Namaste India welcome to Dream Machine with a fresh new blog post 🙏
Today, Kia is not just launching, but unveiling a game-changing new generation Seltos. And here is that car, which looks absolutely stylish. Yes, it looks very nice. Especially in the matte color, I am in love with it.
Exterior Highlights :
* Front Styling: You'll see a new style front grille, a pattern already seen in Kia's larger SUVs, and now we see it here.
* Lights: The main lights are here, and these are the Daytime Running Lamps. I'll turn on the headlights for you so you can clearly see the headlight part here. Very stylish, I think they have upped the game. The fog lamps are at the bottom.
* Design Details: The glossy finish pattern around the fog lamps also looks very nice.
* Parking Sensors: This car gets three parking sensors at the front—one, two, and three—and six parking sensors in total at the front, indicating no cost-cutting has been done.
* Side Profile: The design language maintains the Seltos's earlier look. It gets 18-inch wheels. Ground clearance seems pretty good (exact numbers are not yet available).
* Door Handles: It features flush door handles.
* Roof and Sunroof: You get glossy roof rails and a large panoramic sunroof.
* Dimensions: A very special thing about the Seltos is that it is longer than before. This is the longest car in this entire category today, increased by about 100 mm. The advantage is increased interior space.
A Note on Car Loans:
Do you research car loans as much as you research a car purchase? We often only look for competitive interest rates, but there are other benefits, like Step Up EMI, where you start with lower EMIs and increase the outflow as your income grows. If you're an existing Kotak customer, you may also have a pre-approved loan option. Financing your car is easy with Kotak Mahindra Prime. "Kotak ke saath hausla hai to ho jayega" (With Kotak, if you have the courage, it will happen).
* Rear Styling: The rear styling looks very nice with connected taillamps. The lower part also looks pretty good.
* Rear Parking Sensors: It also gets six parking sensors at the rear (total one, two, three).
* Boot Space: The boot space is 447 liters, which seems a little bigger than the previous car. The spare wheel is 17-inch, while the normal wheels are 18-inch.
Interior and Cabin Experience
* Rear Seats: Kia has clearly increased the wheelbase, significantly improving knee room. Thigh support is also decent. Headroom is okay for a 6-foot-tall passenger. Three people can likely sit comfortably because the car is quite wide, and the seat also features a recline function, which enhances comfort. (The reviewer wishes it had a sliding seat feature).
* Rear Amenities: It includes rear AC vents, a Type-C charging port on the side, a place to keep a phone, additional storage, and sun blinds.
Interior and Cabin Experience:
* Front Interior: The interior looks very good. The quality of materials used seems very nice. It features soft-touch material here and hard plastics there.
* Steering Wheel: This is the new-generation Seltos steering wheel. The left side has cruise controls, and the right side has audio controls.
* Instrument Cluster: The instrument cluster is a 12.3-inch unit. It is customizable to a certain extent, is bigger, and much crisper.
* Heads-Up Display (HUD): The HUD is lot easier to read but it is basic (not AR).
* Infotainment System: The touchscreen is next to the instrument cluster. The UI quality is fantastic; Kia has done a very nice job on the UI, and the reviewer believes this is the benchmark for the segment.
* Camera: It also features a 360° camera. The quality of the 360° camera is very nice and clean.
* AC Controls: Big, chunky physical buttons are provided for AC controls. The reviewer praises Kia for including physical buttons, calling it "phenomenal."
* Charging Ports & Gear Lever: There are three Type-C charging ports with a wireless charging pad. The gear lever styling is similar to what was seen in the Seltos.
* Center Console: The space is very clean with not too many elements and is quite usable. Underneath, there is a 12-volt charging socket.
* Armrest: The armrest is not very deep but decent enough for storage.
* Front Seats: The front seats are well-cushioned. Kia has clearly upped the quality game here. The headrest styling has also changed.
* Other Features: A large panoramic sunroof is available. It is equipped with Bose speakers.
Safety, Engine, and Pricing
* Safety: The car is built on the K3 platform. It is anticipated to achieve a 5-star rating on Bharat NCAP this time.
* ADAS: It features Level 2 ADAS (Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems), along with front, side, and rear safety features. (A list of all ADAS features will be provided by the reviewer).
* Engine Options: There are three engine options available:
* 1.5 L Non-Turbo Petrol
* 1.5 L Turbo Petrol
* 1.5 L Diesel
(Transmission options are also mentioned).
* Pricing: Kia is unfortunately not announcing the price today, only showcasing the car. The reviewer estimates the pricing should start from around ₹12.5 lakh (on-road) and go up to ₹24 lakh to ₹26 lakh, as Kia has significantly improved the quality, fit, and finish, which is where the game has truly changed.