1.5-litre turbodiesel motor arrives in SA, along with two new spec lines for Korea’s perky crossover

The Kia Seltos landed in South Africa in November 2019, and we were the first export market to receive the ‘baby’ crossover that fits into the lineup between the smaller Soul and larger Sportage.

And the new diesel engine?

A frugal 1.5-litre turbodiesel unit produces 86 kW, and while that might sound like it could be pap on paper, hopefully the 250 Nm will give it some gees, and hopefully we’ll be able to test it soon to bring accurate feedback on real-world performance because diesel options in the crossover segment are not as plentiful as they once were.

Engine numbers that are worth noting include peak torque range between 1 500 – 2 750 rpm, top speed at 176 km, and a claimed 0-100 km/h in 11.5 seconds. The manuals have a CO₂ number of 134 g/km, while the autos are higher at 151 g/km.

Tell us about the new spec levels

Badged as a Seltos CRDI, the opening offer EX provides plenty of bang for your buck, nice-to-haves include steering-wheels controls, cruise control, 8-inch touchscreen infotainment unit with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, front and rear USB charging points, and a full-size spare wheel, no biscuits here. And, you can buy it as a six-speed manual or auto.

Moving up a spec level to EX+ the diesel is only available as a six-speed auto, and it gets leather interior and Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and Hill-start Assist Control (HAC).

Standard safety features across all models include six airbags, ABS with electronic brakeforce distribution, beep-beep sensors and rear camera so you don’t hit anything when parking, and ISOfix anchorage points.