2023 Kia Seltos facelift unveiled, here this year
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The facelifted 2023 Kia Seltos has been unveiled, with refreshed styling and an interior more in line with the new Sportage.
The company has not yet released full specs for the updated Seltos. A full unveiling is scheduled for the 2022 Busan auto show on July 15. Kia Australia has confirmed that the updated small SUV will be here in the second half of 2022.
Changes to the front include a revised grille and bumper and new LED daytime running lights.
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Included credit: CarExpert
The updates are more significant at the rear, where a full-width light bar joins restyled, more vertically oriented taillights.
There’s also a revised bumper with more discreet exhaust vents, while the rear fog lamps appear to have been moved further down.
There is also a new 18-inch alloy wheel design on the featured Seltos. We can probably expect a range of new wheels.
Inside, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster joins the 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system, and they sit in one piece like in the larger Sportage for a ‘curved dash’ look.
Included credit: CarExpert
The center console has a similar layout to the current car, but with what appears to be new shifting gear, while the traditional shifter has been swapped out for an electronic shift knob like the one in the new Niro.
Kia Australia has confirmed that the facelifted Seltos will not get a hybrid option, leaving those tasks to the similarly sized Niro.
Power in the current range comes from a choice of 2.0-liter and 1.6-liter four-cylinder petrol engines with a turbocharger. Versions of those engines will likely carry over to 2023.
The 2.0-liter delivers 110 kW of power and 180 Nm of torque and is mated to a continuously variable transmission. In comparison, the 1.6-liter turbo produces 130 kW and 265 Nm and uses a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
Included credit: CarExpert
Regarding safety, the base Seltos S and Sport will likely get blind spot assistance as standard for 2023, but buyers will lose the ability to add a full range of safety features as part of an optional Safety Pack.
The current Seltos S and Sport lack blind spot, cross traffic,, lane assist, and the advanced rider-detected autonomous emergency braking system offered on Sport Plus and GT-Line models.
Safety Pack offers cyclist detection for the AEB, adaptive cruise control, an electric parking brake, electric folding side mirrors, and junction assist.
The simpler assortment is a step to make life easier for dealers and inventory managers as the world struggles with shipping delays, semiconductor shortages, and COVID-related shutdowns.
Included credit: CarExpert
Kia also points out that the Seltos range has an ANCAP rating of five stars, regardless of which AEB system is fitted, as a reason for dropping the option.
Along with the shaken-up safety suite, the 2023 Seltos range will likely get rear vents across the range, and the base models will ride on alloy wheels rather than the steelies fitted to the current model.
The Seltos has become one of Australia’s best-selling small SUVs. It remains popular despite crippling supply restrictions and wait times of more than 12 months, depending on the variant.
Until the end of May 2022, Kia has sold 3644 Seltos crossovers. That puts it behind only its Hyundai Kona cousin (5431), as well as the Mazda CX-30 (7386), MG ZS family (8978), and Mitsubishi ASX (4950).