2023 Kia Seltos Review: Setting The Benchmark?

The facelifted Kia Seltos builds and improves on what was already an attractive package with even more tech and safety features

The Kia Seltos has always been the go to choice for people wanting to make a statement within the compact SUV segment. Smart yet aggressive looks, feature laden, comfortable, and powerful yet refined engine options made it hard to ignore the Seltos. Four years since it was launched the Seltos has now received an update, promising an even more complete package. Does it deliver on that promise? Let’s find out in this detailed review:

Premium beginnings

The facelifted Seltos borrows its key directly from the EV6, which exudes a premium feel via its two tone materials. The silver insert featuring all the buttons looks and feels good and you get a separate button to open the boot as well. Additionally, the car can be unlocked using the request sensors by approaching it with the key in your pocket. You can also remotely lock/unlock and start the car via Kia’s smartphone app and connected car tech.

Good looks made better

The Seltos was handsome to begin with. So why spoil what works already, right? That’s exactly what Kia has done here. Small but apparent changes have been made to the nose where the DRLs now cut through the grille, which is also larger than before. New elements for the LED headlights and dynamic turn indicators round up the change up front.

Profile is untouched, save for the 18-inch alloy wheels which are now available in both the X-Line and GT-Line. And upping the premium quotient further is the connected LED tail light at the rear, which spans the width of the boot. The roof spoiler and the dual exhaust tips (turbo-petrol only) – part of the revised bumper – add a pinch of sportiness to the design as well. 

Overall, the small tweaks made to the new Seltos add up to make a sizable difference and offer even more alluring looks than before. Do note that the design varies slightly between the Tech Line and GT Line, and you can know all about their styling differences here.

Oh, and the Seltos’ LED lighting setup with the dynamic turn indicators are bound to grab eyeballs, especially during the night.

How’s the boot space?

Boot space stands at 433 liters, which is only behind the Honda Elevate within the Seltos’ segment. But the packaging is such that you’ll only be able to utilise the space fully by using small or medium sized suitcases or duffle bags. We were able to stuff the boot with 1 medium and 1 small sized suitcase. The suitcases were accompanied by a duffle and laptop bag with space to spare. 

You do get 60:40 split rear seats, which allow for additional storage flexibility. Although, loading and unloading might require some effort due to the high boot lip.

How’s it on the inside?

Premium and ergonomic. Just like the exterior, the cabin of the facelifted Seltos might feel a bit familiar, but the incremental updates do make the SUV’s cockpit a better place to spend time in. The redesigned dashboard and infotainment, for starters, sit lower than before, offering a better view out the front windscreen. The cabin uses quality materials, with soft-touch leatherette on all touchpoints. And it isn’t like the cabin is devoid of any hard plastic, but those have been given a nice texture, which help maintain the quality standards throughout the cabin.

The layout for the climate control system might seem a bit cluttered at first, but spend some time with it and you will get used to it quickly. We had the GT Line model on test, which had an all black theme with white inserts. And if this isn’t to your liking, thank Kia, because there are plenty of hues available to choose from – including both lighter and darker themes.

Despite the black theme of this cabin, the huge panoramic sunroof gives the Seltos’ cabin an airy feel, and you won’t feel any compromise in the sense of space inside. True driving enthusiasts will also appreciate the fact that finding the ideal driving position is very easy in the new Seltos, thanks to the tilt and telescopic steering wheel and the 8-way power adjustable driver seat. So you can sink the seat all the way down into the floor or tower over everyone else at its highest setting. You’ll be comfortable either way – also courtesy of the balanced cushioning which makes it ideal for both short and long distance journeys.

Is it practical?

The 2023 Kia Seltos is full of thoughtful storage spaces. All four doors get 1-litre bottle storage spaces. The centre console gets two cup holders with an adjustable partition tray for added versatility. There’s another pocket beside it and a storage compartment underneath the centre armrest as well. 

Although the glove box isn’t considerably big, you do get a sunglass holder on the roof and a wallet-like storage space below the climate control panel. The rear occupants can make use of the seat back pockets for storing documents and magazines, while there are two additional cup holders within the rear central armrest as well.

In terms of charging options, you’ll run out of devices to charge before the Seltos runs out of sockets! There are 3 C-type ports, one at the front and two at the rear. And the front occupants also get the option of a USB port and a 12 V socket. 

How are the rear seats?

The Seltos’ rear seat  is wide enough to accommodate three passengers shoulder to shoulder. All three get dedicated headrests and three point seatbelts, but even still, seating three won’t be ideal for really long journeys. No issues for short drives within the city. There’s good leg, and kneeroom. Headroom could feel slightly sparse for 6-feet+ passengers.You also get two recline angles for the backrest, so getting comfortable is just an adjustment away.

One shortcoming is the base of the seat, which could’ve been slightly wider and subsequently offer better underthigh support. 

Further keeping the rear occupants comfortable is equipment like a rear sun shade, rear AC vents and two type-C ports. 

Features

Back in 2019, the Seltos made a name for itself as the feature-rich new kid on the block. Fast forward to today, and the facelift builds even further on that narrative with a never-ending list. Highlights include the 10.25-inch infotainment system, a 10.25-inch digital driver’s display, panoramic sunroof, dual zone climate control, ventilated seats, rain sensing wipers and ADAS technology. 

But filling up the brochure with features and actually executing them thoughtfully are two different things. Thankfully, Kia has got it right. For starters, the infotainment system is crisp and responsive. The ambient lighting has been thoughtfully integrated and even changes colours based on the music you’re listening to. And the graphics for different driving modes on the driver’s display is a cool touch as well. While its seat ventilation isn’t particularly noisy, the air purifier does become a bit vocal. 

But despite the lengthy list of creature comforts, the Seltos’ package isn’t quite perfect. There’s no wireless integration for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, no height adjustment for the passenger seat and no cooled glovebox. These omissions are small for sure, but their addition would surely have made the Seltos’ package even more drool worthy. As it stands, the Seltos won’t give you much to complain in terms of creature comforts.

Safety

Standard safety equipment for the Kia Seltos includes six airbags, electronic stability control, tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS), all-wheel disc brakes and 3-point seatbelts for all passengers. And going up the variants adds equipment like ADAS, 360-degree camera, and electronic parking brake to the list. 

The ADAS kit is extensive and includes functionality like autonomous emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, adaptive cruise control and more. And this kit isn’t just for show as the tuning is India-friendly and can actually be enjoyed using in the right setting.

If you want, these can be turned off entirely, save for the rear cross traffic alert. Although, leaving them on, especially out on the highway, will surely help reduce your fatigue levels on long road trips.

While the Seltos’ safety kit is impressive, the actual safety rating is yet to be determined and we could get an answer in the near future through Bharat NCAP. The pre-facelift model had scored a mediocre 3-star rating in the Global NCAP, however, this rating could see an improvement. 

Driving impressions

Kia has its customers spoilt for choice when it comes to the engine options on offer. There’s a diesel, a naturally aspirated petrol and a turbo-petrol engine on offer – all available with manual and varying automatic options.

We had the 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine on test, which replaces the outgoing model’s 1.4-litre turbo-petrol engine. Not only does the engine impress in terms of on-paper specs, but it also translates those into actual real-world performance. 

Slow speed city driving, bumper-to-bumper driving is easy, and so is overtaking at high speeds. Partial credit here goes to the DCT gearbox as well, which is smooth for the most part and quick when you need it to be. And when you want, you can take control yourself via the paddle shifters behind the steering or by using the gear lever. 

Refinement levels are impressive as well, but the same can’t be said for its fuel efficiency, which drops down to single digits when driven with a heavy foot. Ouch! Although, things do get better with a laid back approach in the city and out on the highway. But if efficiency is what you’re truly after, then you should consider the Seltos’ diesel option. 

And if you’re looking for a smooth and refined drive, mainly for city usage, then you could also consider the naturally aspirated petrol engine and its CVT gearbox combination. But the turbo-petrol is the one to have if you want performance.

Smooth operator

Kia has struck a good balance between comfort and sportiness for the suspension setup of the facelifted Seltos. It goes over almost everything rather smoothly and unfazed, despite riding on the huge 18-inch alloys. You do feel a bit of side to side movement over broken roads, but that’s it. It keeps its composure at high speeds, and gobbles up corners with confidence as well. 

The steering too won’t give you much to complain about. It’s light in the city, but weighs up as you pick up speed. That gives you confidence when switching between lanes or even while driving with an enthusiastic spirit.

Furthermore, its ADAS tech makes it an even more competent highway machine. Plus points for the blind spot feed that gets displayed on the driver’s screen every time you indicate, making it easy to maneuver in tight spaces. So the new Seltos won’t give you much to complain about in terms of ride and handling. 

Verdict

So, the facelifted Kia Seltos isn’t a big departure from the outgoing model. And that’s a good thing. What Kia has done with this update is fix those small chinks in the Seltos’ armour, making it a more complete package than ever before. 

You and your family won’t have much to complain about in terms of space, comfort and features. And heck, you even have a plethora of powertrain options on offer, so you can choose the one that fits your bill. 

The only thorn in the Seltos’ package is its safety rating. But despite that uncertainty, the facelifted Seltos with all its tech and incremental updates, is good enough to be the segment benchmark.