Kia Seltos 2020 review: Sport snapshot

The second model up the Kia Seltos 2020 ladder is the Sport variant, which is priced at $29,490 drive-away.

This model is powered exclusively by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder ‘Atkinson cycle’ petrol engine producing 110kW of power (at 6200rpm) and 180Nm of torque (at 4500rpm). It comes paired to a CVT (continuously variable transmission) automatic, and is front-wheel drive. 

Fuel consumption (combined cycle claim) is 6.8 litres per 100 kilometres for this model, and the claimed towing capacity is 600 kilograms for an unbraked trailer and 1100kg for a braked trailer.

Add CarsGuide as a preferred source in Google Search

Add CarsGuide as a preferred source in Google Search

Explore the 2020 Kia Seltos Range

Kia Seltos 2022 review: S Kia Seltos 2021 review: Sport with Safety Pack Kia Seltos 2020 review: GT Line Kia Seltos 2020 review: S Kia Seltos 2020 review: Sport+ AWD Kia Seltos 2020 review: GT Line snapshot Kia Seltos 2020 review: Sport+ snapshot Kia Seltos 2020 review: Sport snapshot Kia Seltos 2020 review: S snapshot

Show More

The Sport model adds a few niceties over the entry grade S variant, including 17-inch alloy wheels, a larger 10.25-inch touchscreen with sat nav (including SUNA live traffic and 10 years of map updates), a second USB port, single-zone climate control, folding side mirrors, halogen front fog-lights, a full-size spare wheel (which means boot space is 433 litres, no 498L like the S), and auto up/down driver’s window, auto window defogging, and ‘solar windows’.

It also gets Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth phone and audio streaming, a six-speaker sound system, auto headlights, halogen headlights and daytime running lights, cruise control, a reversing camera and rear parking sensors, and roof rails.

Things the Sport model misses out on? A rear cargo cover, some rear storage options and some safety goodies you might want.

Entry level models (S and Sport) come with a form of camera-based low-speed auto emergency braking (AEB) with car and pedestrian detection, lane keeping assist, and driver attention warning and six airbags. But under today’s criteria, that won’t score it a five-star ANCAP rating - though at the time of writing, the car hasn’t yet been tested. 

However, buyers can option additional safety equipment for $1000. That grants the S an upgraded AEB system (high speed with car, pedestrian and cyclist detection), as well as adaptive cruise control, Driver Attention Alert+ (with forward vehicle move-away alert), an electronic parking brake, electric folding mirrors, auto up and down driver’s window and 15-inch rear disc brakes (to accommodate the electronic park brake).