What's the difference?
Looking for a small SUV that’s not tiny? The Kia Seltos could be that SUV, and it’s been updated for 2023.
This review covers the entire Seltos range and reviews this small SUV based on its safety, practicality, price and features, plus ownership costs, its fuel economy and what it’s like to drive.
So, if you’re thinking about a Honda HR-V, a Toyota Corolla Cross or something even as large as a Hyundai Tucson or Kia Sportage then you need to be thinking about a Kia Seltos, too.
Segment-bender, model-mash-up, mold breaker, franken-ute: there are many odd ways to describe the new electric Deepal E07 large 'SUV'.
I prefer to think of it as the mullet haircut of cars — business up front but a party at the back — but Deepal has settled on Multitruck to describe its new SUV-ute mash-up.
There isn’t anything like this vehicle on sale in Australia right now. The most similar vehicle on the global stage would be the Tesla Cybertruck, but the E07 is smaller and much less gaudy.
We got to have our first taste of the new adventure ready machine on Australian roads, and this is what you need to know.
Kia’s updated Seltos is more expensive than the previous version but it's better as well.
The entry grade no longer has hubcaps and gets alloy wheels, all grades have directional air vents in the second row, the jerky dual-clutch auto is gone and an excellent regular eight-speed auto has arrived, plus there’s more safety tech and modern displays screens.
What hasn’t changed is the Seltos’s size. It’s a big, small SUV, that’s easy to park in tight spaces but roomy inside even for tall, awkward humans like me.
The sweet spot in the range is the Sport+ with the 1.6-litre engine, if only it had the LED headlights that only come on the GT-Line.
Note: CarsGuide attended this event as a guest of the manufacturer, with meals provided.
The Deepal E07 is a breath of fresh air. It’s exciting to see a vehicle zig when others zag.
It’s not just a conversation-starter, it is well priced, stacked with gear and has some potent performance. Not to mention that rear end has some real-world practicality, even if it isn’t quite a ute.
That is bolstered by a long warranty and a capped-price servicing program to take the risk out of trying a new brand.
It isn’t the sharpest driving machine out there, the safety tech is still annoying and having all the controls in the multimedia screen is infuriating.
Also, there are question marks on if buyers really want or need that fraken-ute rear end.
Time will tell if this car is fad like the mullet haircut or a real-world game changer.
Note: CarsGuide attended this event as a guest of the manufacturer, with meals provided.
This updated Seltos has had a few styling tweaks, too. The grille is taller and there’s a new headlight design which on the GT-Line is stunning with its LED running lights.
The rear of the Seltos has been restyled as well, with a new tail-light design and again on the GT-Line there’s an LED strip which runs between them.
The Seltos is pretty big for a small SUV. At 4.4m long it’s bigger than a Hyundai Kona and a Honda HR-V and about the same size as a Nissan Qashqai and Corolla Cross.
What’s good about that is you’re getting more space inside with a package that’s still smallish on the outside.
If you think the Seltos’ look is familiar, then I agree. The Honda HR-V and Haval Jolion have very similar tail-light designs and the profile follows many of the same styling cues of the Toyota Corolla Cross.
To my eyes, though, I think the Seltos is the more refined looking of its peers with a more modern and interesting interior.
Speaking of which, keep in mind that the top-of-the-range GT-Line’s cabin is far more fancy than the interior of the entry grade S. The GT-line’s large double digital displays are impressive and the buttons around the shifter for seat heating and ventilation are replaced with blank plastic panels in the S.
Hard plastic armrests were another of my gripes about the previous entry grade Seltos, too.
Still all cabins have a premium look even if the feel isn’t luxurious throughout on all grades.
The E07 stands out from the crowd. It’s design will turn heads and you’ll have strangers coming over for a sticky beak at all times.
It’s a big beast at more than five metres long and close to two metres wide. That puts it in Toyota LandCruiser territory.
The biggest talking point is the rear. What looks like a liftback is actually a retractable roof that converts it to an open tray at the touch of a button.
You can have it open with the rear seats folded flat or the rear seats up and the glass divider still in place to keep the world at bay.
Outside of the rear end, it's a futuristic-looking car with squished LED headlights, flush door handles and a closed-off front end typical of modern electric cars from China.
Inside it borrowed cues from Tesla with its minimalist design with next to no buttons and only a big central screen.
The interior quality feels good, with premium materials covering all surfaces.
Some small SUVs are seriously small, which might be fine for some, but if you’re hoping to also have enough space for passengers in the back seats, and a boot which can carry plenty of luggage then the Seltos is a good choice.
Even at 191cm tall I had more than enough room to sit behind my driving position with good headroom back there, too.
Cabin storage is also good with door pockets front and rear, and a deep centre console box. As for cupholders there are two up front on all grades, while the Sport+ and GT-Line get two more in the second row fold-down armrest.
Boot capacity depends on if you’ve requested a full-sized spare wheel or the space-saver spare. With the space-saver you’ll have more room at 469 litres, while the full-sized wheel under the boot floor will leave you with 433 litres. That’s still decent for the class.
The new Seltos has directional air vents for back seat passengers which is a win (motoring journalists had been complaining about the lack of them for years) and there are also two USB ports (Type-C) for the second row along with another two for those in the front, plus a 12V outlet.
There are two sides to this story.
The convertible back makes it one of the only true dual-purpose vehicles, but let’s not oversell its capabilities.
It only has a payload of 300kg and only has a 1500kg braked towing capacity, so it's not tradie spec.
It is probably best suited for throwing a few surfboards in the back or mountain bikes and heading off to a remote spot where you can sleep in the car in relative comfort.
There is no rugged ladder frame underneath, but it can do a bit of light off-roading in all-wheel-drive guise.
Ground clearance of 223mm is good and it can wade up to depths of 600mm.
It has a vehicle-to-load function that allows you to power appliances, which boosts its potential as a campsite companion.
Inside it has spacious cabins with oodles of head, leg and shoulder room in both rows. That is thanks to its more than three-metre wheelbase — the distance between the front and rear axle that determines how spacious a cabin is.
There are rear air-con vents and USB charging ports for both rows, and the rear seats can tilt backwards for sleepy young-uns.
The boot capacity is 524L, or 1654L with the rear seats folded. A front boot under the bonnet is 131L.
One of my biggest gripes is that nearly every function of the car is controlled through the big multimedia screen.
There are shortcuts and app-like tiles that make it easier to navigate, but it’s still a hassle to dive into the menu to change side mirrors and other functions usually controlled via physical buttons.
Tesla set the precedent by moving all its functions into the screen and other tech-focused EVs have followed suit, but it smacks of cost savings rather than improving the user experience.
The price of the Kia Seltos has increased by about $2000 across the range, but you are getting more in the way of features. Let me take you through the model line-up.
There are four grades: the entry grade S, then the Sport, Sport+ and GT-Line. Those are all available with the 2.0-litre petrol engine and front-wheel drive.
The Sport+ and GT-Line can also be had with a more powerful engine which is a 1.6-litre turbo-petrol with all-wheel drive.
So, the list prices for the 2.0-litre engine start at $29,500 for the S, then step up to $32,700 for the Sport, $35,800 for the Sport+, and $41,500 for the GT-Line.
The 1.6-litre turbo engine is a more expensive proposition and in the Sport+ you’ll pay $39,300, and to pair it with the GT-Line grade you’ll need to hand over $44,900, before on-road costs.
Kia was also doing drive-away pricing at the launch of the new Seltos. So check with your dealership to ensure that the offer is still available.
Coming standard on the S grade for the first time are alloy wheels, they’re small at 16-inches but better than hubcaps, and there’s also roof rails.
Inside, there are cloth seats, an 8.0-inch media display, digital driver’s display, air-conditioning, wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto.
The Sport grade adds 17-inch alloy wheels, auto headlights, a 10.25-inch media screen and matching 10.25-inch driver display, digital radio, sat nav, climate control, plus Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The Sport+ has all the Sport’s features but brings a proximity key with push-button start, privacy glass, power driver’s seat, synthetic leather upholstery and extra safety tech which we’ll get to soon.
The top-of-the-range GT-Line has all the Sport+ features but adds a power front passenger seat, heated and ventilated front seats, sunroof and a power tailgate.
The GT-Line also comes with the option of two-tone body paint - that is a black roof with 'Clear White' or 'Pluton Blue' body colours. Be advised that this combination is not available with the sun roof.
The value is good, but I don’t agree with Kia’s decision to keep the LED headlights for the GT-Line only and leaving all other grades stuck with dim Halogen headlights.
Being able to seem clearly on dark Australian country roads at night shouldn’t be a luxury. Toyota offers LED headlights across the Corolla Cross range from the entry grade up.
The E07 is available in two grades: a single-motor rear-wheel-drive version and a dual-motor all-wheel-drive variant.
Prices start at $64,900 plus on-road costs for the rear-wheel-drive variant and jump to $73,900 for the dual-motor version.
That’s a very reasonable price for a large electric vehicle, but as it has no real competitors it has the segment and price point to itself.
The only difference between the two variants is the addition of the second motor that brings some serious potent performance.
Both are fully loaded with a laundry list of standard gear.
The E07 rides on monster 21-inch alloy wheels, has LED lighting front and back, a hands-free power tailgate and auto folding side mirrors.
Inside there is a 15.4-inch multimedia screen that is incompatible with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and there is a wireless device charger and USB-A and -C ports front and back.
A monster head-up display — which projects information on the windscreen in front of the driver — replaces the driver display, with no instruments in front of the driver.
This is joined by power-adjustable front seats that are wrapped in supple Nappa leather. The front seats are heated, ventilated and have a massage function.
This is topped off with 256-colour ambient lighting and an 18-speaker stereo.
There is self-levelling air suspension that has three height levels, with the tallest providing a healthy 223mmm of ground clearance.
There is some cool tech such as camping mode and a relax mode. The latter fully reclines the front seats, closes the panoramic roof blind and plays some sleep-inducing sounds such as rain noise. Camping mode is similar and allows for you to sleep in the car overnight.
The Seltos range has two engines to choose from: a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine making 110kW/180Nm and a 1.6-litre turbo-petrol engine producing even more grunt at 146kW/265Nm.
The 2.0-litre engine comes with a CVT which is a type of automatic transmission and the 1.6-litre engine has an eight-speed auto.
CVT stands for Continuously Variable Transmission and some people (me included) find the droning they cause the engine to make to be annoying. They also come with a feeling of less acceleration.
The good news is the eight-speed auto that comes with the 1.6-litre is a great transmission with smooth shifts and a sporty nature that matches the punchy engine.
This eight-speed auto is welcome because it also replaces the jerky dual-clutch transmission that had been paired with the 1.6-litre engine in the previous Seltos.
All-wheel drive is only available with the 1.6-litre engine while front-wheel drive comes solely with the 2.0-litre.
So, if you’re after great acceleration and better traction then the 1.6-litre is the way to go. If you’re not after a sporty driving experience then the 2.0-litre engine will suit you, and it costs less.
Both versions can be called potent, but the all-wheel-drive is express.
The rear-wheel-drive version uses a single electric motor to make 242kW and 365Nm, and the all-wheel-drive variant adds a second motor to make a combined 440kW and 645Nm.
That extra grunt drops the E07’s 0-100km/h time from 6.7 seconds to about four seconds.
The smaller engine actually uses more fuel, but not a great deal more. Kia says the 1.6-litre engine with all-wheel drive uses 7.4L/100km after a combination of open and urban roads. The 2.0-litre engine according to Kia will use half a litre less at 6.9L/100km.
Both engines only need 'standard' 91 RON petrol, too - that’s the cheap one.
Where is the hybrid variant? Good question. The answer is, there isn’t one. And neither is one coming, I’ve asked. That’s disappointing considering the Corolla Cross comes with a hybrid version of each grade in its line-up.
It’s for this reason the Seltos range scores a lower mark for fuel efficiency.
Both variants use a circa-90kWh Nickel-Manganese-Cobalt (NMC) battery, which is a big unit by EV standards.
It delivers a WLTP-verified driving range of 550km in the RWD version and 510km in the AWD.
The E07’s charging speed is also at the top end of the spectrum.
It has a max DC charge rate of 240kW, which Deepal said can replenish the battery from 30 to 80 per cent in 15 minutes.
AC charging is capped at 7kW, which is below other EVs that can max out at 11kW.
Our test was too limited to conduct a proper real-world test.
The Kia Seltos has two personalities. The laid back Seltos with a 2.0-litre engine and the enthusiastic sporty Seltos with the 1.6-litre engine.
Regardless of which Seltos you pick, the ride is comfortable, the handling is good, and the steering is excellent.
Kia says it's worked to make the Seltos’s cabin more insulated from road noise, but having driven it on country roads for hours I think it could do with more sound dampening.
If you’re considering the Sport+ grade and are not sure if the $3500 premium for the 1.6-litre engine is worth it, my answer would be absolutely, if you can afford it.
That 1.6-litre turbo petrol is a great engine and the new eight-speed transmission is excellent. Even as a daily driver I think anybody would enjoy driving this version of the Seltos more, and for those who like sporty driving then it’s definitely the powerplant for you.
The E07 is a big beast, weighing in at 2440kg for the AWD, and the RWD is about 100kg lighter.
Even that fancy air suspension can't hide that bulk. On smooth city streets and well-maintained motorways, the E07 is very pleasant and comfortable. But on pockmarked and undulating country roads travelling at the sign-posted 80km/h or 100km/h, it rocks and rolls considerably.
The monster 21-inch wheels are likely part of the problem, too.
After looking at my phone in the passenger seat for 20 seconds I started to get car sick… I wasn’t the only person who had that feedback.
Switching to sports mode sharpened it up a little, but the comfort mode was far too soft.
There is a custom mode where drivers can find a happy medium.
The E07 did recover much better over small imperfections, though.
The steering was well-weighted and direct, and the brake and accelerator pedal had a good feel to them with sharp responses that inspire confidence.
We spent most of our time in the all-wheel-drive variant.
It’s fast and brutally quick off the mark, but it doesn't suplex you back into your seat like some electric cars do. Instead the power delivery was more linear, with excellent traction control and no wheel slip.
Deepal has gone the extra mile and added quality Michelin EV tyres that improve grip through corners and reduce noise into the cabin.
The E07 was remarkably quiet inside, even by EV standards, with noise and tyre roar kept to a minimum.
The Seltos has the maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating but that’s from 2019. Still, the advanced safety tech is excellent. All grades come with AEB, blind spot warning, lane keeping assistance and rear cross-traffic alert.
All grades also come with the rear occupant alert, which is great for sleep-deprived parents, and there’s also the safe exit feature which will let you and the kids know if a car or cyclist is approaching before you open the door and ruin everybody’s day.
The Sport+ and GT-Line both come with AEB that works at intersections.
It’s good to see front and rear parking sensors standard across the range.
Deepal has packed the E07 with safety gear and driver aids.
It has eight airbags, ISOFIX anchor points for the two rear window seats, and a top-tether anchor for all three back seats.
There are front and rear parking sensors, a 360-degree camera and a transparent chassis view that allows you to see underneath the vehicle.
Deepal has ticked all the driver aid boxes with autonomous emergency braking with cyclist and pedestrian detection, lane departure warning and lane-keep assist, rear cross traffic alert with auto braking function, blind-spot detection, speed sign recognition and over speed alert, door open warning, rear passenger alert, safe distance alert and adaptive cruise control.
It’s nice to have all that tech, but it is over-sensitive and you end up just turning it off, which defeats the purpose of having them in the first place.
The E07 hasn’t been crash tested yet, so there's no ANCAP safety rating to report at this stage.
The Seltos is covered by Kia’s seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty.
Servicing differs between the two engines.
A Seltos with a 1.6-litre engine needs to be serviced every 12 months or 10,000km and over seven years the average service cost comes to $497 per year.
A Seltos with the 2.0-litre engine needs to be serviced every 12 months or 15,000km and over seven years the average service costs comes to $434 per year.
Capped price servicing is good, but the prices can get higher than $600 for some visits.
Deepal covers the E07 with a strong but not market-leading seven-year/160,000km warranty, and the battery is guaranteed for eight years/240,000km.
It also has a tempting seven-year/140,000km capped-price servicing program that requires visits every 12 months or 20,000km, with the former on the shorter side for an EV. The RWD costs $2954.59 over the full term, compared to the AWD's $3143.90. Both outlays are competitive.