The Seltos Has Attracted 50,000 Customers And We’re Impressed

• The Kia Seltos was launched in India on August 22, 2019.
• It is currently priced from Rs 9.69 lakh to Rs 16.99 lakh (ex-showroom).
• The Seltos comes in two trim levels: HT Line and GT Line.
• Notable features include a head-up display, 8-speaker Bose sound system, and Kia Sound Mood Lighting.
• Powertrain options for the Seltos include a pair of 1.5-litre petrol and diesel engines as well as a 1.4-litre T-GDI unit.

Kia Motors is riding the success wave in India with its debut model, the Seltos. The midsize SUV has completed just one and a half months in India since its official launch and has managed to garner 50,000 bookings. This comes as a bit of a surprise as the Indian automotive industry is currently facing its worst slump in recent times. Just a day earlier, Kia displayed the Soul EV at its first BEAT360 hub in Cyberhub, Gurgaon. To recap, Kia had opened bookings for the Seltos in July and dispatched 13,990 units during the August-September period. Prices for the Seltos begin at Rs 9.69 lakh (ex-showroom India).

Currently, top-spec variants of the Seltos command a waiting period of 3-4 months while mid-spec variants take around 1-2 months. In comparison, the other newbie in the market, MG Hector has racked up more than 28,000 bookings and has a waiting period of four months depending on the variant and colour. That said, Morris Garages had paused bookings of the Hector for a while thanks to unanticipated demand. What makes the Kia Seltos so successful in India?

One main talking point is its attractive pricing. The Seltos is priced from Rs 9.69 lakh to Rs 16.99 lakh (ex-showroom India). It is available in two trim levels: HT Line and GT Line, with a total of eight variants. Then there are the drivetrain options that consist of three BS6-compliant powertrains and four transmission options. This ensures that there is a Seltos for everyone. 

The Seltos also packs in a handful of premium features that can’t be found in other SUVs of its class. This includes a head-up display, 8-speaker Bose sound system and Kia Sound Mood Lighting. You also get features such as a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, UVO connected-car tech, climate control, cruise control, sunroof-powered driver’s seat as well as ventilated front seats. 

Safety features include six airbags, ABS with EBD, front and rear parking sensors, a 360-degree camera, electronic stability control, a blind view monitor, and tyre pressure monitoring system. 

Under the hood, the Seltos is offered with two petrol engines and one diesel unit. The petrol line up consists of a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated (NA) unit and a 1.4-litre T-GDI turbo-petrol unit. The NA petrol engine develops 115PS and 144Nm while the T-GDI engine develops 140PS and 242Nm. Both powertrains come mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox. However, the automatic NA petrol comes mated with a CVT while the T-GDI units come with a 7-speed DCT. Meanwhile, the diesel engine is a 1.5-litre unit that develops 115PS and 250Nm. It is offered with either a 6-speed manual or a torque converter unit. 

Primary rivals for the Seltos include the Hyundai Creta, MG Hector, Tata Harrier and the Mahindra XUV500. Apart from the Seltos, Kia is also hard at work to strengthen its Indian portfolio. The next model that’s slated to launch here is the Carnival MPV that has been spied testing in India. Expect the Innova Crysta rival to debut here by mid-2020.