This is not a drill, ladies and gentlemen. The 2020 Kia Seltos is coming, with pricing just released by Kia Philippines. The Seltos is the Korean carmaker's answer to the compact crossover segment, set to do battle against its platform twin Hyundai Kona, as well as the Ford Ecosport, Honda HR-V, and Subaru XV.
It’s quite a diverse market of mini-SUVs that offer AWD, so what does the new Seltos bring to the table?
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Pick your poison. The Kia Seltos is available in a range of colors
If you feel like Kia’s done this before, you’re absolutely right. Kia has in fact been at the forefront of the compact crossover segment in the Philippines, albeit with the much-maligned Kia Soul. There was nothing wrong with that Soul; in fact, it was a perfectly capable crossover that lasted a good two generations, with the third generation still being sold overseas.
The Soul may have come a little too soon for its time because the local market was lukewarm to the idea of a raised vehicle that wasn’t quite an SUV. In retrospect, the notion seems quite unreal nowadays, considering the ubiquity of compact SUVs on our roads.
Kia has since opted to scratch the Soul from its local lineup altogether, and bring in what they believe will suit the market better.
The wait is over for the Kia Seltos in the Philippines
The local Kia Seltos will most likely feature two engine options; a 2.0-liter naturally-aspirated engine that makes 147 hp and 180 Nm of torque with Infinitely Variable Transmission or IVT (a subset of CVTs that has a zero gear ratio), and a 1.6-liter turbocharged engine that puts out 175 hp and 265 Nm of pulling power, with the output channeled to the drive wheels via a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission.
Since the car is based on the Kona, expect similar driving dynamics, but Kia wants to give the Seltos a more sophisticated and sporty appeal, far away from Hyundai’s funky styling.
Pricing for the Kia Seltos pits it squarely against its rivals
Pricing for the Kia Seltos starts at PhP1.098 Million for the entry-level LX version, all the way to PhP1.498 Million for the top-spec SX variant equipped with the 1.6-liter turbocharged engine.
At the time of writing, Kia has now shipped the Seltos to our shores, ready for buyers to enjoy. The latest addition to the Kia lineup will be formally launched on November 6, so stay tuned to Philkotse.com for updates!
>>> Latest update: 2021 Kia Seltos: Expectations and what we know so far
Know more about Kia Seltos 2023
The Kia Seltos 2023 is a subcompact crossover that is designed to appeal to young car buyers. It is available in the Philippines in five variants, with a price ranging from Php 1,208,000 to Php 1,580,000. Under the hood, this model is powered by a 2.0-liter inline-4 DOHC D-CVVT gasoline engine capable of generating 147 horsepower and 179 Nm of torque. Only an Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT) is paired to the engine.
When it comes to the dimensions, the Seltos spans 4,370 mm in length, 1,800 mm in width, and 1,615 mm in height (1,610 mm excluding roof rails). It also gets a wheelbase and Kia Seltos ground clearance rated at 2,630 mm and 170 mm, respectively. In the local market, this Korean subcompact crossover competes against the likes of the Geely Coolray, Mazda CX-3, and MG ZS.
₱ 1,208,000 - ₱ 1,580,000
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