Kia arrived late to the small SUV party, but it’s making up for lost time with a generously equipped and compelling Seltos range-topper.
2023 Kia Seltos GT-Line
It took Kia a while to offer a proper small SUV in the Australian market, and the South Korean brand even had to suffer the indignation of watching sister Hyundai introduce not one but two little SUVs – the Venue and Kona – before it got its chance. But in late 2019, the Seltos finally landed and it wasn’t a moment too soon.
Now, though, it’s time for a facelift, and Kia has doubled down on the package it introduced nearly three years ago. As before, the range offers choices of 2.0-litre non-turbo and 1.6-litre turbo petrol engines, and S, Sport and Sport+ variants, or at the pointy end, the flagship GT-Line.
With the update, it gets a revised exterior look, a boost to technology throughout, and an updated drivetrain. It’s often true that you don’t get something for nothing, and that’s exactly the case for the entire Seltos range with prices rising across the board, including for the most premium version.
We hopped aboard the 2023 Kia Seltos GT-Line AWD to see what you get for the extra cash.
How much does the Kia Seltos cost in Australia?
The most affordable Seltos S now costs $31,690 drive-away, which represents an increase of about $2400. At the opposite end of the range, the GT-Line AWD will now set you back $47,690 drive-away. It’s worth pointing out that, unlike the pre-facelifted Seltos (aside from a limited late-run batch), the 2023 Kia Seltos GT-Line is now available with a non-turbo engine and front-wheel drive, offering all of the remaining GT-Line features minus $3400 from the price tag.
Mid-range options include the front-wheel drive $35,390 Sport and $38,490 Sport+, the latter also available with a turbo engine and AWD for $41,990 (all prices are drive-away, excluding options).
A more detailed run-down of price and specs for the 2023 Kia Seltos range is available here.
Traditional rivals include the segment-favourite MG ZS, Mazda CX-30, Mitsubishi ASX and Hyundai Kona, but with the premium price you could argue this particular variant competes with the high-performance Kona N, mid-range Volkswagen T-Roc and even the Audi Q2, for example.
There are no hardware cost options available for any variant in the range, although adding premium paint does add another $520 to the bottom line. A snazzy two-tone paint scheme is a no-cost option, but the black roof unfortunately deletes the sunroof that is standard equipment with the GT-Line. Our test car has both premium paint and the two-tone finish options.
| Key details | 2023 Kia Seltos GT-Line |
| Price | $47,690 drive-away |
| Colour of test car | Clear White/Fusion Black |
| Options | Premium paint – $520 |
| Price as tested | $48,210 drive-away |
| Rivals | Hyundai Kona | Mazda CX-30 | Mitsubishi ASX |
How much space does the Kia Seltos have inside?
One of the first impressions that strikes you after boarding the Seltos is just how spacious the cabin is for a ‘small’ SUV, but the answer is thanks to two factors. Firstly, measuring 4370mm long, 1800mm wide and 1615mm tall, the Seltos is at the larger end of the segment and is shoulder-to-shoulder with models including the Nissan Qashqai, Suzuki Vitara and Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross.
Combined with the generous proportions, however, are clever uses of space throughout the cabin so the volume is not wasted by swoopy coupe-like roof lines and styling follies. We particularly liked the double shelf in the centre console, which allows a smartphone to be stowed on a wireless charging bed while leaving the space beneath free for other things.
A storage compartment under the centre armrest isn’t the largest, and the pair of centre cupholders are a little skinny, but overall the places to stow bits and pieces are on a par with other popular models in this segment.
As this is the top-shelf Seltos, it gets some excellent luxury touches throughout the interior including a power-operated tailgate to access a big boot, electric adjustment with ventilation and heating for both front seats, faux-leather for the seat upholstery, gear selector and steering wheel. The GT-Line also picks up steering wheel heating.
Space up front is generous in head, leg and elbow room, and the driver’s position is on the high side offering a good view of the surroundings. It’s a similar story in the second row with just enough leg room for a 186cm occupant behind a driver of the same height. Passengers in the back are treated to a low window line that offers a good view outwards, along with a pair of USB-C sockets and air vents – but no climate-control panel of their own.
At the back there’s a big boot that in the GT-Line offers a very respectable 433L, and even accommodates a full-size spare wheel under the boot floor. Only the entry S gets a space-saver spare, but this in turn increases boot space to 468L as it allows the boot’s floor board to be positioned lower.
In addition to the decent volume, the boot space is also fairly square without intrusions of wheel arches and mouldings, which boosts its practicality further still. Fold the 60:40-split second-row seating and the load area is increased to 1393L.
While the quality of the interior materials is generally good, a few of the hard plastics that Kia seemed to have banished are creeping back in. There are unpleasant tactile finishes to most of the dashboard and a majority of the door trim, while the gloss black finish in other areas doesn’t produce the premium feel Kia was perhaps aiming for.
Full-synthetic leather upholstery for the steering wheel and gear selector are redeeming, along with some impressive tech touches.
| 2023 Kia Seltos GT-Line | |
| Seats | Five |
| Boot volume | 433L to second row 1278L to first row |
| Length | 4385mm |
| Width | 1800mm |
| Height | 1635mm |
| Wheelbase | 2630mm |
Does the Kia Seltos have Apple CarPlay and Android Auto?
Unusually, it’s the entry-level Seltos S that gets wireless connectivity to both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, while the three more premium variants support both smartphones’ connectivity but require a cable connection.
Kia is still working to solve this hurdle, which is apparently related to technical complications, but one could not be found in time for the midlife refresh.
Regardless of the connection, the device is mirrored on a 10.25-inch central touchscreen that has excellent resolution and boots quickly after start-up. The impressive central screen is complemented by a second 10.25-inch fully digital display for the driver. The modern approach allows a degree of display customisation where traditional gauges were severely limited and continues the contemporary and high-tech look across the dash, somewhat compensating for the more forgettable materials and design in places.
The slick operating system contains a good level of native technology if you chose to jump out of smartphone mirroring with navigation and 10 years of free map updates, and an excellent Bose sound system with eight speakers – two more than the rest of the Seltos range.
The updated Seltos also includes seven years access to Kia Connect, allowing remote vehicle access via a compatible smart phone for functions including remote lock and unlock, remote vehicle start, vehicle tracking, fuel-level checks, and the ability to send a navigation destination to the car.
There’s also Kia’s ‘sounds of nature’ ambient sound feature, which offers a continuous soundtrack of various relaxing scenarios including a rainforest, falling rain, and a busy cafe, for example. When we first encountered the idea – it’s now proliferating in Kia and Hyundai models – we thought it was a bit silly, but these days it gets more airtime than the radio or podcasts during most drives.
On the outside, the GT-Line is the only Seltos to get all-LED lighting as well as a tilt-and-slide sunroof (but not on our particular example), while wireless device charging, rain-sensing wipers and driver’s seat position memory are all part of the deal.
Three charging options for the front occupants (USB-A and USB-C plus 12-volt socket), LED ambient interior lighting and a colour head-up display rounds out the impressive list of GT-Line standard tech, although the latter is the pop-up kind with its own screen rather than the fighter-plane-style system that reflects off the inside of the windscreen.
Is the Kia Seltos a safe car?
When the Kia Seltos launched in 2019, the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) awarded the model line-up the full five-star rating, and the maximum rating has carried over for the 2022 update.
The model scored particularly highly in the areas of adult and child occupant protection thanks in part to ISOFIX anchors with top tethers provided for two child seats in the second row, as well as a good performance in frontal offset and side-impact crash tests.
| 2023 Kia Seltos GT-Line | |
| ANCAP rating | Five stars (tested 2019) |
| Safety report | Link to ANCAP report |
What safety technology does the Kia Seltos have?
Before the Seltos’s mid-cycle update, an optional package added the highest level of advanced safety technology to low-grade variants, but with the 2023 version, all driver assistance and safety features are standard and almost identical across the range.
Only the higher-grade versions get the full suite including AEB at intersections/junctions and lead-vehicle departure alert, but other than that, the same level of passive and active safety systems are shared across the board.
This includes AEB with pedestrian and cyclist recognition, parking sensors all round and a reversing camera, driver attention/distraction alert, automatic dusk-sensing and high-beam headlights, blind-spot monitoring and assistance, lane-keep monitoring and assistance, tyre pressure monitoring and adaptive cruise control.
If that’s not enough to keep you out of trouble, passive safety systems include front and side airbags for the first row, as well as curtain airbags for occupants in both rows.
The Seltos packs a serious amount of safety technology into a small SUV, but there is just one black mark against its name in the form of a speed sign recognition and warning feature. The system is supposed to inform the driver of the speed limit in any given driving situation. Not only does it occasionally incorrectly display the speed limit, but an audible warning is sounded if the vehicle exceeds the limit by just one kilometre per hour.
The feature can be switched off, but it defaults back on each time the car is restarted. The irritating feature is also accompanied by far too many other chimes, bings, dings and dongs for relatively minor events such as each time the speed zone changes, or if the vehicle is nearing a lane marking. This quickly became tiresome.
How much does the Kia Seltos cost to maintain?
Like many mainstream manufacturers, Kia has capped the price of its scheduled servicing. Service intervals are at 10,000km or 12 months (depending on which arrives first), and at $308, the first service is the cheapest.
Unlike almost any other manufacturer, however, Kia offers its seven-year deal that includes warranty, roadside assistance and the capped-price deal. The seventh year is the most expensive at $671.
The average cost of a visit for planned maintenance is $497 or the total cost for seven years of Seltos servicing is $3479. It’s worth noting that this cost is higher than for non-turbo Seltos models, which also have longer 15,000km intervals between services.
Full comprehensive insurance for the Seltos is a relatively affordable exercise costing $1351.35 per year based on a comparative quote for a 35-year-old male driver living in Chatswood, NSW. Insurance estimates will vary based on your location, driving history, and personal circumstances.
| At a glance | 2023 Kia Seltos GT-Line |
| Warranty | Seven years, unlimited km |
| Service intervals | 12 months or 10,000km |
| Servicing costs | $1181 (3 years) $2178 (5 years) $3479 (7 years) |
Is the Kia Seltos GT-Line fuel-efficient?
When fitted with the 1.6-litre turbo engine, Kia claims the Seltos will return an average fuel economy figure of 7.4 litres per 100km, which rises to 9.5L/100km in more urban use, or as little as 6.2L/100km during freeway cruising.
During our time, we put a majority of our focus in more suburban environments, which makes the indicated fuel use of 9.0L/100km pretty concurrent with the manufacturer’s claim. For a more efficient option, the entry S and Sport offer average fuel consumption of 6.9L/100km says Kia, although this comes at the cost of performance.
Fuel Consumption – brought to you by bp
| Fuel Usage | Fuel Stats |
| Fuel cons. (claimed) | 7.4L/100km |
| Fuel cons. (on test) | 9.0L/100km |
| Fuel type | 91-octane regular unleaded |
| Fuel tank size | 50L |
What is the Kia Seltos like to drive?
With 146kW and 265Nm under the right pedal, the Seltos’s 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine has 16kW more than the 2019 unit and more performance than you might be expecting from a small SUV wearing a Kia badge. Acceleration is strong from a standing start, and there’s plenty of mid-range grunt for overtaking or just having a good time behind the wheel.
The peppy engine is happy to rev hard but sounds a little thrashy near the 6000rpm peak power. Far better to keep it in the middle or lower portion of the tachometer and enjoy the respectable torque.
With the 2023 update, the AWD Seltos GT-Line (and Sport+) switched from a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox to a more conventional torque-converter auto with eight gears, but its lightning fast gear changes make it hard to tell during normal driving.
The power delivery is smooth and there’s an almost imperceptible shift between gears. Unfortunately, the new transmission doesn’t like to be rushed and is less willing to kick down or hold a lower gear during spirited driving.
A real highlight of the Seltos’s driving manners, however, is its playful chassis and handling. The GT-Line wears the largest alloy wheel in the line-up with 18-inch rims versus the 17- and 16-inch versions of the other variants, and that brings the biggest tyre contact patch of all.
With the extra grip, the GT-Line has excellent confidence covering more enjoyable roads and is a delight to steer through bends, which is enhanced by the D-shaped steering wheel that is another unique feature to the variant.
Despite the sporty suspension tune, the flagship Seltos manages to also offer a comfortable ride when cruising. There’s a little more road noise than expected, and likely as a consequence of the wider, low-profile tyres, but it doesn’t detract greatly from the otherwise excellent ride for all occupants.
Finally, if you’re thinking of spearing off the trodden path and seeking a more adventurous driving experience in the Seltos, the GT-Line is available with all-wheel drive, as is the Sport+.
We didn’t spend any time off-road during our time with the Seltos, but a number of all-terrain extras such as hill-descent control and even an all-wheel drive lock mode suggest it should have above-average go-anywhere confidence, though more for loose surfaces or all-weather traction rather than proper off-road capabilities.
| Key details | 2023 Kia Seltos GT-Line |
| Engine | 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol |
| Power | 146kW @ 6000rpm |
| Torque | 265Nm @ 1600–4500rpm |
| Drive type | All-wheel drive |
| Transmission | Eight-speed torque converter automatic |
| Power-to-weight ratio | 98kW/t |
| Weight (tare) | 1495kg |
| Spare tyre type | Full-size |
| Tow rating | 1250kg braked 600kg unbraked |
| Turning circle | 10.6m |
Should I buy a Kia Seltos?
The top-of-the-line Seltos fits in a lot of gear and technology, plenty of space for people and things, all powered by an advanced engine and drivetrain. Its recent update has sharpened the overall package with enhancements in key areas including the striking exterior styling, and the GT-Line stands as the clear hero of the line-up.
But its price as a result is nudging $50K, which is pricey in this class, and particularly for a brand commonly associated with pin-sharp value.
If standard equipment and luxury touches are high up your list of priorities, then the GT-Line certainly does offer great value with everything included in the asking price and no tempting options to get carried away with. But if performance is fairly low down that same list, then the front-wheel-drive GT-Line might make the most sense as it gets almost identical equipment paired with a more efficient drivetrain and a lower asking price.
It would also be hard to drop the full $48,210 of our tested example without first having a very close look at some larger options, or perhaps some small SUV options from European brands that are very much in reach with a similar budget.
However, given what’s on offer the price is fair, and only the odd frustrating foible detracts from what is a very well rounded machine that punches hard in the segment and, yet again, elevates Kia into more premium territory. But everything comes at a price.
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