Kia launched the new-generation Seltos in India earlier this year. Just like the older model, the new Seltos is also a global SUV, and Kia has now launched the China-specific version of the SUV. Compared to the Indian version, the China-spec model gets more features and is considerably more powerful. This has been done intentionally to keep up with the competition in the Chinese market. So, what all is different in the China-spec Seltos? Let’s find out.
The exterior design of the China-spec Seltos looks similar to the Indian version. However, for China, Kia has increased the overall length of the SUV by 75 mm. The wheelbase of the Seltos remains unchanged at 2,690 mm. The SUV looks similar to the international version with its large front grille, integrated LED headlamps, and sharp, sleek-looking vertically stacked LED DRLs.
Customers opting for the X-Line variant will get Fire Orange paint accents and smoked black exterior body kit elements in the Chinese market. Kia also offers 20 dedicated cabin storage spaces, flat-folding rear seats, and the Kia AddGear open-source accessory mounting system to provide better storage options for customers.
The interior of the Kia Seltos is also different from the global versions. It gets a China-specific cabin theme. The major attraction here is the massive 27-inch ultra-thin widescreen display. It is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8295P flagship processor. This new 27-inch display comes as a standard feature across all variants of the Seltos in China. The massive touchscreen infotainment system has been designed specifically for Chinese customers and their usage patterns. It gets built-in Baidu and Gaode (AutoNavi) dual-map engines, integrated iQiyi video streaming, and dedicated KTV karaoke apps. It also features generative AI integration for natural conversational voice commands, smart vehicle user-guide assistance, and contextual voice controls.
The instrument cluster on the Seltos is a sleek unit positioned right behind the steering wheel. The overall layout looks similar to what we expect to see in the upcoming new-generation Creta. While this infotainment system and driver display are currently exclusive to the Chinese market, we may get a different version of the same in India as part of the facelift. Kia is also offering premium features like ventilated and heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and a Level 2 smart driving suite, which includes Remote Smart Parking Assist.
Another change Kia has made to the Seltos for China is the engine and transmission. It is still powered by a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine, but for China, Kia has retuned the engine to generate more power. It now produces 200 PS and 253 Nm of torque. In the Indian market, this engine is offered with a seven-speed DCT. However, in China, Kia is offering the turbo-petrol engine with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The entry-level variants of the Seltos get a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine, which, as usual, is offered with a CVT, or IVT as Kia prefers to call it.
This eight-speed automatic transmission, which has now been introduced in the Seltos, is likely to be a valuable addition as it should help the SUV become more efficient at cruising speeds. Brands like Volkswagen and Skoda have already started offering this type of transmission in India. We feel it would not be wrong to assume that Kia might introduce this transmission option in India in the future to meet increasingly stringent emission norms.