Auto Trader NZ
Published 3 September 2020
The brand new 2020 Kia Seltos (derived from Celtos, son of Hercules) will be “among the roomiest in its class, coming with a range of technologies to separate it from the crowd” said the managing director of Kia NZ, Todd McDonald.
The entry-level model Seltos LX is powered by a fuel-efficient Atkinson cycle 2-litre petrol engine with an all-new Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT) and front wheel drive, producing 110kw and 180nm of torque. The GT line offers a 1.6-litre turbo-petrol engine producing 130kW and 265Nm of torque, an on-demand variable AWD system and a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. This all culminates in a competent 0-100km/h time of 8 seconds.
On the safety side, the Seltos features six airbags, automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, pedestrian detection, rear cross-traffic alert and even an adaptive cruise that Kia says is good enough to leave hands free for a short period of time.
The Seltos’ new design looks the part with LED daytime running lights either side of its”tiger-nose” grille. LED cabin lighting with changeable colours, which can also pulse to the sound of your eight speaker Bose audio system, and the ability to run Apple CarPlay/Android Auto. The top-of-the-range model features a 10.25-inch centre touchscreen with a new user interface, heads-up display navigation, and a 7.0-inch colour trip computer.
Kia have released pricing for its Seltos range with five trim levels to choose from:
Seltos LX 2.0L petrol IVT – $25,990
Seltos LX Plus 2.0L petrol IVT – $35,990
Seltos EX 2.0L petrol IVT – $37,990
Seltos LTD 2.0L petrol IVT – $42,990
Seltos LTD 1.6L T-GDI 7DCT – $46,990
