Kia Seltos price, facelift launch details, new design, features and powertrain options

Kia will showcase the Seltos facelift in India on July 4, with prices expected to be announced by the end of July. The Seltos facelift was globally unveiled in June 2022, and it’s the SUV’s first major update since it went on sale in August 2019. The facelift brings with it a raft of cosmetic changes, more technology on the inside and an all-new turbo-petrol engine.

1. Seltos facelift will come equipped with ADAS suite
2. Will get a new 160hp, 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine
3. Will get twin connected screens on the inside

Kia Seltos facelift exterior design

Recent spy shots of the Seltos facelift on our roads gave us a first look at the SUV’s undisguised exterior, revealing a unique design for the front bumper that’s understood to be only for the GT Line models. Meanwhile, the regular HT Line variants will continue with a bumper design that’s akin to the international-spec model. This also suggests that, with the facelift, the HT Line and GT Line models will be better differentiated than its predecessors.

Recent spy shots hinted at a unique design for the GT Line variants.

The Seltos facelift will get an all-new headlamp assembly with redesigned internals and LED daytime running lamps, and a much larger and revised grille. The bumper also features new fog lamp housings and even comes mounted with an ADAS module. 

At the rear, the Seltos facelift will get a redesigned tail gate, with the biggest talking point being the new LED light bar connecting the new, sleeker tail-lamps. It also gets a redesigned rear bumper with a prominent faux silver skid plate and two sporty exhaust tips in the GT Line trim, although it remains to be seen if they are functional or just for show. There aren’t many changes in profile, but it does have a new design for its 17-inch alloy wheels, depending on the variant.

Kia Seltos facelift interior and features

The biggest update to the Seltos’ interior will be a new twin-screen layout with a digital instrument cluster. While the outgoing model also got a single binnacle for the instrument cluster and infotainment system, the former was a lot deeper set and only had an MID between the two analogue gauges. The Seltos facelift will also get slightly slimmer central AC vents under the infotainment, with the HVAC controls also getting a new look. 

One of the biggest new features on the Seltos facelift will be the addition of the panoramic sunroof, which has almost become a norm in this segment. As mentioned, it is also likely to get ADAS, which will make it the first Kia in India with this safety suite. The midsize SUV will also get six airbags as standard, and safety features like hill-assist control, vehicle stability management and more.

Kia Seltos facelift powertrain

Under the hood, the Seltos facelift is expected to continue with the existing 115hp, 144Nm, 1.5-litre petrol engine and the 116hp, 250Nm, 1.5-litre diesel engine. Kia will likely reintroduce the turbo-petrol engine with the facelift, although it will now be a 1.5-litre unit producing 160hp and 253Nm of torque that’s shared with the Carens, Hyundai Alcazar and Verna. Gearbox options are likely to be carried over from the outgoing model.

Kia Seltos facelift rivals

When launched, the Kia Seltos facelift will rival the Hyundai Creta, Volkswagen Taigun, Skoda Kushaq, Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara, Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder, MG Astor, and the upcoming Honda Elevate and Citroen C3 Aircross. Given all the new features and an all-new powertrain, expect a decent mark-up in price as well.

Also See:

India-bound Hyundai Creta facelift to get Verna-like looks; launch early next year

Tata Nexon facelift touch-based aircon controls leaked