Kia Seltos had made its global debut last week, but the company hadn’t provided any details about its dimensions and engine specs. However, these vital stats have now been revealed. In India, Seltos will be produced at Kia’s brand new plant in Anantpur, Andhra Pradesh, which has an annual capacity of 3 lakh units.
One of the primary rivals of Seltos is Hyundai Creta, which is the bestselling SUV in the country. To be priced higher than Creta, the Seltos will also compete with Jeep Compass. If we compare Seltos to Creta, we can see that Seltos is longer (4,315 mm) and wider (1,800 mm) than Creta.
At 2,610 mm, Seltos also has a longer wheelbase than that of Creta. This would ensure more cabin space for passengers. However, owing to its sporty design, Seltos had to compromise some of its height. At 1,620 mm, Seltos height is less than that of Creta (1,665 mm). When compared with Jeep Compass, the Seltos is slightly smaller.
Seltos offers around 28 litres more boot space, as compared to 405-litre boot available with Creta. Compared to Compass, boot space is smaller by 5 liters in Seltos. However, ground clearance of 190 mm is same for both, Creta and Seltos; which is more than Compass’ 178 mm. Low-spec variants of Seltos will feature 16-inch wheels and 205/65-section tyres whereas top-spec models will come with 17-inch alloy wheels shod in 215/60-section tyres.
Engine options for Seltos include two petrol and one diesel option. The 1.5-litre Smartstream petrol engine generates max power of 115 hp and max torque of 144 Nm. Engine is mated to a 6-speed manual or CVT unit. The 1.5-litre CRDi diesel engine generates 115 hp and 250 Nm, and is mated to a 6-speed manual or 6-speed torque converter unit.
The 1.4-litre T-GDI turbo-petrol engine makes 140 hp and 242 Nm, and is mated to a 6-speed manual or 7-speed dual clutch transmission. All three engines are BS-VI compliant. However, their power output is slightly lower than Creta’s 1.6-litre petrol and diesel engines. Below is engine specs comparison between Kia Seltos vs Hyundai Creta vs Jeep Compass.
After Hyundai Venue and MG Hector, Seltos is the third car in the country to offer connected technologies. Named UVO, the advanced system offers a wide range of connectivity features such as stolen vehicle tracking, remote immobilization, geo fencing, AI voice commands, accident notification, speed alert, in-car air quality monitor, etc. Other key features include a large 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system, heads-up display, leather upholstery, ventilated front seats and 8-speaker Bose sound system.
Seltos comes with advanced safety features such as 6-airbags, vehicle stability management, electronic stability control, ABS with EBD, front and rear parking sensors, hill start assist, and blind spot view monitor. Seltos bookings will begin around mid-July and launch is scheduled for late August. Expected price is Rs 10-16 lakh (ex-showroom).
Kia Seltos specs Source
