One month after its online unveiling, Kia hosted a media drive of the Seltos, allowing motoring journalists to get behind the wheel in Korea and give their first insights on the small crossover.

A challenger to the likes of the Honda HR-V, Mazda CX-3 and Toyota C-HR, the Seltos slots under the Sportage. It boasts a larger footprint than its direct rivals, which automatically translates into more generous space for adult occupants, front and rear, and a large 498-liter (17.6 cu-ft) boot capacity with the rear seats in place.

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The materials used by Kia throughout the cabin are very good for a car in this class, and so is the level of equipment. Tthe base Seltos S gets features such as the 16-inch alloy wheels, dusk-sensing headlights, touchscreen infotainment system, automatic emergency braking and lane keeping assist. Opt for the higher grades and you will get it with heated and ventilated front seats, wireless charging pad, larger 10.25-inch infotainment system and head-up display.

The engine range will differ depending on where you live, but for now, the Seltos is offered with a choice of two gasoline units and one diesel. The entry-level model is powered by the 2.0-liter, naturally aspirated with 147 hp (149 PS / 110 kW), hooked up to a CVT, whereas the rest of the range is getting the 1.6-liter turbo, making 175 hp (177 PS / 130 kW), matched to a 7-speed, dual-clutch automatic transmission. The lesser one is offered with front-wheel drive, whereas the latter can be specced with all-wheel drive. Again, depending on the market, you could also get the 1.6-liter diesel, rated at 134 hp (136 PS / 100 kW).

At a first glance, the Seltos lives up to its promises, providing a quiet and calm ride, while also ticking a lot of practicality boxes. But is that really all there is to know about it? CarsGuide drove the turbo’d model and had mostly positive things to say about it.