Kia Seltos (2024) Launch Review

The revised Kia Seltos, laced with several exterior and interior updates, has arrived in Mzansi. In a segment where almost every brand offers a model, does the Seltos still stand out sufficiently? We drove the updated compact family car in the Western Cape.

What’s new with the Kia Seltos?

Kia Seltos GT Line tracking — *The 2024 Kia Seltos features a revised front bumper and redesigned LED headlamps.*

Korean car brands tend to update models about 3 years after they’re introduced to the market, before replacing them with all-new versions 2 years after that. It used to happen like clockwork, until it didn’t –because of Covid-19, which delayed many things. The truncated story is that the facelifted Kia Seltos has arrived, but a year later than expected. The 2024 model includes visual tweaks to the front bumper, as well as redesigned LED head- and taillamps, the latter of which incorporate a tailgate-spanning lightbar.

See also: 2020 Kia Seltos review

Meanwhile, the Indian-made compact family car’s interior has undergone a much more comprehensive update, replete with updated graphics and a skateboard-style screen that’s perched atop the dashboard. The new GT-Line version gets bigger displays for the infotainment system and digital instrument cluster.

On the powertrain side, the Seltos has 2 new engines: a naturally aspirated 84 kW/144 Nm 1.5-litre petrol (paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission) and a 118 kW/253 Nm 1.5-litre turbopetrol (in conjunction with a 7-speed automatic dual-clutch ‘box), which is exclusive to the GT-Line flagship.

There is also a 1.5-litre turbodiesel auto, which is carried over. It produces 85 kW and 250 Nm of torque.

The Seltos diesel is the pick of the range

Kia Seltos LX diesel — *The turbodiesel derivative featured here is 1.5 CRDi LX Auto.*

You can check out the full range of Seltos derivatives and specifications in our specs & price article, but suffice it to say, my pick of the range would be either the EX or EX Plus in turbodiesel guise.

I do believe that no other small crossover model in South Africa (and there are so many of them) offers a turbodiesel option, but a few brands do offer a hybrid, such as Toyota (Corolla Cross) and Haval (Jolion). Kia South Africa views this as an area in which the turbodiesel motor at its disposal can provide value for buyers looking to save on fuel costs without having to worry about the perceived complexity of a hybrid.

We drove a turbodiesel derivative from the centre of Cape Town on around 140 km of winding roads to the small town of Greyton in the Overberg. The indicated average fuel consumption for the trip was 5.0 L/100 km, which was especially impressive considering the route included quite a few hill ascents.

Overtaking at freeway speeds is perhaps not the turbodiesel’s strong point (it requires some convincing to accelerate much beyond 100 kph), but it will sit confidently at 120 kph… while using very little fuel.

Kia Seltos LX interior — *Kia Seltos LX trim has cloth seats, but a leather-wrapped steering wheel and transmission lever.*

The other engine we got to sample was the new turbopetrol that serves in the elaborately named 1.5 T-GDi GT-Line DCT. It accelerates eagerly and, when you utilise the ‘wheel-mounted shift paddles, even exhibits “a sporty attitude”. By the end of the trip back from Greyton, I was impressed with the GT-Line’s indicated 7.0 L/100 km, although the figure was perhaps flattered by the “downhill run to Cape Town”.

The top-of-the-range turbopetrol derivative is an expensive proposition at R630 000, but it does come fitted with all the bells and whistles that Kia can offer in the Seltos, including red brake calipers, a head-up display and the Smart Cruise system, which is adaptive cruise control but includes a “follow mode” for when you’re sitting in traffic, plus blind-spot detection, lane-keep assist and forward-collision avoidance.

What’s the updated Kia Seltos like to drive?

Kia Seltos GT Line rear — *The range-topping GT-Line features 18-inch wheels and is powered by a peppy 1.5-litre turbopetrol engine.*

One of Kia’s biggest selling points, apart from offering turbodiesel derivatives in its Seltos range, is the admirable quality that its products exude. The revised Seltos feels so well put together; even when we drove it in strong crosswinds, it still felt planted and inspired confidence through the ‘wheel. It’s an easy-to-drive crossover devoid of the few annoying quirks that you might find in a Chinese-made contender.

The infotainment system, for example, is easy to figure out, the dials are clearly marked and the trip computer menus are instantly familiar and, even if you’ve never used it before, intuitive. The only gripe I have with the Seltos’ cabin is that the driver’s seat wouldn’t go quite low enough for me (admittedly, I tend to lower the seat to its bottom-most position in every car I drive), but the seat itself was comfy.

The Kia Seltos’ interior & practicality

Kia Seltos LX rear legroom — *Rear legroom is good for a small SUV; all models have 2 rear USB ports.*

Even the entry-level LX trim grade includes a sufficient number of features. Yes, you have to settle for cloth upholstery, but you get 2 USB ports up front and 2 in the rear, as well as aircon, a 6-speaker audio system, Apple Carplay and Android Auto (via cable connection), plus a reverse-view camera with PDC.

As for practicality, Kia’s middle crossover (it sits between the Sonet and Sportage) is quite capacious. The Seltos’ rear legroom is fair and even with a full-size spare wheel stored below the floor, the load bay is claimed to hold 433 litres. Yes, it’s one of the largest bays in the segment and even features a hook on the right side for securing a shopping bag, if necessary. The rear seats can also fold flat in a 60/40 split.

2024 Kia Seltos Pricing (April 2024)

*The GT Line interior features full leather and bigger displays, with wireless charging.*

The Kia Seltos facelift is sold with a 5-year/unlimited km warranty, which includes roadside assistance, as well as a 5-year/90 000 km service plan. The latter can be upgraded to a maintenance plan at extra cost.

Kia Seltos 1.5 LX Manual	R467 995
Kia Seltos 1.5 LX CVT	R492 995
Kia Seltos 1.5 CRDi LX Auto	R521 995
Kia Seltos 1.5 EX CVT	R532 995
Kia Seltos 1.5 CRDi EX Auto	R561 995
Kia Seltos 1.5 EX Plus CVT	R570 995
Kia Seltos 1.5 CRDi EX Plus Auto	R599 995
Kia Seltos 1.5 T-GDi GT-Line DCT	R626 995

Summary

Kia Seltos LX rear — *LX derivatives are not fitted with a sunroof, but the GT-Line flagship has a panoramic sunroof.*

Chinese car brands and Toyota are the frontrunners in the battle for supremacy in the compact family car segment. Haval and Chery offer near-unbeatable value for money and, in the current economic climate, that’s a major advantage. Toyota produces the Corolla Cross on local soil and offers excellent aftersales backup/ownership peace of mind at a similar price point. So, in which ways does the Seltos stand out?

The Kia’s build quality and refinement are its biggest assets and it’s a plus that there is a turbodiesel variant in the line-up. It’s still a product packed with features, most of which feel simple, intuitive and involving to use. The Seltos is still worthy of being shortlisted; it’s a top-tier not-so-small crossover.

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