Another new-generation Kia Seltos: bigger and with a different interior

Kia has announced the second-generation Seltos SUV for the Chinese market. This five-door model differs from other versions in terms of length and interior design. In China, the car will be available with a choice of two petrol engines.

The new, second-generation Kia Seltos crossover was first unveiled back in December last year. India was its debut market, followed by launches in Korea, Europe, and the USA. Now, the fresh Seltos has been announced for China, with pre-sales starting on 13 August. It turns out that the crossover destined for the Chinese market has its own unique features.

Externally, the Chinese-market Kia Seltos largely mirrors the cars for other regions. Key exterior design features include a concave radiator grille, integrated rectangular headlight clusters, dual vertical daytime running light sections, flush door handles, and vertical rear lights. As in other countries, China will also offer a slightly more rugged X-Line trim with extended black detailing.

However, the Chinese Seltos is slightly larger than the SUVs intended for other markets. Its length is 4,460 mm, compared to 4,430 mm for the global model. The wheelbase, though, remains consistent across all versions at 2,690 mm. Chinese sources report that the boot capacity of 'their' version is 483 litres, expanding to 1,454 litres with the second-row seats folded down.

The interior of the new Kia Seltos for China is styled differently. In other regions, the model features a combined digital instrument cluster and infotainment screen, each measuring 12.3 inches diagonally. In China, however, the car gets a separate, narrower 10-inch instrument display. The rest of the dashboard area is occupied by a single 27-inch screen. The infotainment system is based on artificial intelligence. As in Korea and the USA, transmission control is handled by a steering column stalk (in Europe and India, the SUV retains the traditional gear lever).

The equipment list for the Chinese Kia Seltos also includes a panoramic sunroof, wireless smartphone charging, heated and ventilated front seats, and a suite of driver assistance systems.

It has been officially announced that in China, the new Seltos will be offered with a naturally aspirated 1.5-litre petrol engine and a turbocharged engine of the same capacity. According to local media, the base engine produces 115 bhp and is paired with a CVT. The 1.5T engine delivers 200 bhp and is mated to a traditional eight-speed automatic gearbox. Drive is likely to be front-wheel drive only, whereas in other countries the Kia Seltos is available with all-wheel drive. The hybrid variant offered in other regions has not been announced for China—at least, not yet.

All details about the second-generation Kia Seltos for the Chinese market will be revealed in mid-August.