Kia has been on a roll lately. The Sonet has been a smash hit for the company, and we’ve had nothing but good words to say about the hybrid versions of the Carnival and Sorento. There’s also the EV9 that’s making a huge statement about the brand’s electrification push.
Okay, the Soluto sedan is still hanging in there, while the K2500 is selling, well, decently. But there is one model in the lineup that seems to be often overlooked. That would be the Kia Seltos.
The Seltos made its world premiere in 2019 and landed in the Philippines the same year. At the time, we noted it for its design and competitive pricing, along with its surprising efficiency and performance. But for all the praises it got, it didn’t exactly fly off the showroom floors.
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Fast forward a couple of years and we now arrive at the updated model. That said, it looks like Kia Philippines is already simplifying its range. There used to be several variants available, but now, we’re just down to one, the Turbo SX. That’s not the only thing different about the new Seltos, either.
Philippine-market models are now sourced from China. Yes, we know, it landed here about two years ago, but better late than never, right? At the same time, the competition is much tougher than before, and six years between model changes is a long time in the automotive world. Another challenge is the Seltos finding its place in a lineup that’s filled with great models. An uphill battle, indeed.
Styling
Considering its age, the Seltos still looks pretty sharp. Granted, the previous design language dates it a little bit, but it’s a stylish little crossover nonetheless. The facelift gave it a new pair of headlights and smoother bumpers. The wheels also get an upgrade, and, er, that’s pretty much it. Still, it looks relatively fresh when parked beside its competitors. Relatively.
Something to note about the Chinese-sourced Seltos is that it has a longer wheelbase than the previous Korean-built model. It hides that fact rather well, and you don’t really notice the stretch. Kudos to Kia stylists for not putting its proportions out of whack.
Interior
While the exterior changes are relatively subtle, the cabin gets a massive overhaul. There’s now a curved panel that shows both the instrumentation and 10.25-inch infotainment screen. The center stack has also been redesigned, now with even more piano black trims.
We’ll admit that the toggle switches from the previous version looked neater. Also, the center stack panel looks a tad low-rent in this case as it makes no effort to hide the fact that it’s all plastic. Speaking of which, there’s also acres of that material everywhere. Forgivable in something like the Sonet, but not in something that’s pitched as a premium product. If anything, there’s a lot of room for improvement in the cabin materials department.
Still, at least the ergonomics are bang on and there’s no real need to grab the owner’s manual when things get a little confusing. The layout is simple and straightforward with tactile button placement, just the way we like it. European and Chinese brands, take note.
The two-inch stretch in its wheelbase is a welcome change. Rear legroom is even better than before, and it’s not like the pre-update model was lacking in that department. There’s no issues with legroom or headroom, either, a pleasant surprise given that our tester came with a panoramic sunroof.
As for cargo space, it’s good but not spectacular. While we appreciate the full-size spare wheel, it eats up a good chunk of the cargo floor and somewhat limits its practicality.
Engine performance
Motivating the Seltos is a 1.4-liter turbo gas direct-injection engine. The 1.5-liter is no more, so turbocharged is the only way to go for this subcompact crossover. Power output is on the conservative side at 138hp and 242Nm. It then shifts with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.
We noticed that power delivery comes in one big lump. That, folks, is turbo lag in action, and that makes throttle pedal modulation a bit hit or miss. Keep it in boost and the engine is generally happy, but catch it off boost and you might be taking a while to regain some power.
As for the transmission, it’s smooth in motion but occasionally stumbles when you need it to kick down a gear. That’s ironic given that dual-clutches are designed with snappy gear changes in mind with lightning-fast upshifts or downshifts.
Is there any good news? Well, it helps that it’s a 1.4-liter as we got excellent fuel economy during its stay with us. Of course, it won’t come close to hybrids, but 8.8km/L in heavy traffic is commendable. In lighter traffic, it’ll happily show 13km/L on the trip computer.
Ride and handling
Six years ago, we commented that the Seltos had a great balance between ride and handling. However, these Chinese-made Seltoses (Seltii?) seemed to have lost that. It’s now too soft to a point that it’s a touch wallowy. Granted, it’s not like, say, a BYD Sealion 5, but the body never really feels settled.
On the flip side, it can ride over bumpy roads with easy and there’s less impact harshness compared to the old Seltos. You do have to deal with more body movement before it goes level, though.
Because of the softer suspension, handling also takes a hit. Granted, these aren’t made to be corner carvers, but the previous model hung around bends with more confidence and composure. Brake pedal feel could also be improved.
Extra features
Okay, time for the Seltos to claw back some points. As mentioned, there’s a panoramic sunroof fitted standard to this model. There’s also a power-adjustable seat for the driver, and the front perches come with ventilation. Wireless charging is present, as well as wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
It also comes with a drive mode selector that includes eco, comfort, sport, and smart models. Put the car in smart and it tries its best to adapt to the driving conditions. A long and steady cruise puts the car in eco mode, while a deeper press of the accelerator shifts it into sport.
Advanced driver assists are also part of the package and includes adaptive cruise, lane-keep assist, and autonomous emergency braking, to name a few. There is, however, no 360-degree camera or front parking sensors. Of course, there will be those who say they don’t need it, but this is the top-spec (and only) variant we’re talking about here.
Verdict
The sole Seltos variant retails for P1,688,000. Surprised? Well, so were we. At that price, there’s newer and more polished competitors out there. It doesn’t help that it’s sandwiched between two great models, namely the Sonet and Sorento. The Sonet is great value proposition and its range-topping variant has similar equipment levels to the Seltos. At the same time, the Sorento offers a hybrid powertrain, more seats, and greater comfort.
It doesn’t help that its rivals have nicer and richer-feeling interiors for about the same price. Its competitors’ features are about the same (or even better), but it lags behind in the chassis department once you drive it back-to-back against, say, a Toyota Corolla Cross.
The Seltos then is between a rock and a hard place. We won’t stop you from buying one, but it’s also difficult to recommend. We say save your money and go for the Sonet. If you need more space, throw in some overtime to get that Sorento. It’s not a bad car, per se, but there are simply better options.
Specs: 2025 Kia Seltos Turbo SX
Price: P1,688,000
Engine: 1.4-liter turbo gasoline I4
Power: 138hp
Torque: 242Nm
Transmission: Seven-speed dual-clutch
Layout: Front wheel-drive
Seating: 5
Score: 6/10
