When first-launched in 2019, the Kia Seltos was an instant hit. Along with the Creta, it was responsible for the giant rise in SUV demand. The Kia Seltos has a lot of features, multiple powertrain options and an eye-catching design. However, the Seltos still had a bad reputation for its safety. Many people criticised the Seltos’s abysmal GNCAP results. But has Kia made the necessary changes in the new Seltos since then? Let’s find out!
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New Kia Seltos Safety – What To Expect
A big niggle with the first-generation Seltos was its safety. The Seltos was based on the Hyundai-Kia K2 platform, which is also used in many other cars, including the i20, Creta, Alcazar, Sonet, and Carens. The pre-facelift Seltos (with 2 airbags as standard) scored 3 stars in adult occupant safety and 2 stars in child occupant safety. While Kia made 6 airbags standard with the facelift, the vehicle’s overall structure remained the same.
Kia addressed the issues with the older Seltos by adopting a new platform. In the new-generation Seltos, the K2 platform has been ditched in favour of the K3 platform. With this new platform, Kia has added more high-strength, hot-stamped steel to improve crash performance, rigidity, and NVH. In particular, Kia has updated the platform to improve ADAS compatibility. The importance of the K3 platform is that its architecture provides greater torsional rigidity, improved crash performance, and better NVH while maximising cabin practicality. This sounds like music to the ears of prospective Seltos customers.
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New Platform, Better Safety?
While the new Seltos hasn’t been tested by BNCAP yet, we can get an idea of how it may perform. The Kia Niro (a crossover SUV) uses the same K3 platform and is sold in foreign markets. By looking at the Niro’s NCAP results, this is what we can expect from the new Seltos.
The Niro has been tested for Euro NCAP, and the results were promising. The basic variant scored 4 stars, while its variant with an additional safety pack scored 5 stars. With the safety pack, the Niro used a more accurate radar-based ADAS system, unlike the camera-based ADAS of the standard variant.
In simpler terms, Euro NCAP is stricter about ADAS functionality than BNCAP. Euro NCAP values ADAS performance heavily, which is why the standard variant scored lower than the radar-based Niro. BNCAP is relatively lenient on ADAS performance and focuses more on the vehicle’s structural integrity. In terms of child occupancy and adult safety, the Niro performed well, earning 84% and 91%, respectively. This is indicative that the K3 platform is very robust. A similar score would earn Seltos 4-5 stars in the BNCAP test.
To further prove that the K3 is a safe platform, the Niro also performed well in the ANCAP test, scoring 33.71 points out of 38 (88%) in adult safety and 41.62 points out of 49 (84%) in child safety. These results are already an improvement over the last-gen Seltos. Kia will try to further improve this platform to maximise the BNCAP results.
Kia will look to get the Seltos tested for BNCAP at the earliest. You can expect the Seltos to perform similarly well in BNCAP tests. The Seltos shares the platform with the Niro, which, due to its solid performance in Euro and ANCAP tests, is good news for prospective Seltos owners.
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Hi, I’m Ravindra Meena , a bike and automobile enthusiast. I share honest reviews, mileage tests, and latest updates about bikes, cars, and EVs to help you make the right choice. Stay connected for real-world insights and trending auto news! 🏍️🚗