The art of car

ANCIENT PHILOSOPHER SUN TZU WROTE A MILITARY TREATISE CALLED THE ART OF WAR - KIA HAS APPLIED THE LEARNING TO ITS PREMIUM SUV

- VIKRAM CHAUDHARY

IN THE competitive midsize SUV segment, Kia has stopped playing defence - with the new Seltos, it wants to win. Is it that amazing an SUV? We tested it on and off the road.

What is it?

In 2019, the Seltos placed Kia on the automotive map of India - on the eighth day of the launch, it made Kia seventh-largest carmaker; in the third month, fifth-largest; and in the seventh month, third-largest. But in 2026, the competition is fiercer than ever - Hyundai Creta and Maruti Suzuki Victoris, as well as the new Tata Sierra.

This 'art of car', however - with a new design, tech, and performance - is Kia's weapon of choice.

What has changed?

In one word - aggression. The new Seltos is bigger - 4,460 mm long and 1,830 mm wide - and has a longer wheelbase (2,690 mm). Its black high-gloss grille, dark gunmetal accents, ice-cube-shaped LED headlamps, connected LED taillamps, and R18 alloy wheels give it a tough SUV character - from certain angles, it looks intimidating.

How's the cabin?