Kia Philippines has been silent lately, but you know what they say: it’s the quiet ones you must watch out for. In December 2023, the Korean brand brought in the facelifted version of its five-year-old Seltos compact crossover SUV, and I’m surprised it didn’t show its age.
The Pluton Blue body color is eye-catching and will surely turn heads. It is exclusive to this SX and the EX mid-trim variant. It is the grille design that needs a bit of updating, but if you look closely, it bears some nifty features such as the chrome borders with intricate etching (top and bottom), the oddly-placed reflectors just a few inches down from the top, and the discreetly-placed front-facing camera in the middle. On either side are LED multi-reflector headlamps and LED daytime running lamps. At the bottom of the front fascia is a silver underbody garnish.
I would have preferred thicker body cladding for a sportier look, but the Seltos (and its rivals) are going for a more sophisticated appearance, which explains the accents on the rocker panel and multiple body lines highlighting its profile. At the top are roof rails and a panoramic sunroof, while the body sits on stylish 17-inch two-tone alloy wheels. At the back is a fin antenna, a roof spoiler, LED taillights connected by a reflector (Check!), thicker body cladding, and an underbody garnish.
If you’ve got a keen eye, you might notice that this China-made Seltos has the longest wheelbase compared to units made in India and Korea. Read on to find out how that affects the cabin. The only thing missing really is a power tailgate, which, IMHO, has to be standard for top-of-the-line variants like the SX. Maybe in the next-gen Kia?
Kia gave the cabin plenty of bits and pieces to make it interesting at first glance. The cockpit has shiny chrome trims with etching — just like the grille has — and a few piano black accents for contrast. The plastics are not padded but don’t look cheap. There are leather surfaces on the dashboard and door panels to match the upholstery and plenty of elbow room between the front passengers.
I like the way storage spaces have lids to cover valuable items. Unfortunately, there aren’t enough of them. There is the center console, the two cupholders behind the shapely gear shifter, and the cubby hole in the center stack. That’s it. I’m sure you’ll agree that the modern motorist needs four or more.
One of the best cabin features has to be the two 10.25-inch screens positioned side by side so it looks like it has one extra-long curved monitor. The digital instrument panel is behind the multi-function steering wheel, and stretching to the center is the infotainment touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth audio streaming. Below it is the dual-zone automatic climate control system and additional levers and buttons for the audio system. It has two USB ports in front (Type-A and Type-C) and a Type-C port in the second row below the rear vents. I like the attention to detail on the angular covers of the six speakers. Check it out.
The second row does not have as much legroom as I expected but the seats have bolstering and a drop-down center armrest with cupholders. A huge chunk of the wheelbase is allocated to the spacious cargo area, which appears like it can accommodate several check-in-type luggage.
A 1.4-liter turbo engine sends 140-PS and 242-Nm of torque to the front wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. Even in Eco mode, it feels snappy while accelerating smoothly. It does not take much to go from zero to 100 km/h, which helped it average 12.7-km/l over seven days. I tried the auto-hold feature, and it made take-offs a tad jerky.
It was stable around corners and at high speeds and decelerated gently if you lifted off the throttle. The ventilated driver’s seat wasn’t only cool, it was mounted perfectly and propped me up for a good view of the road.
At P1.688-million, it also has driver-assist features such as smart cruise control (with stop and go), lane keeping & following assist, forward collision avoidance, high beam assist, and a rear camera display, among others.
The Seltos 1.4 Turbo SX AT variant is one of the most powerful in the segment. It comes fully loaded with creature comforts and safety features while undercutting (some) of the competition. It may not free you from coding because Kia has not made a hybrid version yet, but you will get your money’s worth.