Kia Seltos | Photo Credit: Amit Naik

Back in 2019, the Seltos was the car that cemented Kia’s position in India almost overnight. Skip to 2025, and the timing of this updated Seltos couldn’t be better. Kia is pushing hard to strengthen its market share and make a serious play for a spot among India’s top three automakers. And the Seltos, once again, is expected to do the heavy lifting.

At first glance, the new Seltos looks familiar and that’s a good thing. Kia has refined and amplified what already worked. Up front, the SUV looks wider and more planted. The proportions feel better balanced and the overall stance is noticeably bolder. The car feels less stubby than before, with cleaner lines and more visual mass. There’s a stronger road presence now, something that becomes even more apparent when you spot the Seltos in your rear-view mirror. This subtle growth plays a big role in how the car feels dynamically, too.

There’s a newfound sense of solidity, especially at city speeds. The earlier car always felt competent, but this one feels more mature. On faster stretches and open highway sections, the improvements became even more obvious. High-speed stability has taken a big step forward. Whether it was acceleration, lane changes or hard braking, the Seltos remained planted and reassuring. This sense of stability is arguably the biggest dynamic upgrade. Despite its increased size, the car still feels easy to place on the road and surprisingly agile.

Kia has always excelled at offering choice, and the Seltos continues that tradition. You still get petrol and diesel engines, paired with a wide variety of gearboxes — manuals, automatics and dual-clutch units, allowing buyers to pick exactly what suits their needs.

Having driven both petrol and diesel variants back to back, the petrol engine stands out as the enthusiast’s choice. The 1.5-litre turbo-petrol is a gem, producing around 116 bhp, more than enough for effortless highway cruising and quick overtakes. Power delivery is smooth, linear and responsive, making it genuinely enjoyable to drive. We saw an indicated fuel efficiency figure of around 17 kpl during our short stint, which is impressive considering the performance on offer.

The diesel, on the other hand, plays a different tune. It’s more relaxed and delivers power more calmly; to put it politely, it feels a bit slow compared to the petrol. While it lacks the instant punch of the petrol, it remains perfectly adequate for everyday use and long-distance driving. For buyers prioritising mileage and torque over outright performance, the diesel still makes a lot of sense.

all about comfort

Ride and handling are where the new Seltos really surprised us. The suspension setup leans slightly towards comfort, but without becoming floaty or wallowy. It absorbs bumps well, deals with broken patches confidently and remains composed even when pushed a bit harder. On twisty sections and quick direction changes, the car holds its line well. Under hard braking, it stays straight and stable, something that immediately boosts driver confidence.

Inside, the cabin feels more premium, more modern and far more user-friendly than before. The highlight is the new twin-screen layout: a digital instrument cluster paired with a large infotainment display angled slightly towards the driver to create a cockpit-like feel. Wireless charging, connected tech and creature comforts are all present.

The front seats are supremely comfortable, with excellent support and cushioning. Rear seat space has improved noticeably. There’s ample legroom, good headroom and a more airy feel overall. Boot space stands at a generous 447 litres, making it one of the most practical SUVs in the segment. While Kia hasn’t disclosed full crash test results yet, the company has emphasised extensive use of high-strength steel and structural improvements. On the features front, you get a comprehensive suite of ADAS tech, multiple airbags, and all the safety tech you’d expect in a premium mid-size SUV today.

After spending time with the Seltos, it’s clear that this SUV has improved by leaps and bounds. Kia has addressed the shortcomings of the earlier model while doubling down on what made the Seltos such a hit in the first place: choice, comfort, technology and everyday usability. Add to that with Kia’s strong brand pull and feature-rich packaging, you have an SUV that continues to set the benchmark. Bigger, in this case, really is better.

© Motoring World

Published on December 26, 2025