Kia Seltos petrol-automatic review: Is it the pick of the range?

28^th Feb 2020 two:fifty pm

We’ve at last bought our arms on the reasonably cost-effective 1.5-litre petrol engine-driven Seltos, and the information is superior.

sixty,000 – that’s the selection of Kia Seltos models bought in the first six months of its start in India. For a debutant vehicle model in the Indian sector, that’s a enormous selection and really an accomplishment. The Seltos’ achievement in original levels can be credited to its smart layout, extensive checklist of devices, and the option of many powertrains at unique value points.

As you may know, the Seltos’ engine line-up includes a 115hp, 1.5-litre naturally-aspirated petrol engine a 115hp, 1.5-litre diesel and a 140hp, 1.four-litre turbo-petrol. And though a six-pace guide gearbox is offered as regular, each engine will get a unique kind of automatic transmission option. The 1.5 petrol will get a CVT, the 1.5 diesel is obtainable with a six-pace torque converter auto, and the 1.four turbo-petrol is offered with a seven-pace twin-clutch gearbox.

We’ve before sampled the turbo-petrol and the diesel engine, and this time about we have the 1.5 petrol paired with a CVT automatic with us. So, does this make a sensible get above the 1.four turbo-petrol if you are on a finances? Let’s uncover out.

What is it like to drive?

The ‘base’ Seltos makes use of a 1.5-litre, four-cylinder, naturally-aspirated petrol engine, which places out a reasonable 115hp and 144Nm of torque. And though Kia has the requires of effectiveness-oriented potential buyers included with the 1.four-litre turbo-petrol variation, this 1.5 unit is all about an easygoing nature and a peaceful driving expertise. Appropriate from the instant you get started the engine, it is refined and operates quietly at minimal to mid revs. It is only in the higher reaches of the powerband that it feels strained and the engine sounds is intrusive. Off the line, energy shipping and delivery is easy and the engine is responsive to slightest of throttle inputs. It doesn’t have the mid-variety punch of its turbocharged, but it doesn’t feel gutless both like a lot of naturally aspirated engines. Outside of four,000rpm the engine begins managing out of breath, and whilst it revs all the way till six,500rpm, there is very minimal effectiveness to be extracted in the best conclusion.

We sampled the 1.5 petrol engine in its automatic avatar, and we can notify you that the CVT (repeatedly variable transmission) does its occupation very well. Certainly, it does have the regular rubber-band impact you expertise in most CVTs, wherever you speed up hard and the engine rpm rises, but the exact is not translated into pace. Even so, the superior information is that this undesirable impact has been held to a minimal, which signifies there is ample energy though overtaking on the highways. What the CVT does actually very well is it responds instantaneously at minimal speeds, particularly on section-throttle, making it easy to close a gap in targeted traffic or make a speedy overtake. There’s a guide manner to flick by means of predefined ratios but it doesn’t permit intense downshifts, say to maximise engine braking.

For the duration of outright acceleration, having said that, the guide manner holds on to each ratio a little bit more time than in ‘D’ manner, prior to leaping to the next ratio. Consequently, in the guide manner, the Seltos petrol CVT did the -100 operate in a respectable twelve.06sec. For reference, this is two.3sec slower than the 140hp, 1.four-litre turbo-petrol engine with the seven-pace DCT automatic, but .85sec a lot quicker than the 115hp, 1.5-litre diesel engine with the six-pace torque converter automatic. Aside from outright acceleration, the Seltos feels at home though cruising on the highways with the engine speeds just under two,000rpm at 100kph. All in all, this mix is effective actually very well if you have a peaceful driving model.

The suspension setup is on the firmer facet, and sharp potholes and bumps sign-up them selves in the cabin, far more so for the reason that of the 17-inch wheels, but it doesn’t feel very not comfortable. As you gain pace, vertical motion is held in look at and it is stable though cruising on the highways. Even on twisty roads, many thanks to the agency suspension and a restricted chassis, the Seltos feels balanced. Overall body roll is very well contained though driving about corners and speedy course changes don’t feel very unnerving. And whilst the steering weighs up as you gain pace, there is very minimal feel and connection. Brakes present superior stopping energy and have a progressive feel to them.

How very well outfitted is it?

Offered only in the Tech line, this 1.5-litre petrol engine can be had in four variants – HTE (base), HTK, HTK+ and HTX. The CVT, having said that, is offered only on the HTX variant and you cannot opt for this engine transmission in the best-conclusion HTX+ variant, which will get electric sunroof, ventilated seats, front parking sensors, wireless charger, driven driver seat, BOSE eight-speaker audio procedure and a more substantial seven-inch MID for the driver. What you do get on this certain HTX variant is 17-inch alloy wheels, LED headlamps, LED DRLs, ten.twenty five-inch touchscreen with UVO linked vehicle tech, inbuilt navigation, force get started button, sixty:40 break up rear seats, air purifier and tyre stress monitoring procedure.

Really should I get one particular?

As pointed out before, this powertrain is obtainable in the HTX variant, which is priced at Rs fourteen.09 lakh (ex-showroom, India). Just to give you a standpoint, the comparable guide variant costs a lakh rupees considerably less. And if you want to go for the comparable variant (GTX) of the far more potent 1.four turbo petrol with a DCT automatic, that would price you an added of Rs two.two lakh (GTX+ is Rs three.two lakh far more). Even so, you do get a far more potent engine, a a lot quicker gearbox and handful of far more safety characteristics like six airbags and hill maintain assist. So the problem nonetheless continues to be, is the naturally aspirated petrol a superior get if you don’t want to invest much too considerably on the turbo petrol? The reply is indeed this 1.5 petrol engine with the CVT automatic has just the ideal total of energy, refinement and easy driving expertise. So, if you have a laidback driving model, this Seltos will undoubtedly cater to your requires and even shock you if you ever want to test its limits.