Compact crossovers continue to win the love of Russians, many car brands have already presented models in this segment. The Korean brand KIA is not lagging behind the trend, having brought a crossover called Seltos to the Russian market. The new product has every chance of becoming a bestseller in the domestic market.
In our country, the most popular compact crossover for several months in a row has been the Korean car Hyundai Creta. The popularity of this crossover did not allow the representative of the related Hyundai brand KIA to sleep peacefully, so it was decided to present its car in the same B-SUV segment, but with a more attractive appearance and rich functionality. Indeed, against the background of its relative, the crossover from KIA looks more solid, more prestigious and larger. The KIA Seltos crossover appeared on world markets last year under the name KIA KX3, but it arrived in Russia only in March 2020. It just so happens that we see most interesting models later than the rest of the civilized world. The model’s name comes from a modified English spelling of the word Celtus or Celt in Russian. Celt is not only a representative of an ancient European tribe, but also the name of the son of the character of Greek mythology Hercules. It is quite logical that the Koreans also borrowed the name Hyundai Creta from the Greeks. The crossover is named after the island of Crete.
Appearance
With its entire appearance, the Kia Seltos says that before us is a car that should become popular and widespread, but by no means cheap. The Koreans deliberately separated their two models for different buyers. If you want a simpler and cheaper car, then choose the Hyundai Creta. If you need a more expensive and nicer car, then in this case you will be offered the Kia Seltos.
The new Seltos looks more solid, it is 10 centimeters longer than the Creta and 4 centimeters longer in wheelbase. The new KIA Seltos has an elongated hood, narrow headlights with a strip of LED strips. A large radiator grille and a metallized trim on the bumper that goes over the headlights give the Seltos a brutal look. The appearance of the crossover is even somewhat reminiscent of the flagship SUV Sorento. For those who want to stand out from the gray stream, you can even order a car with a two-tone body color.
The car looks impressive in the signature golden color with a black roof. Depending on the configuration, 16, 17 and 18-inch alloy wheels can be installed on the car. The richer and more expensive the configuration, the larger the wheels. Ground clearance depends on the wheels installed: on the basic 16-inch wheels it is 185 mm, and on the 17- and 18-inch wheels it increases by 5 mm. The rear suspension of all-wheel drive cars is multi-link (for front-wheel drive cars it is a beam). In addition, the versions with four driving wheels have larger brake discs.
Interior
Inside, the compact Seltos is as spacious as the larger Kia Sportage. The top versions have keyless entry to the cabin. From the first minutes of being in the cabin, I would like to immediately note the clear instruments and convenient microclimate unit. The huge screen of the multimedia system instantly and without delays responds to clicks. The landing is high, the seat is equipped with adjustable lumbar support and slight lateral support. The fit and materials are good, and there are many nice touches around that make you feel like you got more than you paid for. The eco-leather seats look expensive, and the steering wheel is nice to hold.
The multifunctional steering wheel is covered in leather, the buttons on its spokes are convenient for controlling the car’s systems, and there is adaptive cruise control, a function that has recently become popular. The steering column is adjustable not only for tilt, but also for reach. Next to the gearshift lever are the buttons for heating and ventilation of the seats. There are also buttons for controlling the external cameras, heating the steering wheel, and locking the interaxle clutch. The car is all-wheel drive, and the lock works at speeds up to 40 km/h. This function will help overcome minor off-road conditions. Also located here is the Drive Mode Select system switch, which allows you to set the car to sport, standard or economy modes.
There is even wireless charging for the phone. To do this, just put the smartphone on a small shelf on the central tunnel. The rear passengers are also fine with comfort. Of course, there is not as much legroom as in larger models, but compared to classmates, the Seltos is quite spacious in the back. In terms of cabin volume, the Kia Seltos is comparable to the Hyundai Creta. There is enough free space above the head, the width of the cabin allows three people to sit on the back seat. In terms of trunk capacity, the Kia Seltos bypasses its relative Hyundai Creta. The volume of the luggage compartment is 498 liters. However, for the sake of trunk volume, a full-size spare wheel had to be sacrificed. The Koreans put a spare tire on the bottom of the trunk.
How does Seltos drive
We got a car with a two-liter engine with a capacity of 149 horsepower and a Smartstream IVT CVT for a test drive. According to our feelings, the CVT does not cause discomfort while driving. The car’s dynamics are decent, and the engine power is enough even for quick overtaking. However, this is just one of the engine options presented. On the Russian market, Seltos is available with four engine and gearbox options at once, which allows a potential buyer to choose the configuration he needs.
Front-wheel drive versions with a 1.6 MPI engine (with distributed injection) 123 horsepower will be offered in four trim levels – Classic, Comfort, Luxe and Style. The Classic and Comfort trim levels will be available with both manual and automatic transmissions, Luxe and Style – only with automatic transmission.
In the all-wheel drive version, the Seltos 1.6 MPI has an engine power of 121 horsepower and will be available in four trim levels: Comfort and Luxe (with manual or automatic transmission), as well as Style and Prestige (only with automatic transmission). The most powerful (177 horsepower) 1.6 T-GDI engine with turbocharging and direct fuel injection is aggregated only with the 7DCT robotic transmission. All Seltos 1.6 T-GDI are equipped with an all-wheel drive system and will be available in Prestige, Premium and Premium+ trim levels.
The smoothness of the ride was not a revelation. You can drive on good roads without discomfort. The suspension is balanced – not hard, but you can’t call it completely soft either. If you fly over potholes or speed bumps at a speed of about 50 km / h, then the suspension breakdown is still felt. Also, Seltos closely repeats small waves of asphalt. But the acoustic comfort of the crossover is not bad. At speeds over 100 km / h, you can calmly talk to the evenly mixed noise of the wind and tires. Also, lovers of long trips will be pleased with the adaptive cruise control system. Everything works well, Seltos clings to the car in front and maintains a distance. If the system could also read signs and move, it would be great. Overall, the car leaves a positive impression and is likely to be in demand.
How much does it cost
Depending on the trim level, the prices for the KIA Seltos will range from 1,099,900 to 1,999,900 rubles. The price range between the cheapest and most expensive versions of the crossover is almost one million rubles. The cheapest versions are only available with a front-wheel drive. If you need all-wheel drive, the same cheap KIA Selto with an automatic and all-wheel drive will cost almost 300,000 rubles more than the starting price. Kia Seltos can provide the dynamics of sales of KIA cars this year above the market, the new product will not compete with other models of the brand, but, on the contrary, will attract additional buyers to the crossover segment.
The first sales of the Seltos crossover in Russia showed that customers are interested in, among other things, the maximum Seltos trim levels in bright body colors. But the volume of pre-orders for basic versions is also starting to form. It is possible that due to the fall of the ruble, the cost of the car will be revised already in April, and the programs to support sales of the new product may also decrease in volume or be temporarily terminated. KIA Seltos is produced at the Avtotor plant in Kaliningrad. Cars in showrooms are offered with a factory warranty for 5 years or 150,000 km.
You can take a test drive at the official KIA dealers “Klyuchavto”
Rostov-on-Don, Tekucheva, 354
Krasnodar, Dzerzhinsky, 231G
KMV, Avtomobilnaya, 15
Stavropol, Kulakova, 16A
Sochi, Kiparisovaya, 16/1
