2025 Kia Seltos evaluation | CarExpert

The one fixed in life is change, until you’re speaking concerning the Kia Seltos.

Carried into the 2025 mannequin yr unaltered, the Seltos continues to be a extremely purposeful and satisfying small SUV, though the shine has began to put on off for consumers.

A complete of 6395 examples have been offered this yr to the tip of September, a 22.4 per cent drop on gross sales for the primary three quarters of 2023.

Maybe that’s as a result of emergence of latest opponents within the small SUV house, or perhaps it’s the entry worth that makes much less sense than the $25,000 drive-away sticker for which you would snap up a base Seltos again in 2019.

WATCH: Watch Paul’s evaluation of the the 2023 Kia Seltos GT-Line 1.6T AWD

Regardless, the Seltos has misplaced some followers.

When you’re beginning to doubt the relevance of the Seltos in 2024, don’t click on off this web page simply but. The entry-level Seltos S nonetheless affords loads of worth at $32,090 drive-away, and a charmingly easy expertise behind the wheel.

How does the Kia Seltos examine?

View an in depth breakdown of the Kia Seltos towards equally sized autos.

Kia

Seltos

How a lot does the Kia Seltos price?

Kia Australia has bumped up Seltos costs marginally for the 2025 mannequin yr.

There’s a $70 enhance for two-wheel drive variants, rising to $90 for all-wheel drive variations, however no change to the drive-away pricing out there nationwide.

To see how the Seltos strains up towards the competitors, try our comparability instrument.

What’s the Kia Seltos like on the within?

There’s no hiding that it is a bottom-spec mainstream SUV, however many consumers on this section will fortunately take operate over kind.

In reality, the one actual try that Kia has made at daring design on this inside in the end falls flat. Sure, I’m speaking about these speaker surrounds.

I get that Kia’s present design language is all about straight strains and sharp edges, nevertheless it doesn’t work right here. As an alternative, the black plastic covers appear like they’ve been formed by a sledgehammer. No thanks.

Past that, the inside of the Seltos S is a plain mixture of arduous, darkish plastic surfaces, except for the light-coloured headliner.

The frequent contact factors don’t get any particular therapy – the steering wheel is trimmed in agency urethane, and there’s a definite lack of padding for elbows.

On the intense facet, the inside will doubtless final the take a look at of time higher than automobiles filled with much less resilient supplies.

The Seltos is trustworthy, when it comes to each its finances intent and age. To fireplace up the two.0-litre engine you flip a key, and shifting the transmission entails pulling an old-school gear selector and dropping a bodily handbrake lever.

That’s to not point out the rotary air-conditioning controls.

Consistent with the theme, this bare-bones S options cloth-trimmed seats with guide adjustment. The bottom cushion is slightly agency for my liking, however sculpted facet bolsters do a very good job of holding you regular by corners.

Whereas the cabin of the entry-level Seltos could be very yesterday in some ways, the inside tech is much extra 2024.

The S will get an 8.0-inch infotainment touchscreen and 4.2-inch digital instrument cluster, each included into the identical wraparound panel.

Neither will win design awards, however some great benefits of simplicity shine by right here. The infotainment system is responsive to the touch inputs (if slightly arduous troublesome to succeed in), fast to load, and simple to navigate with few extra options, whereas the instrument show presents the important data (pace, rpm, lane place) in a transparent method.

Wi-fi smartphone mirroring is customary throughout the vary, and there are three connection factors (USB-A, USB-C and 12V) positioned below the centre stack.

Storage choices embrace slender door bins, twin centre cellphone trays, a stock-standard glovebox, and a centre armrest cubby. General, there are many storage compartments for a automotive of this measurement.

The sensible second row is a spotlight of this inexpensive household SUV. Tall adults will battle for leg room, however in any other case each outboard seats boast loads of head room and toe room.

You sit fairly upright, which is an commentary greater than a grievance.

Ingress and egress is made simpler by the wide-opening rear doorways, which afford extra room to load kids and objects into the again. Two ISOFIX baby seat anchor factors and a trio of top-tether factors increase the family-friendly credentials of the Seltos.

Older rear occupants will admire the pair of USB-C retailers beneath the air vents, of which there are two.

There’s additionally a small storage tray, though the Seltos lacks map pockets or a rear centre armrest. Drink bottle holders are built-in into the doorways.

Kia quotes a best-in-class boot capability of 468L – an enormous drawcard for household consumers. Not solely is the boot big, nevertheless it’s simply accessible through a big sq. aperture, with no pronounced loading lip.

When you ever want more room, the rear bench folds nearly flat with a slight incline, unlocking further capability. An area-saver spare wheel could be discovered below the boot flooring.

To see how the Seltos strains up towards the competitors, try our comparability instrument.

What’s below the bonnet?

The Seltos nonetheless affords the selection of two petrol engines. On take a look at right here is the two.0-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder, paired with a CVT auto and front-wheel drive.

To see how the Seltos strains up towards the competitors, try our comparability instrument.

How does the Kia Seltos drive?

The Seltos is a really confident SUV on the highway, with constant driving dynamics and a user-friendly powertrain.

It could be the bottom engine, however the 2.0-litre non-turbo four-cylinder doesn’t really feel prefer it’s missing in any approach, with sufficient poke to carry its personal in common driving.

Within the metropolis the Seltos is attentive to throttle inputs, pulling away cleanly with out making a racket. Engine noise could be a difficulty in cheaper, much less insulated autos, however that’s not the case right here.

Even the bottom Seltos S is quiet and clean, with an efficient CVT transmission that feels far nearer to a standard automated than different examples that slur and jerk.

Effectively-weighted and correct steering enhances the predictable powertrain – you level the steering wheel, and that’s the place the automotive goes. No vagueness or furry moments the place you flip the wheel and nothing occurs.

This bundle will likely be significantly interesting to earlier Kia homeowners, as the weather are all acquainted. This being my first drive of a Seltos, I liken it to a Cerato on stilts, which is an effective factor.

Within the metropolis, Kia’s second smallest SUV feels simply that, compact and manoeuvrable. Visibility is sweet, back and front, and also you’ll comfortably match down any tight laneway.

When you handle to get your self into an actual pickle, the Seltos additionally has a decent turning circle.

All of the above components contribute to the Seltos’ glorious parking manners – it suits in tight areas, and has a high-resolution reversing digital camera with strains to indicate your trajectory.

None of those advantages come on the expense of cabin house, because the Seltos will transport 4 adults in consolation.

It rides nicely, too, with a compliant suspension tune that smooths out common lumps and bumps within the highway with ease. Deep potholes and pace humps do trigger the automotive to bounce slightly, however the Seltos rides impressively for its measurement.

It’s not all good, nevertheless. Kia nonetheless has loads of work to do on the Seltos’ lively security techniques, which spoil the driving expertise to a level.

The pace restrict warning system is straight up infuriating. Each time you exceed the posted restrict by the barest margin, there’s a beep to drag you again into line. Rinse and repeat, again and again, on daily basis.

What’s extra, the Seltos is definitely confused by non permanent pace limits, ordering you to drive in school drop-off pace (40km/h) outdoors the designated hours. This isn’t a Kia-specific concern, however there’s no level having visitors signal recognition techniques if they will’t learn the indicators accurately.

Driver help know-how can also be the main focus of my Seltos criticisms on the freeway.

The bottom Seltos S isn’t outfitted with adaptive cruise management, a characteristic that’s rapidly changing into a must have. Consequently, congested freeway runs require you to brake when cruising behind a slower travelling automotive, interrupting the relief and reminding you of less complicated days.

Overtaking requires some effort too, because the 110kW/180Nm engine begins to expire of puff at triple-figure speeds.

When the visitors ultimately thins out, the Seltos is a pleasing long-distance tourer, even in base specification. Though adaptive cruise is absent, steering is taken care of by intuitive lane centring.

Highway and wind noise are stored to a minimal, and the engine is muted as soon as settled.

By way of effectivity, the Seltos S managed 8.0L/100km in combined driving situations, which is hardly class-leading however down on Kia’s declare.

What do you get?

The Seltos is obtainable in 4 completely different trim ranges, of which our take a look at automotive is the bottom grade.

2025 Kia Seltos S highlights:

• 16-inch alloy wheels
• Spare-saver spare wheel
• Automated halogen headlights
• Automated high-beam
• Halogen daytime operating lights
• Rear fog gentle
• Matte black grille mesh
• Physique-coloured door handles
• Physique-coloured, power-folding facet mirrors
• Roof rails
• Rear spoiler
• Shark fin antenna
• 4.2-inch instrument cluster display
• 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Six-speaker sound system
• 12V energy outlet in entrance console
• USB-A and USB-C outlet in entrance console
• Two USB-C retailers behind centre console
• Handbook air-conditioning
• Second-row air vents
• Handbook handbrake
• Folding key
• Fabric upholstery
• Six-way manually adjustable driver’s seat

To see how the Seltos strains up towards the competitors, try our comparability instrument.

Is the Kia Seltos protected?

The Kia Seltos was assessed by ANCAP in 2019 and obtained a five-star security ranking.

Customary security tools contains:

• Entrance, front-side and curtain airbags
• Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
  • Automobile detection
  • Pedestrian detection
• Blind-spot help
• Rear cross-traffic help
• Secure Exit Warning
• Clever Pace Restrict Help
• Lane-keep help
• Lane Following Help (lane centring)
• Driver Consideration Alert
• Entrance and rear parking sensors
• Rear-view digital camera
• Tyre-pressure monitoring system

Sport+ and GT-Line fashions obtain AEB with bike owner avoidance and junction turning help, in addition to adaptive cruise management and lead-vehicle departure alert.

How a lot does the Kia Seltos price to run?

The 2025 Kia Seltos is roofed by a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee, with seven years of capped worth servicing and as much as eight years of roadside help if you happen to service the automotive at an authorised Kia vendor.

Service pricing differs between variants with the two.0-litre engine and 1.6-litre turbocharged engine. The data beneath pertains to the two.0L Seltos.

To see how the Seltos strains up towards the competitors, try our comparability instrument.

CarExpert’s Tackle the Kia Seltos

Desire a easy, sensible and inexpensive SUV with no frills? You possibly can do lots worse than a Kia Seltos S.

It’s simple to drive, has heaps of house, and comes with the good thing about a well-known badge.

However don’t anticipate an overload of showroom attraction, tech gimmicks or funky inside supplies. In reality, don’t anticipate many luxuries in any respect, actually.

If it’s a contemporary small SUV expertise you’re after, the brand new Chery Tiggo 4 Professional is filled with premium options at a a lot lower cost level. Nevertheless, we will’t but attest to how nicely that automotive drives.

Likewise, the Haval Jolion Lux guarantees extra on paper, however the Kia has much better highway manners.

We’d suggest the Seltos S over the GWM, and equally priced rivals from established manufacturers such because the Mazda CX-3 and Mitsubishi ASX.

That stated, we strongly advocate for potential consumers to stretch their finances to the Seltos Sport, which provides heaps of helpful equipment together with upgraded inside tech, improved supplies and local weather management for a $3700 premium.

Inquisitive about shopping for a Kia Seltos? Get in contact with considered one of CarExpert’s trusted sellers right here

Click on the pictures for the complete gallery

MORE: Every part Kia Seltos