Kia Philippines has recently introduced refinements to the Seltos SUV just in time for 2024. To give us a better appreciation for these upgrades, we took it for a drive to The Old Grove Farmstead in Lipa, Batangas to experience what’s new with Kia’s market contender.

What’s changed

Visually it’s a bit tough to tell how different it is from its predecessor, as it’s mostly a face-lift that follows a lot of the older design line, the updates being more evolutionary than revolutionary. However, diving deep into the new car reveals a substantial list of changes under the skin. 

The exterior design of the 2024 Seltos subtly embraces Kia's latest design language. The changes, though minimal, include a one-piece headlamp and DRL unit that, while reminiscent of the outgoing model, offers a slightly altered appearance due to the redesigned bumper and grill. A notable addition to the lighting is the narrow light strip that connects the headlamps to the center of the grill, a design cue that’s also mirrored at the rear. The tail lights still protrude toward the rear quarter of the car, but have more height as the new one carries the C-shaped styling of the newer Kias. The front bumper still has foglamps at the bottom but in general the whole front carries a more aggressive look, especially how the silver bottom cladding has triangular ends that jut out like teeth.

New cabin

Once you step inside though, the refreshed Seltos tells a different story. The cabin is a totally brand-new experience and has zero ties with the old model. Gone are the separate analog gauge cluster and infotainment system, and in its stead (on the top-tier SX model at least), a long digital screen covers two-thirds of the dashboard. That’s two, brand new 10.25” screens side by side, with the right side one being a touchscreen panel for the infotainment system. The center console has some slight changes too including a new shifter and some repositioned buttons here and there. There’s still a lot of piano black plastics inside, so it’s still a fingerprint magnet, but generally the interior feels more upscale. 

During our drive, I got to experience the top-of-the-line SX model which features a 1.4-turbo petrol GDI engine, replacing the 2.0-liter naturally aspirated lump of the old model. The new engine pumps out 138-Ps and has a torque rating of 242-Nm. The engine has more than enough grunt to run up to a 10-km/h and beyond is quite the joy to drive. Sport mode makes the most of the boost, and together with the seven-speed DCT, makes the Seltos feel like it’s packing something larger under the hood. The ergonomics are great, and all the controls are easily adjusted and within reach. The seats are decent for long drives but I did find them a bit too firm for my liking. As a peace offering, the Seltos’ adjustable seat cooling did a great job cooling down my backside.

The drive

From BGC we took the southern expressway, where we went through the different driving features of the Seltos, such as the adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, and lane following assist systems. From there we took CALAX for a driver change and headed onwards toward Aguinaldo Highway to Tagaytay. From the ridge we went down towards Batangas via Casile Road where the Seltos showed its braking and handling prowess. We headed towards Lipa where we ended up at our venue, The Old Grove Farmstead, a small farm and bed-and-breakfast getaway tucked inside the city. 

As AC Motors CEO Jaime Alfonso Zobel de Ayala and Kia Philippines COO Brian Buendia highlighted during the media gathering, SUVs and crossovers will be the brand’s flavor for the foreseeable future. Whether in ICE, HEV, or BEV configurations, the market segment is just too strong to justify bringing back the midsize sedans. The Seltos then becomes Kia’s greatest chance at taking a slice of the sub P2-million SUV market, while its bigger brother, the Sorento, will have to fight it out in the premium segment.

The new Seltos will have to do its job well to please fans of the brand, and only time will tell if the revised styling is enough to keep loyal customers coming back. But the interior upgrades do a lot to elevate the 5-seater, bringing with it much needed upscale features that (hopefully) can justify the vehicle’s price tag.  

The Seltos is available in three trims and two drivetrains. The base LX and mid-tier EX models feature a 1.5-liter Smartream petrol engine coupled to a CVT, with only the range-topping SX featuring the 1.4-liter turbo GDI and 7-speed DCT. The LX goes for P1,198,000, with the EX available for just a little more at P1,288,000. The SX meanwhile goes for the big price jump to P1,688,000 with all the nicer features and an exclusive color called Pluton Blue.