So that you desire a Kia Seltos however you already know you don’t want the sportier turbo engine? Good for you.

You additionally realise that you just don’t want all of the tools that comes within the higher-grade variations? Or perhaps simply can’t justify the fee? That’s cool, too.

This assessment ought to assist you determine if the 2023 Kia Seltos Sport 2.0 FWD is the suitable model of this common small SUV for you – I’ll offer you some context as to what it prices in comparison with different variants, and what you get in your cash.

Plus I’ll cowl off why this powertrain might be all of the engine you want in case you’re focused on a Seltos.

How a lot does the Kia Seltos Sport 2.0 FWD price?

You will get right into a Seltos Sport from $32,700 earlier than on-road prices.

In the event you did occur to need the turbo engine and all-wheel drive, you’re going to want to buy as much as the Sport+ grade, and even you then’re taking a look at nearly $40k earlier than on-roads for it.

So, this Sport grade shares the identical engine as you’d get in case you purchased probably the most reasonably priced Seltos S ($29,500), and both of the higher-spec fashions may be had with this engine-transmission combo, too. Extra information on the specs/outputs may be discovered beneath. 

For a bit extra context for the place the Sport sits within the vary, see the beneath tariffs.

2023 Kia Seltos pricing:

• Kia Seltos S 2.0 FWD: $29,500
• Kia Seltos Sport 2.0 FWD: $32,700
• Kia Seltos Sport+ 2.0 FWD: $35,800
• Kia Seltos Sport+ 1.6T AWD: $39,300
• Kia Seltos GT-Line 2.0 FWD: $41,500
• Kia Seltos GT-Line 1.6T AWD: $44,900

Costs exclude on-road prices

Kia additionally provides nationwide drive-away pricing:

• Kia Seltos S 2.0 FWD: $31,690
• Kia Seltos Sport 2.0 FWD: $35,390
• Kia Seltos Sport+ 2.0 FWD: $38,490
• Kia Seltos Sport+ 1.6T AWD: $41,990
• Kia Seltos GT-Line 2.0 FWD: $44,590
• Kia Seltos GT-Line 1.6T AWD: $47,690

What’s the Kia Seltos Sport 2.0 FWD like on the within?

The Sport has just a few very nice options inside, however misses out on the nicer trim of the higher-spec fashions, which get both pretend or actual leather-based trimming in components.

The Sport as a substitute has a material trim, which seems good and is cozy sufficient, however received’t be as straightforward to maintain clear when you’ve got a grubby child like I do.

Even so, identical to the upper spec fashions, the Sport has a pleasant inside design that mirrors its larger Sportage and Sorento siblings, together with a brand new all-digital cockpit with twin 10.25-inch shows.

The display screen in the course of the dashboard is clearly in your infotainment and media, whereas the motive force will get their very own show with a velocity readout, journey pc, rev meter and extra. It definitely is a pleasant step up from the pre-facelift Seltos.

There’s additionally Kia Join, which incorporates web linked navigation and voice help. And, there’s Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, however as a result of this spec has satellite tv for pc navigation, it means the smartphone mirroring tech is just usable when plugged in. The bottom mannequin S has wi-fi smartphone mirroring as a result of it doesn’t have navigation.

The shows are fairly straightforward to get used to, and you will have to be taught a sequence by means of both of them if you wish to disable to unendingly irritating velocity restrict recognition system, which can beep each single time it detects that the velocity zone has modified, after which repeatedly bing at you in case you occur to drive over the restrict – have you ever ever actually pushed at 5km/h in a Westfield automotive park? It’s nearly not possible!

The row of bodily controls beneath the media display screen are nice, and imply you’ll be able to merely modify air-con (single-zone air-con) or media controls with out mucking round with every part being by means of the display screen. 

Talking of bodily controls, this grade nonetheless has a daily keyfob, so it’s important to press the button on it to unlock the doorways and insert the important thing into the barrel to begin the automotive.

You’d be amazed how old-school that feels while you’re so used to driving new automobiles which have keyless good entry and push-button begin, each of that are ridiculously underappreciated till you don’t have them.

As a dad with a teenager who nonetheless must be carried to and from the automotive, having that peace of thoughts of simply with the ability to strategy the automotive and unlock the door and begin it with out having to fumble in your pocket (or backpack, purse, bumbag, no matter) to search out the important thing can’t be understated.

Cabin storage is first rate for free gadgets, together with a pair of cupholders between the entrance seats, a small wallet-sized cubby, and a deep tray with a shelf on prime with USBs close by. There are bottle holders in all 4 doorways, however this grade doesn’t get a flip-down armrest with cupholders (Sport+ and GT-Line do).

There are directional air vents, however no map pockets. At the least there are USB-C cost factors as commonplace with a small storage tub beneath them, and first rate door pockets with bottle holders.

The window seats have ISOFIX child-seat anchor factors, and there are three top-tether hooks. If it is advisable, it’s going to accommodate two child-seats in, plus mother and father of very younger ones will be capable to match a rearward-facing capsule with out inflicting an excessive amount of discomfort to these forward.

Two adults will simply match within the again seat, and you would match three throughout in the event that they’re not big folks. Leg room and head room is terrific for a small SUV – at 6’0” or 182cm, I might simply match behind my very own driving place.

Relating to boot area, the Seltos has an enormous cargo capability in comparison with rivals. There’s 433 litres of quantity out there, and there’s a full-size spare wheel too. Select the S base mannequin and also you get 468L however a space-saver spare. 

In the event you want extra space for an IKEA or Bunnings run, there’s 1428L on supply with the seats folded down.

Weirdly although, solely the top-spec mannequin comes with a parcel shelf or cargo cowl.

What’s underneath the bonnet?

The Sport is just out there with Kia’s 2.0 MPi motor, which is a non-turbocharged petrol four-cylinder engine producing 110kW (6200rpm) and 180Nm (4500rpm).

It’s mated solely to a constantly variable transmission (CVT) computerized, and is front-wheel drive.

As talked about, the opposite engine is the 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder T-GDi petrol engine, with 146kW of energy (6000rpm) and 265Nm (1600-4500pm).

It comes with a brand new eight-speed auto (changing the seven-speed dual-clutch auto of the present mannequin), and has on-demand all-wheel drive.

How does the Kia Seltos Sport 2.0 FWD drive?

I did a assessment of the Sport+ with the 1.6T AWD possibility earlier this 12 months, and I believed it was a good little factor.

Nonetheless, I stick by my conclusion from that assessment that I’d be completely high-quality with out the turbo and all-wheel drive, as a result of this non-turbo engine and CVT auto mixture is nice.

It mightn’t seem like it has large energy and torque in comparison with the more-powerful turbo donk, however the best way the CVT auto and a couple of.0-litre four-cylinder work collectively means it feels gruntier than you may anticipate.

It isn’t quick, don’t get me improper, however it’s higher than ample, and definitely feels a rattling sight extra spectacular than a Sportage with its 2.0-litre base petrol engine and six-speed auto.

The CVT has a little bit of that anticipated tendency to sing at excessive revs while you’re climbing hills or underneath fixed throttle, however it responds decently to sudden acceleration necessities, and the engine isn’t too boomy both – so it’s a fairly nice powertrain.

There hasn’t been any further work executed to the journey and dealing with by Kia Australia to the Seltos for this up to date model, however it was tuned for native tastes within the first occasion, and it’s nonetheless fairly first rate. 

Journey consolation is usually good except you end up encountering constant sharp edges or repetitive bumps. It does a superb job of controlling the automotive over bigger lumps and bumps, and is especially straightforward going at freeway tempo. 

However as I mentioned with the Sport+, the steering isn’t superb. It has a little bit of a hefty dullness at larger tempo. Round city it’s a bit extra consumer pleasant, although, with a lightness and predictability that takes the thought out of issues.

As talked about, there’s not a heap of engine noise, however there’s some raucousness from the street thrown into the cabin if the floor is coarse-chip.

Identical to the opposite Seltos I drove, the large annoyance for the drive expertise is the velocity signal recognition system.

After I revealed a video assessment of that automotive on my YouTube channel, I had just a few feedback from homeowners who’ve determined to promote their brand-new Seltos due to that very challenge.

I’ve requested Kia Australia if there’s a repair for it, or if they’ll disable it, and the story is that it’s a world resolution, and any transfer to rollback that software program – so that you don’t must do by means of a sequence of steps to show the beeping and bonging off each time you drive it – is one thing that should be permitted in South Korea.

This isn’t a Seltos-specific challenge, both. Hyundai has applied the identical tech throughout some fashions (Palisade, for example) and it actually must be fastened.

What do you get?

Seltos S highlights:

• 16-inch alloy wheels
• Electrical folding facet mirrors
• Mirror-mounted facet indicators
• Black Matte grille
• Physique-coloured door handles
• Halogen headlights, projector sort
• Halogen daytime working lights
• Nightfall-sensing headlights
• Rear fog gentle
• Roof rails
• Fundamental digital instrument cluster
• 4.2-inch multi-function LCD driver show
• Fabric seats
• 6-speaker sound system
• 8.0-inch touchscreen
• Apple CarPlay (wi-fi)
• Android Auto (wired, wi-fi)
• Halogen inside lighting
• Rear air vents
• Entrance, rear USB-C cost ports
• Area saver spare wheel
• Guide air-conditioning
• Drive Mode Choose
  • incl. Eco, Regular, Sport, Good
• 12V outlet in entrance tray

Seltos Sport provides:

• 17-inch alloy wheels
• Entrance fog lights
• Roof rails
• Photo voltaic Glass
• 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster
• 10.25-inch infotainment system
• DAB digital radio
• Kia Join
• Satellite tv for pc navigation
• Sounds of Nature
• Wired Apple CarPlay, Android Auto
• Premium steering wheel, shifter
• Auto up/down driver window
• Single-zone local weather management
• Auto defog

Is the Kia Seltos Sport 2.0 FWD protected?

In the event you select the Sport grade, you miss out on some gadgets you might need thought it is best to get while you’re paying this sort of cash for a small SUV.

The gadgets you miss out on in case you select the Sport as a substitute of the Sport+ are: AEB with Bicycle owner and Junction help, adaptive cruise management with cease/go, and Main Automobile Departure Alert.

All of these are radar-based programs, and meaning the Seltos on this spec falls behind the likes of the Toyota Corolla Cross and Mazda CX-30, as they provide that stuff range-wide.

Nonetheless, you continue to get a good bit of stuff, and the Seltos is a five-star ANCAP performer based mostly on 2019 testing, regardless of which grade you decide. 

Customary security options embody:

• 6 airbags
• AEB with Pedestrian detection
• Blind-spot help
• Rear cross-traffic help
• Excessive Beam Help
• Clever Pace Restrict Help
• Lane Following Help
• Lane hold help
• Protected Exit Warning
• Entrance, rear parking sensors
• Reversing digital camera
• Driver Consideration Alert
• Rear Occupant Alet

Seltos Sport provides:

• eCall perform by way of Kia Join

Seltos Sport+ provides:

• AEB with Bicycle owner, Junction help
• Adaptive cruise management with cease/go
• Main Automobile Departure Alert

How a lot does the Kia Seltos Sport 2.0 FWD price to run?

Kia nonetheless provides a powerful seven-year, limitless kilometre guarantee, and a seven-year capped worth servicing plan with servicing due each 12 months/15,000km for non-turbo fashions.

Service prices over seven years/75,000km quantities to $2072. Kia additionally provides as much as eight years of roadside help.

The Seltos Sport has an official mixed cycle gasoline use declare of 6.9 litres per 100km. It has a 50-litre gasoline tank, and may run on 91 RON common unleaded.

My testing within the Seltos Sport noticed a real-world determine of seven.8L/100km – not too unhealthy.

CarExpert’s Tackle the Kia Seltos Sport 2.0 FWD

I can see why you’d be bought on a Kia Seltos, however I don’t suppose the Sport is the one to choose.

The Sport+ provides so lots of the lacking parts that it makes much more sense in case you can justify the additional expense.

In the event you can’t, and also you’re okay lacking out on these intelligent little life-helpers like keyless entry, push-button begin, LED headlights, and adaptive cruise management, then you would do lots worse than the Seltos Sport.

It’s a spacious small SUV, and the prolonged possession program seems fairly promising.

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