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The Kia Seltos is considered one of Australia’s hottest compact SUVs for quite a few causes.
Regardless of being a comparatively new nameplate in an aggressive section (it solely launched in 2019), its mixture of worth for cash, inside practicality, vary of selection, and Kia’s seven-year warrant make for a pretty package deal.
The trade is shifting as quick as ever although, with new opponents popping up virtually weekly at this level.
China has been gunning for the worth finish of the market, a patch Kia has lengthy dominated. MG and GWM have introduced extra reasonably priced rivals within the ZST and Jolion respectively which have shortly gained traction within the Australian market – the MG is now Australia’s favorite compact SUV.
The competitors is even heating up throughout the Hyundai Group secure. Kia’s Korean mum or dad not too long ago launched an all-new Kona, with a brand new platform beneath and extra space in and out – plus it affords hybrid and electrical variations, neither of which the Kia affords.
Kia is battling with ongoing provide constraints with the Seltos as a result of robust demand in South Korea in addition to the US. Model executives advised us late final yr that it’s restricted to round 10,000 models for the yr, or round 830 Seltos models per thirty days.
Up to now this yr Kia is definitely forward of projections, with the yr to this point (YTD) determine of 6129 models as of July 31 translating to a operating common of round 880 per thirty days. The preferred variant is the car you see right here – the 2023 Kia Seltos GT-Line, on take a look at in flagship 1.6 T-GDi AWD trim.
Does the boxy little Kia nonetheless shine in a sea of rivals?
How a lot does the Kia Seltos GT-Line 1.6T AWD price?
On take a look at now we have the most costly Seltos on sale in Australia, priced from $44,900 plus on-road prices or $47,690 drive-away based on the model’s on-line configurator.
Whereas something nudging $50,000 is a good wad of money, the Seltos GT-Line aligns with high-spec variations of direct rivals from the likes of Hyundai, Mazda and Volkswagen. Nonetheless, it’s fairly a bit dearer than the most costly MG ZST or GWM Haval Jolion.
Related cash will get you right into a Hyundai Kona Premium N Line 1.6T AWD ($46,500), Mazda CX-30 G25 Astina AWD ($45,710) or a VW T-Roc R-Line ($47,090). All provide related outputs and efficiency, in addition to all-wheel drive. You may throw within the Honda ZR-V VTi LX ($48,500 D/A) and Nissan Qashqai Ti ($47,390) as effectively, given they’re on the bigger aspect just like the Kia and provide turbocharged powertrains, although each lack AWD in Australia.
In the meantime, the FWD-only MG ZST may be had in flagship Essence trim from $33,990 D/A, whereas the GWM Haval Jolion S is likewise extra reasonably priced from $35,990 D/A. The Jolion particularly is a match for the Kia by way of dimension, if not providing AWD.
At this finish of the section you would additionally logically cross-shop the Seltos with entry-level variations of premium small SUVs, particularly the Alfa Romeo Tonale Hybrid Ti ($49,900), Audi Q3 35 TFSI ($50,600), and Volvo XC40 Plus B4 ($53,490).
2023 Kia Seltos pricing:
- Kia Seltos S 2.0 FWD: $29,500
- Kia Seltos Sport 2.0 FWD: $32,700
- Kia Seltos Sport+ 2.0 FWD: $35,800
- Kia Seltos Sport+ 1.6T AWD: $39,300
- Kia Seltos GT-Line 2.0 FWD: $41,500
- Kia Seltos GT-Line 1.6T AWD: $44,900
Costs are earlier than on-road prices
Drive-away pricing:
- Kia Seltos S 2.0 FWD: $31,690
- Kia Seltos Sport 2.0 FWD: $35,390
- Kia Seltos Sport+ 2.0 FWD: $38,490
- Kia Seltos Sport+ 1.6T AWD: $41,990
- Kia Seltos GT-Line 2.0 FWD: $44,590
- Kia Seltos GT-Line 1.6T AWD: $47,690
MORE: 2023 Kia Seltos value and specs
What’s the Kia Seltos GT-Line 1.6T AWD like on the within?
The Seltos’s mid-life refresh introduced some welcome adjustments to design and consumer interface, in addition to lifting the atmosphere with a few of Kia’s newest tech.
There’s swish new digital cockpit incorporating twin 10.25-inch shows for the instrument cluster and touchscreen infotainment show, commonplace from the Sport and up. It’s mainly been taken out of the similarly-sized Niro eco-crossover.
It’s acquainted fare by way of the pores and skin and interface The shows are each excessive decision, provide snappy loading instances, and have clean, fluid animations.
Particular to the GT-Line is a color pop-up head-up show, which whereas not as high-tech or built-in as a windscreen-projected unit. It locations key data like velocity, navigation prompts and help capabilities within the driver’s line of sight – it’s a disgrace this isn’t supplied additional down within the vary.
The Seltos additionally comes commonplace with Kia Join on-line providers for fashions with this digital cockpit, which means you get related navigation, a net-based voice assistant, and app-based distant capabilities – you may learn all about it right here.
Kia Join is complementary for seven years, so there are not any added prices to entry the total suite throughout the guarantee. By comparability, the Toyota Corolla Cross will get only one yr of Toyota Linked Companies, with ongoing month-to-month charges of as much as $20/month thereafter.
In case you’re not utilizing the native system there’s Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, nonetheless wired on the ten.25-inch display. It appears contradictory to tout the high-tech related providers and have suite, however the necessity to wire your telephone renders the wi-fi telephone charger considerably redundant.
It’s in any other case the identical as we’ve mentioned beforehand for different Kia fashions – one of many extra user-friendly infotainment programs, and it affords a pleasant catalogue of performance.
Beneath the touchscreen is a revised local weather management pod, which options extra bodily buttons and is the place relocated onerous controls for the infotainment system at the moment are positioned. Some could discover the location of the infotainment controls much less intuitive than having on both aspect of the display, however that’s all the way down to choice.
The Seltos retains its sensible cabinets and cubbies to retailer issues; together with a shelf in your telephone which doubles up as a wi-fi telephone charger within the GT-Line, one other cubby massive sufficient to swallow wallets and keys, in addition to a centre console with cupholders and a slot for the car key – or McDonald’s fries.
Materials high quality stays an space for enchancment in comparison with the Mazda CX-30, with the inside being virtually completely onerous, scratchy plastic that makes even a Cerato really feel luxurious. However Kia’s typical stable construct high quality stays, with every little thing feeling effectively screwed collectively.
Choosing the GT-Line additionally brings an eight-speaker Bose premium audio system. It affords fairly clear sound with the flexibility to dial up some thumping bass, however I’d argue the Bose-branded system within the Mazda CX-30 Astina has higher depth.
The second row is the place the Seltos stays a pacesetter, providing class-busting passenger area that goes as far to make it aggressive towards class-up options just like the Mazda CX-5. There are additionally now USB-C charging factors on the rear of the centre console.
At a contact over 6’1 I can sit comfortably behind my very own long-legged driving place, with above common head and knee room. There’s additionally loads of glasshouse so your children gained’t get automotive sick, and the rear bench is sweet and vast so you may squeeze three abreast for brief journeys if it’s worthwhile to.
ISOFIX and top-tether factors characteristic within the rear, in addition to a map pocket behind the entrance passenger seat. The Sport+ and GT-Line get a fold-down centre armrest with cupholders, and there are additionally bottle holders within the rear doorways.
Additional again, all fashions bar the entry-level S – which encompasses a full-size spare – get 433 litres of quantity with the rear seats in play, whereas the bottom mannequin with its space-saver spare will get 468L. That’s about as a lot as a Mazda CX-5 (442 litres).
Fold the rear seats down and that determine expands to 1428 litres within the Seltos S, and 1393 litres for every little thing else. The brand new Nissan Qashqai bests it with the seats down (1524-1513L), however affords much less capability in five-seat configuration.
As talked about above, the Seltos S will get a space-saver spare below the boot ground, whereas all different variants get a full-size alloy spare. The GT-Line additionally will get a powered tailgate, which is a pleasant contact.
What’s below the bonnet?
One of many headline adjustments of the facelifted mannequin is the upgraded 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol engine accessible on Sport+ and GT-Line grades, which obtained extra energy and a brand new transmission in comparison with the pre-update Seltos.
Kia quotes outputs of 146kW (6000rpm) and 265Nm (1600-4500rpm), which is up 16kW over the outdated unit. Conversely, gas use is down – quoted at 7.4L/100km on the mixed cycle, a 0.2L/100km enchancment.
These outputs are channelled to an on-demand all-wheel drive (AWD) system through a brand new eight-speed computerized, changing the outdated seven-speed dual-clutch. Kia confirmed the Seltos’s eight-speeder is a model of the unit used within the bigger Sportage and Sorento.
Zero to 100km/h takes 8.4 seconds (-0.1s), whereas 80-120km/h takes 5.7 seconds (-0.5s). A much less related metric is prime velocity, which has elevated by 10km/h to 210km/h.
Like the two.0-litre, Seltos 1.6T AWD fashions get a 50-litre gas tank and are rated to run on 91 RON common unleaded. The Seltos is homologated to older Euro 5 emissions requirements and lacks idle stop-start expertise.
How does the Kia Seltos GT-Line 1.6T AWD drive?
The up to date turbo petrol engine and new eight-speed auto impressed at launch, and that hasn’t modified since.
No extra are you penalised with a laggy, elastic feeling from a standstill such as you had been with the outdated DCT, which regularly had me favouring the usual 2.0-litre FWD drivetrain with the CVT computerized – it’s all you want.
However if you would like AWD and just like the enhance of turbocharging, the Seltos 1.6 T-GDi is spritely on the town and on the freeway, mixed with Kia’s native experience and dealing with tune that makes the Seltos really feel at house in Melbourne situations and street surfaces.
The 1.6-litre petrol engine isn’t tremendous loud, although it has a particular buzzy observe that’s widespread to different Hyundai and Kia merchandise with variations of this direct-injected motor.
Whereas the outputs on paper appear virtually scorching hatch worthy, the Seltos doesn’t really feel as fast or sporty as one thing like a 140kW VW T-Roc.
Kia has struck a pleasant steadiness between consolation and dynamics, with the tall physique and compliant experience making for a assured really feel at velocity – if with a little bit of managed physique roll into corners regardless of the GT-Line branding. This isn’t a Kia GT mannequin, and so feels much less centered than the extra reasonably priced Cerato GT heat hatch.
The motive force controls are on the lighter aspect, which means the Seltos is simple to pilot in city eventualities and tight automotive parks, whereas additionally feeling positive footed and secure at 110km/h on nation freeways.
Having that eighth cog additionally means there’s much less noise at a cruise because the engine is extra relaxed at freeway speeds, and the addition of extra sound-absorbing supplies within the ground carpet, door trims, wheel guards and C-pillars to mitigate street noise helps to convey a claimed 0.3dBA discount in street noise in comparison with the outdated mannequin.
That’s to not say the Seltos is whisper quiet on coarser bitumen, as a result of it’s not.
The GT-Line’s bigger wheels and decrease profile tyres imply you’re nonetheless conscious of the street floor except it’s the smoothest blacktop, however that’s additionally not out of character for the section.
Do you have to be feeling slightly racy behind the wheel, you may flick the Seltos into Sport mode which sharpens the throttle response, holds gears for longer in addition to tightens up the steering to offer the automotive a extra centered really feel.
It’s a disgrace there’s no paddle shifters even on the GT-Line to higher management issues your self, although you should utilize the gear shifter to do that.
One other massive a part of the mid-life enhancement was the upgraded suite of driver help applied sciences. As you’ll have heard in our opinions of latest Hyundai and Kia merchandise, nonetheless, their calibration may be extra of an annoyance than help.
The most important frustration is the Clever Velocity Restrict Help, which activates each time you begin the automotive and consistently chimes when the velocity restrict adjustments, while you go barely over the restrict, or in the event you’re 3km/h during the last detected velocity restrict – even when it’s missed the latest chime.
It interrupts your music, telephone calls, however most significantly your sanity to the purpose the place you end up diving by the settings menus within the infotainment system to show it off. Then, it’s a must to do it another time while you begin the automotive as a result of you may’t hold it off.
In any other case the adaptive cruise management works as you’d anticipate, however at instances like different extra reasonably priced fashions in Kia’s secure may be caught going effectively below or effectively over the set velocity on sharper inclines or declines.
Lane Following Help centres the car in its lane and combines with the energetic cruise to successfully do the heavy lifting for you on the freeway, whereas energetic blind-spot and rear cross-traffic assists alerts you to approaching autos however will even apply counter steering or the brakes respectively to keep away from a collision.
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 operating lights
- Nightfall-sensing headlights
- Rear fog mild
- Roof rails
- Primary digital instrument cluster
- 4.2-inch multi-function LCD driver show
- Material 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
- Guide air-conditioning
- Drive Mode Choose
- Eco, Regular, Sport, Sensible
- 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
- Material/leatherette seat trim
- Driver Consideration Alert
- Digital park brake incl. Auto Maintain
- Heated electrical aspect mirrors
- LED inside lighting
- Lead Automobile Departure Alert
- Rear centre arm relaxation
- Rear privateness glass
- Sensible key, push-button begin
Seltos GT-Line provides:
- 18-inch alloy wheels
- LED headlights, projector kind
- LED daytime operating lights
- LED fog lights
- LED tail lights
- Premium Gloss Black grille mesh
- Satin silver belt line
- Tilt, slide sunroof (N/A with two-tone roof)
- Energy tailgate
- Rain-sensing wipers
- Head-up show
- Wi-fi telephone charger
- 8-speaker Bose premium sound system
- Inside ambient lighting
- Sound Temper Lamp
- Parcel shelf
- Premium synthetic leather-based upholstery
- Heated, flat-bottom steering wheel
- Heated, ventilated entrance seats
- 10-way energy driver’s seat incl. 2-way energy lumbar
- 2-position driver reminiscence perform
- 8-way energy entrance passenger seat
Colors
- Mars Orange
- Pluton Blue*
- Snow White Pearl*
- Metal Gray*
- Gravity Gray*
- Fusion Black*
- Neptune Blue*
- Pluton Blue & Fusion Black roof^
- Clear White & Fusion Black roof^
*Premium paint prices $520 additional
^Two-tone roof removes sunroof; GT-Line solely
Is the Kia Seltos GT-Line 1.6T AWD secure?
The Seltos wears a five-star ANCAP security score primarily based off checks carried out on the pre-facelift mannequin in 2019.
It obtained an grownup occupant safety rating of 85 per cent, youngster occupant safety rating of 83 per cent, susceptible street consumer safety rating of 61 per cent, and a security help rating of 70 per cent.
Commonplace security options embody:
- 6 airbags
- AEB with Pedestrian detection
- Blind-spot help
- Rear cross-traffic help
- Excessive Beam Help
- Clever Velocity Restrict Help
- Lane Following Help
- Lane hold help
- Protected Exit Warning
- Parking sensors entrance, rear
- Reversing digicam
- Driver Consideration Alert
- Rear Occupant Alet
Seltos Sport provides:
- eCall perform through Kia Join
Seltos Sport+ provides:
- AEB with Bicycle owner, Junction help
- Adaptive cruise management with cease/go
- Main Automobile Departure Alert
How a lot does the Kia Seltos GT-Line 1.6T AWD price to run?
The Seltos continues to be lined by Kia’s seven-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee with capped-price servicing for a similar interval and roadside help for as much as proper years. Kia Join is complementary for seven years additionally.
Kia will even provide you with free map updates in your satellite tv for pc navigation system (the place relevant) for as much as 10 years,
Scheduled upkeep is required each 12 months or 15,000km for the two.0 MPi, or barely shorter 10,000km intervals for the 1.6 T-GDi. Kia Australia says it’s international coverage for its turbo fashions to have shorter intervals.
The Seltos 2.0 MPi will set you again $288, $494, $352, $614, $324, $624 and $344 for the primary seven visits ($3040), whereas the 1.6 T-GDi prices $308, $500, $373, $651, $346, $630 and $671 ($3479).
Each price simply over $2000 over 5 years, which is aggressive with most manufacturers aside from Honda and Toyota, however nonetheless on the upper aspect.
As for gas consumption, I completed the week with an indicated readout of 9.5 litres per 100km over 300km of blended driving, which together with peak-hour commuting and freeway stints. In at the moment’s panorama, the place hybrid options are reaching half that determine, it’s not excellent – the shortage of idle cease/begin hurts the Seltos as quickly as you begin driving in metropolis site visitors.
CarExpert’s Tackle the Kia Seltos GT-Line 1.6T AWD
The flagship Kia Seltos has quite a bit to supply, and its well-rounded repertoire helps it stay a prime choose within the mainstream small SUV class.
Within the face of ever rising competitors, the Seltos is without doubt one of the extra sensible autos within the section, has a powerful suite of normal options and applied sciences, and affords refined turbocharged efficiency on this specification.
Add to {that a} robust guarantee, sharp appears, and a locally-tuned experience and dealing with setup, and you’ll see why the Seltos stays a agency favorite with Australian consumers.
Nonetheless, regardless of being the flagship with a value to match, the Seltos GT-Line in Australia nonetheless misses out on options accessible in South Korea just like the 360-degree digicam system, rotary shift-by-wire dial and prolonged vary of exterior and inside color choices.
The cabin plastics are additionally slightly onerous and scratchy in comparison with plusher-feeling rivals from Honda, Nissan and Mazda.
Whereas I’m at it, and I do know many will argue with me within the feedback, however I’d wish to see Kia introduce the cleanest, most effective iterations of its drivetrains with Euro 6 exhaust remedy programs and idle cease/begin expertise.
This is able to go a protracted method to decreasing gas consumption and emissions over the time of possession, significantly with city use as anticipated for a car on this section.
All advised, Kia’s ‘proper dimension’ strategy for the Seltos makes it a fantastic automotive for youthful or rising households, in addition to a fantastic second automotive for these wanting one thing that’s smaller for city duties but in addition fairly sensible.
The 1.6T AWD variant can also be a a lot better guess than the outdated one, although except you completely want AWD it can save you your self a wholesome $3000 and get the two.0 FWD model of the GT-Line, which nonetheless covers all key bases for an urban-friendly crossover.
Click on the photographs for the total gallery
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