The one fixed in life is change, until you’re speaking in regards to the Kia Seltos.
Word: That is an up to date model of a assessment first printed in October 2024. Avoid wasting minor worth adjustments, there haven’t been any specification adjustments since publication.
We’ve up to date key particulars, such because the pricing, with essentially the most up-to-date data obtainable.
To learn the unique model of this assessment, click on right here.
WATCH: Paul’s video assessment of the 2023 Kia Seltos GT-Line 1.6T AWD
Carried into the 2025 mannequin yr unaltered, the Seltos continues to be a extremely useful and satisfying small SUV, though the shine has began to put on off for consumers.
A complete of 7777 examples have been bought throughout 2024, a 25.7 per cent drop on gross sales in comparison with the yr prior.
Maybe that’s as a result of emergence of recent rivals within the small SUV area, or perhaps it’s the entry worth that makes much less sense than the $25,000 drive-away sticker for which you could possibly snap up a base Seltos again in 2019.
Regardless, the Seltos has misplaced some followers.
In the event you’re beginning to doubt the relevance of the Seltos in 2025, don’t click on off this web page simply but. The entry-level Seltos S nonetheless provides loads of worth at $32,340 drive-away, and a charmingly easy expertise behind the wheel.
How does the Kia Seltos examine?
View an in depth breakdown of the Kia Seltos towards equally sized automobiles.
Kia
Seltos
How a lot does the Kia Seltos price?
Kia Australia has bumped up Seltos costs marginally for the 2025 mannequin yr.
| Mannequin | Value earlier than on-road prices | Drive-away pricing |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 Kia Seltos S 2.0 FWD | $30,050 | $32,340 |
| 2025 Kia Seltos Sport 2.0 FWD | $33,250 | $37,040 |
| 2025 Kia Seltos Sport+ 2.0 FWD | $36,350 | $39,140 |
| 2025 Kia Seltos Sport+ 1.6T AWD | $39,870 | $42,640 |
| 2025 Kia Seltos GT-Line 2.0 FWD | $42,050 | $45,240 |
| 2025 Kia Seltos GT-Line 1.6T AWD | $45,470 | $48,340 |
To see how the Seltos traces up towards the competitors, try our comparability instrument
What’s the Kia Seltos like on the within?
There’s no hiding that this can be a bottom-spec mainstream SUV, however many consumers on this section will fortunately take perform over type.
The truth is, the one actual try that Kia has made at daring design on this inside finally falls flat. Sure, I’m speaking about these speaker surrounds.
I get that Kia’s present design language is all about straight traces and sharp edges, but it surely doesn’t work right here. As a substitute, the black plastic covers appear like they’ve been formed by a sledgehammer. No thanks.
Past that, the inside of the Seltos S is a plain mixture of arduous, darkish plastic surfaces, except for the light-coloured headliner.
The widespread contact factors don’t get any particular therapy – the steering wheel is trimmed in agency urethane, and there’s a definite lack of padding for elbows.
On the intense aspect, the inside will doubtless final the check of time higher than vehicles full of much less resilient supplies.
The Seltos is trustworthy, when it comes to each its funds intent and age. To fireside up the two.0-litre engine you flip a key, and shifting the transmission includes pulling an old-school gear selector and dropping a bodily handbrake lever.
That’s to not point out the rotary air-conditioning controls.
In step with the theme, this bare-bones S options cloth-trimmed seats with handbook adjustment. The bottom cushion is just a little agency for my liking, however sculpted aspect bolsters do an excellent job of holding you regular via corners.
Whereas the cabin of the entry-level Seltos could be very yesterday in some ways, the inside tech is way extra 2024.
The S will get an 8.0-inch infotainment touchscreen and 4.2-inch digital instrument cluster, each included into the identical wraparound panel.
Neither will win design awards, however the benefits of simplicity shine via right here. The infotainment system is responsive to the touch inputs (if just a little arduous troublesome to succeed in), fast to load, and straightforward to navigate with few extra options, whereas the instrument show presents the important data (pace, rpm, lane place) in a transparent method.
Wi-fi smartphone mirroring is normal throughout the vary, and there are three connection factors (USB-A, USB-C and 12V) situated underneath the centre stack.
Storage choices embody slim door bins, twin centre cellphone trays, a stock-standard glovebox, and a centre armrest cubby. Total, there are many storage compartments for a automotive of this measurement.
The sensible second row is a spotlight of this inexpensive household SUV. Tall adults will wrestle for leg room, however in any other case each outboard seats boast loads of head room and toe room.
You sit fairly upright, which is an statement greater than a criticism.
Ingress and egress is made simpler by the wide-opening rear doorways, which afford extra room to load youngsters and gadgets into the again. Two ISOFIX baby seat anchor factors and a trio of top-tether factors enhance the family-friendly credentials of the Seltos.
Older rear occupants will admire the pair of USB-C shops beneath the air vents, of which there are two.
There’s additionally a small storage tray, though the Seltos lacks map pockets or a rear centre armrest. Drink bottle holders are built-in into the doorways.
Kia quotes a best-in-class boot capability of 468L – a large drawcard for household consumers. Not solely is the boot big, but it surely’s simply accessible through a big sq. aperture, with no pronounced loading lip.
In the event you ever want extra space, the rear bench folds nearly flat with a slight incline, unlocking additional capability. An area-saver spare wheel could be discovered underneath the boot ground.
| Dimensions | Kia Seltos S |
|---|---|
| Size | 4385mm |
| Width | 1800mm |
| Peak | 1630mm |
| Wheelbase | 2630mm |
| Cargo capability | 468L |
To see how the Seltos traces up towards the competitors, try our comparability instrument
What’s underneath the bonnet?
The Seltos nonetheless provides the selection of two petrol engines. On check right here is the two.0-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder, paired with a CVT auto and front-wheel drive.
| Specs | Kia Seltos S |
|---|---|
| Engine | 2.0-litre 4cyl petrol |
| Energy | 110kW |
| Torque | 180Nm |
| Transmission | CVT (Repeatedly Variable Transmission) |
| Pushed wheels | Entrance-wheel drive |
| Gas economic system (claimed) | 6.9L/100km |
| Gas economic system (as examined) | 8.0L/100km |
| Gas tank capability | 50L |
| Gas requirement | 91 RON |
| CO2 emissions | 157g/km |
| Emissions normal | Euro 5 |
| Braked tow capability | 1100kg |
To see how the Seltos traces up towards the competitors, try our comparability instrument
How does the Kia Seltos drive?
The Seltos is a really confident SUV on the street, with constant driving dynamics and a user-friendly powertrain.
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Sport+ proven
It could be the bottom engine, however the 2.0-litre non-turbo four-cylinder doesn’t really feel prefer it’s missing in any manner, with sufficient poke to carry its personal in common driving.
Within the metropolis the Seltos is attentive to throttle inputs, pulling away cleanly with out making a racket. Engine noise could be a problem in cheaper, much less insulated automobiles, however that’s not the case right here.
Even the bottom Seltos S is quiet and clean, with an efficient CVT transmission that feels far nearer to a conventional computerized than different examples that slur and jerk.
Effectively-weighted and correct steering enhances the predictable powertrain – you level the steering wheel, and that’s the place the automotive goes. No vagueness or bushy moments the place you flip the wheel and nothing occurs.
This package deal can be significantly interesting to earlier Kia house owners, as the weather are all acquainted. This being my first drive of a Seltos, I liken it to a Cerato on stilts, which is an effective factor.
Within the metropolis, Kia’s second smallest SUV feels simply that, compact and manoeuvrable. Visibility is sweet, back and front, and also you’ll comfortably match down any tight laneway.
In the event you handle to get your self into an actual pickle, the Seltos additionally has a good turning circle.
All of the above components contribute to the Seltos’ wonderful parking manners – it matches in tight areas, and has a high-resolution reversing digicam with traces to indicate your trajectory.
None of those advantages come on the expense of cabin area, because the Seltos will transport 4 adults in consolation.
It rides properly, too, with a compliant suspension tune that smooths out common lumps and bumps within the street with ease. Deep potholes and pace humps do trigger the automotive to bounce just a little, however the Seltos rides impressively for its measurement.
It’s not all good, nonetheless. Kia nonetheless has loads of work to do on the Seltos’ energetic security techniques, which spoil the driving expertise to a level.
The pace restrict warning system is straight up infuriating. Each time you exceed the posted restrict by the barest margin, there’s a beep to tug you again into line. Rinse and repeat, again and again, day by day.
What’s extra, the Seltos is definitely confused by non permanent pace limits, ordering you to drive in school drop-off pace (40km/h) exterior the designated hours. This isn’t a Kia-specific challenge, however there’s no level having site visitors signal recognition techniques if they will’t learn the indicators accurately.
Driver help expertise can also be the main target of my Seltos criticisms on the freeway.
The bottom Seltos S isn’t geared up with adaptive cruise management, a characteristic that’s rapidly turning into essential. Consequently, congested freeway runs require you to brake when cruising behind a slower travelling automotive, interrupting the relief and reminding you of easier days.
Overtaking requires some effort too, because the 110kW/180Nm engine begins to expire of puff at triple-figure speeds.
When the site visitors ultimately thins out, the Seltos is a nice long-distance tourer, even in base specification. Though adaptive cruise is absent, steering is taken care of by intuitive lane centring.
Street and wind noise are stored to a minimal, and the engine is muted as soon as settled.
When it comes to effectivity, the Seltos S managed 8.0L/100km in combined driving circumstances, which is hardly class-leading however down on Kia’s declare.
To see how the Seltos traces up towards the competitors, try our comparability instrument
What do you get?
The Seltos is out there in 4 totally different trim ranges, and right here on check now we have the bottom grade.
2025 Kia Seltos S highlights:
- 16-inch alloy wheels
- Spare-saver spare wheel
- Automated halogen headlights
- Automated high-beam
- Halogen daytime working lights
- Rear fog mild
- 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 and Android Auto
- 6-speaker sound system
- 12V energy outlet in entrance console
- USB-A and USB-C outlet in entrance console
- Two USB-C shops behind centre console
- Handbook air-conditioning
- Second-row air vents
- Handbook handbrake
- Folding key
- Material upholstery
- 6-way manually adjustable driver’s seat
To see how the Seltos traces up towards the competitors, try our comparability instrument
Is the Kia Seltos secure?
The Kia Seltos wears a five-star ANCAP security score based mostly on 2019 assessments.
| Class | Kia Seltos |
|---|---|
| Grownup occupant safety | 85 per cent (32.3 out of 38) |
| Baby occupant safety | 83 per cent (40.67 out of 49) |
| Susceptible street consumer safety | 61 per cent (32.94 out of 54) |
| Security help | 70 per cent (11.2 out of 16) |
Normal security gear contains:
- Entrance, front-side and curtain airbags
- Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
- Car detection
- Pedestrian detection
- 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 and rear parking sensors
- Rear-view digicam
- 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.
To see how the Seltos traces up towards the competitors, try our comparability instrument
How a lot does the Kia Seltos price to run?
The 2025 Kia Seltos is roofed by a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee, with seven years of capped-price servicing and as much as eight years of roadside help for those who service the automotive at an authorised Kia vendor.
| Working prices | Kia Seltos S |
|---|---|
| Guarantee | 7 years, limitless kilometres |
| Roadside help | As much as 8 years |
| Service intervals | 12 months or 15,000km |
| Capped-price servicing | 7 years |
| Complete capped-price service price | $3061 |
To see how the Seltos traces up towards the competitors, try our comparability instrument
CarExpert’s Tackle the Kia Seltos
Desire a easy, sensible and inexpensive SUV with no frills? You might do quite a bit worse than a Kia Seltos S.
It’s straightforward to drive, has heaps of area, and comes with the good thing about a well-recognized badge.
However don’t anticipate an overload of showroom enchantment, tech gimmicks or funky inside supplies. The truth is, don’t anticipate many luxuries in any respect, actually.
If it’s a contemporary small SUV expertise you’re after, the brand new Chery Tiggo 4 is full of premium options at a a lot cheaper price level. Nevertheless, we will’t but attest to how properly that automotive drives.
Likewise, the Haval Jolion Lux guarantees extra on paper, however the Kia has much better street manners.
We’d suggest the Seltos S over the GWM, and equally priced rivals from established manufacturers such because the Mazda CX-3 and Mitsubishi ASX.
That stated, we strongly advocate for potential consumers to stretch their funds to the Seltos Sport, which provides heaps of helpful equipment, together with upgraded inside tech, improved supplies and local weather management for a $4700 premium.
Fascinated by shopping for a Kia Seltos? Get in contact with one in every of CarExpert’s trusted sellers right here
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