Kia Seltos

What to know about the Seltos

The Seltos and the Creta share a platform, an engine and a gearbox, so buying one over the other is a decision about shape rather than hardware. Kia has made the case with a square, upright body that carries 535 litres of boot space, the largest here by a distance, and a cabin trimmed in firmer, more hard-wearing materials than the Hyundai’s.

The driving character follows the same logic. The suspension is set up slightly tighter, so the car changes direction with less body movement and holds its line better over broken tarmac at speed, at the cost of a ride that reports every joint in a flyover to the second row. The 1.5-litre petrol with the stepless automatic is smooth in the city and revves willingly, but it is still 113 bhp with no turbo to lean on.

Equipment is where Kia has always pushed hardest: the top trims carry ventilated seats, a large panoramic roof, front-seat power adjustment and the driver-assistance package at prices where the opposition is still listing floor mats. The remaining cons are shared: a three-star crash score that has not improved with age, and a dealer network thinner than Hyundai’s outside the metros.

• Class-leading 535-litre boot
• 10.25-inch touchscreen with connected features
• Panoramic roof option