Kia has just launched the second-generation Seltos. It looks a lot like a mini Telluride and that’s clearly no accident. Kia, FYI, also just debuted the next generation of that seven-passenger people hauler as well. As for the Seltos, there’s a bunch of good news about the reboot, especially in a world where affordable crossovers are getting…less affordable. Here’s the TLDR news.
Bigger Makes It Roomier
Kia grew the Seltos just a bit. The interior will be more spacious (we don’t know by exactly how much), thanks to a wheelbase that’s nearly three inches longer and an overall length that’s two inches longer. The big benefit, we’re betting, is to second-row passengers, because a longer wheelbase enables stretching space behind the front seats.
Slightly More Upscale
By adding 64 colors of adjustable lighting and deeply reclining rear seats, Kia’s bringing some business-class-ness to a car that currently retails for just a hair over $25,000. One aspect we’re unclear on; the carmaker shared that they’re moving to a column-style shifter, which Kia and Hyundai have been doing throughout their updates, and we’ve seen that on vehicles like the Hyundai Palisade. But the image above shows a center-island shifter. Yes, this could vary by market, but our bet is that U.S. buyers will get a Seltos with column shifter and more capacious center console for phone charging and cupholders.
Buttons!
Also note that Kia is moving the Seltos upscale through the use of a one-piece infotainment and instrument display—but we love that they’re retaining key buttons and switches, for quicker adjustment of climate and other functions.
Powertrains Remain The Same—With One Big Change
The Seltos’s two engines will likely be the same in the U.S. That’s a 146-horsepower two-liter four and a turbocharged, 190-horsepower 1.6-liter. Overseas, there’s a slightly less potent third option that delivers 177 horsepower, but we’re unlikely to get that model. Meanwhile, the suspension setup remains the same, with a beam rear axle. That likely saves pennies, but it’s less supple and tunable vs. four-wheel independent suspension. No, this isn’t a sports sedan, and for what we expect will continue to be a bargain crossover that you can still get with four-wheel drive for under $30,000, we’d wager it still handles fine.
A Hybrid Is Coming
Because the Seltos is a kind of tweener, competing below Toyota’s ever-dominant RAV4, it’s not very surprising Kia wants a piece of Toyota’s hybrid market. Kia says they’ve got a hybrid coming, but didn’t share any specs. Because the Seltos shares the same platform (loosely) as vehicles like the Hyundai Elantra and the Niro, it wouldn’t be surprising if it gets the same, 1.6-liter hybrid system. That’s good for a not-too-muscular 139 horsepower in both of those models. But the combined torque of 195 foot-pounds isn’t terrible, and the fuel economy of both of those vehicles is great. Is the new Seltos too heavy for that hybrid system? We don’t know.
Kia, however, is promising V2L charging from this hybrid. (V2L means charging devices, and possibly a backup home power source. But, again, we don’t have specifics.) Maybe the V2L piece, and the fact that this is a larger Seltos, makes it possible that Kia is bringing a more robust hybrid system to market that could be shared with larger Kias and Hyundais.
TopSpeed’s Take
Kia’s release also mentioned a GT Line version of the Seltos. Don’t get too excited. This is strictly a sportier appearance package, though it’s still nice to see because the Seltos hasn’t had that offering in the past. And speaking of appearances, like they’ve achieved with the latest Telluride and models like the K4 Hatchback, the company keeps pumping out great-looking vehicles. We’re anxious to drive the newest Seltos. Because it’s a don’t-fix-what’s-not-broken model, we’re only expecting better-ness—not to be bowled over. But still, Kia keeps pumping out head-turners that don’t break the bank, and that’s definitely good news. When will we know more, like prices and on-sale dates? Likely by the end of January.
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