The Kia Seltos has been of the best-selling compact SUVs in the Indian market. So much so, that in the last 4 years, the South Korean carmaker has sold over 5 lakh units of the Seltos, which accounts for around 50 per cent of Kia India’s total sales so far. One reason for its success was the fact that it was a stylish, well-equipped modern SUV that offered good performance and value. Recently, Kia launched the facelifted version of the Seltos, and it hopes to achieve the same level of success again. Can it achieve that? Well, I have shared my opinion in my review of the SUV, which you will find on car&bike. But if you want a briefer version, here’s a short photo review of the 2023 Kia Seltos.
Also Read: 2023 Kia Seltos Facelift Review: Taking Badassery To The Next Level
Kia has given the 2023 Seltos a proper makeover, and I feel it looks bolder and more aggressive now. The GTLine trim now features larger 18-inch wheels, and you get all-LED lighting.
Also Read: 2023 Kia Seltos Launched In India; Prices Begin At Rs. 10.90 Lakh
The Seltos gets new connected LED taillights with sequential LED indicators, that adds to the premium design. Additionally, the GTX+ trim features a set of exaggerated dual-tipped exhausts, and yes, it’s a functional pair of dual exhaust systems.
Also Read: Kia Seltos Facelift Receives Over 13,000 Bookings In One Day
Depending on the variant you get, Kia has up to four alloy wheel options, and up to 11 colour choices, including this all-new Pewter Olive shade. The 2023 Seltos is also 50 mm longer than the outgoing model, whereas the height, width and wheelbase remain unchanged.
The Seltos offers different interior trim options depending on the variant you choose. While the GTX+ featured an all-black interior with white inserts, the HTX+ variant comes with a dual-tone brown and black interior.
Yes, while black always looks stylish, I personally quite liked the brown interior of the HTX+. The lighter tone gives the cabin an airier and more premium look.
The Seltos is quite loaded offering features like dual-zone automatic climate control, ventilated front seats, and a power-adjustable driver’s seat. All 4 power windows get one touch up/down function, a smart air purifier, and a new dual-pane panoramic sunroof.
The wide dual-screen display features two 10.25-inch screens - a fully digital colour instrument cluster, and a touchscreen infotainment system that is loaded with features like Android Auto, Apple CarPlay and a suit of connected car tech as part of Kia Connect. You also get an 8-speaker premium surround sound system from Bose.
The system also supports voice commands for a bunch of in-car functions like setting the AC temperature or opening the sunroof. In fact, the system can recognise up to 19 Hinglish commands as well – like ‘sunroof kholo’, ‘sheesha niche karo’ etc.
The Seltos gets 15 standard safety features which include – 6 airbags, ABS, ESC, hill-start assist, 360-view camera, TPMS and Level 2 Advanced Driver Assistance Systems or ADAS with 17 autonomous functions.
The Seltos gets a new 1.5-litre petrol turbo engine that replaces the older 1.4-litre unit. The engine feels peppy and powerful, and it will keep you engaged at all times. Transmission options include 7-speed DCT and a 6-speed iMT.
The engine makes 158 bhp and 253 Nm. One tap on the accelerator, and the Seltos moves ahead with great gusto and minimal turbo lag, courtesy of all that torque, which kicks in as early as 1500 rpm.
The 1.5-litre diesel engine continues to offer the same amount of power and torque. Yes, there is a bit of turbo lag in the lower revs, however, once you cross the 2000 rpm mark, the engine feels a lot livelier and more fun to drive.
the Seltos can handle those small undulations on the road with great ease. The steering is also light, so manoeuvring the SUV through traffic will be easy, however, I wish it offered better feedback. The NVH levels of the SUV too have been improved.
The 2023 Kia Seltos is priced between Rs. 10.90 lakh and Rs. 20 lakh (ex-showroom India). And at this range, I have to say, the SUV is priced quite aggressively. In fact, the price of the base trim remains unchanged, while the top-end variant is just Rs. 35,000 more expensive than the outgoing Seltos.
