Kia Seltos is officially present in Indonesia in 2020. PT Kreta Indo Artha (KIA) as the holder of the Kia brand in Indonesia has again stimulated the Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) market by launching a more aggressive and feature-rich Seltos GT Line variant at GIIAS (Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto). SHow) November last year.
Positionally, the presence of the Seltos GT Line is a weapon from Kia to dampen or possibly fight rivals Honda HR-V and Hyundai Creta. At the moment of going home yesterday, to be precise at the OTO Group-style program, Lebaran Drive, I was caught trying out this SUV from South Korea.
How is the sensation, is it the same as the previous variant, or is the GT Line variant just a gimmick? In this article, I will try to explore the advantages and disadvantages of trying the Kia Seltos GT Line to my hometown in Sukabumi, West Java.
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Kia Seltos GT Line Design
Before discussing the driving experience, I will try to explain my subjective opinion about the exterior visuals of the Seltos GT Line. In appearance the design line is still the same as the Seltos EX, EXP, and CRDi (diesel) variants.
But because the status is more luxurious, of course there is a differentiation. The most contrast is the presence of red lines on the front fender, side body and rear diffuser. Not only that, there are also GT Line badges on the front grille, rear body, and the use of red brake calipers on both front wheels.
In appearance, the design is quite attractive. The LED projector headlight has a distinctive 'Tiger Nose' design as its main identity. The harmonization is more unified between the large grille and the LED-tech headlamp plus the Auto Light feature.
The futuristic impression is reflected in the "Ice Cube" shaped LED fog lamps. As for the skid plates at the front and rear, it reinforces the sporty aura. Then there is the black cladding around the body that describes the strong nature of an SUV.
The pull of a firm line also appears to decorate the back. LED Tail Light with futuristic ornaments, creating attractive visuals. Meanwhile, the wheel design is still the same as the EX and EXP variants, but there is a little red sweetener on the hubcap.
But to be honest, I don't like the presence of chrome accents on the door handles and some other parts. Seems to be tougher if it comes in black or magnesium.
Kia Seltos GT Line Driving Position
Go inside, the interior design is quite interesting. Unfortunately the dashboard is still made of hard plastic, there is only a little soft touch material on the door trim.
All benches are made of leather. The difference with the EX and EXP variants is in the seat motif, the GT Line variant uses a more sporty visual with red stitching and GT Line embossed on both front seats.
The Ventilated/Cooling Seat feature is also present, this is one of the differentiating devices with the Seltos variant under the GT Line. Its function is to provide a blow of cold air from the grille of the two front row seats.
This feature feels more useful than the heater seat in several other brands. It's a subjective assessment, but considering Indonesia has a tropical climate, of course this is an advantage.
Oh yes, to adjust the sitting position is also made easier by the electric feature. But unfortunately only for the driver. Even when sitting, the seat seems to be able to support the body, especially the back well. The reason is that the Seltos has a semi-bucket seat-style upholstery design. So it will not be easy to shake to the side.
Regarding visibility as a driver, it feels no different from other SUVs. To be more comfortable, the steering wheel has also accommodated tilt and telescopic manually.
As Rear Passenger
The middle seat of this car has a 40:60 configuration, so this car uses a seat model where each passenger has their own area.
Regarding accommodation, the Kia Seltos GT Line is arguably good. Passengers still feel relieved leg room, as well as headroom which still leaves a fairly high space. It is more comfortable as a passenger because the second row of seats can be re-clined in 2 positions as desired.
When it comes to transporting goods, when he only uses the luggage space, he can accommodate around 433 liters of goods. Meanwhile, when the rear seats are folded, the spacious luggage space can reach 1,401 liters. The luggage floor of the KIA Seltos is also flat, making it easier to access in and out of goods.
Interesting Features
In terms of features, the Kia Seltos GT Line is equipped with many advanced technologies. Call it 6 points ABS, EBD, EBA, traction control, cruise control, and ESP. There is also a super large 10.25-inch head unit that includes Apple Carplay and Android Auto functions.
But of the many features embedded in this car, there are some that I like the most. The first is Paddle Shift, the car feels fun to drive because we can adjust the gears by simply pressing the lever behind the steering wheel.
Then the second is the drive mode and traction mode features, how to activate it simply by turning the knob near the gear lever. When you switch to the Sport option, from the original Seltos' mediocre power, you can immediately feel the difference.
Even for the traction control mode, there are Snow, Mud, and Sand options. When I took the Seltos GT Line to the Pondok Halimun area or at the foot of Mount Gede, the tire traction became more nimble in overcoming the road contours that were quite damaged.
Quite a pity, the sound quality of the speakers. It's not bad, but considering that Sonet's sister, who is more advanced with the Bose package, Seltos should be able to too. Oh yes, in the GT Line variant there is a Sound Mood Lamp feature, a kind of light behind the front speaker that can light up to the rhythm or beat of the song.
The following are some of the features in the Kia Seltos GT Line:
Auto Light
Full LED Light
Auto Wiper
Rear Foglamp
Smart Key Entry
Star stop button
Wireless Charging
Auto Climate Control
Head-up Display
sunroof
Parking Distance Warning
Parking Camera
Bluetooth Telephony
And others.
The suspension is comfortable
Overall despite having the stature of an SUV, the suspension in my opinion is similar to a sedan. Used sharp handling dings feel soft and pleasant.
The character is arguably not too hard but also not too soft. For example, bulldozing the speed trap, the road is uneven, the dings still feel comfortable in the cabin.
Even when bulldozing the road, it was quite damaged at the foot of Mount Gede, Pondok Halimun. I and the passengers did not complain about the damping of this South Korean SUV.
While the question of soundproofing is also good, traveling at 100 kilometers per hour on toll roads is still quite quiet
Engine Performance
The Kia Seltos GT Line uses a Kappa 4-cylinder, 1,400 cc turbocharger, which promises 138 horsepower and 242 Nm of torque. The engine is mated to a 7-speed dual clutch transmission.
The performance is not too great indeed, but it feels very sufficient for daily use and long-distance travel needs. Moreover, he has a Sport mode which will change the character of the engine to be more fierce, now the engine character is felt. Engine performance is also assisted by the Direct Injection fuel system. While the turbo used is of the wastegate type, making the engine more responsive.
The fuel tank capacity is 55 liters, for city use I can record an average of 11-12 kilometers per liter. Meanwhile, if used on toll roads, the figure is better, around 15-16 kilometers per liter.
Conclusion
I categorize the Kia Seltos GT Line as a fun SUV. In addition to having reliable engine performance, this car also has a good record of fuel consumption, comfortable suspension, and features that can spoil the driver and passengers.
But with a price tag of IDR 433 million OTR, especially in the midst of the onslaught of other SUVs, the Kia Seltos GT Line is quite behind in terms of the completeness of semi-autonomous safety features. There is no radar feature, so don't expect this car to have Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Keeping Assist, or other features.
For your information, the price offered for the Kia Seltos GT Line as of May 2022 has increased, previously in the November 2021 launch session, the car was sold for IDR 415 million OTR. Now with the new price set, if you deliberately calculate with the variant below, there is a difference of Rp. 39.5 million with the EXP variant, Rp. 77 million with the EX, and Rp. 25 million with the diesel-engined Seltos variant. Below are the prices for all the Seltos variants, which are summarized from the official Kia Indonesia website
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