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Kia thinks compact SUV growth is ideal for the Seltos
South Korean carmaker Kia is telling its global distributors that sales of compact SUVs will grow a further 20% over the next three years, from 6.5 million in 2018 to more than 8.2 million in 2022.
It’s a forecast that falls in line with the segment’s growth in New Zealand. At the end of June, 10,551 compact SUVs were registered with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA), up 4.3% on the 10,125 logged in the same six-month period last year. Assuming the growth continues for the rest of the year, compact SUV registrations for 2019 will total around 21,800 – a 4.3% hike on last year’s 20,937.
The growth in the smaller SUV segment is one of the reasons Kia is bringing it’s new Seltos, either later this year or early next.
Another is Seltos’ standout feature: its cabin space. It has “the largest cabin and trunk (boot) of any B-segment SUV currently on sale”, says Kia.
B-segment includes models such as the Hyundai Kona, Mazda CX-3, Suzuki S-Cross, Holden Trax, Mitsubishi ASX, Honda HR-V, Toyota CH-R. “Seltos has absolutely everything to be a contender in the compact SUV segment for our brand,” says Kia NZ general manager Todd McDonald.
Content provided by: automotivenews.co.nz
The Kia Seltos will be available in two engine choices.
Sitting under the popular Kia Sportage, the new
Seltos is expected to go on sale here by the end of the year.
Seltos
will initially be offered with two petrol power plants; a 110kW/180Nm 2.0-litre
unit matched to an i-CVT (Intelligent Continuously Variable Transmission) and
the potent 130kW/265Nm 1.6-litre turbo GD-i engine that also powers the sporty Kia Cerato GT. The turbo
engine will be matched to a version of the GT Cerato’s seven-speed dual-clutch
transmission.
While most versions of the new Seltos will be front-wheel-drive, the turbo
model will come with all-wheel-drive and be capable of zipping from 0-100km/h
in under 8 seconds.
