2024 Kia Seltos Sport+ 2.0 FWD evaluation

The present-generation Kia Seltos crossover has been on sale regionally since 2019 and acquired a facelift final 12 months.

Forming because the high-riding counterpart to the Cerato sedan and hatchback, the Seltos is accessible in a wealth of variants that begin at just below $30,000 earlier than on-roads, and develop to over $45,000 earlier than on-roads.

On take a look at right here is the just about top-specification 2024 Kia Seltos Sport+ with the usual 2.0-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine with a repeatedly variable transmission (CVT) and front-wheel drive.

For the 2024 mannequin 12 months Kia Australia upped the pricing of your entire Seltos vary by $280 when it comes to listing pricing, and $300 for drive-away pricing resulting from “financial causes” – although no specification adjustments had been made.

Is the Kia Seltos Sport+ 2.0 FWD the decide of the vary? Learn alongside to seek out out.

How a lot does the Kia Seltos price?

Kia Seltos pricing:

• 2024 Kia Seltos S 2.0 FWD: $31,990 (+$300)
• 2024 Kia Seltos Sport 2.0 FWD: $35,690 (+$300)
• 2024 Kia Seltos Sport+ 2.0 FWD: $38,790 (+$300)
• 2024 Kia Seltos Sport+ 1.6T AWD: $42,290 (+$300)
• 2024 Kia Seltos GT-Line 2.0 FWD: $44,890 (+$300)
• 2024 Kia Seltos GT-Line 1.6T AWD: $47,990 (+$300)

All costs are drive-away

To see how the Seltos compares to its rivals, line it up with any of its rivals utilizing our comparability instrument.

What’s the Kia Seltos like on the within?

The Kia Seltos Sport+ is probably the most reasonably priced variant within the vary to introduce proximity entry and push-button begin. It’s additionally receives distant begin performance which is a useful strategy to get the automotive’s heater or air-conditioner working earlier than you hop in.

Strolling up and hopping into the Seltos there’s an elevated driver’s seating place which could be very wanted on this section. It additionally permits for simple ingress and egress as you don’t have to step up or down.

The Seltos Sport+ comes with material and synthetic leather-based upholstery as commonplace with an inoffensive geometric sample within the center sections.

The motive force’s seat is comfy sufficient, with the material center sections permitting for correct air flow. There’s nothing worse than getting right into a automotive with sizzling leather-based seats and no strategy to cool them down shortly.

Forward of the motive force is a skinny steering wheel that’s wrapped in what seems to be fake leather-based. This steering is named the “Premium Steering Wheel” in line with Kia and it’s very mushy to the contact.

The buttons and switches on the steering wheel are logically laid out and have a tactile click on or flick motion which is satisfying everytime you work together with them.

Behind the steering wheel is a correct 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster which seems very high-resolution.

This type of digital instrument cluster is widespread amongst a variety of Hyundai and Kia automobiles so it feels very acquainted and straightforward to make use of.

In the course of the digital instrument cluster there’s a piece that may show sure items of knowledge like a digital speedometer, gas economic system, journey meter, adaptive cruise management settings, and a compass, amongst others.

Transferring throughout there’s a ten.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system which is in the identical housing as the ten.25-inch digital instrument cluster. That is very on pattern.

The touchscreen infotainment system, just like the digital instrument cluster, gives extremely high-resolution. It additionally appeared to have good processing energy, which meant it turned on just about immediately upon startup and new pages loaded shortly.

Regardless of this the touchscreen was positioned a good means from my driving place, which meant I needed to stretch or lean ahead so as to work together with it. This doesn’t occur fairly often as an individual that’s 182cm tall.

All the Kia Seltos vary solely comes with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto which is accomplished superb with me as they’re usually extra dependable than wi-fi types of each.

With my iPhone 12 Professional Max plugged in with a USB cable I skilled no Apple CarPlay dropouts in any way all through my time with our Seltos Sport+ tester.

There’s no wi-fi telephone charger within the Seltos Sport+ which can be a tad annoying since you’ll should plug into one of many USB ports. It’s worthwhile to step as much as the flagship GT-Line variant so as to obtain this function.

The ten.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system comes commonplace with satellite tv for pc navigation which is absolutely intuitive to make use of. It’s really easy to go looking up factors of curiosity utilizing the system.

Though the in-built satellite tv for pc navigation is intuitive, I’d not often use it as I at all times plug my telephone in to make use of Google Maps or Waze with smartphone mirroring. I suppose it’s a very good backup simply in case you’re caught out with out your telephone.

The Seltos Sport+ additionally comes with a seven-year complimentary subscription to Kia Join on-line companies. This contains options similar to distant features, emergency SOS calling, automobile monitoring, related satellite tv for pc navigation, and automobile telematics.

The final fascinating function I’ll point out concerning the Seltos’ touchscreen infotainment system is its voice memo perform. I don’t know the way practical this function is in observe however it’s an amazing novelty function that sounds very useful in concept.

Trying across the cabin of the Seltos Sport+ there are a couple of soft-touch factors on high-traffic areas, such because the armrests. It’s value noting each Seltos variant beneath the Sport+ has rock-hard plastic door armrests.

There’s additionally a good smattering of shiny piano black plastics on the higher speaker grilles and across the gear selector which will get dirty actually shortly and may get scratched simply.

One other gripe I’ve is the centre and door armrests are mounted at completely different heights. This was extraordinarily jarring at first however I slowly obtained used to sitting with one elbow greater than the opposite. I do want they had been degree nevertheless.

The Seltos Sport+’s six-speaker sound system is totally enough and never a standout when it comes to sound high quality, although like different Kia automobiles it’s good to have the quantity cranked so as to really hear the music.

Transferring to the second row within the Kia Seltos there’s no actual noticeable high quality step down. There are soft-touch door armrests and the seat continues to be as squishy because the entrance, although the headrest is a tad more durable.

At a leggy 182cm tall, I discovered there was a superb quantity of house behind my driving place within the second row, although I did should splay my legs on both aspect of the motive force’s seat if I wished to be extra comfy.

When it comes to second-row facilities there are centre console-mounted air vents, USB-C ports, a small cupboard space, single map pocket on the entrance passenger seat backrest, in addition to a fold-down armrest with cupholders.

Across the again the Seltos Sport+ comes with a guide tailgate that opens simply sufficient, although closing it takes two pushes. This might be a little bit of a problem for those that have their fingers full and want to have the ability to shut the tailgate.

If you’d like an influence tailgate it’s good to step as much as the flagship GT-Line variant.

As soon as the tailgate is open it presents a boot house space with a claimed 433 litres of capability. That is fairly a usable and sq. house, although there’s no cargo blind which causes some privateness alarm bells to go off in my thoughts.

There are minimal facilities within the boot with it comprising a cargo hook within the boot and a light-weight. There’s no 12V socket within the boot, nor netted areas.

The Seltos Sport+ comes commonplace with a full-size spare wheel that’s mounted beneath the boot ground. That is extremely useful for those who often do rural and regional driving away from

What’s beneath the bonnet?

To see how the Seltos compares to its rivals, line it in opposition to any of its rivals utilizing our comparability instrument.

How does the Kia Seltos drive?

Beginning up the Kia Seltos Sport+ there’s fortunately a button to press fairly than a bodily key to show – it’s good to step all the best way to this virtually top-specification variant if you need this privilege.

When the engine initially fires up it will probably rev a bit harshly. As soon as the engine has warmed up a bit nevertheless, it does quieten down and turn into much more nice and refined.

Setting off you shortly realise you gained’t actually be successful any races from the site visitors lights within the Seltos, particularly with the common 2.0-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine fitted to this automotive which solely produces an enough 110kW and 180Nm.

This engine is mated completely to a repeatedly variable transmission (CVT) which feels prefer it sucks a good bit of life out of the automotive. It’s somewhat droney at factors however permits you to get from level A to level B with out an excessive amount of stress.

Round city the Seltos cruises round effortlessly and quietly. The revs are stored down low for probably the most half, although for those who punch it the revs will flare to get the automotive shifting alongside at a brisker tempo.

The Seltos has a really comfy and compliant trip in city environment which is shocking given the two.0-litre FWD model solely has a torsion beam rear suspension setup. The 1.6-litre AWD model receives a extra refined rear multi-link suspension setup.

In low-speed eventualities like in a carpark for instance, the Seltos’ steering could be a little agency which makes twirling the steering wheel little bit of a job at factors. Fortunately your entire Seltos vary comes commonplace with entrance and rear parking sensors in addition to a reversing digital camera which has enough decision.

You’re unable to get a surround-view digital camera on any Seltos variant at the moment supplied in Australia. You’ll have to go for the bigger Sportage GT-Line which at the moment begins from $49,720 earlier than on-roads to get this function.

Increase pace within the Seltos with the two.0-litre FWD powertrain does take some work. The automotive additionally begins to really feel prefer it’s out of puff if you’re doing nearer to freeway speeds.

Don’t be shocked for those who see the revs typically flaring as much as or past 3000rpm so as to keep freeway speeds. This is likely one of the occasions the place having the CVT feels probably the most jarring.

It’s important to actually contemplate and plan out your overtakes within the Seltos 2.0 FWD as for those who’re not cautious you would be caught out.

Like quite a lot of CVT-equipped automobiles, the Seltos 2.0 FWD might be vulnerable to carrying a little bit of pace down hills because it lacks the inherent engine braking a torque converter-equipped automotive has. This implies you’ll be urgent the brakes extra typically to maintain throughout the pace restrict.

Regardless of these gripes, the Seltos feels actually planted out on the highway at greater speeds. This enhances how nicely the crossover fares in regard to pimply city roads and pace bumps.

On the security entrance, the current-generation Seltos, like a rising variety of Kia and Hyundai automobiles, are coming commonplace with some extremely annoying chimes.

One of the crucial of those chimes is for the Clever Velocity Restrict Help system which reads pace restrict indicators and sounds annoyingly loud chimes if you surpass the pace restrict for a sure interval.

In concept this method ought to be actually useful to make sure individuals don’t pace, however at occasions the automotive detects an incorrect pace signal and sounds the chime. That is most notable when travelling by way of faculty zones once they aren’t energetic.

The lane-keep help perform works nicely for probably the most half, whereas its Lane Following Help (lane centring) perform can get confused simply. There have been a number of factors the place I used to be despatched within the mistaken course, particularly on roads with pale lane markings.

Like a Niro EV I beforehand drove, the Seltos’ adaptive cruise management system unusually has a lull earlier than taking up the total acceleration of the automotive. This then in flip makes the automotive flare it revs to recuperate the misplaced 1-2km/h.

The very last thing I’ll point out on this part is the Seltos Sport+, regardless of being virtually top-specification, nonetheless solely comes geared up with projector-type halogen headlights. That is wild to me given our tester will nicely over $35,000.

It’s worthwhile to step as much as the flagship Seltos GT-Line to obtain LED headlights as commonplace. Though your eyes do regulate to driving a automotive with yellower halogen lights on dimly lit roads, LED headlights actually do present significantly extra peace of thoughts when travelling in rural and distant areas.

What do you get?

Kia Seltos S highlights:

• 16-inch alloy wheels
• Spare-saver spare wheel
• Computerized halogen headlights
• Computerized high-beam
• Halogen daytime working lights
• Rear fog gentle
• Matte Black grille mesh
• Physique-coloured door handles
• Physique-coloured, power-folding aspect mirrors
• Roof rails
• Rear spoiler
• Shark fin antenna
• 4.2-inch instrument cluster display
• 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Wi-fi Apple CarPlay, Android Auto
• 6-speaker sound system
• 12V energy outlet in entrance console
• USB-A, USB-C retailers in entrance console
• 2 x USB-C retailers behind centre console
• Guide air-conditioning
• Second-row air vents
• Guide handbrake
• Folding key
• Material upholstery
• 6-way manually adjustable driver’s seat

Seltos Sport provides:

• 17-inch alloy wheels
• Full-size spare wheel
• Windscreen and entrance door Photo voltaic Glass
• Halogen (projector-style) entrance fog lights
• 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster
• 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• DAB+ digital radio
• Wired Apple CarPlay, Android Auto
• Satellite tv for pc navigation
• Sounds of Nature
• Kia Join (7yr subscription)
• Local weather management
• Driver window one-touch up, down
• Premium steering wheel
• Premium gear shifter

Seltos Sport+ provides:

• Heated aspect mirrors
• Privateness glass
• AEB bike owner avoidance and junction turning help
• Adaptive cruise management
• Keyless entry and push-button begin
• Distant begin
• Electrical park brake with auto-hold
• Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
• LED inside lights
• Illuminated self-importance mirrors
• Entrance centre console armrest sliding perform
• Rear centre armrest
• Material and synthetic leather-based upholstery

Seltos GT-Line provides:

• 18-inch alloy wheels
• LED headlights
• LED daytime working lights
• LED fog lights
• LED positioning lights
• LED rear mixture tail lights
• Premium Gloss Black grille mesh
• Satin silver belt line
• Tilt and slide sunroof (N/A with two-tone paint)
• Energy tailgate
• Rain-sensing window wipers
• Head-up show
• Wi-fi telephone charger
• 8-speaker Bose premium sound system
• Heated, flat-bottom steering wheel
• Inside ambient lighting
• Parcel shelf
• Premium synthetic leather-based upholstery
• Heated and ventilated entrance seats
• 10-way energy driver’s seat
  • 2-way energy lumbar assist
  • 2-position reminiscence
• 8-way energy entrance passenger seat

Is the Kia Seltos secure?

The Kia Seltos was crash examined by ANCAP in 2019 and it acquired a five-star security score.

It acquired an grownup occupant safety rating of 85 per cent, baby occupant safety rating of 83 per cent, susceptible highway person safety rating of 61 per cent, and a security help rating of 70 per cent.

Normal security options embody:

• Entrance, front-side and curtain airbags
• Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
• Blind-spot help
• Rear cross-traffic help
• Protected Exit Warning
• Clever Velocity Restrict Help
• Lane-keep help
• Lane Following Help (lane centring)
• Driver Consideration Alert
• Entrance, rear parking sensors
• Rear-view digital camera
• Tyre-pressure monitoring system

Sport+ and GT-Line fashions obtain AEB with bike owner avoidance and junction turning help, in addition to adaptive cruise management and lead-vehicle departure alert.

How a lot does the Kia Seltos price to run?

The Kia Seltos is roofed by a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee, with seven years of capped worth service and as much as eight years of roadside help for those who service the automotive at an authorised Kia vendor.

Logbook servicing for variants with the two.0-litre engine is required each 12 months or 15,000km, whereas they’re required each 12 months or 10,000km for variants with the 1.6-litre turbo engine.

The primary seven companies within the 2.0-litre are capped at $290, $496, $354, $616, $326, $626 and $346. The primary seven companies within the 1.6-litre are capped at $309, $502, $375, $653, $348, $632 and $673.

CarExpert’s Tackle the Kia Seltos

The Kia Seltos is a really typical crossover that ticks numerous packing containers for me straight out of the field.

It offers a sought-after high-riding seating place that many crossover patrons are on the lookout for, a modern-looking inside with a flashy curved housing for the digital instrument cluster and touchscreen infotainment system, in addition to an easy driving expertise in and across the metropolis.

Nonetheless, issues do begin to come aside considerably if you take the Seltos out on the open highway. That is when the two.0-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine begins to expire of puff. The CVT additionally ruins the atmosphere with its rev flares so as to keep pace.

Fortunately you may get the Seltos Sport+ with the extra highly effective 1.6-litre turbo engine, however this prices an extra $3500 and in addition provides all-wheel drive.

One other annoying gripe with the Seltos are the obnoxiously loud chimes for the Clever Velocity Restrict Help. This may go off incorrectly no less than as soon as each time I drove the automotive, particularly by way of faculty zones.

It’s onerous to say the Seltos Sport+ is the candy spot of the vary because it misses out on a lot tools is reserved completely for the flagship GT-Line. These options embody LED headlights, an influence tailgate and rain-sensing window wipers, amongst others.

What’s much more irritating about this although is it’s good to spend nicely over $40,000 for the Seltos GT-Line to get these options, and over $45,000 if you need it with the extra highly effective 1.6-litre turbo engine.

I’ll say nevertheless, the Seltos Sport+ does include the total suite of obtainable security tools. Should you don’t need all of the bells and whistles this could be the very best variant so that you can you take a look at.

Click on the photographs for the total gallery

BUY: Kia Seltos
MORE: All the pieces Kia Seltos