[SHCS]

So at this point, anyone still searching on YouTube for Seltos videos has seen all the redesigned Seltos videos. Some have (IMHO) incorrectly called this the 2023 facelift. Some have referred to it as the 2023 Japanese Market trim. Now some are, I suspect correctly, referring to it as the 2024 facelift.

We've all seen the pictures, many of the videos are commenting on pictures alone.

This video I found comes from Motorgraph World, a specifically South Korean magazine covering Hyundai, Kia, Genesis, Ssangyong, GM Korea, and Renault Samsung (didn't know that was a thing).

How this review differs from the others is that it's an 'actual' hands-on look including a road test.

Some interesting points not covered in prior reviews I've watched. Keep in mind this would be the Korean Spec.

• 1.6l Turbo engine they claim has increased horsepower from 177 ps to 198 ps. Seems believable seeing as the Hyundai Kona has the 1.6l Turbo engine at 195 hp (198ps is 195.2 hp).
• They claim a change from 7 speed to 8 speed transmission.
• Electric liftgate. Confirmed in video.
• New interior fabric trims. She calls it Camel. Did she mean Caramel?
• Panoramic display
• Rotary drive selection

Not sure how much of this we'll see in North American markets but 2024 may tell.

New 2024 Kia Seltos SUV First Impression "The Best Selling Compact SUV Is Back" - YouTube

Personally, prefer the current exterior. Like the liftgate. Extra hrsprs is nice. The rotary drive selector I can live with. Fabrics, though I like the Caramel I don't like their use of two-tone on the seats. And my most strong opinion, HATE the panoramic display.

 

[Speedtek22]

My take:

• I prefer the current exterior as well, the new front grille is pushing way too far towards the current Sportage look.
• Liftgate would be nice, but obviously not a dealbreaker or I wouldn't have bought mine.
• Extra HP...meh...whatevs...it's not that big a diff.
• Rotary gear selector? ...Bzzzzzz...hard pass...I hate those. (if it was at least a hybrid I might consider it). I do notice they added paddle shifters though...
• Pano display...I thought I would like this, but it just doesn't seem to fit with the car. I do prefer the current dash.

I do notice they didn't do a panoramic sunroof on the refresh which I was expecting...oh well.

 

[SHCS]

To be clear, this English brochure from Korean market doesn't specify a model year. Turns out I was correct in commenting that when she said 'Camel' in the video for the interior fabric, I suspected she meant 'Caramel'. Sure enough, the brochure confirms 'Caramel', not 'Camel'. There's also a 'Midnight Green' interior color along with 'Black' for the 'Gravity' model.

The 'Gravity' model appears to be the de-chromed model we've all been wanting.

Seltos_202207 (kia.com)

There is one oddity with the brochure I spotted. All the promo materials we've seen so far have indicated it would have a rotary drive selector, but the brochure clearly shows a picture with the traditional shift knob. Maybe it'll be model, or maybe market specific.

 

[Speedtek22]

There is one oddity with the brochure I spotted. All the promo materials we've seen so far have indicated it would have a rotary drive selector, but the brochure clearly shows a picture with the traditional shift knob. Maybe it'll be model, or maybe market specific.

Not to get anyones hopes up, but usually the only models they add the rotary dial shifter to are hybrids. The one the gal drove in the video was definitely not a hybrid though.

 

[SHCS]

Not to get anyones hopes up, but usually the only models they add the rotary dial shifter to are hybrids. The one the gal drove in the video was definitely not a hybrid though.

I had thought the same exact thing when I saw it. But clearly she's not driving a hybrid. I went so far as to search that brochure for 'HEV', 'hybrid', 'battery', no luck. Now-a-days everything is shift by wire anyway. Buttons dials shifters, make no difference. Except a shifter is a nice place to rest your hand.

 

[Speedtek22]

I had thought the same exact thing when I saw it. But clearly she's not driving a hybrid. I went so far as to search that brochure for 'HEV', 'hybrid', 'battery', no luck. Now-a-days everything is shift by wire anyway. Buttons dials shifters, make no difference. Except a shifter is a nice place to rest your hand.

I like the fact that you can slap it over to the left and it instantly puts the car in sport mode automatic. It's the best of both worlds, smart mode for normal driving and sport when you need it on demand (yes, I know it will go into sport automatically from smart mode, but you have to floor it to kick it in and that's not necessarily what might be called be)

 

[John N]

So at this point, anyone still searching on YouTube for Seltos videos has seen all the redesigned Seltos videos. Some have (IMHO) incorrectly called this the 2023 facelift. Some have referred to it as the 2023 Japanese Market trim. Now some are, I suspect correctly, referring to it as the 2024 facelift.

We've all seen the pictures, many of the videos are commenting on pictures alone.

This video I found comes from Motorgraph World, a specifically South Korean magazine covering Hyundai, Kia, Genesis, Ssangyong, GM Korea, and Renault Samsung (didn't know that was a thing).

How this review differs from the others is that it's an 'actual' hands-on look including a road test.

Some interesting points not covered in prior reviews I've watched. Keep in mind this would be the Korean Spec.

• 1.6l Turbo engine they claim has increased horsepower from 177 ps to 198 ps. Seems believable seeing as the Hyundai Kona has the 1.6l Turbo engine at 195 hp (198ps is 195.2 hp).
• They claim a change from 7 speed to 8 speed transmission.
• Electric liftgate. Confirmed in video.
• New interior fabric trims. She calls it Camel. Did she mean Caramel?
• Panoramic display
• Rotary drive selection

Not sure how much of this we'll see in North American markets but 2024 may tell.

New 2024 Kia Seltos SUV First Impression "The Best Selling Compact SUV Is Back" - YouTube

Personally, prefer the current exterior. Like the liftgate. Extra hrsprs is nice. The rotary drive selector I can live with. Fabrics, though I like the Caramel I don't like their use of two-tone on the seats. And my most strong opinion, HATE the panoramic display.

I will never buy a car with a rotary type gear shifter. It's bad enough you can't get a manual but these dials are stupid (imho). Besides it taking away from the driving experience I have bad arthritis in my wrists and thumbs and even turning a dial like this is painful. Very very poor design. Same goes to Ford and others as well!

 

[Speedtek22]

I will never buy a car with a rotary type gear shifter. It's bad enough you can't get a manual but these dials are stupid (imho). Besides it taking away from the driving experience I have bad arthritis in my wrists and thumbs and even turning a dial like this is painful. Very very poor design. Same goes to Ford and others as well!

Have to agree, I hate the dials...I get they're trying to save space, but they suck for switching back and forth from R to D especially. So many manufacturers using them nowadays and I have yet to have any positive experience with them. Especially the awful ones Stellantis (nee FCA) uses in Ram trucks and all their Chrysler products.
Jury is out on the trend towards push button versions as well...had the opportunity to drive a new Santa Fe last week and it was...interesting, but pretty sure it won't find a soft spot in my heart. GM uses them on some SUV's as well.

 

[SHCS]

I'd rather have a dial over push buttons. A shifter is still preferred but imagine how much more expensive the shifter is. How much more substantial it has to be from a build standpoint?

 

[Speedtek22]

How much more substantial it has to be from a build standpoint?

And that's why it's better...lol

I remember they tried to revolutionize gauges back in the day by going to digital, until they realized that nothing beats an analog display for "feel". Now we mostly live with a combination of both...the digital speedo readout provides more accuracy, but the analog just feels right for the most part...Digital tachs are completely ridiculous. Note that even modern full digital displays mimic analog readouts.

 

[John N]

I had thought the same exact thing when I saw it. But clearly she's not driving a hybrid. I went so far as to search that brochure for 'HEV', 'hybrid', 'battery', no luck. Now-a-days everything is shift by wire anyway. Buttons dials shifters, make no difference. Except a shifter is a nice place to rest your hand.

The thing is I actually put the shifter into manual mode when I drive, especially in the hilly and snowy area where I live. I may have to just get a motorcycle if all that's offered will be a dial. 😁

 

[Speedtek22]

The thing is I actually put the shifter into manual mode when I drive, especially in the hilly and snowy area where I live. I may have to just get a motorcycle if all that's offered will be a dial. 😁

I slap mine over to the Sport/manual mode whenever I need it to feel a little more lively around town.
Fun fact, if you don't manually shift it in that mode, it defaults to a sport tuned automatic.

 

[peter47]

All the above sounds very much like our beefs re the software updates, etc. The designers losing sight of the golden rule..."if it ain't broke - don't try to fix it..!"