2021 Kia Seltos Launched In India Starting At Rs 9.95 Lakh: New Features, Variants, Price List & More

The Seltos was Kia's first model in the Indian market. It debuted as the Kia SP Concept at the 2018 Indian Auto Expo only to be launched later, in August 2019. The Kia Seltos soon became the best-seller in its segment and Kia soon became one of the household names in the Indian auto industry.

Now, just under two years after the Kia Seltos was first launched, the brand has now launched the 2021 model. Kia has undertaken a brand-transformation with a new logo and is hence updating its products in India. The new, more stylish and modern Kia logo is proudly displayed on the bonnet.

The 2021 Kia Seltos retains the design and style from the outgoing model. It still gets that familiar front-fascia with wraparound LED headlamps, tiger-nose grille and the muscular bumper. The top-spec variants ride on dual-tone diamond-cut alloy wheels and the SUV is available in dual-tone colour options as well.

The 2021 Kia Seltos is powered by the same range of engines as the outgoing model - one diesel engine and two petrol engines. The Smartstream 1.5-litre naturally-aspirated petrol engine puts out 113.4bhp at 6,300rpm and 144Nm at 4,500rpm. It is paired either to a 6-speed manual transmission or an IVT gearbox.

The only diesel engine on offer is a 1.5-litre CDRi VGT engine with a maximum power output of 113.4bhp at 4,000rpm and a peak torque output of 250Nm between 1,500 and 2,750rpm. This motor is available with either a 6-speed Manual Transmission or a 6-speed Torque Converter Automatic gearbox.

The top-spec engine available in the Kia Seltos is the 1.4-litre GDI turbo-petrol motor. It comes with a maximum power output of 138bhp and a peak torque output of 242Nm. This motor is available with either a 6-speed Manual Transmission or a 7-speed DCT gearbox. The car comes with three traction settings - Sand, Mud, and Snow/Wet. The three driving modes are Normal, Eco, and Sport.

The HTX Plus trim with the 1.5-litre diesel automatic configuration has been discontinued. Two new trims have been added to the lineup - HTK+ with the 1.5-litre petrol and IVT combination, and GTX (O) with the 1.4 turbo-petrol engine and 6-speed manual.

The base variants of the Kia Seltos remains the same but the mid and top spec variants receive a few new features. The HTK variants now get wireless phone projection with the eight-inch touchscreen. The HTK+ variant gets the remote engine start on the smart key. It also gets a beige fabric seat, electric sunroof, automatic temperature control, etc.

The HTX gets an air purifier, electronic stability control, hill-start assist control, vehicle stability management, brake assist, over-the-air updates, AI commands, air purifier, etc. The HTX+ variant gets Brown leatherette seats while the GTX (O) variant gets Black and Beige sports leatherette seats. The GTX+ automatic and DCT variants get paddle shifters, making it the first vehicle in its segment to get this feature.

Kookhyun Shim, MD & CEO of Kia India was quoted as saying, The evolving needs of the customers are at the heart of our product strategy. Since launch, the Seltos and Sonet have been creating benchmarks in their respective segments, and with the additional variants, safety and convenience features, we are taking the game a notch higher."

The 2021 Kia Sonet has also been launched in the Indian market today. You can read more about the compact SUV here.

Thoughts On 2021 Kia Seltos Being Launched In India

The Kia Seltos is without doubt, one of the favourites in its segment. Now, with the addition of new features, there are more reasons to buy the Seltos. The mid-range variants have now become more value-for-money thanks to the new features. There's no match for the GTX+ variant while the HTK+ variant is now the most value-for-money.