Kia Seltos 2019 Review – International

First impressions of the new 2019 Kia Seltos interior are favourable. Granted, we only spent time evaluating the top-spec (GT Line) Seltos model grade so this initial taste test is somewhat skewed.

But the overall design, execution and attention to detail is impressive and should carry through all variants, which bodes well for the all-new small Kia Seltos SUV that will arrive in Australia from October 2019.

The power-adjustable seats are wide and welcoming, which is unexpected in a small SUV. The fake leather upholstery is supple and feels like the real deal (only without the guilt) and the ventilated cushions and automatic climate control were a boon of magnanimous proportions in the 35-degree, ultra-humid Seoul weather.

The dashboard design is clean and tidy, all the controls are located in sensible positions, clustered below the eye-catching 10.2-inch touch-screen – the largest in its class. Actually larger than many other bigger, more premium vehicles. Whoever said size doesn't matter never tried to multitask in a car.

Of the four Seltos model-grades sold in Australia, all of them get the mammoth 10.2-inch infotainment display with satellite-navigation as standard, except the entry-level Seltos S. The boggo gets an (still reasonably large) 8.0-inch screen – but all grades will be compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay and get a reversing camera and parking sensors.

This is one of the first cars I've driven that permits two Bluetooth devices to be connected at once, allowing one smartphone to use Google Maps, the other to stream a podcast or Spotify music.

I experimented using the car's in-built sat-nav at the same time as Spotify music streaming and, given the screen's massive width, it works well split into three. I chucked the real-time weather in there too. Just because.

Kia has pulled out all the stops with its new small SUV and the brand-spanking city-savvy runabout is even available with a Bose eight-speaker stereo. Kia says this is a first for the segment, as are the eight selectable ambient mood lights that "glitter" in time with the music you play. The speakers look pretty wild too -- all angles and sharp edges.

Little things too, like the touch-sensitive LED reading lights, wireless smartphone charge pad and sliding central armrest make this an easy car to relax in. Obviously not every model gets all these goodies, and you can check out the full price and spec rundown on the Kia Seltos here.

When you factor in adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist and a massive 8.0-inch head-up display – again, the largest in its class – and you're sitting pretty with all the latest driver aids and convenience functions.

The adaptive cruise control is pretty slick, as is lane keeping assistant, which does a good job of steering the car on mild bends and works best at slower speeds, for up to 60 seconds by my count (this may change for Aussie models).

With more razzle-dazzle than a Kardashian birthday bash, the interior of the Seltos is arresting. But, like any good party, there are a few gatecrashers.

The dash plastics, for example, are harsh and unyielding, which takes away a bit of lustre when touched, and there are no paddle shifters on the steering wheel if you want to quickly change gears.

And you'll have to pay around $1000 (estimated – pricing wasn't confirmed at the time of publishing) for a safety pack on two of the four model grades if you want a push-button park brake with auto hold. Which you'll want if you spend any time in traffic.

There are two USB ports up front and a third for rear-seat passengers, below the air-vents – another nice touch. And rear seat room is remarkably good: Three (somewhat slim) Aussie journos fitted across the back seat without being crammed in like tinned sardines.

The Kia SUV's 1800mm width – not including the wing mirrors – is pretty thick for a small SUV and accounts for its generous shoulder room.

Measuring 4370mm long, the Seltos doesn't really feel like a 'small' vehicle, whether you're in the front or back seats and even poking around in the boot. The Korean cruiser is longer than the top-selling SUV in the segment, the Mitsubishi ASX, and this affords it the biggest boot in its class, says Kia.

There's definitely a recurring theme going on here…

With 498 litres, it bests the Mitsubishi's 393L easily and its closest rival, according to Redbook.com.au data, is the Honda HR-V with 437L. Boot space varies depending on how it’s measured (to the window line, or all the way to the roof) and on first inspection the boot in the baby Kia looks average.

But dropping the boot floor into a lower position liberates a much bigger space and it starts to look more expansive.

This is where the wheels start to fall off the wagon.

Ride and handling of the Korean-spec Seltos we drove is best-described as soft and cushy. This is ideal if you drive everywhere at a snail’s-pace, as it feels like you're gliding around on air, the car absorbing pretty much anything thrown at it – bumps in the road, cracks and ructions, pot holes, sink holes, you name it.

The flipside of this soft suspension is poor steering response and loose handling dynamics.

If you have to make an emergency maneouvre, for instance -- maybe a quick lane to change avoid a rapidly decelerating car -- the Kia will wallow like a pig in mud.

Body roll was severe while tracking through a flowing 270-degree corner (freeway off-ramp) at 70km/h, the bright yellow car titling laterally like a human head deep in thought. The end result was lack of grip as the outside two wheels were forced to absorb almost all of the Kia's 1425kg mass.

The car does not inspire confidence in a dynamic sense but, as Kia Australia went to great pains to point out, Aussie models will get a completely different suspension tune suited to local conditions – as is the case with all Kia vehicles sold Down Under.

We'll have to wait until the car is launched in Australia later this year to test the difference, but if history is any guide Kia's Aussie chassis boffins will do a pretty schmick job.

One element of the car that is unlikely to change from the Korean model on test here is the powertrain.

Packing the same feisty 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol powerplant (130kW/265Nm) as the sporty Hyundai i30 SR – albeit with a bit less power – our Seltos drives all four wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

Now, the engine has plenty of go but the dual-clutch automatic gearbox isn’t the sharpest tool in the shed. It's the weak link in the powertrain. This makes the Seltos feel a little lethargic accelerating from standstill and at times, such as overtaking on the freeway, it does the opposite and rev-flares when you least expect it.

There will be a less-powerful 2.0-litre non-turbo petrol engine (110kW/180Nm) available in Australia but it wasn't ready for the media launch. This engine will be hooked up to one of Kia's first automatic continuously variable transmissions (CVT) and could be a smoother, more seamless operator.

It'll also be front-wheel drive, not all-wheel drive, and will weigh about 100kg less, which means fuel economy and performance won't be disadvantaged too much.

However the FWD models get less sophisticated torsion-beam rear suspension, compared to the independent set-up on the AWD machine on test here.

Would a rose by any other name smell as sweet? After all, what's in a name? Well, this ain't poetry, so I'm going say 'a lot!' The Mustang, the Monaro, the Stinger… they are cool car names — memorable and inspiring.

The Seltos? Apparently it's a play on the name Celtos, the son of Hercules, and while it imparts a lovely sentiment, phonetically it's lamentable.

I'm feeling like it’s a mixture of Mentos and Alka-Seltzer. Or maybe a vehicular version of Cheetos, the cheesy puffed-rice snacks.

Maybe I'm overblowing this and no-one really cares. It makes no difference to the way the car looks or drives. But even Kia Australia admits the name is uninspiring.

"So far we've had a fairly neutral response. No-one is offended by it. No-one is – should I say? – praising it highly either," said Roland Rivero, general manager of product at Kia Australia, of focus group feedback from Aussies quizzed over the Seltos name.

Catatonic name aside, after our first drive of the Kia Seltos, I will admit it does a lot things very well. The interior is class-leading and equipment levels will see its Japanese and Korean rivals furiously taking notes.

Packing six airbags, lane-assist and auto-braking across the range, it should get a five-star ANCAP safety rating too. Kia's seven-year warranty with roadside assist and capped-price servicing should keep running costs low – but that depends on fuel consumption, which wasn't great on our test drive, at 11L/100km.

Notwithstanding some powertrain concerns and with a caveat on dynamics until its sketchy domestic-market suspension is fixed, the Kia Seltos makes a mostly positive first impression.

It will undoubtedly be a solid entrant in the growing small SUV sector and has the potential to sway a few Volkswagen Tiguan owners too.

How much does the 2019 Kia Seltos GT Line cost?
Price: $39,990 (estimated, drive-away)
Engine: 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 130kW/265Nm
Transmission: Seven-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel: 11.0L/100km (as tested)
CO2: N/A
Safety Rating: N/A