1 years & 13,000 km with my Kia Seltos; Key ownership observations

ADAS has been a lifesaver for me and made me a more sedate driver, especially in traffic.

BHPian qr20de recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

I just crossed the one-year mark with my Seltos Gtx+ (1.5 Petrol Turbo GDI + DCT). Some key observations in owning and driving 13,100km (much higher than I expected to drive):

Pros:
- Extremely comfortable to drive, especially on long distances, thanks to the adjustments and ventilated seats (the latter was a nice surprise and a real blessing)
- Engine + gearbox performance is fabulous; accelerates really quick, especially in sports mode, but more importantly is able to easily coast at high speed on the highways. I felt this significantly reduces tiredness. I also personally love the engine sound especially in these instances. (The GDI clatter may not be for everyone)
- Interior feels plush and I personally prefer and like the all black with white accents design; its super easy to maintain and looks premium
- Very comfortable as a 4-seater, and manageable as a 5-seater, with a really spacious boot and even under floor space (stored all my cleaning stuff here)
- The Pewter Olive shade and I'm guessing the new light design has been attracting quite some attention especially second glances. (I don't know if this is a pro or a con)
- Highway fuel efficiency figures of around 13-14kmpl which I think is excellent given that I'm a fast driver. The coasting at higher speeds definitely helps
- ADAS has been a life saver for me and made me a more sedate driver, especially in traffic. Like many owners on the forum, I too was initially apprehensive of owning a vehicle with it, but I'm glad I did.

Cons:
- The powertrain sometimes has a mind of its own in traffic. It consistently changes from 2nd to 3rd at around 2.1k rpm which is quite audible, while the others are around 1.7 to 1.8k rpm. Under 50 to 75% throttle, 4th to 5th feel like there is really bad clutch ride.
- I expected city fuel efficiency to be low but sometimes its atrocious. One some journeys I've gotten 6kmpl, but my average across the year has been 12kmpl which is acceptable.
- You have to be extremely careful with the 18-inch rims; they're super easy to scratch especially on pavements and also driving at high speed and hitting a pothole may crack the rim.

Upgrades/changes:
- I immediately upgraded to Continental tyres from the ridiculous stock JK tyre. I'm unable to comprehend why KIA did this. In my view, GoodYear or Bridgestone or Apollo should have been installed.
- Added 70mai front and rear facing dashcam. This is no more an accessory but a necessity for our traffic
- Installed a wireless Carplay and Android auto dongle; adds a lot more functionality and convenience to the infotainment system
- Debadged the 'Seltos' and 'GTX+' from the boot lid for a clean look
- Changed all non-led bulbs to LEDs (already posted on Team-Bhp) which I feel has enhanced the premium look, especially the reverse lights

Concerns:
- Been facing inaccurate wheel alignment issues for the last 3 to 4k km. I will most likely have to re-calibrate the steering angle sensor and then re-do the wheel alignment
- KIA uses mineral engine oil ONLY and according to its service technicians this needs to be changed every 10,000km. In our traffic and weather conditions, and with a turbo engine, I think this is concerning. I will ask them to change the oil at 15,000km depending on its condition, in addition to the engine and cabin air filter. I'd rather ensure clean air to the engine and myself for a few rupees more, than "clean" it with compressed air.
- I'm beginning to see a yellow tinge in the LED DRL in the headlight assembly on both sides. Will also raise this at the next service.
- Updating the ECU should hopefully solve the above gear shift issues I have.

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