Kia Seltos launched in India: CHEAPER than Hyundai Creta!

South Korean auto manufacturer Kia has finally launched the Seltos compact SUV in India. The much anticipated Seltos is Kia’s debut product in India and it will set the pitch for the brand’s future in the country. As for the ex-showroom prices, the base variant of the Seltos is priced at Rs. 9.69 lakh while the range-topping variant is priced at Rs. 15.99 lakh. This makes it cheaper than the Hyundai Creta, which starts at Rs. 9.99 lakhs (ex-showroom).  In its segment, the Seltos rivals the likes of the Hyundai Creta and Nissan Kicks and well as the Tata Harrier and MG Hector, both of which belong to a segment above. The variant wise prices of the Kia Seltos can be seen below. You can also check out CarToq’s official review of the Kia Seltos here to get an in-depth idea about the SUV.

Kia has made sure that there is a variant for everyone and hence the Seltos is available in 18 variants with eight trim levels. The name of the variants are – HTE, HTK, HTK+, HTX, HTX+, GTK, GTX and GTX+. Out of these, the GT Line variants (GTK, GTX, GTX+) will be available with the 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol and 1.5-litre turbocharged diesel engine options only. The other  HT Line variants will get the 1.5-litre naturally-aspirated petrol and the 1.5-litre turbo-diesel engine options.

Coming to the colour options available on the Seltos, there will be 8 monotone colours that will be available throughout the variant lineup. variants. However, the five dual-colour variants will be limited to the HTX, GTK and GTX variants. Also, Kia is offering four different types of alloy wheels with the Seltos depending on the variant. The alloys include the top of the line 17-inch crystal cut alloy wheels, 17-inch hyper metallic alloy wheels, 16-inch hyper metallic alloy wheels and the 16-inch steel wheels.

Coming to the interiors of the Seltos, Kia has done a commendable job here and the car gets a ton of features along with a decent level of fit and finish. The cabin theme varies depending on whether the variant if GT Line or HT Line. While the HT models will get honeycomb pattern leatherette seats, the GT models will get a tube pattern sports leatherette seats. Also, the GT line variants will have a more sporty theme while the HT Line theme will be soberer and more luxury-oriented.

The 5-seater SUV gets a lot of segment-first features which includes ambient lighting (8 colour and 6 themes), 8-inch HUD (Heads Up Display), 10.25-inch touchscreen interface with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, internet connectivity and navigation along with UVO smart connect feature, smart air purifier, reclining rear seats, four-wheel disc brakes, and blind-spot monitor among others. Other features on the car include an 8 speaker Bose sound system, electric sunroof, power-adjustable driver’s seat with ventilation, leather interiors, and a 360-degree camera among others.

The UVO smart connectivity comes with up to 37 smart features and is similar to the BlueLink connectivity feature seen on the Hyundai Venue. This includes remote engine and AC start, checking tyre pressure, service period status, vehicle tracking, and geofencing among others.

Talking about the engine options on offer, all the three engines will be BSVI compliant. The diesel engine powering the Seltos is a 1.5-litre turbo unit that pumps out 113 Bhp along with 250 Nm of torque. This engine gets a choice between either a 6-speed manual gearbox or a 6-speed torque converter gearbox. The petrol engines, on the other hand, are 1.5-litre and 1.4-litre units.

The 1.5-litre petrol engine is a naturally aspirated unit that generates a maximum power of 113 Bhp and a peak torque of 144 Nm. It comes mated with a 6-speed manual box and a CVT automatic gearbox. The most powerful engine on offer is the 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine which pumps out a good 138 Bhp of power along with a peak torque of 242 Nm. It gets a choice between a 6-speed manual or a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

As for the warranty, Kia offers a 3year/unlimited km warranty with the Seltos along with a three year RSA program. Owners can also opt for an additional two-year extra warranty that will increase the total warranty period to 5 years. The deliveries of the Seltos have started from today itself and the car can be booked online as well as through the dealerships.