Kia might have been slightly late to the compact SUV niche, but it is here now and ready to take up gloves and slug it out in this difficult segment. Why difficult? Because it’s going head to head with the likes of Hyundai Creta, Tata Harrier, Nissan Kicks, Jeep Compass, and Suzuki Vitara Brezza.
But the Seltos has made rounds in the automotive industry even before the official launch. For the curious ones, the Seltos name is really meant to be Celtus, the Greek name of the son of Heracles. But as Kia SUV badges all start with S (Sportage, Sorento), so someone in the marketing department decided to misspell it, and so the name stuck.
The Seltos has a stylish design, especially up front where there’s an intricate cluster of headlights and LED daytime running lights integrated nicely into the front bumper, with some nicely textured and chiseled lines. On the back, things are simpler but still good-looking.
Step in and the Seltos is pretty much what you’d expect from a mainstream compact SUV. It’s modern and jam-packed with features, without feeling overly luxurious. (We are yet to drive the Seltos and a full review will soon follow.)
Bookings were already open in September 2019, and the pricing was disclosed last month. The base variant of the Kia Seltos has been priced at Rs. 49.90 lakhs and will top out at Rs. 66.90 lakhs. As of now, Kia Motors Nepal will only bring the Tech Line variant in the Nepali market.
The Seltos will be available in two engine configurations: a 1.5-liter petrol and a 1.5-liter diesel, and five trims—HTK and HTK+ in petrol, and HTK+, HTK+(AT), and HTX+ in diesel. The 1.5-liter petrol engine delivers 114 Bhp of power at 6,300 rpm and 144 NM of torque at 4,500 rpm. Similarly, the 1.5-liter diesel churns out 114 Bhp at 4,000 rpm and 250 Nm at 1,500 rpm. While the petrol variant will be available in a 6-speed manual gearbox, the diesel variant will be offered with both 6-speed manual and automatic transmission options.
Considering the great attention the Seltos has been receiving in the Nepali market, the compact SUV should be able to make a good impression. Below are the trims, price, and features.
FEATURE
Kia Seltos HTX+ [Rs. 6,690,000]
> 1.5-liter diesel with 6MT
> Isofix child seat mounts
> Tyre pressure monitoring system
> Standard all four disc brakes
> Automatic LED headlamps with DRLs
> LED light bar
> LED tail-lamps
> 17-inch alloy wheels
> Leather-wrapped steering wheels
> Steering wheel tilt and telescopic adjustment
> Rear reclining seats with 60:40 split and adjustable headrests
> 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment
> Ambient mood lighting
> Anit-glare inside rearview mirror
> UVO connectivity features
> Wireless charging
> USB ports for the second row
> Air purifier
> Automatic air conditioner
> Six airbags
> Vehicle stability management (automatic only)
> Hill-start assist (automatic only)
> ESC (automatic only)
> Front parking sensors
> UV Cut glass
> 8-way power adjust for driver’s seat
> 7.0-inch multi-info display
> 8-speaker Bose stereo sound system
> 360-degree camera
> Driver rearview monitor
> Ventilated seats
> Wireless charging
> Power sunroof
> Rain-sensing wipers
Kia Seltos HTK+ [Rs 5,340,000- 6,090,000]
> A 1.5-liter petrol with 6MT [Rs 5,340,000]
> A 1.5-liter diesel with 6MT [Rs 5,790,000] and 6AT [Rs 6,090,000]
> 16-inch alloy wheels
> LED mood lighting with sound effects
> Power folding mirrors
> Rear wiper and washer
> Smart key with push-button start
> Cruise control
> Rear sunshade
> Rear parcel tray
> One-touch up and down for driver’s window
Kia Seltos HTK [Rs 4,990,000]
> A 1.5-liter petrol with 6MT
> ‘Ice cube’ LED fog lights
> Electrically adjustable ORVMs with in-built turn indicators
> Front USB charging
> 6 Speaker music system
> Touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
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