The clutchless manual gearbox is now standard across all diesel variants of the Sonet, Carens and Seltos.

Kia has made major changes pertaining to its Intelligent Manual Transmission (iMT) offerings. The clutchless manual gearbox is now standard across all diesel variants of the Sonet, Carens and Seltos. It is also available on the turbo-petrol variants, starting April 1, 2023.

Kia has updated its 2023 line-up with RDE-compliant petrol and diesel engines. The latter used to be offered with a 6-speed manual, which has been replaced with a 6-speed iMT across all three models. Prices for the Diesel iMT variants start at Rs 9.95 lakh for the Sonet, Rs 12.39 lakh for the Seltos and Rs 12.65 lakh for the Carens.

The 6-speed iMT is also available with Kia’s updated turbo-petrol engines. The Sonet comes with a 1.0-litre turbo-petrol engine, while the Carens gets a 1.5-litre T-Gdi unit. The Turbo-petrol iMT variants are priced from Rs 10.49 lakh and Rs 12.00 lakh (ex-showroom), respectively.

Prices for the Sonet, Seltos and Carens start at Rs 7.79 lakhs, Rs 10.89 lakhs and Rs 10.45 lakhs, respectively.

Kia has officially announced the launch of its refreshed line-up with BS6 Phase-II compliant powertrains. Prices start at Rs 7.79 lakhs, Rs 10.89 lakhs and Rs 10.45 lakhs for the Sonet, Seltos and Carens, respectively.

Kia’s updated range of cars is offered with engines that can run on E20 fuel. While the petrol engine in Sonet remains unchanged, the 1.4-litre turbo-petrol engine in Carens has been replaced by the Smartstream 1.5-litre turbo-petrol unit. It churns out 158 BHP and 253 Nm @ 1500-3500 rpm. The Sonet’s 1.5-litre diesel has been replaced by the 1.5 CRDi VGT which puts out 114 BHP. The same engine is available in the Seltos and Carens.

In the transmission department, Kia now offers the 6-speed iMT as standard with both turbo-petrol and diesel powertrains across all models, while the manual gearbox is only available in variants of the Seltos and Carens with 1.5-litre petrol engine and variants of the Sonet with the 1.2-litre petrol engine.

Among other changes, Kia now offers Idle Stop Go as standard across all models. The carmaker has also added the Kia Connect Skill for Amazon Alexa, which enables customers to connect their Alexa device with the vehicle by registering on the Amazon Alexa app.

The dealer was ordered to refund the customer Rs 14.85 lakh with 8% interest from July 2, 2020, and pay a compensation of Rs 1 lakh.

The District Consumer Grievances Redressal Forum has ordered a Nagashanti Kia in Hubballi to pay Rs 15,95,110 for delivering a pre-facelift Seltos when the customer had booked the facelift version.

Nagaraj Patil had booked the HTK+ variant of the Seltos on May 28, 2020. The dealership was expected to deliver the facelift version, which was scheduled for launch on June 2. Instead, the customer was handed over the older version at the time of delivery.

The customer realised that the dealership had sold him the pre-facelift version after a month. He reached out to the dealership seeking a replacement. While his request for a replacement vehicle was refused, the dealer offered to fit the car with updated bumpers and features.

The customer then approached the consumer redressal forum and argued his case. After hearing both sides, it as found that the Kia dealer had not delivered the vehicle, which the complainant had booked. This amounted to a lapse in providing services and a violation of the Consumer Protection Act.

The dealer was ordered to refund the customer Rs 14.85 lakh with 8% interest from July 2, 2020, and pay a compensation of Rs 1 lakh. The forum also directed the dealer to pay Rs 10,000 towards expenses.

Source: ET Auto

The 6-speed iMT has gained popularity as it is more convenient than a manual and less expensive compared to an automatic gearbox.

According to a media report, Kia might discontinue the diesel manual variants of the Seltos, Sonet and Carens later this year, leaving just the 6-speed iMT as the only manual option for diesel customers.

It is said that changing customer preferences could be the reason why Kia could stop offering the 6-speed manual transmission in its diesel variants. It would also enable the company to streamline its variant lineup with respect to market demand.

Currently, Kia offers the 1.5-litre diesel engine, which makes 113 BHP @ 4,000 rpm and 250 Nm @ 1,500-2,750 rpm. It is paired with a 6-speed manual, 6-speed iMT or a 6-speed automatic transmission. The 6-speed iMT has gained popularity in recent times as it is more convenient than a manual and less expensive compared to a proper automatic gearbox.

Source: Rushlane

Prices of the diesel variants of the Seltos and Carens are likely to get a hike of Rs 50,000.

According to a leaked document, Kia is likely to increase the prices of its models by up to Rs 50,000 from March 1, 2023.

The document also reveals the model-wise quantum of the price hike. Prices of the petrol and diesel versions of the Seltos are likely to go up by Rs 40,000 and Rs 50,000, respectively.

The Sonet petrol is expected to cost Rs 30,000 more, while the diesel version could command a premium of Rs 45,000. The prices of the petrol and diesel versions of the Carens could rise by Rs 30,000 and Rs. 50,000, respectively. The document doesn’t say anything about the Carnival.

This is not the first price hike announced by Kia this year. Prices were increased by up to Rs 1 lakh just last month.

Source: Rushlane

The updated Seltos is likely to be offered with Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS).

The updated versions of the Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos have already reached global markets but are yet to be launched in India. While the Creta facelift has been pushed to next year, Kia is likely to introduce the updated Seltos around mid-2023.

The Seltos facelift made its global debut in June 2022 at the Busan Motor Show. As part of the update, the SUV gets a tweaked front fascia featuring a revised radiator grille, LED headlamps with new LED daytime running lights and a redesigned bumper. The rear end of the Seltos facelift features new L-shaped LED tail lights with an LED light bar similar to the Kia Carens.

Inside, the Seltos comes with a dual-screen setup that integrates a digital instrument cluster and a wide touchscreen infotainment system into a single unit. The SUV is also expected to get an Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS).

Apart from the cosmetic changes, the Seltos facelift will also come with a new 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine. This unit develops 158 BHP and 253 Nm and is said to replace the current 1.4-litre turbo-petrol motor. Kia will carry forward the 1.5-litre petrol and diesel engine options.

Source: Autocar India

Prices of the Sonet and Seltos have increased by up to Rs. 40,000 and Rs. 50,000, respectively.

Kia has increased the prices of its models by up to Rs. 1 lakh from January 1, 2023, with the EV6 electric crossover receiving the highest quantum of the price hike.

If you are in the market for a Seltos diesel this year, be ready to shell out Rs. 50,000 more. Prices of the petrol version have also increased by Rs. 20,000, while the turbo-petrol variants cost Rs. 40,000 more.

The Sonet is one of the popular models in Kia’s line-up. Prices of the petrol and turbo-petrol variants have increased by Rs. 20,000 and Rs. 25,000, respectively. Diesel variants of the compact SUV command a premium of Rs. 40,000.

Kia has also increased the prices of the Carens from January 1, 2023. The petrol variants have gotten dearer by Rs. 20,000, while the turbo-petrol variants now cost Rs. 25,000 more. Diesel variants of the Carens receive a price hike of Rs. 45,000.

The SUV could get ADAS, a digital instrument cluster and a panoramic sunroof.

There have been reports suggesting that the Kia is set to replace the 1.4-litre turbo-petrol engine in the Seltos with a 1.5-litre unit for the 2023 model year. Besides the engine, the SUV is also expected to get new features, including ADAS.

It is said that the MY2023 Kia Seltos 1.5L turbo-petrol will come equipped with a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, a 10.25-inch instrument cluster, an electronic parking brake and panoramic sunroof. The 1.5-litre variants are also likely to get LED headlamps with LED sequential turn indicators similar to those found in Audi.

The radar-based driver assistance systems will include a slew of features including Smart Cruise Control, Blind Spot Detection, Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, Automatic Emergency Braking, Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist, Safe Exit Warning, Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist, Lane Following Assist, High Beam Assist and Driver Attention Warning.

Reports suggest that the 1.4-litre turbo-petrol engine may not comply with the upcoming RDE norms. The replacement 1.5-litre engine is rumoured to pack more punch and is likely to be offered in the Carens and the Hyundai Creta as well.

Thanks to BHPian SS4 for sharing this information with other enthusiasts!

In 2022, the Seltos became the fastest SUV to reach the 3 lakh sales milestone.

Kia India is celebrating the completion of three years since the launch of the Seltos. Introduced on August 22, 2019, it was the brand’s first product for the Indian market.

In 2022, the Seltos became the fastest SUV to reach the 3 lakh sales milestone, allowing the brand to retain its position among the top 5 carmakers in the country. The first 1 lakh units were sold by August 2020.

Since this month, Kia started offering 6 airbags as standard on the Seltos. In September 2021, the carmaker introduced the 'X Line' trim finished in Matte Graphite exterior colour and 18-inch Matte Graphite alloy wheels.

The Kia Seltos comes with 1.5-litre petrol, 1.4-litre turbo-petrol and a 1.5-litre diesel engine options. Transmission choices include a 6-speed manual, 6-speed iMT, 6-speed automatic and a 7-speed DCT.

Majority of Kia Seltos customers chose the HTX Petrol variant.

Kia has announced that it has sold over 3 lakh units of Seltos in less than 3-years. The carmaker claims to have achieved this feat in record time.

The Seltos is the most popular model in Kia India's line-up, accounting for almost 60% of its total sales. The company has also exported 1,03,033 units of the Seltos to more than 91 countries till date.

According to Kia, 58% of the Seltos sales came from its top variants, while majority of Kia customers chose the HTX Petrol variant. The automatic versions contributed around 25%, and 1 out of 10 Seltos buyers opted for the iMT clutchless manual transmission. Also, around 46% of the customers preferred the diesel variants of the Seltos.

The Kia Seltos is offered with three engine options. These include a 1.5-litre petrol, 1.4-litre turbo-petrol and a 1.5-litre diesel engine. Earlier this month, the SUV was upgraded with 6 airbags and rear disc brakes, which now come as standard.