Following its arrival on international shores, the facelift version of the Kia Seltos has finally made its debut in the Indian market. The Seltos was Kia's first product in India and was a runaway success in the B-SUV segment. The compact SUV marked Kia's entry into the Indian market in August 2019. And since then, the Seltos SUV has been one of the company's top sellers, surpassing the 5 lakh sales milestone in less than four years. The bookings for the recently unveiled SUV will begin on July 14 for all. However, existing Seltos customers will get priority delivery of the SUV through a unique K-code programme, if they choose to make a new booking.
In the US market, the updated model of the company's flagship SUV brought several improvements, including the ADAS system as standard across all trims and the AWD (all-wheel drive) feature. So, to keep the Seltos' sales running high, not just internationally but in India as well, the South Korean manufacturer has given the Seltos its mid-life cycle facelift to the India-spec model. Let's take a look at what's new here:
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Kia Seltos Facelift: Exterior Updates
Exterior-wise, the India-spec Seltos facelift gets a new grille, new LED DRLs, crown jewel LED headlamps, sequential LED turn indicators, Star Map LED connected taillamps, a revamped tailgate, faux skid plates, a shark-fin antenna, dual exhaust tips, and new roof rails. Now, the SUV sits on 18-inch dual-tone alloy wheels.
Kia Seltos Facelift: Interior, Features
Inside, the Kia Seltos Facelift features cooled front seats with an 8-way power driver's seat, a dual-pane panoramic sunroof, a redesigned HVAC panel with only physical buttons, New-age Kia Connect, a Bose Premium sound system, and dual-zone climate control - the first midsize SUV to offer this feature. Besides, the compact SUV gets a curved housing for a new 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment display with Android Auto/Apple CarPlay connectivity and a 10.25-inch fully digital instrument panel.
In terms of safety, the Seltos facelift has a 360-degree camera, adaptive cruise control, and ADAS Level 2 technology with 17 autonomous features, such as autonomous emergency braking and a blind spot monitor. Additionally, there are also 15 safety features that are standard across the Seltos range.
Kia Seltos Facelift: Powertrain
Powertrain options now include three engine options. A 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine and a 1.5-litre diesel engine are carried over from the previous version. The 1.5-lite petrol is rated at 113bhp and develops 144Nm of torque. This engine is paired with either a 6-speed manual or a CVT gearbox. The diesel mill, on the other hand, delivers 114.4bhp and 250Nm and comes mated to either a 6-speed iMT or a 6-speed automatic transmission. Both engines are BS6 Phase II-compliant.
In addition, a new 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine also joins the line-up as a replacement for a 1.4-litre turbo petrol engine, which is a discontinued unit. The turbo-petrol unit, already available with the Kia Carens, cranks out 158bhp and 253Nm of torque. It is connected to either a seven-speed DCT or a six-speed iMT.
Kia Seltos Facelift: Trim Options, Colours
Upon its launch in India, the Kia Seltos Facelift will be offered across three trim levels - the Tech Line, the X-Line, and the GT Line. As for the exterior colour options, the updated model will be available in 8 colours, including two dual-tone paint schemes and the X-Line-specific Matte paint scheme.
Kia Seltos Facelift: Price, Market Competition
In terms of pricing, there is no exact update, but according to market estimations, the SUV may come with a sticker price ranging between Rs 11 lakh and Rs 21 lakh. Prices are ex-showroom. In India, the Seltos facelift will be Kia's answer to the likes of the Hyundai Creta, the Skoda Kushaq, the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara, the Volkswagen Taigun, the MG Astor, the upcoming Honda Elevate, etc.
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The carmaker has not revealed the launch date, although it could take place sometime next month. According to the company, the Kia Seltos SUV has been massively contributing to sales since its launch in the country in 2019.
Kia Seltos Facelift: What the Company Said?
On the occasion, Tae-Jin Park, Managing Director and CEO, Kia India, said, "Seltos is the product with which we entered India, and since then, the journey of Kia India and the Seltos has been almost identical. We have a segment disruptor and a segment winner in the new Seltos and are confident to take forward the strong legacy of the Brand Seltos to lead the premium RV market. This strategic launch is key to our India ambitions of attaining 10% market share soon."
"We feel that there is a lot of growth potential in the mid-SUV segment, and the new Seltos will grow the premium end of it. With the refreshed look, most powerful engine in the segment, and host of safety and smart features, the new Seltos inevitably will emerge as the most preferred drive for our new-age customers."
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