KIA Seltos

Design & Quality

If you consider one key standalone and most vital aspect of the Seltos, it has to be the interior, and here Kia promises a great differentiator, which turns into greater value. There is this nice combination of luxury and practicality, impressive premium materials, then black or dual-tone black and beige leatherette upholstery, which seems to make you believe the car is a luxury SUV, because it is that classy. Then comes the dashboard, which is frankly the highlight of the cockpit for any car, and here you find quite a simple and impactful design. There is a 10.25-inch touchscreen and a 10.25-inch supervision cluster, which isn’t in the wrong place; rather, it is exactly where it should be, which is visible through an elegant and seamless design. Most of the buyers will like the quality of the cabin. We certainly find that panel gaps and durable finishes are a lot better, and we can promise durability given UAE’s harsh climate, from scorching summers to sandy winds, and it is spacious too. 

Front Seat

Not a bad place after all. The driver is something you wouldn’t complain about; you sit high, get most of the access easily, and the seating position is quite comfortable overall. The driver seat gets both manual and power adjustments, based on the variants. The leatherette upholstery quality is noteworthy and gives you a premium vibe. Similarly, the ventilated front seats are a great comfort feature, considering UAE’s intense heat. You’ll love the compact multi-function steering wheel with audio and cruise control buttons, and the grip is quite excellent, and so makes you zip effortlessly through city or highway drives. What we noticed is that the seats not only give you a better position but also superior cushioning, which then reflects on your reduced fatigue, especially during long periods on the steering wheel.

Electronic Parking Brake

The electronic parking brake is a huge relief; no more manual operations, more so in the typical stop-and-go traffic. Another advantage is that it helps keep the cabin space open and also reduces the effort of operating manually. And with integrated hill-start assist, it is a great feature overall.

Rear Seat

We find the rear seat not only comfortable with cushioned and quality seat material. There is enough room for an average-sized person for leg, shoulder, head and knee. Generally, a three-seater back seat where average-sized people can fit easily, but for a long driver, preferably two of them will be far better. A foldable rear armrest with cupholders is there whenever a passenger wants to use it, and overall, the rear is not a bad place; rather, something you love spending time on the go.

AC Vents

In terms of comfort, air conditioning is the key, and Seltos, with its automatic climate control system, is not only powerful and quick but also a lot friendlier to operate. So, you don’t feel any concern about UAE’s blistering summers. Same is with rear AC vents, where passengers are well taken care of with great AC.

Storage Options

To keep your cabin clean and tidy, but also allow you to carry stuff, Seltos has spaces around, and that reflects how practicality is part of the design. is practical, Starting at the centre console, followed by door-mounted bottle holders (1-litre capacity), and a rear armrest storage compartment. Also, the glovebox is large, and lets you store a lot of papers or other important files and small items, safe and protected, locked. 

Armrest

The centre armrest is another aspect in the front seat where the driver and passenger both benefit. Allows good comfort and is also used as a storage nook for keys or chargers.

Charging Options

Stay powered with USB-C charging ports for front and rear passengers comprising a 12V socket, and a wireless charging pad (SX). So, your phone’s, tablet, or other devices aren't a big deal.

Boot Space

The Seltos, being a compact SUV, get a decent 433-litre boot, which isn’t the biggest but then should suffice to take care of everyday needs, like grocery runs, school bags or your equipment of any variety. At a time when extra luggage space is required, the option of folding the rear seats remains, which expands space significantly.

Safety is paramount, with:

• Six airbags 
• Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS)
• Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD)
• Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
• Traction Control
• Hill-Start Assist
• Rearview camera with dynamic guidelines
• Front and rear parking sensors
• Blind-Spot Collision Warning (BCW)
• Smart Cruise Control 

• Lane Keeping Assist (LKA)

• Lane Following Assist (LFA)
• Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA)

• Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
• ISOFIX child seat anchors
• Emergency Stop Signal (ESS)

The Kia Seltos is refreshingly new, with distinctive styling details including its bold, rugged built quality grabs attention. And, honestly, it looks sizable, measuring 4,385 mm in length, 1,800 mm in width, and 1,600 mm in height, with a 2,630 mm wheelbase, giving it a solid road presence for your city and weekend trips.

The exterior also seems to be well established by its rather high 190 mm ground clearance, which is enough to navigate speed bumps and light desert trails across our cities and towns. The exterior is largely identified with Seltos’ sporty design, prominently featuring Kia’s signature Tiger Nose grille and sleek aerodynamic lines, which gives it a premium edge that shines in Dubai’s cityscape or Sharjah’s highways.

Front

The Seltos’ front makes it a lot different from most of its rivals. To do that, Kia seems to have spent a lot of time offering something unique, and they’re largely successful. Take the attractive grille, star-map LED headlights with integrated LED daytime running lights (DRLs), which play a key role in the car's overall handsome look and style, but they are highly bright for your night drive. The fog lights also look pretty nice, and come in handy for early morning drives or late-night trips for safer and more confident driving

Side

Not much to say about the side profile other than they nicely complement the overall car with curve and superior shapes. The floating roof rails, body-colored door handles, and power-folding side mirrors with LED turn signals make it appear premium. The sculpted window line and black side cladding are sort of strong, and make it a beefy, typical SUV characteristic.

Alloy Wheels

The Seltos comes in standard 16-inch crystal-cut alloy wheels (215/60R17) on the lower trims, while the DLX trim gets 17-inch alloys (205/65R16). These wheels improve the grip and handling considerably, and no matter where you’re navigating, Dubai’s famous traffic or cruising the Abu Dhabi-Dubai highway. And, these alloys are designed in such a way that they up the sporty look and overall superior SUV stance.

Rear

I’m a little critical of the rear of the Seltos; to say that it is just fine, not great. But no bad either; however, it could have been better in terms of some creativity. Nonetheless, a lot of buyers will like the modern and bold design, which prominently features connected star-map LED tail lamps, a key identity at night. The high-mounted stop lamp and rear fog lamps are appealing, and the body-colored spoiler gets that sporty edge. The rear wiper and washer help keep the view clear, and the compact design allows parking in tight Dubai spots effortlessly.

Colors

You get to select any of the shiny and attractive eight colours: Clear White, Glacier White Pearl, Steel Silver, Gravity Grey, Aurora Black Pearl, Imperial Blue, Mars Orange, and Sparkling Silver. You have an option to go for dual-tone interior with colours from Clear White or Glacier White Pearl with an Aurora Black Pearl roof.

City Performance

The Seltos is a city car which is quite visible looking at its specs, dimensions and powertrain. The 1.4L engine and 7-speed DCT gearbox offer you easy driving, responsive power for most of our roads across the UAE. The length of 4,385 mm and relatively lower turning radius make parking in any city a lot easier. And, the mileage of 13 plus km for our drivers is not just impressive but indeed awesome, for anyone who wishes to use the Seltos as their primary for city commute or regular drive. 

Highway Performance

But don’t fool yourself, because the Seltos is good for highways too, and this is why an SUV makes better sense than, say, a sedan. Our impression driving on the highways suggests the 138 hp engine is good for overtaking, while Drive Mode Select (Eco, Normal, Sport) allows the much-needed balance for efficiency and thrill, and with better NVH management, the cabin is mostly quiet, sans any road or wind noise.

Ride and Handling

The Seltos’ McPherson strut front and torsion beam rear suspension are well-tuned, and they play a vital role in the overall ride and handling, which is, most part, quite balanced.  The light, precise steering makes it nimble for city, gives you that confidence in city traffic and also on highway curves. The Traction Mode Select (Sand, Mud, Snow), works smoothly on the light desert trails, but don’t consider it as a full off-roader.

• 10.25-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

• 10.25-inch supervision cluster

• 17-inch crystal-cut alloy wheels

• Leatherette upholstery
• Ventilated front seats

• Automatic climate control

• 6-speaker audio system

• Keyless entry and push-button start
• Electronic parking brake with hill-start assist
• Wireless charging pad

• Electric sunroof 

• Smart cruise control 
• Rearview camera with dynamic guidelines

• Drive Mode Select (Eco, Normal, Sport)

• Traction Mode Select (Sand, Mud, Snow)
• Smart Pure Air purifier

Kia is retailing the Seltos in three variants

STD (AED 80,850)
This entry-level STD variant comes with the robust and proven 1.5L engine, and mostly the key features, so those buyers looking for an affordable deal, on a tight budget, can consider this. Mostly, first-time SUV owners, or those who want a reliable daily commuting SUV with good value.

FOP (AED 101,500)
The FOP gets a turbocharged 1.4L engine and additional features for the extra price you pay. This includes a sunroof, mood lighting, and advanced safety, and anyone on lookout for tech features and a loaded cabin should consider this variant.

DLX 
The DLX balances price and features, and has the same engine as the STD variants. But has a better blending of extra comfort and style upgrades.

Zigwheels Recommends: Our recommendation is the FOP for all the value you’re getting for the extra money. This variant offers a fully-loaded SUV, and an experience of luxury, performance, along with great technology features, and so a fulfilling and complete ownership.

A closer and in-depth look at Seltos convinces us about this compact SUV, which mostly has it all. It should meet the criteria of anyone buying their first SUV, an upgrade from a sedan or a hatch. Kia is offering a complete package, and the Seltos look hard to beat, among its key rivals. It covers all the aspects, including modern exterior, spacious and fully-loaded cabin with an efficient engine, along with great driving dynamics.

If you’re in the market looking for a compact SUV that combines style, features, and value, then give the Seltos a try! Head to the Kia showroom to check it out for real. 

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