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Which 2020 Kia Seltos to buy? – Variant Comparison Guide

The Seltos has good value at its base, but does it still have good value at the top?

Earl Lee on Mar 25, 2020

Which 2020 Kia Seltos to buy? – Variant Comparison Guide

With subcompact crossovers getting entered into the market left and right, a company like Kia Philippines should be able to surprise you with a subcompact crossover with refinement and style.

So what does the lineup have to offer? There are a total of three variants on offer in the Seltos lineup, the model covers a wide price range and starts at just over P1,000,000. As with all variant comparison guides, it’s important to buy what you like, but it’s more important to buy what you can afford. So here are our thoughts on what variant will pose the best value.

Base LX

At P1,098,000, the LX variant of the Seltos has got all the basics covered. You get Kia’s IVT transmission mated to a 2.0-liter Atkinson’s Cycle gasoline engine that produces 147 hp and 179 Nm of torque which is enough for your day-to-day needs and then some. Standard throughout the line is a set of 17-inch two-tone alloy wheels which look so good paired with the nice-looking bodylines of the Seltos.

The interior seats are all-cloth, but you do get a standard 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system complete with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for seamless smartphone pairing. This infotainment system outputs to 6-speakers, and for a base model, it’s not a bad start at all. You also get a rearview camera from here on out. You also get ABS and dual front airbags for safety. As a starting point, the Kia Seltos is undoubtedly a good bargain. Add a little more, and you get something much better.

Mid EX

The mid-EX variant of the Seltos will cost you P100,000 more than the base. For P1,198,000 Kia bundles in more tech and features that extend the look and experience in and out of the Seltos. With that being said, the exterior features LED Tailights and a beltline satin finish. There are also LED DRLs, LED position lamps and front fog lamps. The main lights are still halogen, though, but the rest of the lights are LEDs, which is good. You also get indicators on the mirrors, a roof rail, and chrome trim on the grille.

Kia Seltos Interior Cloth and Leather Seats

Over the base model, the Seltos gets bits of leather combined with the cloth upholstery. You also get cruise control and even an engine immobilizer for peace of mind. You still get the same number of airbags. For P100,000 you get better looks and a few more features, the LED taillamps look good, we cannot deny.

Top SX

At a price premium of P300,000 over the EX variant, bringing the total to P1,498,000, the Kia Seltos SX has even more items under its spec sheet. Starting with the front, you get a full array of LED lights from the headlamps all the way to the vertically stacked fog lamps. You also get chrome door handles and the beltline satin finish. You also get the addition of a blacked-out roof creating a nice two-tone look. You also get a nice selection of bright colors to boot.

Looks are just the beginning. Kia bundles their top of the line model with a front side and curtain airbags to accompany the dual front set, Electronic Stability Control, automatic climate control, a leather steering wheel, and gear knob, some leatherette inserts, and rear parking sensors. Last but not least, you also get a push-start button with passive entry.

Verdict

Taking all these specs and prices into account, the Seltos does pose some good value for the right variant. A lot of us would like to have the top-spec features such as the gorgeous LED array found on the SX, but as Caco said, it has a noisy price tag. P1,498,000 is a steep hill to climb for many.

With value in mind, our second runner up will be the LX variant. Usually, subcompact crossovers will only get a 1.5-liter engine, but the LX for the price gets a 2.0-liter that returns good fuel economy as per our testing. If you can live without a few of the amenities that the upper variants have, then this is the model for you if you are on a tighter budget.

If you are willing to splurge, we believe that the SX offers a lot of features, but the gap between the mid and the high variant is just too much. Maybe if it was a difference of P200,000 or less, we would have placed the SX model on top, but without a doubt, the EX is the best value among the variants based on its price tag. It has the best balance of features for not too much more money over the LX, and as we said, the Seltos operates on a good base as it stands.

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