That It used to be cheap and fun, but it quickly became flashy and elusive.
With a waiting time of about six months, Seltos SUVs are a hot commodity right now.
It has been updated with a new badge, and its price has increased relative to the rest of the Kia line-up as spare parts shortages, skyrocketing shipping costs, and massive demand have taken their toll.
The 2022 Kia Seltos WILL BE tested here one notch above the bottom end of the range, because it comes equipped with the optional Safety Pack.
Along with the more advanced AEB system, it offers safety equipment normally reserved for Sport+ and GT-Line.
Given it faces a large amount of competition and since it’s part of a large range, should you bother waiting for a Seltos S?
How much does Kia Seltos S cost?
In the test, we were the Kia Seltos S with the Safety Package, priced from $28,290 before on-road expenses. It’s $1000 more expensive than the S without the Safety Plan.
There was a $520 premium for the paintwork on our test car and what appeared to be every color except Starbright yellow.
Rivals include the Volkswagen T-Roc (from $35,500), the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross (from $32,990) and the Hyundai Kona (from $26,900).
However, don’t think Kia ignores the standard equipment. Add to that in a bit.
Price Kia Seltos 2022:
- Kia Seltos S 2.0 FWD: $27,290
- Kia Seltos S with 2.0 FWD Safety Pack: $28,290
- Kia Seltos Sport 2.0 FWD: $30,290
- Kia Seltos Sport with 2.0 FWD Safety Pack: $31,290
- Kia Seltos Sport + 2.0 FWD: $33,790
- Kia Seltos Sport + 1.6T AWD: $37,290
- Kia Seltos GT-Line 1.6T AWD: $42,700
Price does not include road costs
What’s inside the Kia Seltos S?
When I first jumped into the Seltos, like all last Kias, the simplicity of the interior stood out. It’s clean and simple, led by a black dashboard with silver trim pieces.
The 8.0-inch infotainment screen stands out in the middle of the dashboard, which seems to belong.
While the infotainment is controlled via the touchscreen, there are easily accessible buttons on the side. Kia is known for its refinement in infotainment systems, and the Seltos is no exception.
Everything works great and is very easy to navigate. It comes equipped with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and the only negative thing I can say about this device is it still There is no perfect wireless connection.
Previous versions of this system had problems connecting to the wireless phone mirroring feature, but Kia has worked hard to resolve this issue. Current versions of the infotainment system are much more reliable.
The air conditioning controls are located below the vents. Pod is simple, but very easy to navigate at a glance.
There’s a compartment underneath with a USB port, as it’s big enough for a phone, some glasses, and a charging cable. Around the gear selector are empty buttons, which is a sign that I’m in the base model.
The rear has two cup holders, with a handbrake and automatic hold control next to it. There’s also a small slot that would be a perfect spot for your keys…if this Seltos didn’t ask you to put an old-fashioned key in the case.
There’s also a decently sized palm rest with a decent amount of storage underneath. The material used for all the handrails is nice and soft, similar to the door panels that keep my elbows nice and happy.
Fabric seats, which are obviously cheaper than leather, are still extremely comfortable. They can be moved by hand, but bodies of all shapes and sizes will be comfortable.
There’s quite a bit of space in the back, enough room for a child seat – a rear-facing seat.
However, there are no rear-seat pockets, rear-seat drink holders, rear vents or charging ports, so it’s hard to organize iPads, water bottles, and high temperatures. It makes the base Seltos less capable as a family car, which is disappointing.
Behind the second row is 468 liters boot space and 1428L with the rear seats folded. It’s a very decent trunk size and larger than some larger, more expensive cars might claim.
However, the Seltos S is equipped with a space saver as opposed to the large set of parts found in other variants.
What’s under the bonnet?
All front-wheel drive Kia Seltos versions are equipped with engines 2.0 liter naturally aspirated 4-cylinder petrol engine Drive the front wheels through a CVT automatic transmission.
Outputs are quoted at 110kW (6200 rpm and 180Nm (4500rpm), on par with this segment.
Fuel use is a 6.9L / 100km in the test however, I managed to get around 7.2L/100km in a mix of highway and city driving.
Seltos is happy to run on 91 RON lead-free, which helps keep the price down. Fuel tank measures 50 liters.
How does the Kia Seltos S drive?
It seems that the only updates that have been made to the Seltos have not been to the powertrain. It carries the strengths and weaknesses of last year’s model, which is mostly a good thing.
The 2.0-litre petrol engine is nothing short of exciting, but for casual driving it’s a pretty powerful engine.
As a CVT we expected a lot of revs and an unrefined drive, but the reality is much better than that.
It’s not entirely seamless, but it’s a great powertrain that fades in the background during frequent driving and gives you confidence in traffic. Provided you don’t nail the accelerator, it behaves a lot like a normal automatic, although the changes between the “gears” are an induction smudge.
Typically, CVT is poorly correlated in a range of models. In the case of the Seltos, it’s actually a nicer transmission than the dual-clutch transmission available in the Sport+ and GT-Line AWD grades.
Handling wise, the suspension is exactly what you’d expect in a base model. It’s comfortable over speed bumps and potholes in the city, thanks in part to its small wheels and tall tyres. Sure, they look a bit basic, but they make traveling much more comfortable.
At low speeds, the steering is light enough to make parking simple. However, the price to pay is the stability of the highway.
Traction and triple-digit stability are impressive, and although the outputs are relatively light on paper, the 2.0-liter engine and CVT combo still run quietly at around 2000 rpm. on Highway.
Equipped with a rear torsion bar suspension instead of the multi-link rear suspension on AWD models does not detract from the driving experience.
Unfortunately, some of Kia’s safety features like lane keep assist are terrible. That’s not something I enjoy at all, as sometimes it feels like you’re competing with the car for control.
Thankfully it can be turned off and the rest of the driver support has been well calibrated. The adaptive cruise control (part of the optional Safety Pack) works well and makes highway driving a breeze.
However, it’s a pity that Kia charges them extra.
You get what?
Highlights of Seltos S:
- 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (wireless)
- Reverse camera
- Rear parking sensor
- 16 inch steel wheels
- Cruise control
- Six-speaker sound system
- Spare wheel saves space
- Tilt and telescopic adjustable steering column
- Automatic headlights
- Auto beam
- Air conditioner
Additional optional Safety Pack:
- AEB with:
- Detecting cyclists
- Support intersection
- Adaptive cruise control
- Driver attention warning +
- Electric park brake with Auto Hold
- Power folding rearview mirrors
- Driver window automatically up/down
Is the Kia Seltos S safe?
When Kia Seltos was tested by ANCAP in 2019it gets a five-star safety rating.
All models received an adult protection score of 85%, a child protection score of 83%, a vulnerable pedestrian protection score of 61% and a safety assist score of 70%.
Seltos S and Sport models equipped with the optional Safety Pack as well as Sport+ and GT-Line grades outperform vulnerable road users (68%) and assist safety (78%) ) thanks to the more sophisticated AEB Fusion system that adds cyclist detection.
All Seltos models come standard with:
- AEB with pedestrian detection
- Warning about driver attention
- Forward collision warning
- Lane departure warning
- Lane keeping assist
- Reverse camera with dynamic guide
Optional Safety Package for additional S and Sport models:
- AEB with cyclist detection
- AEB with Intersection Assist
- Adaptive cruise control
- Driver attention warning +
- Electric park brake
- Bigger rear disc brake
Seltos Sport+ adds:
- Blind spot support
- Rear cross-section support
The Seltos GT-Line adds:
- Lane assist (center-aligned)
How much does Kia Seltos S cost to run?
Kia offers seven years of limited-price service along with seven-year, unlimited km . warranty.
The 2.0 liter Kia Seltos requires servicing every 12 months or 15,000 km, whichever comes first.
When equipped with the 2.0-liter four-cylinder, the Seltos had an average cost-per-service of $402 for the first seven years of ownership.
CarExpert will compete with Kia Seltos WILL
Kia has clearly listened to everyone’s opinions on this matter, and produced a vehicle that is an SUV that deftly balances space inside with a reasonably compact size on the outside.
It delivered what we expected for the price. It’s a solid performer without being too flashy, and cutting the budget doesn’t take away from the fact this is a great car.
If you’re someone who wants to add some extra flair to your vehicle, the GT-Line is certainly hard to fault. However, if flashy isn’t your thing, the Seltos S is an impressive car.
Just make sure you tick the Safe Pack box.
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THAN: Everything Kia Seltos
