Kia Seltos HTK(O) Review: Style, Substance and Everyday Practicality

Compact SUVs have become the default choice for Indian car buyers who want the practicality of a hatchback with a bit of presence and ground clearance. It’s a packed segment, with offerings like the Creta, Grand Vitara, and Elevate all vying for attention. In this crowd, the Kia Seltos remains one of the most familiar faces on the road. Since its debut, it has built a reputation for offering plenty of style and features, along with a wide range of variants to suit every need and budget.

We spent a week with the entry-level Seltos HTK(O) to see whether it still lives up to that promise, and whether this reasonably priced variant strikes the right balance between looks, comfort, and value.

The Seltos is a car that feels well-proportioned from every angle. It’s neither bulky nor small, which makes it look well-suited to Indian roads. Kia’s designers have given it a strong front fascia dominated by the signature tiger-nose grille, flanked by sleek LED DRLs that blend into the chrome strip. Even in the mid-range HTK(O) trim, it manages to look quite premium thanks to its design language, which is sharp enough to look modern without trying too hard to appear sporty. The body lines flow neatly along the profile, the roof rails lend a hint of ruggedness, and the 16-inch wheels look adequate. Although 17-inch alloys would have given it a stronger presence. The rear, with its connected taillight design and integrated reflector strip, feels cohesive. The Seltos doesn’t shout for attention, but it has a confident presence that makes it stand out just enough in traffic.

Despite its premium looks, the build quality from the outside, doesn’t quite match the impression its design creates. The doors and tailgate lack the reassuring thud you get in some rivals, and there’s a noticeable lightness to the panels when tapped. That said, for its price, the Seltos still feels neatly assembled and delivers a pleasing mix of visual appeal and everyday practicality.

Step inside and the first impression is quite pleasant and reassuring. The cabin layout is clean and logical, with the driver-oriented dashboard slightly angled towards you. The seats offer good support and enough bolstering for comfort on long drives. The dual-tone treatment (in this variant) keeps things bright and airy, and the panoramic sunroof adds to the sense of space, instantly giving the interior a more upmarket feel.

The 8″ touchscreen infotainment system sits neatly on the dashboard and appears as a seamless extension of the driver’s display. It supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and the screen itself is responsive and intuitive to use. Apple CarPlay, however, can be a bit temperamental, occasionally failing to detect devices instantly. We had to unpair and reconnect a few times. Hopefully, a software update will iron out this minor glitch. The old-school manual air conditioning feels a bit dated for MY 2025, and a simple automatic climate control system would have been more in line with the times. That said, the absence of unnecessary touch-sensitive panels, combined with the straightforward and practical knobs, was a welcome relief compared to the overly tech-laden cars we’ve been driving lately. Visibility across the cabin is clean, and it’s easy to find a comfortable driving position with the manual seat and steering adjustments. The Arkamys audio setup is fairly average, with a rather flat sound profile. It doesn’t have the depth and richness of the premium Bose audio system available in the higher HTX trims. To amp up things, the cabin features mood lamps with ambient lighting that pulse to the beat of the music. Not really our cup of tea, but might be entertaining for others.

Once you settle in and take a closer look, some limitations in material quality, trim, and finish, do show up. Most of the plastics are hard. The door panels feel hollow. And lower sections of the console use scratchy materials that don’t convey a strong sense of solidity. While none of this affects functionality, it does take away from the overall cabin experience. Sound insulation is impacted, as outside noise tends to seep in and audio from the speakers leaks out more than it should.

What works in favour of the HTK(O) variant of the Seltos is practicality. The cabin offers plenty of storage spots, including cupholders, bottle slots in the doors, a well-sized glovebox, and a centre console that’s deep enough for everyday items. Rear passengers get good knee room and ample headroom, and the wide bench makes it suitable for two adults and a teen. Three adults are a tight squeeze during longer drives. Rear AC vents enhance comfort, and the bench is well-contoured, offering just the right amount of cushioning without feeling overly soft. However, there’s no central armrest for rear passengers, which is a minor omission at this price point. At 433 litres, the boot is quite generous, and perfect for those family runs and short weekend trips.

On the safety front, the HTK(O) covers the basics with six airbags, ABS, and parking sensors with a reversing camera, while higher trims bring in more advanced safety tech with ADAS features. This particular variant of the Seltos strikes a good balance between features and value, but if you care about touch and feel, or if you’re looking for features like 360-degree camera, lane-keeping assist and blind spot monitoring, it might be worth upgrading to a higher trim level.

Once you start driving, the Seltos HTK(O) quickly establishes its comfort zone. Around town, it’s friendly and easy-going. The steering is light, the 6-speed manual transmission is smooth, and the car feels compact enough to weave through tight spaces without effort. The 1.5-litre petrol engine puts out 113 BHP and offers decent torque for city runs without feeling sluggish. Throttle response is predictable, there’s enough low-end pull for short bursts of acceleration, and the car moves cleanly off the line without hesitation. The suspension setup favours comfort, and over broken city roads it works well. Potholes and speed breakers are absorbed without much fuss, and the cabin remains composed.

Out on the highway, the limitations are noticeable. As speed builds, the engine begins to sound strained, especially when overtaking or climbing gradients. The Seltos HTK(O) feels light on its feet in a way that isn’t entirely reassuring. Beyond 90 km/h, the ride turns floaty and body roll becomes evident. Road and wind noise also start to creep in. The steering doesn’t offer much feel or weight either, and while it is a competent cruiser, it doesn’t encourage enthusiastic driving.

In terms of fuel efficiency, the Seltos HTK(O) is fairly average for its class, returning around 15-16 km/l on the highway and 10–12 km/l in city conditions. During our 650 km drive, we recorded stretches on the expressway where it returned up to 19.2 km/l. However, fuel economy dropped sharply in city traffic, averaging around 11.6 km/l over the course of our journey.

For everyday driving, the Seltos HTK(O) makes a good companion. It’s easy to drive, light on effort, and simple to live with. It doesn’t overwhelm with complexity, and it doesn’t demand attention. It’s a car that does most things well enough to keep the driver and passengers happy, especially during everyday use. The feature list makes it feel more expensive than it is, and the design helps it look more premium than many rivals. While it’s a bit rough around the edges, there’s plenty to like here.

Priced at INR 12.57 lacs (ex-showroom), it’s easy to see why the Seltos HTK(O) is among the top-selling variants. It offers excellent value for money, bringing premium features like a sunroof and wireless Apple CarPlay to a price bracket that usually sees more basic offerings. While it may not be the most solid-feeling or thrilling car to drive in its class, it delivers precisely what most families need – space, comfort, convenience, and a sense of style and prestige around the neighbourhood. With a few improvements in build and driving dynamics, it could easily become an even stronger all-rounder. For now, it remains a likeable, easy-going SUV that’s refreshingly honest about what it offers – delivering excellent value. And in most cases, that’s more than enough.