The crossover segment, particularly the subcompact category, is a tight battlefield right now. Imagine a WWE Royal Rumble with the ring filled to the ropes. No wrestler can do their signature move because there’s no space. In this landscape, it would be hard for any car to stand out unless they have something really unique to them. Lucky for Kia, their entry has something going on.
The Kia Seltos easily stands out and not because of ground clearance. It has this futuristic aesthetic up front that is very unique, you won’t even recognize it’s a Kia unless your eyes are sharp and see that logo on the hood. Add to that its Starbright Yellow color that turns into chemical green when not under the sun, and you certainly have a unique car on your hands.
In this SX trim, the Seltos is not only beautiful, but nicely packaged as well. It has automatic LED headlights, DRL, fog lights, taillights, 17-inch alloy wheels, roof rails, nicely shaped claddings, and silver skid plates for a good accent on aesthetics.
The cabin is a very different story altogether. While the exterior was more about style and being unique to stand out, the Seltos interior is all about contemporary practicality and space. All variants have the eight-inch infotainment system with Apple and Android connectivity, and audio controls on the steering wheel, with the SX trim adding cruise control. There’s a good amount of headroom, legroom, and elbow room up front and at the back. There are no toys for the rear occupants but that’s okay for me, personally, because I really like the space it provides.
Leather was also applied on most contact points. The steering wheel, door panel armrest, shift knob, and the seats are clad in leather. I said most, because the center of the seats are in fabric which is beneficial against heat, but a downside if you’re looking for a really premium feel.
Kia tried to be a bit funky with the implementation of geometrical speaker housings, and even putting a very short grab bar under the air controls, but it looked out of place. I can give a pass on the speaker housing but they should’ve removed this grab bar, so the center of the dashboard looks more fluid.
The Seltos looks bulky but it was surprisingly light on its feet when you drive it. The 2.0L engine produces 147hp and 179Nm of torque. Not stellar figures by any means, but it’s complemented well by Kia’s Intelligent Variable Transmission, which is their own take for an improved CVT. It significantly decreased the banding of the Seltos’s transmission during acceleration, made it more responsive, and gave it the shifting feel of conventional automatic.
The best part about this powertrain is the fuel economy. I’m surprised that with a 2.0L engine under the hood, it still returned 8km/l in traffic, and up to 14.5km/l when the roads are less congested. That’s similar to the Suzuki Celerio I personally use which is a lot smaller, lighter, and has a 1.0L engine. Insane fuel efficiency by Kia right there.
There’s only one thing I miss during my driving time with the Seltos, and that’s the Brake Hold function. For a car launched in 2019 in a country marred by traffic, that feature is crucial. Might be a small thing but it helps a lot in alleviating fatigue during long drives.
This Seltos SX also has a good suite of safety features: six airbags, ABS, Stability Control, Downhill Brake Control, and Hill-Start Assist. It’s not the most packed among the competition, but they’ve chosen well in what to put in this crossover.
The only thing going against the Seltos is the lack of brake hold function and it’s less than average seat design. Yes, it’s not the first time we’ve encountered a fabric center on leather seats, but the design is just not for me. Look past that, and you got a stellar crossover that’s unique and certainly very capable.
At P1,525,000 (P20,000 less if your color isn’t two-tone), this Kia Seltos SX sits at the more premium end of its category, right beside the Chevrolet Trax Premiere, Mazda CX-30, and the Honda HR-V. They may be heavy hitters, but the Seltos is unfazed. It’s the best looking in the bunch, has generous space, and is fuel-efficient. If you’re like me who cares a lot about the car’s aesthetics and want modern practicality inside, you should probably head for the nearest Kia showroom now.