Bigger makes it more spacious
Kia just made the Seltos a little bigger. The interior will be more spacious (we’re not sure exactly how much), thanks to a wheelbase that’s almost two inches longer and an overall length that’s two inches longer. The big advantage, we’re guessing, is for the second-row passengers, as a longer wheelbase allows more space behind the front seats.
A little more luxurious
By adding 64 colors of customizable lighting and deeply reclining rear seats, Kia adds some business class to a car that currently retails for just a hair above $25,000. We are unclear about one aspect; the automaker said they are moving to a column-style shifter, which is what Kia and Hyundai have done during their updates, and we’ve seen that on vehicles like the Hyundai Palisade. But the image above shows a center island shifter. Yes, this may vary by market, but we’re betting that US buyers will get a Seltos with a steering column shifter and a roomier center console for phone charging and cup holders.
Buttons!
Also note that Kia upgrades the Seltos by using a one-piece infotainment and instrument display, but we love that they keep the most important buttons and switches, for quicker adjustment of climate and other functions.
Powertrains remain the same, with one major change
The Seltos’ two engines will likely be the same in the US. That is a two-liter four-cylinder with 146 hp and a 1.6 liter turbocharged with 190 hp. Overseas, there’s a slightly less powerful third option making 177bhp, but we’re unlikely to get that model. Meanwhile, the suspension remains the same, with a rear axle. That probably saves money, but it is less smooth and tunable compared to four-wheel independent suspension. No, this isn’t a sports sedan, and since we expect it to remain an affordable crossover that you can still get for under $30,000 with all-wheel drive, we’re willing to bet it’ll still drive just fine.
There will be a hybrid
Since the Seltos is a tweener of sorts competing with Toyota’s ever-dominant RAV4, it’s not too surprising that Kia wants a piece of Toyota’s hybrid market. Kia says a hybrid is on the way, but hasn’t shared any specs. Because the Seltos (loosely) shares the same platform as vehicles like the Hyundai Elantra and the NiroIt wouldn’t be surprising if it gets the same 1.6-liter hybrid system. That’s good for a not-too-muscular 139 hp in both models. But the combined torque of 195 foot-pounds isn’t terrible, and the fuel economy of both vehicles is great. Is the new Seltos too heavy for that hybrid system? We don’t know.
However, Kia promises V2L charging of this hybrid. (V2L means charging devices and possibly a backup power source for the home. But again, we don’t have details.) Perhaps the V2L piece, and the fact that this is a larger Seltos, will allow Kia to bring to market a more robust hybrid system that could be shared with larger Kias and Hyundais.
TopSpeed’s opinion
Kia’s release also mentioned a GT Line version of the Seltos. Don’t get too excited. This is strictly a sportier appearance package, though it’s still nice to see since the Seltos hasn’t had that offering in the past. And speaking of appearances, as they’ve achieved with the latest Telluride and models like the K4 Hatchback, the company continues to put out great looking vehicles. We would like to drive the latest Seltos. Because it’s a don’t-fix-what-isn’t-broke model, we expect only betterment, not to be knocked down. Still, Kia continues to release head-turners that won’t break the bank, and that’s definitely good news. When will we know more, such as prices and sales dates? Probably the end of January.
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