Kia Seltos Facelift 2023 coming soon – All You Need to Know
Kia introduced the Seltos as its first offering in the Indian market back in August 2019, which quickly became a bestseller and continues to be a popular choice today. However, facing increased competition in the compact SUV segment, the Seltos is now in need of an upgrade. It has slipped from being the second bestseller and currently trails behind the Creta and Grand Vitara.
Kia has announced that the Seltos facelift will be unveiled on July 4th, 2023, with the official launch expected a few days later. Deliveries are anticipated to begin shortly after the launch. The Seltos Facelift will continue to vie for dominance among its competitors, which include the MG Astor, Hyundai Creta, Volkswagen Taigun, Toyota Hyryder, Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara, Skoda Kushaq, and Honda Elevate.
Everything about the Kia Seltos Facelift
One of the key factors contributing to the Seltos’ popularity is its attractive design. Kia plans to further enhance the sporty profile of the new Seltos by making changes to the front fascia, rear section, LED DRLs, front grille, front and rear bumpers, and tail lamps, and potentially adding new LED strips at the front and rear. The side profile is expected to remain largely unchanged, including the alloy wheels.
Kia is known for its customer-oriented approach, and it is likely to introduce some new segment-first and best-in-class features. One highly anticipated addition is a panoramic sunroof, as the current Seltos model only has a single-pane sunroof. Considering that the Hyundai Creta already offers a panoramic sunroof, it is probable that the Seltos will also receive this feature.
Additionally, the inclusion of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) in the compact SUV segment would be a welcome development. Currently, ADAS is only available as an option in the MG Astor. The adoption of ADAS could positively impact the safety perception of the Seltos, which received a 3-star rating in crash tests conducted by Global NCAP in 2020.
To cater to performance enthusiasts, Kia may introduce a new 1.5-liter turbo petrol engine in the Seltos facelift, which is currently available in the Hyundai Verna. The engine produces a maximum power of 160 PS and a peak torque of 253 Nm. It can be matched with either a 6-speed manual transmission or a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT).
The existing engine options for the Seltos, including a 1.5-liter naturally aspirated petrol engine producing 115 PS and 144 Nm, and a 1.5-liter diesel engine producing 116 PS and 250 Nm, will continue to be offered. These engines come with transmission choices of 6-speed manual, IVT (Intelligent Variable Transmission), 6-speed iMT (Intelligent Manual Transmission), or 6-speed automatic.
