Kia Motors has recently shown the Kia Seltos. It unveiled the car globally in India and will pitch it against very competent rivals like the Hyundai Creta, MG Hector, Tata Harrier, Jeep Compass and Mahindra XUV500. Prices haven’t been announced yet but we hope it to cost between Rs 15 to 21 lakh, on road.

Design

The Kia Seltos is one of the most attractive designs in this segment. It uses unique design elements like the chamfered exterior trim, the layered 3D effect for the LED lighting, the LED DRLs that sweep the width of the entire front, the cubed foglamps and many layers and surfaces on the front and rear fascia. All of this is packaged into a very well-judged footprint,

Four transmission options

For the first time in any mainstream car, Kia is offering the Seltos with three automatic options, aside from a six-speed manual. There will be a CVT, a six-speed auto and a seven-speed DCT. Buyers will be able to choose a transmission tailored to their usage. The CVT, paired with a 1.5 petrol will appeal to city-slickers while the diesel and torque converter will appeal to customers who run their car over longer distances

Sporty variant

Hearteningly for enthusiasts, the Kia Seltos will come with a sporty top-of-the-line GT-Line version. This trim will get unique exterior trim and badging, a special flat-bottom steering wheel, red-accented wheels and calpers, and red-accented interior trim to depict its more aggressive nature. This will be the first time a mass-market SUV will come with such a version in India

Terrain and drive modes

While the Tata Harrier comes with a similar system, the Seltos pairs this with an auto for the first time. The system works with the car’s stability control, traction control and brake assist system to optimise grip in mud, wet and sand modes. Further, Eco, Normal and Sport modes are available, which optimize steering and throttle responses.

Features

The Seltos will come with some new features previously unseen in this segment. You get a Bose sound system with mood lighting to suit the audio output, a colour HUD, and an in-cabin air-purifier. This is alongside other notable features like a sunroof, UVO connected car system, ventilated front seats, a 10.25 inch infotainment screen and large 7 inch MID.