Kia has introduced a new variant for the diesel-powered Seltos with a 6-speed iMT while also updating the entire lineup with additional safety features
Kia has updated the Seltos SUV for 2022 with a couple of new variants and a few new features for the entry-level and mid-spec variants of the SUV. In addition to these changes, the new Kia Seltos will also be available in two new colour options – Imperial Blue and Sparkling Silver.
Overview
- Kia Seltos brings in new variants
- First car to get diesel transmission and IMT
- Upgraded feature list
- Standard safety features
Kia Seltos Gets Two New Variants
The Kia Seltos becomes the first-ever passenger vehicle in India that gets a combination of a diesel engine with an iMT gearbox. A new mid-spec HTK+ variant comes to the Seltos’ lineup, which houses a 1.5-litre diesel engine paired to a 6-speed iMT gearbox under its hood. It is the same transmission available in the petrol-iMT version of the SUV. The new Kia Seltos HTK+ diesel-iMT gets a price tag of Rs 13.99 lakh. It is about Rs 50,000 cheaper than the most affordable diesel-automatic Seltos.
The official price is about Rs 50,000 lower than the most affordable diesel-automatic variant
Apart from this all-new variant, Kia has also introduced a new diesel-automatic HTX variant to the Seltos lineup. The Seltos was already available with a 1.5-litre diesel engine and the 6-speed automatic gearbox in HTK+, GTX+ and X-Line variants.
Diesel-IMT Is Much More Affordable
IMT works similar to the manual transmission but the clutch is operated automatically
Like the AMT, the IMT or the Intelligent Manual Transmission is an advanced version of the simple manual transmission. In IMT, only the clutch is operated by the car. The driver still needs to shift the stick to downshift or upshift.
With the new customers preferring automatics over manual transmission, the IMT will attract a lot of new customers. Until now, no diesel car offered AMT or IMT in India. The new Kia Seltos diesel-IMT can open ways for new cars.
2022 Kia Seltos Gets Updated Features
Kia has also introduced new variants
Kia has also used this opportunity of updating the lineup of Seltos by adding features from the top-spec variants to the entry-level and mid-spec variants. All the variants of the Kia Seltos now come with vehicle stability management, rear disc brakes, electronic stability control and front and side airbags as standard.
The curtain airbags, which were present only in the GT-Line variants, will now be available from the HTX+ variant. The HTX and variants above it come standard with traction and drive modes and paddle shifters (exclusive for automatic variants).
Other changes introduced in the updated Kia Seltos include a revised design for plastic wheel covers for HTE and HTK variants, updated ‘Kia Connect’ logos and an updated inside rearview mirror with a Kia Connect switch.
Kia Seltos gets a new transmission
Kia has introduced Intelligent Manual Transmission (IMT) with the Seltos diesel
Kia has retained the powertrain options for the Seltos, which is still available in three powertrain options – two petrol-powered and one diesel-powered. The diesel variants source their power from a 1.5-litre 115 PS diesel engine which is now available with three transmission choices – a 6-speed manual, 6-speed iMT and 6-speed torque converter.
Coming to the petrol-powered versions, the mainstay of the lineup continues to be the 1.5-litre 115 PS naturally-aspirated petrol engine, which is available with a 6-speed manual, 6-speed iMT and CVT gearbox options. A 1.4-litre 140 PS turbocharged petrol engine is also available in higher-spec GT-Line variants, which is available either with a 6-speed manual or a 7-speed DCT gearbox option.
Conclusion
Make sure that you SWIPE UP and read all about the Kia Seltos diesel-IMT
With this updated version, the new Kia Seltos feels better and a stronger rival to the extremely tough competition, including Hyundai Creta, Nissan Kicks and newer rivals like Skoda Kushaq, and Volkswagen Taigun and MG Astor.
Do you think the refreshed Kia Seltos is more desirable than its rivals? Let us know in the comments below.
Keyword: Kia Seltos Diesel IMT Is Here; Is It Finally The Answer To Affordable Diesel-Automatics?