWD: $47,690
What’s the Kia Seltos Sport+ 1.6T AWD like on the within?
This up to date model of the Seltos takes a giant step up inside, with new screens and inside tech that makes it really feel like a shrunken Sportage or Sorento.
Within the Sport, Sport+ and GT-Line variations, the Seltos scores a neat new all-digital cockpit with twin 10.25-inch shows – one for driver information, the opposite for infotainment. It’s a pleasant enchancment over the nonetheless first rate setup within the pre-facelift Seltos.
There’s additionally voice management and the 10.25-inch display in these variations additionally has Kia Connect – web related satellite tv for pc navigation, an clever voice assistant, and you may management some capabilities remotely together with your telephone.
Every of the shows is fast to reply, and nicely thought out by way of usability.
The actual fact there’s an array of laborious buttons beneath pleases this tester vastly – touchscreens that management all the things aren’t as user-friendly as automotive corporations make them out to be. You’ll discover single zone local weather management within the button array, too.
Storage is fairly good for free objects – there’s a pair of cupholders between the entrance seats and slightly pockets cubby, plus in entrance of the shifter there’s one other deep tray with a shelf on high, which is nice for storing your telephone (there are USB ports beneath).
All 4 doorways have bottle holders, and between the outboard rear seats within the Sport+ there’s a flip-down armrest. You don’t get that within the decrease grades.
There’s additionally simply the one seatback (map) pocket, which appears odd. However at the least the seatbacks are of the hard-wearing selection, making it appropriate for kicking children.
An enormous spherical of applause to Kia for making directional air vents commonplace on all grades for the replace – these had been beforehand solely within the GT-Line. Oh, and there are two USB-C charging ports, too. Good.
There are twin ISOFIX child-seat anchor factors, and three top-tether hooks. You’ll match two youngster seats in, and a rearward-facing capsule shouldn’t trigger an excessive amount of of a problem for entrance seat passengers.
Should you haul adults extra typically than children, you’ll comfortably match two within the again seat, and uncomfortably match three throughout. Legroom and headroom regardless of the latter criticism is phenomenal for a small SUV – I’m 6’0” or 182cm, and I can match behind my very own driving place with room to spare.
There’s one other oddball lacking merchandise in relation to the boot – there isn’t any parcel shelf or cargo cowl in any model other than the top-spec GT-Line. Such a bizarre omission.
The boot itself is nice for the category – there’s 433 litres of cargo quantity within the Sport+, and it (just like the Sport and GT-Line) has a full-size spare wheel.
The bottom mannequin S will get a space-saver however scores a deeper boot consequently (468L). Fold down the again seats and also you get 1428L of cargo room – superb for the scale of the automotive.
What’s beneath the bonnet?
As talked about, this one is the Sport+ 1.6 AWD, which implies it runs the 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder T-GDi petrol engine. It produces 146kW of energy (6000rpm) and 265Nm of torque (1600-4500pm) – so it’s outputting the identical quantity of torque as earlier than however has seen a 16kW energy bump for this facelifted mannequin.
However that 12 per cent enhance isn’t one of the best information about this powertrain – that honour falls to Kia’s choice to ditch the irritating seven-speed dual-clutch auto in favour of a brand new eight-speed auto.
The 0-100km/h time for the turbo Seltos is claimed at 8.Four seconds, so it’s hardly a scorching hatch regardless of providing an analogous energy output to a VW Golf GTI (from a decade in the past…).
As talked about, if you happen to don’t suppose you want the turbo engine and on-demand all-wheel drive that this Seltos has, you might take into account selecting the two.Zero MPi model which has a non-turbo four-cylinder petrol engine producing 110kW (6200rpm) and 180Nm (4500rpm). And it has an actually-not-that-bad CVT auto gearbox, which goes to be completely advantageous for city dwellers.
All variations of the Seltos have a 50-litre gasoline tank, however there’s a distinction by way of financial system, as you’d count on. However each engine variants can run on 91 RON common unleaded, which isn’t all the time the case for forced-induction fashions.
Claimed gasoline financial system:
- Seltos Sport+ 2.Zero FWD – 6.9 litres per 100km
- Seltos Sport+ 1.6T AWD – 7.Four litres per 100km
How does the Kia Seltos Sport+ 1.6T AWD drive?
The Seltos is an honest little factor to get round in.
Clearly the large story right here is the powertrain, which is likely one of the extra highly effective items within the small SUV phase with out crossing into the “efficiency” a part of the market.
Suffice to say that whereas the VW T-Roc R and Hyundai Kona N gained’t be shaking of their boots on the efficiency of the 1.6L turbo Seltos, it’s a keen and punchy engine that’s aided immeasurably by its new gearbox.
Gone is the hesitant and jerky seven-speed dual-clutch (DCT) auto, and instead is a brand new eight-speed torque converter automated, which makes progress significantly smoother and extra pleasurable – particularly round city.
The transmission shifts neatly, and doesn’t require any thought from the motive force in “common” driving situations.
Ask a bit extra of the powertrain and also you may must suppose a bit extra concerning the shifts. There aren’t any paddle-shifters, however there’s a Sport drive mode and handbook shift utilizing the selector, if you wish to fake you’re driving a handbook.
Kia Australia didn’t trouble doing any work to the chassis tune for the facelift mannequin – working the identical native trip and dealing with setup because the pre-facelift mannequin. Which means it’s nonetheless fairly good.
That mentioned, the steering is one factor I wrestle to gel with within the Seltos – it has a little bit of a heavy, boring really feel to it at greater speeds, which generally is a bit laborious to get used to. However round city, and through parking strikes, it’s easy and predictable.
The suspension is usually fairly comforting, with a pleasant trip attribute except you end up working over repetitive bumps or very sharp edges.
However over pace humps, the standard lumps and bumps and better pace inconsistencies, it stays fairly properly composed. It’s not too loud inside at freeway speeds, however coarse-chip surfaces can throw a little bit of highway roar into the cabin.
Nonetheless, essentially the most annoying factor concerning the driving expertise is the pace signal recognition system that may incessantly bing and bong at you, each time the pace restrict adjustments.
To show it off (I did), it’s important to undergo the media display and press three totally different menu screens. You’ll be able to’t set it as a favorite button, and it’s important to do it each time you begin the automotive.
Should you reside in an space the place there are dozens of pace restrict indicators inside a five-kilometre radius like I do, it may very well be a dealbreaker.
What do you get?
Seltos S highlights:
- 16-inch alloy wheels
- Electrical folding aspect mirrors
- Mirror-mounted aspect indicators
- Black Matte grille
- Physique-coloured door handles
- Halogen headlights, projector kind
- Halogen daytime working lights
- Nightfall-sensing headlights
- Rear fog gentle
- Roof rails
- Fundamental digital instrument cluster
- 4.2-inch multi-function LCD driver show
- Fabric seats
- 6-speaker sound system
- 8.0-inch touchscreen
- Apple CarPlay (wi-fi)
- Android Auto (wired, wi-fi)
- Halogen inside lighting
- Rear air vents
- Entrance, rear USB-C cost ports
- House saver spare wheel
- Handbook air-conditioning
- Drive Mode Choose
- 12V outlet in entrance tray
Seltos Sport provides:
- 17-inch alloy wheels
- Entrance fog lights
- Roof rails
- Photo voltaic Glass
- 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster
- 10.25-inch infotainment system
- DAB digital radio
- Kia Join
- Satellite tv for pc navigation
- Sounds of Nature
- Wired Apple CarPlay, Android Auto
- Premium steering wheel, shifter
- Auto up/down driver window
- Single-zone local weather management
- Auto defog
Seltos Sport+ provides:
- Adaptive cruise management with cease/go
- AEB with Bicycle owner, Junction help
- Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
- Fabric/leatherette seat trim
- Driver Consideration Alert
- Digital park brake incl. Auto Maintain
- Heated electrical aspect mirrors
- LED inside lighting
- Lead Car Departure Alert
- Rear centre arm relaxation
- Rear privateness glass
- Good key, push-button begin
Is the Kia Seltos Sport+ 1.6T AWD secure?
It’s secure to say the Sport+ is safer than a few of the cheaper fashions within the vary, as a result of it provides a couple of necessary and fascinating options that the Sport and S grades don’t have.
Nonetheless, primarily based on 2019 ANCAP testing, the Seltos is a five-star security performer throughout the board. The facelifted mannequin retains the identical score.
Customary security options embody:
- 6 airbags
- AEB with Pedestrian detection
- Blind-spot help
- Rear cross-traffic help
- Excessive Beam Help
- Clever Pace Restrict Help
- Lane Following Help
- Lane preserve help
- Protected Exit Warning
- Entrance, rear parking sensors
- Reversing digital camera
- Driver Consideration Alert
- Rear Occupant Alert
Seltos Sport provides:
- eCall perform through Kia Join
Seltos Sport+ provides:
- AEB with Bicycle owner, Junction help
- Adaptive cruise management with cease/go
- Main Car Departure Alert
I can’t actually see why Kia couldn’t have added the radar-based methods to all fashions, to be able to sustain with rivals within the class just like the Mazda CX-30 and Toyota Corolla Cross.
How a lot does the Kia Seltos Sport+ 1.6T AWD value to run?
The Kia Seltos is roofed by the model’s spectacular seven-year, limitless kilometre guarantee.
It additionally comes with a seven-year capped value servicing plan – however the prices of possession will rely on whether or not you select the turbo or not.
Should you do, you’ll discover it has shorter service intervals (12 months/10,000km) and dearer providers, too. Over seven years or 70,000km, you’ll pay $308, $500, $373, $651, $346, $630 and $671 – which means a complete value of $3479. That’s dear for a non-luxury automotive.
Let’s evaluate it to the Seltos 2.Zero MPi – you’ll solely pay $2072 for 75,000km of canopy. So, if you happen to worth, er, worth, then the non-turbo is a greater guess for long-term possession prices.
As for gasoline consumption, the Sport+ 1.6T AWD returned a real-world determine of 9.5L/100km throughout my week of testing, which isn’t terrific for a small SUV, particularly contemplating virtually none of it was “spirited” driving.
CarExpert’s Tackle the Kia Seltos Sport+ 1.6T AWD
You’re getting a powerful compact SUV if you happen to select the Kia Seltos.
The spec you select will finally decide if it’s worth providing, and personally, I feel the Sport+ grade provides lots of stuff you need to be aiming for when selecting a brand new automotive
It’s only a disgrace it nonetheless misses out on LED headlights and daytime working lights, as a result of that will solely additional the attraction of this variant.
Personally, I’d be extra tempted to buy as much as the GT-Line, which scores higher exterior lighting and some different niceties that makes it really feel extra particular – and to maintain the prices down a bit, I’d select it with the two.Zero MPi FWD drivetrain.
MORE: Everything Kia Seltos
Execs
- Perky engine
- Nice house effectivity
- Good guarantee cowl
Cons
- Immensely annoying pace warning system
- Costly to service
- Halogen lights are poor
High Line Specs
- Energy: 130kW
- Gas Kind: Unleaded Petrol
- Financial system: 7.6L/100km
- CO2 Emissions: 175g/km
- ANCAP Security Score: 5
