2024 Kia Seltos Review

With no shortage of competitors in the world of compact SUVs, the Kia Seltos has been designed to stand out from the crowd with impressive interior space, a long features list and a fun-loving nature on the road.

How does the Kia Seltos stack up against its rivals, then, and how well does it stand out from the small SUV crowd? Let’s take a closer look to find out.

Kia Seltos Competition

How Much Does It Cost?

Prices for the entry-level Kia Seltos S start at $29,780, increasing to $32,980 for the Seltos Sport and once again to $36,080 for the Seltos Sport+.

Opting for the Kia Seltos Sport+ 1.6T AWD brings the price to $39,580, with the Seltos GT-Line 2.0 FWD priced at $51,780 and the range-topping Seltos GT-Line 1.6T AWD priced at $45,180.

Keep in mind that these prices are subject to change and do not include on-road costs.

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Kia Seltos - SPORT+ (FWD) Specifications

What Features & Specs Does the Kia Seltos Have?

Kia’s entry-level Seltos S comes riding on a set of 16-inch alloys and picks up automatic halogen headlights, roof rails, cruise control, air conditioning, cloth upholstery with a six-way manually-adjustable driver’s seat, rear-view camera with front & rear parking sensors, a matte black grille with body-coloured mirrors, a 4.2-inch digital instrument cluster and second-row air vents.

Stepping up to the Seltos Sport adds 17-inch alloys, front fog lights, a full-size spare wheel, climate control, a premium steering wheel and gear lever and a seven-year Kia Connect subscription.

The Seltos Sport+ picks up adaptive cruise control, LED interior lighting, an electric parking brake, cloth and leatherette upholstery, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, keyless entry & start and some added safety gear we’ll cover later in this review.

Finally, the range-topping Seltos GT-Line picks up 18-inch alloys, LED head & tail lights, LED daytime running lamps and fog lights, a powered boot lift, a head-up display, a wireless charging pad, a premium black front grille, panoramic sunroof, ambient lighting, heated & ventilated front seats with power-adjustment and a heated steering wheel.

Connectivity & Infotainment Features

The Seltos in base form is packaged with an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system that is paired with a six-speaker sound system and offers USB-A and USB-C ports in the front, with a pair of USB-C ports in the second row of the cabin.

Upgrading to the Seltos Sport adds a larger 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment display that also receives satellite navigation and DAB+ digital radio, as well as Kia’s Sounds of Nature feature and a seven-year subscription to Kia’s Connected Services system.

Over the rest of the range, the flagship Seltos GT-Line receives an upgraded eight-speaker Bose sound system accompanied by a wireless smartphone charging pad.

Does the Kia Seltos Have Wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto?

The most affordable member of the Seltos range, the Seltos S offers buyers wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity.

Interestingly, as you step higher up the range, the upgraded 10.25-inch infotainment system requires a wired connection to access Apple CarPlay & Android Auto via a USB cable.

This means that if you’re after wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto connectivity, the entry-level Seltos S is your best option.

Is the Kia Seltos Comfortable to Drive?

Behind the wheel, the driving experience on offer in the latest Kia Seltos is mighty impressive for a small package.

Kia offers the Seltos with two engine options, with the base 2.0-litre unit offering a decent amount of power, but nothing to get excited about with its 110kW/180Nm outputs and CVT transmission.

For those looking for some more exciting acceleration, Kia’s 1.6-litre turbocharged engine option provides some much-needed pace on the road thanks to 146kW/265Nm outputs, snappy dual-clutch gear shifts and the added stability of an all-wheel drive system.

Whichever engine you opt for, the Seltos platform itself is a strong performer on a daily run around town thanks to its nimble handling.

The Seltos feels light on its feet and incredibly easy to navigate through traffic and into tight-quarters car parks thanks to its lightweight steering and excellent visibility.

Around town, the Seltos soaks up moderate-sized bumps on the road without a problem while keeping things stable at higher speeds.

Leave the city and you’ll find the Seltos remains confident on country roads, with Kia’s suspension package making for one of the most versatile compact SUVs in the segment.

All up, the Seltos is an impressive small SUV package that isn’t intimidated by long stints on the highway or winding its way up a country road, making it great option for Aussies looking for a multitalented compact SUV.

Is it Fuel Efficient?

With two different engines on offer, fuel economy figures from the Seltos depend on which power unit you’ve ticked the box on.

The 2.0-litre four-cylinder powering base models is the most fuel-efficient of the bunch, returning a combined 6.9L/100km, while the more powerful 1.6-litre turbocharged unit with its all-wheel drive system is slightly thirstier, returning figures of 7.4L/100km.

How Much Fuel Does the Kia Seltos Use Around Town?

• Seltos 2.0 FWD City Consumption: 8.8L/100km

• Seltos 1.6T AWD City Consumption: 9.5L/100km

How Much Fuel Does the Kia Seltos Use on the Highway?

• Seltos 2.0 FWD Highway Consumption: 5.6L/100km

• Seltos 1.6T AWD Highway Consumption: 6.2L/100km

Is it Practical and Spacious?

While it might not have a huge footprint, Kia has done a great job with the interior layout and packaging to make the little Seltos a viable option for even small families.

Up front, the Seltos’ lofty roofline means there is tonnes of headroom for even the tallest of drivers to get comfortable while adding to the amount of forward and side visibility that adds confidence, particularly around town.

While the base model Seltos S doesn’t offer the most inspiring of interior designs, it is undeniably practical.

With two tiers of storage options at the base of the dash, a pair of cup holders, added storage inside the folding armrest, a decent-sized glovebox and large door bins, the Seltos ticks many important practicality boxes.

Move to the rear and you’ll be pleased to find a healthy amount of interior space that puts some rivals to shame, with a healthy amount of leg and headroom for even adults to get comfortable.

Access into the second row is easy thanks to the wide-aperture doors that make installing a child seat super easy with the pair of ISOFIX anchors and three top tether mounts.

All things considered, the Kia Seltos is one of the most spacious and practical of the small SUV bunch.

How big is the Kia Seltos’ Boot?

the Seltos asserts itself as one of the most practical compact SUVs on the road today with a very healthy 468L of boot space, with the 60/40 split rear seats helping to unlock a total of 1428L worth of boot space.

Is it Safe?

Kia’s attractive value proposition carries into the context of safety equipment, with a long list of active safety gear included as standard.

The entry-level Seltos S comes fitted with autonomous emergency braking with vehicle and pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alerts, lane-keep assist with lane centring, driver attention alerts, safe exit warnings, tyre pressure monitoring and a rear-view camera with front & rear parking sensors.

Adaptive cruise control and a more sophisticated autonomous emergency braking system with cyclist and junction assist are reserved for the Seltos Sport+ and GT-Line range.

Does the Kia Seltos Have an ANCAP Safety Rating?

The Kia Seltos has picked up a five-star ANCAP safety rating from testing in 2019 where it scored the following marks:

• Adult Occupant Protection: 85%

• Child Occupant Protection: 83%

• Vulnerable Road User Protection: 61%

• Safety Assist: 70% 

What Warranty Does the Kia Seltos Come With?

The Kia Seltos comes backed by one of the best warranties on offer in Australia, with buyers picking up a seven-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty.

There’s also seven years worth of capped-price servicing and eight years of roadside assistance if you keep your Seltos serviced within the Kia network.

Service intervals for the 2.0-litre petrol engine stand at 12 months or 15,000 kilometres, dropping to 10,000 kilometres in the case of the 1.6-litre turbocharged engine.

Our Verdict: Is the Kia Seltos Worth it?

The Kia Seltos is a wonderful compact SUV package that doesn’t force buyers to sacrifice interior space and practicality.

The driving experience is smooth on a variety of Aussie roads, making it one of the most versatile and well-equipped small SUVs currently on the market.

If you’re looking to upgrade get behind the wheel of a compact SUV, be sure to reach out to one of our car-buying experts who can help find you the best possible price.

Five Kia Seltos Specs You Need to Know

1. Seven-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty

2. Five-star ANCAP safety rating

3. Eight years of roadside assistance

4. 6.9 - 7.4L/100km combined cycle fuel economy

5. 468L boot expands to 1428L with rear seats folded