Striking Seltos

Could the Seltos knock the Sportage off its King of Kia pedestal?

In Greek mythology, Celtos, the son of Hercules, has never received as much attention as his famous demi-god father, who boasts superhuman powers. However, the new Seltos, named for the Greek hero (but spelled with an S to fit in with the Kia’s SUV and crossover naming protocol; Soul, Stonic, Sorento) may just overshadow its SUV patriarch, the Sportage.

The new Seltos, according to Kia, stands apart from its numerous rivals thanks to its size, and at 4,315 mm long; 1,800 mm wide; and 1,620 mm high, it does look bigger than its closest competitors, making it one of the largest (and also most practical) compact SUVS available on the market.

However, its sporty exterior design – with a long hood, the strong character line on the front bumper, and the sharp lines pressed into the bodywork – also makes it stand out in the crowd. It strikes an agile pose on any road with its wide “tiger nose” grille – featuring a new interpretation of Kia’s signature design feature – flanked by slim headlights, LED daylight running lights, fog lamps, and bold front-end treatment.

It has a sweeping profile ending in a flourish on the C-pillar to create a floating roof impression, and the wheel arches with black cladding underline the crossover nature of the vehicle. At the rear, the bumper features a three-dimensional surface treatment and has an integrated metallic-look skid plate, as well as chrome garnish connecting the taillights to emphasise its width.

Inside, the new compact SUV offers generous interior space and ample standard equipment. This includes six airbags, ABS, Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD), rear park distance control sensors, a reverse camera, central locking, and an immobiliser.

Available in entry-level EX, mid-range EX+, and rangetopping GT Line trim, the EX and EX+ models are powered by a 1.6-litre petrol engine (90 kw and 151 Nm) paired with a six-speed manual transmission or a six-speed automatic in the EX+ derivative. Acceleration to 100 km/h takes a leisurely 11,2 seconds, with a top speed of 175 km/h, according to Kia.

No Herculean Power

Sampling the EX+ grade (with leather upholstery, side mirrors with auto-folding function, a centre console armrest with storage box, and 17-inch alloy wheels) in the Western Cape, we found its well-specced interior (8-inch colour touchscreen infotainment system and radio with RDS, linked to six speakers, Apple Carplay, and Android Auto for smartphone mirroring, Bluetooth connectivity with voice recognition, and charging USB ports for front and rear passengers) very comfortable.

While snug inside, it was clear on some of the undulating, twisty roads that the normally aspirated “Gamma” engine did not possess Herculean qualities. It just was not torquey enough to hustle the bigger SUV

body along at a decent pace, and this trait was further emphasised by the gearing of the auto transmission.

In contrast, the turbo mill in the GT Line, coupled with DCT and a new Drive Mode Select system with a choice between ‘Normal’, ‘Eco’, and ‘Sport’ mode, plus 2WD Terrain Mode with three modes (‘Snow’, ‘Mud’, and ‘Sand’), worked really well on the route.

With its sporty satin chrome and red trim, gloss black and satin chrome detailing on the front grille, cut alloy wheels with red brake callipers, a D-shape steering wheel, and stainless-steel pedals, it also looked the part, and the GT Line derivative is most certainly the pick of the bunch.

Unfortunately, at R444,995, the GT Line is quite expensive compared to the EX (R353,995), EX Auto (R371,995), and the EX+ Auto (R389,995). So, if you are considering the EX model, we would suggest waiting for the more powerful Seltos 1.5-litre CRDI turbodiesel model, available much later this year.

With its comprehensive specification and highlycompetitive pricing, the new Seltos offers customers excellent choice and good value for money. Still, it will need all its super abilities to subdue strong contenders such as the expected VW T-roc, the Hyundai Creta, Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross, and Mahindra XUV300 in its quest for market segment dominance.