Kia Seltos has received a 5-star safety rating from Bharat NCAP. The 2nd-gen version of the midsize SUV was launched in India in January at a starting price of Rs 10.99 lakh. BNCAP used the HTE(O) and GTX trims with the 1.5-litre diesel automatic powertrain to conduct the crash tests. However, the 5-star rating applies to all the variants of the Kia Seltos.
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Kia Seltos: Bharat NCAP crash test results explained
In the Adult Occupant Protection test, the Kia Seltos scored 31.70 points out of a possible 32 – the highest by any ICE vehicle tested by BNCAP yet. In the Frontal Offset Deformable Barrier test, the SUV garnered 15.70 points out of 16. It offered good protection to the driver’s head, neck, chest, pelvis, and right tibia. The feet and left tibia showed adequate protection. Good protection was offered to all parts of the passenger’s body. In the Side Movable Deformable Barrier test, the SUV secured the maximum possible points (16). The SUV offered good protection across the board.
In the Child Occupant Protection test, the Kia Seltos was tested with dummies for 18-month-old and 3-year-old children. The dummies were installed in a rear-facing position. The SUV garnered 45 points out of a possible 49, including a Dynamic score of 24 points (out of 24) and a CRS installation score of 24 points (out of 24). However, its Vehicle assessment score was limited to 9 points (out of 13).
The 2nd-gen Seltos offers 24 safety features as standard across all variants. These include 6 airbags, Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Hill-Start Assist Control (HAC), and more. Higher variants of the SUV come with a Level 2 ADAS package comprising 21 functions, including Forward Collision Warning, Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, Smart Cruise Control with Stop & Go, and more.
Mr Gwanggu Lee, MD and CEO of Kia India, said, “Safety is an integral part of Kia’s product philosophy as we continue our journey towards becoming one of the most trusted mobility brands in India. The All-New Kia Seltos achieving a 5-star rating, along with the highest-ever Adult Occupant Protection score across ICE vehicles under BNCAP, across ICE vehicles under BNCAP, with one of the strongest Child Occupant Protection scores recorded to date, has emerged as the highest-scoring ICE vehicle overall under BNCAP. This is a strong validation of our engineering capabilities and intent where every aspect of the vehicle, from its structure to its advanced safety technologies, has been developed with occupant protection at its core, making it a strong choice as a family SUV. This milestone sets a new benchmark for safety and reflects our commitment to bringing globally benchmarked safety standards to customers in India.”
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Final Thoughts
Prices for the Kia Seltos start at Rs 10.99 lakh and go up to Rs 19.99 lakh. The introduction of the 2nd-gen model has boosted the SUV’s sales, with Kia retailing over 10,000 units on a monthly basis. It rivals the likes of the Hyundai Creta, Skoda Kushaq, Volkswagen Taigun, Honda Elevate, Citroen C3 Aircross, Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara, and Toyota Urban Cruiser HyRyder.
