Kia's subcompact sport utility vehicle (SUV) Seltos has returned with a new look after six years. The Seltos sold 55,917 units last year, ranking eighth overall. Narrowing it to subcompact SUVs, it took first place ahead of Hyundai Motor Kona (32,738 units), Venue (12,165 units), and Kia Niro (13,599 units), making it the "undisputed powerhouse" among subcompact SUVs. Its relatively large body for the class and strong value for money were the reasons for its popularity, and the new Seltos upgrades both size and performance.
On the 28th, we test-drove the all-new Seltos, launched as a full-change model with a hybrid powertrain. The route ran about 77 km from Gangdong District in Seoul to Chuncheon, Gangwon, covering highway and winding sections.
At departure, we drove the internal combustion Seltos equipped with a 1.6 turbo gasoline engine; on the return, we drove the vehicle with the 1.6 hybrid system. Both vehicles were the top-trim X-Line. The X-Line features black design elements on the front and rear bumpers.
With the switch to the second generation and a full change, the completely redesigned front end stands out. Kia's family-look Star Map lighting signature vertical daytime running lights (DRL) and radiator grille delivered a refined feel.
Vertical and horizontal lamps at the rear create a unified look with the front-end design. As with the first generation, a panoramic sunroof is installed on the roof, and it operated normally even at 80 kph.
Sitting in the driver's seat, the cabin felt roomier than the first-generation Seltos. That is thanks to the body size, which increased to 4,430 mm in length and 2,690 mm in wheelbase (distance between the front and rear axles), up 40 mm and 60 mm, respectively. It is clearly roomier than the Hyundai Motor Kona and Kia EV3.
Fewer physical climate buttons and a switch to a column-type shifter (an electronic gear lever located behind the right side of the steering wheel) further expanded the sense of space in the driver's seat. The second row was not cramped either. When this reporter, 172 cm tall, sat in the back, about two fist widths of space remained between the front seat and knees. It looked sufficient as a family vehicle.
We first boarded the 1.6 turbo gasoline model. The steering wheel felt light to turn. We started off in "eco mode," and pressing the accelerator brought the speed up smoothly. In "normal mode," there was not much difference from eco mode.
Upon entering the highway and switching to "sport mode," the engine note changed, and the thrust felt stronger. While the car is not focused on dynamic driving, it seemed useful when you want to boost output. The internal combustion model's maximum output is 193 horsepower, with peak torque of 27 kgf·m.
The 1.6 hybrid model sounded different from the internal combustion Seltos from the outset. At low speeds, using the motor as the power source, it sounded like an electric vehicle. Pushing past 60 kph, the engine began to engage.
The hybrid model offers only eco and sport modes. In eco, it was quiet and comfortable. In sport, the RPM (engine revolutions per minute) climbed and the engine noise grew, but it did not deliver the same immediate thrust as the internal combustion model.
The hybrid model's maximum output is 141 horsepower, and peak torque matches that of the internal combustion model. It also features a smart regenerative braking system like an electric vehicle.
Another advantage of the new Seltos is reduced body roll in corners. In typical subcompact SUVs, the smaller body leans in sharp curves, but the Seltos felt less prone to that than other subcompact SUVs.
It does not use a separate suspension specifically for balancing the vehicle. Bae Gyu-tae, head of Project Team 4 who oversaw development of the new Seltos, said, "Compared with the previous model, the longer wheelbase also mitigated body roll." However, the display mounted on the dashboard felt a bit low, which was somewhat inconvenient.
Both models delivered respectable fuel economy. We drove as usual—90–100 kph on the highway, including about 100 meters in sport mode. As a result, the turbo gasoline model's average combined fuel economy measured 11.1 km/L, and the hybrid model's was 15.8 km/L. That was somewhat lower than expected.
The official fuel economy for the Seltos gasoline and hybrid models is 11–12.5 km/L and 17.8–19.5 km/L, respectively. Safety features such as driver attention warning and convenience features such as Highway Driving Assist 2 also helped reduce driving fatigue.
The new Seltos starts at 24.77 million won for the gasoline model, up 2 million won. The hybrid model starts at 28.98 million won. The gasoline model we drove, an X-Line priced at 34.65 million won, came to 39.66 million won with all options added. For the hybrid, the X-Line at 37.41 million won totaled a little over 42 million won with all options.