When Kia Philippines said there will be another unboxing later in the year, everyone said it’ll be the Stonic; after all, a sub-one-million-peso SUV is certainly a recipe for success in any carmaker’s playbook. But what if everyone got it wrong? What if that last unboxing is this: the Seltos?

Considered as a new global small SUV, the Seltos was just launched in India and will be available for sale globally by the second half of this year. Aimed at youthful, tech-savvy buyers, the Seltos wears value for money on its sleeve thanks to a range of features that maximizes connectivity and safety while still offering seating for five and high levels of space and versatility.


Outside, the Seltos offers distinctive exterior design details, such as its long hood, a strong, character line on the front bumper, and sharp lines pressed into the bodywork. It also sports a wide ‘tiger nose grille’, making the car instantly recognizable as a Kia, but with a difference. Its robust shoulder line and glasshouse shape, which tapers towards the rear of the car, lends the compact SUV an air of understated sportiness. The rear bumper with a metallic muffler effect accentuates this dynamic appearance. It's equipped with full LED headlights and taillights and sits on a choice of 16-, 17-, or 18-inch wheels. The wheels are shod with high-grip 205/60 R16, 215/55 R17 or 235/45 R18 tires.

Meanwhile, the interior of the Seltos is designed with high-quality, futuristic materials. The cabin is characterized by broad, sweeping shapes and highly technical details. Equipped with a range of technologies to maximize convenience, connectivity and ease of use, the bold design of the cabin incorporates a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system and Sound Mood Lighting.

The ergonomics of the cabin allow the driver to sit comfortably with a commanding view, helping to focus on driving and naturally reduce fatigue. Within the lounge-like and spacious interior, the Seltos also houses an available 8.0-inch Head-Up Display system which unobtrusively projects relevant driving information on to a small glass panel behind the steering wheel – such as turn-by-turn navigation directions and vehicle speed information.

The car is also available with a premium eight speaker Bose audio system delivering clear, lifelike sound to all Seltos passengers.


It’s available as a 1.6-liter turbocharged gasoline engine making 177 horsepower, a 2.0-liter normally-aspirated engine making 149 horsepower, and a 1.6-liter diesel making 136 horsepower. Depending on market, the Seltos will be offered with up to three automatic transmission options to suit their needs and driving style – a seven speed dual clutch transmission (7DCT), a six-speed automatic transmission (6AT), and a continuously variable transmission (CVT). It also comes with a Drive Mode Select system with 3 modes: Normal, Eco, and Sport.

For safety, the Seltos is made with a high proportion of Advanced High-Strength Steel. It’s fitted with 6 airbags and comes standard with ABS, EBD, and stability control as standard.

Kia has confirmed that the Seltos will be made at two manufacturing facilities: one in Anantapur District, Andhra Pradesh, India, and in Gwangju, Korea.