Kia Seltos is one of the latest models from Kia. Like other Kia SUVs, the Kia Seltos is also reliable, spacious, comfortable, and durable. But is the Kia Seltos a good car?
Yes, the Kia Seltos is a good car. This is because it is dependable, spacious, affordable, powerful, safe, and roomy. On the other hand, some people may find it unpleasant if they’re searching for a large, advanced, faster, and luxurious SUV.
History of Kia Seltos
As mentioned earlier, Kia Seltos is one of the latest Kia SUV models on the market. This car has been in production from 2019 to date. The first model year was for the Middle East market, which is the 2020 Kia Seltos. On the other hand, the first model year for the North American market is the 2021 Kia Seltos.
Kia Seltos is a subcompact crossover SUV with three variations. It is bigger than the Kia Soul, Stonic, and Sonet, but pretty much smaller than the Kia Sportage. Aside from having different variations, Kia also offers different engines, including the 1.4-liter Smartstream G1.4 T-GDi I4, 1.5-liter, 1.6-liter, and 2.0-liter Nu MPi I4 engines.
Features of Kia Seltos
Appearance
The Kia Seltos comes with an elegant exterior and comfortable interior. The exterior is bold, modern, and has a muscular design. Some of the notable exterior features are the enigmatic tiger nose grille, LED projector 17-inch alloy wheels, chrome strip, an integrated spoiler, and roof rails.
The interior of the Kia Seltos is also well-made with excellent materials that make it comfortable and classy. Some of the notable interior features are huge 10.25-inch touch infotainment, a 7-inch digital display, leatherette upholstery, front ventilated seats, an 8-speaker BOSE sound system, and a voice-controlled electronic sunroof.
The Kia Seltos comes with a wheelbase of between 102.8-inches and 104.3-inches, a length of between 169.9-inches and 172.8-inches, a width of 70.9-inches, and a height of between 63.0-inches and 64.8-inches.
Performance
If you’re looking for a high-performance subcompact SUV, the Kia Seltos is not the best option. Nonetheless, this car performs outstandingly well compared to most of its rivals. The car will perform differently depending on the engine option you select.
For instance, the 2023 Seltos S IVT FWD comes with a 2.0-liter inline 4 engine that delivers up to 146 hp and 132 lb-ft of torque. But if you want the best-performing variant, you may opt for the 2023 Kia Seltos GTX Plus.
Comfort and cargo space
The Kia Seltos is a very practical car as it can accommodate up to five people. Besides, the cabin is spacious and comfortable. Additionally, it comes with lots of trunk space as it has a total of 26.6 cubic ft of space, which can be increased to 62.8 cubic feet of space with the rear seats folded. Therefore, the Seltos is a wonderful SUV for traveling long distances.
Safety
One of the selling points of the Kia Seltos is the top-notch safety features that this car comes with. This SUV is equipped with ABS & Driveline Traction Control, blind-spot collision-avoidance assist-rear, lane keep assist system, collision mitigation, and electronic stability control.
Fuel efficiency
The Kia Seltos is a very efficient car as it has an EPA rating of 29 mpg in the city, 35 mpg on the highway, and a combined 31 mpg. So, the car won’t consume a lot of fuel like most of its competitors.
Price
If you’re searching for a reliable, practical, efficient, comfortable, and affordable subcompact crossover SUV, the Kia Seltos is a nice option. Depending on the variant you pick, you may have to pay between $24,000 and $28,000.
FAQ
Is it worth buying the Kia Seltos?
Yes, the Kia Seltos is worth buying. This is because it is affordable, efficient, spacious, highly advanced, comfortable, and comes with lots of safety features. Besides, this car is reliable and practical. However, if you’re looking for a luxurious, large, and fast SUV, this is not the car for you.
What are the common problems with Kia Seltos?
The Kia Seltos is one of the best compact crossover SUVs on the market. It is affordable, efficient, and practical. Nonetheless, it also comes with several problems that interested buyers should know about. Some of these issues are linked to the engine, suspension, transmission, and electrical system.
If you’re Kia Seltos is experiencing one of the above problems, you should have it fixed in time to avoid further damage and costly repair.
How fast is the Kia Seltos?
The Kia Seltos is a pretty fast car. It comes with a top speed of 125 mph. On the same note, it only takes 8.6 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph. While this car comes with two engine options, this capability is expected from both engines. This includes the standard 2.0-liter and 1.6-liter engine options.
What is the high mileage for Kia Seltos?
This is quite a challenging question as the Kia Seltos have not been on the market for long. Nonetheless, when you compare the Kia Seltos’ reliability with other similar SUVs from Kia, such as Kia Soul and Kia Sportage, you should expect it to last for a while before developing serious problems.
As a result, the high mileage for Kia Seltos should be around 120,000 miles. Note that it will also depend on the model year and variant.
What is the best Kia Seltos variant?
The best Kia Seltos variant is the Kia Seltos GTX Plus. It is the best-selling variant because it comes with the best safety features. It is also one of the best-selling Kia Seltos variants on the market. However, if you want great value for money, consider getting the Kia Seltos HTK.
The Kia Seltos HTK comes with a powerful engine, excellent rear space, a silent cabin, a large trunk area, and several latest technologies.
Bottom line
The Kia Seltos is an excellent car for people searching for a beautiful, compact, efficient, roomy, affordable, practical, and reliable compact SUV. But as expected, the Kia Seltos also comes with some setbacks that can be handled in good time to prevent costly repairs in the long term.
Overall, the Kia Seltos is an affordable and reliable car. It also comes with the latest tech and it is a nice family car as it has ample cabin and cargo space. Just ensure to maintain it properly for it to last and serve you better.