Kia Seltos Hybrid makes local debut ahead of October launch
Words: Andrew Sluys
Kia’s much-anticipated new Seltos Hybrid has made its first appearance in New Zealand, on display at the E-Road show.
It’s also the first time we have seen the SUV since we flew to South Korea earlier in the year to drive it.
While Kia New Zealand confirmed that it will be launching locally in October, no information regarding pricing has been released.
Unlike the first-generation Seltos, this one will be offered exclusively in hybrid form, which pairs a 1.6-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine with either one or two electric motors.
The number of electric motors will depend on whether the 2WD or AWD model is selected, but both use a six-speed DCT transmission.
While front-wheel drive models use a single electric motor on the front axle, the all-wheel drive Seltos gets an additional one on the rear axle.
Peak outputs for this system also differ between FWD and AWD models. The FWD Seltos gets 115kW/144Nm, and the AWD models get 138kW/144Nm.
The large display on the dash is made up of a 12.3-inch digital cluster, a 12.3-inch infotainment screen, and an HVAC display in between. Wireless Apple Carplay and Android Auto is available through the infotainment display.
This new Seltos is also bigger than the last one. It’s 45mm longer, 30mm wider, and features a wheelbase that’s 60mm longer than the outgoing SUV.
The only metric that’s remained unchanged is its height of 1.6-metres.
As mentioned, New Zealand buyers can expect to see deliveries of this new Seltos in October, with pricing information to come.
