2021 Kia Seltos 2.0 SX – The Segment Styling King

These days when someone goes out and looks for a brand-new subcompact crossover, the first models that come to mind are commonly the Geely Coolray, MG ZS, and even the larger and one segment higher Ford Territory. Somewhere in the segment there is one that was introduced a little bit earlier than the first two and it’s called the Kia Seltos.

The Kia Seltos is one of Kia Philippines’ entries into the subcompact crossover segment which is rapidly growing in popularity especially with car buyers looking for affordable vehicles with the comfort of a sedan but with the higher riding stance of an SUV. The thing now is that it isn’t exactly the most popular. Even the smaller Stonic which was only introduced late last year already overtook its sales. Did Kia Philippines do something wrong? Let’s see what the Seltos has to offer.

For this review, Kia Philippines lent us the top-spec Seltos 2.0 SX variant with a two-tone color scheme. This is the most equipped Seltos you can get.

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Exterior

Let’s start with the looks. Easily you can tell that the Kia Seltos is quite the looker. For me, it’s the model that stands-out the most in its segment especially with its Starbright Yellow body color matched with the blacked-out roof. In front you’ll find Kia’s signature tiger-nose front grille flanked by full LED headlights on this top-spec variant. The headlight clusters look really cool especially up-close, giving the Seltos a bit of a robotic vibe. Interestingly, an LED park light strip runs from the main headlights to the center on top of the grille, giving the Seltos a unique appearance during nighttime. The faux skid plate on the lower bumper also gives it a more rugged look.

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The side is cleaner in appearance with minimal body lines and creases. The 17-inch two-tone alloy wheels are standard across the entire Seltos range if I’m not mistaken and also offer a mix of sporty and classy styling. Kia also finished-off the side with a nice piano-black garnish on the lower part of the doors which isn’t something you see everyday. 

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Out back the Seltos gets a rather simple-look for the rear but at the same time still good looking. It comes standard with a pair of LED taillights which have another futuristic cluster pattern when switched on. What’s cute are the pair of reflectors just below the taillights which for me gives it the look of Pikachu’s face. A rear spoiler and lower bumper garnish give the rear of the Seltos a sportier appeal.

Interior

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Opening the doors and getting inside the Seltos, a well laid-out and designed interior welcomes you though with a very monochromatic look, quite a contrast to the radical look achieved by the Yellow exterior. Nevertheless, it’s still a very good place to be in. Materials are all hard-touch plastics on the dashboard and door panels except on the armrests which are wrapped in leather. The steering wheel is also wrapped in leather and looks and feels nice to hold. Kia also made effort when it comes to the Seltos’ speaker design with its very interesting triangular patterns, breaking up the monotony of the interior.

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Where the Seltos does lack inside are the seat material. While I don’t mind them being wrapped in fabric, the material could have been better. Also to add, at the Seltos’ price point at a little more than halfway between Php 1-million and Php 2-million, it definitely deserves to have leather seating. Despite that, the seats are nice to sit on and will be comfortable during longer drives.

Practicality

In terms of practicality, Kia has done well with the Seltos for sure. In the center console you will find layered storage where you can also find a USB port and 12-volt power outlet. The storage is huge for a center console and will allow you to have no problems storing your phone, wallet, and even other stuff such as the vehicle’s smart key. Space is also very good and in no way feels small despite the vehicle’s smaller exterior dimensions. Rear seat passengers will enjoy excellent legroom and space that may be enough for three average-sized adults. 

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For cargo space, the Kia Seltos offers 433 liters which is great for subcompact crossover standards. It’s actually on par with some larger compact crossovers and will definitely not be a problem especially for those who plan to use it for daily city driving.

Technology and Safety

Technology is neither a strong nor weak point for the Seltos. Smack in the center of the dashboard is an 8-inch floating touchscreen infotainment system. This is one thing Kia does really well and those who’ve asked us will know how much we love this unit. It’s easy to use and navigate, and responds very well to any actions plus comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard across the range. Oh, and nothing gets better than having actual knobs and buttons for your different controls. 

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It also comes equipped with push button start, single-zone automatic climate control, automatic headlights, cruise control, and a drive mode selector. It also comes with an engine remote starter which allows you to cool the cabin before entering on a hot day. I found this feature very useful as I took the Seltos on my usual daily routine, also parking under the heat of the sun.

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In terms of safety, the Kia Seltos is not lacking with its 6 Airbags, Anti-lock Brakes with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution, Down-Hill Brake Control, Hill Start Assist, and ISOFIX Childseat Anchor Points.

Engine

When the Kia Seltos was introduced in 2019, some people couldn’t help but be disappointed that we did not get any option with a turbo under the hood. All Kia Seltos variants in the Philippines are powered by a 2.0-liter Inline-4 Cylinder Dual-CVVT Petrol Engine that produces a decent 147 Horsepower and 179 Nm of Torque. This is paired to Kia’s Intelligent Variable Transmission or IVT, otherwise known as a Continuously Variable Transmission or CVT. 

Driving and Comfort

Driving the Kia Seltos is actually a good experience. Some cars only offer looks but paired with a mediocre driving experience. That’s not the case here. At the initial get-go, you will instantly feel the smoothness of the engine thanks to the CVT. The engine produces enough power and torque to get this vehicle moving with excellent response as well. In terms of steering, it’s pretty light as expected from a vehicle of its size but still offers a very good amount of feedback. This actually allowed us to have quite some fun with the Seltos especially because the vehicle remained stable and was also very nimble.

Ride comfort is also excellent with the Seltos having a very smooth ride. NVH insulation is good for the most part but road noise does find its way into the cabin, a bit too much actually. We had a Ford EcoSport Titanium at the same time as the Seltos and road noise on the other car was a lot quieter. It might be due to the tires though as the Seltos was wearing a set of tires that we also found noisy on all other vehicles we’ve driven with the same brand of tires, including those with supposedly zero road noise.

Fuel economy is one strong point for the Seltos. Given that it has a larger engine, just the right output numbers, it was able to give us around 12 km/l in the city and as much as 22 km/l on the highway which are definitely good.

Conclusion

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Now given how good we think the Seltos is, we do think that pricing is its weakness. Priced at Php 1,505,000 for this top-spec 2.0 SX variant, it’s definitely pricey. It actually costs around Php 400,000 more than some of its popular competitors, specifically those from the Red Dragon country. Despite that, the Kia Seltos does offer a good package with its looks and driving comfort. It may not be the best in its segment or even the fastest, but it can be a very good choice as a daily driver especially if you really want to stand-out in the crowd of Geely Coolrays and MG ZS.

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