Sleek, Agile, and Unstoppable - Kia Seltos Dominates the SUV Market

First announced for the UAE in December 2019 and reaching Al Majid Motors dealerships in January 2020, the Kia Seltos arrived holding a lot of hope and promise. Occupying the Korean brand’s compact SUV space, the Seltos is built on the Hyundai-Kia K2 platform and competes with the likes of the Hyundai Creta and Nissan Kicks in the UAE. While the Seltos is relatively-new in this part of the world, it has all the right ingredients to make it one of the most successful compact crossover SUVs in the region.

A design that’s bold and modern

The new Kia Seltos boasts restrained curves but mostly comprises sharp & athletic bodylines, whilst the relatively-boxy exterior silhouette, black body cladding, and 190 mm of ground clearance add to this car’s ‘SUV’ appeal. The Seltos can be had in contrasting dual-tone colors, with Kia’s Tiger Nose front grille and split LED headlamps looking sporty and modern. There’s sufficient chrome on the outside, and the 17-inch two-tone alloy wheels on higher variants look nice too.

At the rear of the Seltos are angular taillights banded together with a thick chrome strip in the middle, a sleek roof spoiler, and a bumper that features some rather unnecessary fake exhaust tips for additional styling. Overall, however, the Kia Seltos looks like the urban crossover SUV that it is and has enough details on the outside to keep most buyers from getting bored of it post-purchase.

An interior that’s well-built and well-equipped

Apart from looking the part, it’s important for such vehicles to offer a cabin that doesn’t feel spartan or flimsy. Thankfully, Kia has ensured that Seltos has an interior that feels reasonably upmarket while also providing the levels of comfort and technology that our society is used to nowadays. The seats of the new Seltos feel well-contoured for the most part, albeit a touch lacking for those on the healthier side. Courtesy of the adjustments available for the driver’s seat and the steering column, finding a comfortable driving position won’t be a challenge.

The chunky but leather-clad steering wheel feels good to hold and is light enough to use, while the multi-color LED ambient lighting package and the widescreen touch-infotainment system work well, though not precisely in tandem. The split-folding rear seats expand on the car’s 433-liter boot capacity while also allowing longer items to fit quite easily. The quality of materials and their finish is decent, even good in some cases, though the old-fashioned manual handbrake lever could have been done away with.

The NVH levels remain fairly subdued on most surfaces, while the 8-speaker Bose audio system (which syncs with the mood lighting system) makes listening to your favorite beats a fun experience. The new Seltos also gets an electric sunroof but misses out on a more modern panoramic setup. The SUV does get automatic climate control, rear sunshades, ventilated front seats, auto-dimming IRVM, a 7-inch MID, push-button engine start/stop, cruise control, a wireless charging pad, and a Drive/Traction modes selector.

Safety features on the Kia Seltos

While the list of safety-related equipment on the new Kia Seltos isn’t the most expansive, it has enough nannies to calm the nerves of most buyers. For instance, the Seltos comes with 6 airbags, a strong body shell that consists primarily of advanced high-strength steel (AHSS), front & rear parking sensors, a rearview camera with dynamic guidelines, ABS with EBD, and ISOFIX anchor points.

Powertrain and specifications

In the UAE, the new Kia Seltos is expected with two petrol engine choices, both mated to automatic transmissions. The outgoing model gets a 1.6-liter naturally-aspirated four-cylinder that produces 121 hp and 151 Nm of torque, while the Seltos GDI is to be powered by a 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 138 hp and 242 Nm of peak torque.

A 6-speed torque-converter automatic pairs with the 1.6-liter motor, with the turbo-four only equipped with the more spirited 7-speed DCT gearbox. The new Kia Seltos measures 4,315 mm in length, 1,800 mm in width, and 1,620 mm in height. It has a wheelbase of 2,610 mm, while wheel sizes include 16-inch steel/alloy and 17-inch alloy units.

What’s the price of the new Kia Seltos in the UAE?

The base Kia Seltos LX variant is priced at AED 75,000, while the top-spec Seltos GT-Line costs AED 101,000 in the UAE. If you want a well-styled and well-equipped crossover SUV that drives decently on paved surfaces, the Kia Seltos is unlikely to let you down.