Likes
- Enormous 7-year warranty
- Heaps of standard features
- Holding their value very well
- Rides well thanks to locally-tuned suspension
Used Kia Seltos review
2019 - 2022
Dislikes
- Prices haven’t dropped much at all, so no bargains to be had
- Non-turbo engine can be thirsty
- Make sure you investigate that 2.0-litre engine failure recall
Stuff you should know
The Kia Seltos is a small SUV that was launched in Australia in late 2019. It is available in four grades: S, Sport, Sport+, and GT-Line. All grades are powered by a 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine that produces 146kW of power and 265Nm of torque. The engine is mated to a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission in the S and Sport grades, and an 8-speed automatic transmission in the Sport+ and GT-Line grades.
It was available with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. The all-wheel-drive system is only available on the Sport+ and GT-Line grades.
The Seltos has a spacious interior for a small SUV. The front seats are comfortable and supportive, and the rear seats have enough legroom for adults. The boot space is also generous, with a capacity of 433 litres.
The Seltos is well-equipped with features, even in the base S grade. Standard features include an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a reversing camera, and a 6-speaker sound system.
In terms of safety, the Seltos came standard with a comprehensive suite of safety features, including autonomous emergency braking, lane departure warning, and blind spot monitoring
The Seltos was well-received by Australian buyers. It was praised for its stylish design, spacious interior, and generous equipment levels. The Seltos has also been awarded a five-star safety rating by ANCAP.
What goes wrong
Exterior:
There are a handful of reports of windscreens and windows spontaneously cracking and shattering. This isn’t common though.
Interior:
Multiple owners have complained about the calibration of the Active Speed limiter. A sentiment shared by both owners and reviewers.
Mechanically:
Most notably, many owners have had issues with the 2.0-litre engines stalling, losing power or completely failing due to defective piston rings
Recalls:
- August 2020 – The KIA SELTOS models from 2019-2020 are affected by a fault where the anti-theft lock required by Australian Design Rule 25/01 was not installed on the steering column shaft, posing a non-compliance risk.
- August 2022 – The KIA SP2 Seltos models from 2019 to 2020, equipped with the Nu 2.0L Atkinson Engine, have a defect in the piston rings that may lead to engine failure, stalling, and an unexpected loss of vehicle power, posing a hazard of accidents, injuries, or fatalities to occupants and other road users. Approximately 4,639 units are affected.
- June 2023 – Non-compliance with Australian Design Rule 04/06 due to a software issue in KIA’s NQ5 Sportage, SG2 Niro, and SP2 Seltos PE models from 2022-2023, affecting 7,163 units, may fail to illuminate the visual seat belt warning, posing an increased risk of injury or death in case of an accident.
Exterior:
There are a handful of reports of windscreens and windows spontaneously cracking and shattering. This isn’t common though.
Interior:
Multiple owners have complained about the calibration of the Active Speed limiter. A sentiment shared by both owners and reviewers.
Mechanically:
Most notably, many owners have had issues with the 2.0-litre engines stalling, losing power or completely failing due to defective piston rings
Recalls:
- August 2020 – The KIA SELTOS models from 2019-2020 are affected by a fault where the anti-theft lock required by Australian Design Rule 25/01 was not installed on the steering column shaft, posing a non-compliance risk.
- August 2022 – The KIA SP2 Seltos models from 2019 to 2020, equipped with the Nu 2.0L Atkinson Engine, have a defect in the piston rings that may lead to engine failure, stalling, and an unexpected loss of vehicle power, posing a hazard of accidents, injuries, or fatalities to occupants and other road users. Approximately 4,639 units are affected.
- June 2023 – Non-compliance with Australian Design Rule 04/06 due to a software issue in KIA’s NQ5 Sportage, SG2 Niro, and SP2 Seltos PE models from 2022-2023, affecting 7,163 units, may fail to illuminate the visual seat belt warning, posing an increased risk of injury or death in case of an accident.
Exterior:
There are a handful of reports of windscreens and windows spontaneously cracking and shattering. This isn’t common though.
Interior:
Multiple owners have complained about the calibration of the Active Speed limiter. A sentiment shared by both owners and reviewers.
Mechanically:
Most notably, many owners have had issues with the 2.0-litre engines stalling, losing power or completely failing due to defective piston rings
Recalls:
- August 2020 – The KIA SELTOS models from 2019-2020 are affected by a fault where the anti-theft lock required by Australian Design Rule 25/01 was not installed on the steering column shaft, posing a non-compliance risk.
- August 2022 – The KIA SP2 Seltos models from 2019 to 2020, equipped with the Nu 2.0L Atkinson Engine, have a defect in the piston rings that may lead to engine failure, stalling, and an unexpected loss of vehicle power, posing a hazard of accidents, injuries, or fatalities to occupants and other road users. Approximately 4,639 units are affected.
- June 2023 – Non-compliance with Australian Design Rule 04/06 due to a software issue in KIA’s NQ5 Sportage, SG2 Niro, and SP2 Seltos PE models from 2022-2023, affecting 7,163 units, may fail to illuminate the visual seat belt warning, posing an increased risk of injury or death in case of an accident.
Should you buy it?
On the whole, the Kia Seltos is a great little SUV. Kia nailed the blend of size, practicality, features and driving ability. So if you’re after a family runabout that isn’t going to break the bank, the Seltos is one of the picks in this class.
What’s not so good are the engine failure concerns in the 2.0-litre naturally-aspirated engines, so if you own, or are looking at one, make sure that issue has been seen to.
There’s a pretty easy way of avoiding that concern, however, just buy the 1.6-turbo instead. Yes, it’s a touch more expensive and uses a little bit more fuel, but it produces more power and is much better to drive and suits the character of the Seltos far better than the more sluggish, and in some case defective, 2.0-litre engine.
Overall, the Seltos is a great option and probably our pick in the segment.
On the whole, the Kia Seltos is a great little SUV. Kia nailed the blend of size, practicality, features and driving ability. So if you’re after a family runabout that isn’t going to break the bank, the Seltos is one of the picks in this class.
What’s not so good are the engine failure concerns in the 2.0-litre naturally-aspirated engines, so if you own, or are looking at one, make sure that issue has been seen to.
There’s a pretty easy way of avoiding that concern, however, just buy the 1.6-turbo instead. Yes, it’s a touch more expensive and uses a little bit more fuel, but it produces more power and is much better to drive and suits the character of the Seltos far better than the more sluggish, and in some case defective, 2.0-litre engine.
Overall, the Seltos is a great option and probably our pick in the segment.
Should you buy it?
On the whole, the Kia Seltos is a great little SUV. Kia nailed the blend of size, practicality, features and driving ability. So if you’re after a family runabout that isn’t going to break the bank, the Seltos is one of the picks in this class.
What’s not so good are the engine failure concerns in the 2.0-litre naturally-aspirated engines, so if you own, or are looking at one, make sure that issue has been seen to.
There’s a pretty easy way of avoiding that concern, however, just buy the 1.6-turbo instead. Yes, it’s a touch more expensive and uses a little bit more fuel, but it produces more power and is much better to drive and suits the character of the Seltos far better than the more sluggish, and in some case defective, 2.0-litre engine.
Overall, the Seltos is a great option and probably our pick in the segment.
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Models, pricing & features
Tech specs
Body Styles
5 door Wagon
Engines
2.0 litre 4-cylinder aspirated petrol
1.6 litre 4-cylinder turbo-petrol (Sport+, GT-Line)
Power
110kW – 2.0 litre 4-cylinder aspirated petrol
130kW – 1.6 litre 4-cylinder turbo-petrol (Sport+, GT-Line)
146kW – 1.6 litre 4-cylinder turbo-petrol (Sport+, GT-Line)
Torque
180Nm – 2.0 litre 4-cylinder petrol
265Nm – 1.6 litre 4-cylinder turbo-petrol (Sport+, GT-Line)
Transmissions
1-speed Constantly Variable Transmission
7-speed Sports Automatic Dual Clutch (Sport+, GT-Line)
8-speed Sports Automatic (Sport+, GT-Line)
Fuel Consumption
6.8 – 7.6L / 100km
Length
4370 – 4385mm (5 door Wagon)
Width
1800mm (5 door Wagon)
Height
1615 – 1635mm (5 door Wagon)
Wheelbase
2630mm (5 door Wagon)
Kerb Weight
1,405 to 1,525 kg (5 door Wagon)
Towing
600kg (unbraked), 1100kg (braked)
600kg (unbraked), 1250kg (braked) (Sport+, GT-Line)
ANCAP Ratings
5 stars (tested 2019)
Body Styles
5 door Wagon
Engines
2.0 litre 4-cylinder aspirated petrol
1.6 litre 4-cylinder turbo-petrol (Sport+, GT-Line)
Power
110kW – 2.0 litre 4-cylinder aspirated petrol
130kW – 1.6 litre 4-cylinder turbo-petrol (Sport+, GT-Line)
146kW – 1.6 litre 4-cylinder turbo-petrol (Sport+, GT-Line)
Torque
180Nm – 2.0 litre 4-cylinder petrol
265Nm – 1.6 litre 4-cylinder turbo-petrol (Sport+, GT-Line)
Transmissions
1-speed Constantly Variable Transmission
7-speed Sports Automatic Dual Clutch (Sport+, GT-Line)
8-speed Sports Automatic (Sport+, GT-Line)
Fuel Consumption
6.8 – 7.6L / 100km
Length
4370 – 4385mm (5 door Wagon)
Width
1800mm (5 door Wagon)
Height
1615 – 1635mm (5 door Wagon)
Wheelbase
2630mm (5 door Wagon)
Kerb Weight
1,405 to 1,525 kg (5 door Wagon)
Towing
600kg (unbraked), 1100kg (braked)
600kg (unbraked), 1250kg (braked) (Sport+, GT-Line)
ANCAP Ratings
5 stars (tested 2019)
Body Styles
5 door Wagon
Engines
2.0 litre 4-cylinder aspirated petrol
1.6 litre 4-cylinder turbo-petrol (Sport+, GT-Line)
Power
110kW – 2.0 litre 4-cylinder aspirated petrol
130kW – 1.6 litre 4-cylinder turbo-petrol (Sport+, GT-Line)
146kW – 1.6 litre 4-cylinder turbo-petrol (Sport+, GT-Line)
Torque
180Nm – 2.0 litre 4-cylinder petrol
265Nm – 1.6 litre 4-cylinder turbo-petrol (Sport+, GT-Line)
Transmissions
1-speed Constantly Variable Transmission
7-speed Sports Automatic Dual Clutch (Sport+, GT-Line)
8-speed Sports Automatic (Sport+, GT-Line)
Fuel Consumption
6.8 – 7.6L / 100km
Length
4370 – 4385mm (5 door Wagon)
Width
1800mm (5 door Wagon)
Height
1615 – 1635mm (5 door Wagon)
Wheelbase
2630mm (5 door Wagon)
Kerb Weight
1,405 to 1,525 kg (5 door Wagon)
Towing
600kg (unbraked), 1100kg (braked)
600kg (unbraked), 1250kg (braked) (Sport+, GT-Line)
ANCAP Ratings
5 stars (tested 2019)
Warranty & servicing
Warranty
7 years / unlimited km
Service Intervals
15,000 km / 12 months
100,00 km / 12 months (2019 Sport+, 2019 GT-Line)
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Disclaimer
Please note that pricing information is subject to fluctuations in the automotive market.
Information correct as of July 12, 2023.
The advice provided on this website is general advice only. It has been prepared without taking into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting on this advice, you should consider the appropriateness of the advice, having regard to your own objectives, financial situation and needs.
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