KIA Seltos

Engine Options for Every Buyer: What you get with the Seltos is the choice of powertrain. The 1.5-litre MPI produces 115 hp of power and 144 Nm, which is known to be smooth and quite suitable for daily city driving. The 1.4-litre turbo GDI gives 140hp of power and solid 242 Nm of torque for fun highway driving.

Transmissions & Efficiency: The 1.5L MPI gets an impeccable IVT for jerk-free shifts and 17.0 km/l combined mileage. The 1.5L turbo uses a flawless 7-speed DCT with paddle shifters and hits 17.5 km/l, which is most suitable for anyone who prefers performance without sacrificing mileage.

Range & Practicality: There is a 50-litre fuel tank that will allow you to travel over long distances, and avoid frequent visits to the filling station. The 200 mm of ground clearance is perfectly suitable for an SUV like the Seltos to navigate everyday driving situations without any major issues. A 5.3 m turning radius eases city parking, too.

Performance & Modes: The 1.5L hits 0-100 km/h in 10.8 seconds; the turbo does it in 9.2 seconds. The turbo models add Normal, Eco, and Sport drive modes, plus Mud, Snow/Wet, and Sand traction, which are definitely quite useful for driving across KSA’s wide variety of terrain.

Steering & Control: The driving quality is determined by a responsive, speed-sensitive electric steering which offers you confident handling. You get a highly capable, efficient, and real-world usability in one smart package.

Some key areas to consider

There are potential issues, though, like 1.5L Pace & Real-World Fuel: The 1.5L MPI feels adequate but leisurely, and could have been better, best for the city. Similarly, the mileage also depends on driving, not always what is officially quoted.

Cabin & High-Speed Noise: While the Seltos is a great SUV with a comfortable cabin, there are areas of improvement like cabin noise, suspension tuning, and overall comfort. Perhaps, we will get that better in the facelift.

Drivetrain & Limits: Front-wheel drive only, obviously, you miss out on AWD, which may bother some buyers. The ground clearance is 200 mm again; some buyers may prefer a little higher. and Mud/Snow/Sand modes handle light terrain, but skip if you need a stronger grip or quiet operation.

Comfort-Focused Ride: You can quickly find that the suspension is good enough to handle occasional highway bumps and keep the cabin comfortable. Being an SUV, you get a confident high-up seating position for greater command and confidence to navigate everyday roads or highway drives.

Steering & Handling: Quick, speed-sensitive electric steering gives you a great feel of being straightforward. The body control seems to be well done without excess roll, and it feels practical but not sporty.

City Ease: The turning radius is 5.3 m, which is good enough for the city. In fact, the compact size, good visibility, and parking sensors (360° camera on turbo) make life easy.

Things to Consider

• Soft suspension bounces over big bumps.
• Engine noise under acceleration is noticeable.
• The ride can feel slightly bouncy on severe speed bumps. Tuning tolerates rough roads but is not isolated like luxury vehicles.

Dual Displays & Connectivity: first and foremost, you get segment-best dual 10.25-inch panoramic display (digital cluster + infotainment), which is quite cool, lag-free with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto. The base variant comes with an 8-inch touchscreen with wired connectivity.

Comfort & Climate: The cabin, no doubt, is quite comfortable, with features that make it that way, is ventilated front seats (EX/SX variant), which are good to give you relief from KSA heat; a power driver seat on top trims. Dual-zone auto AC on SX turbo, single-zone elsewhere. Also, rear vents are standard and a panoramic sunroof too on (EX/SX) to keep the cabin fresh and lively.

Seating & Controls: The leather-wrapped steering wheel has multiple controls, with a good setup of buttons to access the car. Additionally, the cabin comes with cloth seats + six-way manual driver adjustment, and ambient lighting syncs with premium audio.

Storage & Cargo: Considering this is a family SUV too, the boot is 433L and expands to 1,746L via 60:40 split-fold rear seats, which seems to be just fine. There is also a power tailgate with hands-free foot-gesture on select trims.

Charging & Tech: You get a lot of convenience from a wireless charging pad, USB ports throughout.

Wheels & Styling: Two types of wheels, the 17-inch alloys on top trims, while the 16-inch steel/alloy on base trims. What you get to choose is modern Kia design, with Glacier White, Ceramic Silver, Carbon Black, and two-tone colour options.

In summary, the Kia Seltos is an impressive compact SUV in KSA right now that appeals to a wider customer profile. It successfully offers a premium feel without a premium price, for sure.

What we know

Structural & Passive Safety: High-tensile steel body with crumple zones forms a rigid safety cell. Six airbags (dual front/side/curtain) on top trims; dual front + side curtain on lower. Three-point pre-tensioned belts, ISOFIX anchors standard make the SUV highly safe.

Stability and Control: To get a great hold of the SUV, some of the features that are just absolutely must be offered by Kis. This includes ABS with EBD, Brake Assist, Vehicle Stability Control, Traction Control, and Electronic Stability Programme to prevent skids and manage dynamics.

ADAS: In the turbo models, Kia offers DRIVE WiSE, comprising Smart Cruise Control, Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, Lane Keeping/Following Assist, Blind Spot Information System, Lane Change Indicator, Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, TPMS. This is something that boosts the safety credentials of the SUV with greater protection.

Base Trim Limits: Variants like LX don’t get FCA or full ADAS; however, there are ABS, ESC, and airbags.

Ownership Peace: Kia offers a standard 7-year warranty that covers defects.

What to watch out for

Safety Rating: The Kia Seltos achieved a 3-star NCAP rating, and some of its newer rivals may have a higher rating.

Driver Assistance: While ADAS features seem to be quite well-covered on turbo models, the base LX trim has fewer safety systems.

Service Network: Being present in the Kingdom for a while, Kia has developed an extensive and highly efficient service network. You get reliable service, with availability of parts too, but response times are reasonable during peak seasons.

Warranty: A 7-year warranty comes as standard, which covers manufacturing defects and provides reassurance for ownership.