LA 2019: Kia Seltos debuts in US spec
The SUV maintains its confident yet modest appearance and ruggedness
The Kia Seltos has already been introduced to a number of international markets, where it has proven a strong seller. Now the Compact SUV - termed “an entry SUV” by Kia - is coming to the US, with an introduction at the LA Auto Show. The Seltos will be slotted in between Kia’s Soul subcompact urban boxcar, and the Sportage, the C-segment SUV.
SUVs and crossovers in this compact sector tend to be either overly cute or cartoonishly aggressive. But the Seltos has strong, confident lines and an equally confident and mature mask that, if you don’t have a sense of its size, suggest a much larger SUV. The Kia tiger nose is there, but in an elongated size integrates well with the headlamps.
The side elvation reveals a longer hood, and long wheelbase for its class, and pronounced lines that draw the eye along its flanks. The sides between the wheels are subtly sculpted. The Seltos sits on 17 or 18 inch wheels, giving it a firmly planted stance.
The interior features a 10.25 inch touchscreen, generous for this class. The inclusion of an 8 speaker Bose sound system, Apple Car Play, and Android Auto will assure your tunes will be blasted throughout the cabin (and beyond). Three USB ports are on board and as is an available wireless charging system. An advanced Bluetooth wireless connectivity allows for two phones to be connected at once.
A Kia Drivewise ADAS system is included on the Seltos with a host of safety features to keep the driver alert and assist in lane changing, collision avoidance, and blind spot monitoring.
Front seats are adequate to the task, but the rear seat legroom is minimal. However, the rear seats also recline, an unusual feature in this class.
For all its attractive tech and handsome styling, the Seltos is also aimed to the off-road set. Whereas the Soul always cultivated an urban-hip crowd, the Seltos is coming into the market as Li’l Tough Guy. Four-wheel drive, torque vectoring control and off-road packages allow the Seltos to be one of the smaller four-wheel drive SUVs available. It was clear at the LA Auto Show that Kia would be aggressively marketing this version of the Seltos.
The Kia Seltos enters a crowded market of compact CUVs/SUVs (Chevrolet also introduced one at the show, the Trailblazer). Additionally, with Hyundai and Kia having a wide range of SUVs, there is also a chance that they may poach each other’s sales. It will take careful market placement to create a success here, but a quick walk around the Seltos suggests it could be a winner.