THE ALL-NEW KIA: SELTOS GT TURBO SUV
THE 2021 KIA SELTOS HAS RAISED THE BAR IN THE COMPACT SUV SEGMENT
With KIA producing well over three million cars annually to be distributed in over 180 countries, there is no denying the brand’s surging popularity. We at Fact Magazine have had the opportunity to test drive various KIA models in recent years, all of which were surprisingly impressive in both appearance and performance. Once again, thanks to the great team at Bin Hindi Motors, we were extended the privilege of test driving their latest KIA import. On this occasion it was to be the all-new 2021 KIA Seltos SX Turbo SUV.
Named after the son of Hercules, the Seltos has a sporty yet sophisticated exterior design, one that is complemented by its aesthetically pleasing features. From the front, the novel LED lights run along the top of the upgraded “tiger nose” grille, almost uninterrupted from one side of the vehicle to the other. Mock skid plates at both the front and rear of the vehicle ensure a more rugged appearance, whilst the front facia has a slight overbite, allowing for greater clearance.
On the sides, cladding along the bottom and around the wheelbase add to the robust nature of the Seltos, whilst 18” alloy wheels hint at its on-road capabilities. The rear of the vehicle is beautifully designed, complete with LED taillights and a unique convex and concave surface design. On the top pf the vehicle, roof rails and an optional sunroof add to an already impressive exterior. The SX Turbo is available in a large variety of colours including two-tone options.
We were most surprised at the space inside of this small class SUV. A higher ride height ensures easy entry and exit from the vehicle and once inside, plenty of head and leg room is available. The Sofino Synthetic leather trim seats are 10-way power adjustable, with two-way lumbar support and are very comfortable indeed. These seats are also available in a variety of seat trim colours. The leather clad steering wheel, with sport grips, is functional and feels great in hand. The radio, cruise control and information display can all be controlled by buttons on the wheel itself.
The modern look interior houses a 7-inch LCD Colour Instrument Cluster, an 8 speaker Bose sound system with sound connected mood lamp and an original speaker grille design. Other notable features include chrome door handles, a leather wrapped gear shifter, two cup holders, a wireless charging mat and single-zone climate control. The infotainment system features a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation and offers both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. This system is functional, customisable and very user-friendly. In the rear of the vehicle three adults can fit comfortably with ample leg and head room on offer for this class of vehicle. There is a folding armrest complete with double cup holder as well as a USB port and dual air vents. The cargo area offers 753 litres of storage space with the rear seats up and 1778 litres with the seats folded down.
The Seltos GT Turbo houses a Direct Injected Turbo, 1.6-litre, 4-cylinder engine, paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. This allows for the creation of 175 hp @ 6000 rpm and 195 lb-ft @ 1500 rpm. This translates to a capable vehicle with decent acceleration and a good turn of speed. It is capable of achieving 0 – 100km/h in around 7.5 seconds. Being an all-wheel drive, the Seltos offers plenty of grip both on and off-road and despite being a firm ride, this SUV handles bumps very well. With three driving modes available, the Seltos is able to adapt to various environments whilst remaining as eco-friendly as possible. We found both the cornering and breaking of this vehicle to be more than sufficient and always felt in control of the driving experience.
There is a range of advanced active safety systems available for the Seltos, including Blind-Spot Detection, Blind-Spot Collision Avoidance Assist, Automatic Emergency Braking, Lane Keeping & Departure Warning and Safe Exit Assist, amongst others.
All-in-all, we found the Seltos GT Turbo to be a pleasant surprise with its visually pleasing exterior, deceivingly spacious modern interior as well as its more than capable on and off-road capabilities. ✤
“NAMED AFTER THE SON OF HERCULES, THE SELTOS HAS A SPORTY YET SOPHISTICATED EXTERIOR DESIGN, ONE THAT IS COMPLEMENTED BY ITS AESTHETICALLY PLEASING FEATURES.”
GO: CALL BIN HINDI MOTORS ON 1770 2000 OR 1746 3333 TO BOOK A TEST DRIVE.
