2021 Kia Seltos
#16
Lexus Fanatic
#17
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (20)
#20
Lead Lap
So they`re refreshing the asian market Hyundai Venue, with a twist?
#21
Lexus Champion
Confirmed for the US.
Kia is adding another SUV to its stable for 2021–the Seltos–and it will fight for market share alongside the Soul, Sportage, Sorento, and Telluride. We found out the company's plans to add the Seltos to the the U.S. lineup back in August when we drove one in South Korea, but we were sworn to secrecy.
More here.
It's Official: Kia Launching Seltos Subcompact SUV in U.S. for 2021
Welcome to the latest entry in the crossover wars, which we drove in Korea earlier this year. It'll come in AWD or FWD versions.Kia is adding another SUV to its stable for 2021–the Seltos–and it will fight for market share alongside the Soul, Sportage, Sorento, and Telluride. We found out the company's plans to add the Seltos to the the U.S. lineup back in August when we drove one in South Korea, but we were sworn to secrecy.
#22
Lexus Fanatic
You beat me to it, JDR. I was going to post this.
Anyhow, I'm very glad that they are bringing it to the U.S. Even without seeing it up front (I have looked at its Hyundai Kona stablemate), this may be exactly what my brother's GF needs......if she wants to wait till February or March for it. The Niro is built extremely well, but lacks AWD (it is a FWD hybrid). the Sportage is probably a little too large, and the Soul, like the Niro, lacks AWD. The Kona, in several ways, is ideal for her as it is, but it looks like the Celtos is going to have nicer trim, a nicer interior, and some interesting two-tone paint schemes. If she can't wait for the Celtos, of course, we'll look at the Kona. I might take her to the D.C. Auto Show where she can look at that and the Kona at the same time....if Kia shows it off there on the floor, unlocked, which I hope they will. Kia, unlike some other automakers, is usually pretty good about not restricting showgoer-access o its upcoming models....Hyundai is much more restrictive.
Kia has the Celtos now on its web site.
https://www.kia.com/us/en/vehicles/seltos/2021
Anyhow, I'm very glad that they are bringing it to the U.S. Even without seeing it up front (I have looked at its Hyundai Kona stablemate), this may be exactly what my brother's GF needs......if she wants to wait till February or March for it. The Niro is built extremely well, but lacks AWD (it is a FWD hybrid). the Sportage is probably a little too large, and the Soul, like the Niro, lacks AWD. The Kona, in several ways, is ideal for her as it is, but it looks like the Celtos is going to have nicer trim, a nicer interior, and some interesting two-tone paint schemes. If she can't wait for the Celtos, of course, we'll look at the Kona. I might take her to the D.C. Auto Show where she can look at that and the Kona at the same time....if Kia shows it off there on the floor, unlocked, which I hope they will. Kia, unlike some other automakers, is usually pretty good about not restricting showgoer-access o its upcoming models....Hyundai is much more restrictive.
Kia has the Celtos now on its web site.
https://www.kia.com/us/en/vehicles/seltos/2021
Last edited by mmarshall; 11-20-19 at 06:35 PM.
#24
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (20)
this looks quite promising. So they’ll launch a 2021 model in spring of 2020?
#26
Lexus Fanatic
That appears to be the plan, at least as of now. It's currently being shown off at the L.A. Show (which, I think, officially started today for the public)......and, according to the Kia web site, is set for general release in February.
I definitely hope they bring it to D.C. for the late-January show, but I don't see any reason they would not. If my brother's GF has not decided on something else by then (maybe the Hyundai Kona?)...I definitely want her to look at it.
Here's Alex's take on it, from the L.A. show.
Last edited by mmarshall; 11-22-19 at 08:17 PM.
#27
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (20)
Just watched a review... seems like an incredible bargain especially since all trims except "S" are AWD.
#28
Lexus Fanatic
^^^^ Thanks for posting. This guy is clearly no Alex Dykes, but, at least, it gives us some idea of what the Seltos is like.
With the one you posted being a apparent exception, most of the currently-available test-drives on video seem to be for the Indian version (where the vehicle was introduced), and I didn't post any, because those versions are probably not up to American specs.
Kis also seems to be playing up that yellow color in a lot of the Seltos images, although the one on the turntable at the D.C. Auto show was a pale beige/ivory color with a black roof.
With the one you posted being a apparent exception, most of the currently-available test-drives on video seem to be for the Indian version (where the vehicle was introduced), and I didn't post any, because those versions are probably not up to American specs.
Kis also seems to be playing up that yellow color in a lot of the Seltos images, although the one on the turntable at the D.C. Auto show was a pale beige/ivory color with a black roof.
Last edited by mmarshall; 02-17-20 at 07:24 AM.
#29
Lexus Fanatic
Its 2020, 121 hp, this thing is gutless. Torque is at 113. Just for reference, the Lexus 2.0 in the new UX makes 169hp. Not sure where the video found out that AWD is all on all trims, it states FWD on Hyundai.com It appears AWD is not available, unless I am not seeing it.
I have seen one, it is not bad looking in top spec. I do kind of like the no nosense dash and HVAC layout. Simple controls are quite nice. I llike how they integrated the digital displays into the HVAC dials for top trims, but the base controls look like they are from a 90s Chevy. Redundant hard buttons is always a good thing. I like how its has lots of standard safety features, but LED headlights are an option which I think should be standard.
I have seen one, it is not bad looking in top spec. I do kind of like the no nosense dash and HVAC layout. Simple controls are quite nice. I llike how they integrated the digital displays into the HVAC dials for top trims, but the base controls look like they are from a 90s Chevy. Redundant hard buttons is always a good thing. I like how its has lots of standard safety features, but LED headlights are an option which I think should be standard.
Last edited by Toys4RJill; 02-17-20 at 07:33 AM.
#30
Lexus Fanatic
Its 2020, 121 hp, this thing is gutless. Torque is at 113. Just for reference, the Lexus 2.0 in the new UX makes 169hp. Not sure where the video found out that AWD is all on all trims, it states FWD on Hyundai.com It appears AWD is not available, unless I am not seeing it.
https://www.kia.com/us/en/seltos/specs
Almost anything in this class is going to have AWD, at least as an option. Toyota tried marketing the C-HR in the U.S. with FWD only, and it was clearly a mistake....as a number of us here on Car Chat predicted it would be.
Last edited by mmarshall; 02-17-20 at 07:38 AM.