Kia Seltos

61% Advanced High-Strength Steel Adds Stability and Safety to the 2021 Kia Seltos

In its promotional material, Kia Motors touts the “rugged and ready” all weather capabilities of the 2021 Kia Seltos, saying, “Whether you’re a winter weather warrior or simply expect the unexpected, Seltos was built to keep you confident and comfortable.”

“The Seltos is a marriage of bold design and delicate details, and stands apart from rivals with its strong, upright stance. The tall front end and 7.2-inch ground clearance translate to a tough attitude and an adventurous spirit. Its assertive presence is spearheaded by Kia’s signature tiger nose grille that includes unexpected diamond-like detail. Chiseled surfaces and well-drawn lines lead back to a distinctive profile highlighted by a chrome beltline (available on S, EX and SX) that melds into the D-pillar for a streamlined appearance. And the optional two-tone roof gives Seltos an added layer of coolness and character.”

This automotive manufacturer chose Advanced High-Strength Steel (AHSS) to add a sturdy feel, enhance safety and create a more dynamic performance in this small, versatile SUV.

Steel for a Solid and Sturdy Stance

The Washington Informer reviewed the 2021 Kia Seltos and called it “in a class all its own.” Writer Frank S. Washington said, “The build quality was impressive. They used advanced high strength steel in almost two thirds of the chassis. There was also more than 300 feet of structural adhesives used. We felt the solidity of the Seltos on the road, its sturdiness was unmistakable.”

Advanced High-Strength Steels for Safety

In an article comparing three subcompact SUVs—the 2020 Kia Seltos, 2020 Hyundai Kona and the 2020 Honda HR-V—Sippi Vig, an automotive critic at ZigWheels, wrote, “When it comes to safety, the whole chassis design of Seltos was made even better. It features extensive use of advanced high strength steel (AHSS) throughout its structure. This ensures exemplary control, dynamic performance, and more enhanced occupant protection.”

Vig ranked the 2020 Kia Seltos as the best of the three SUVs, saying, “As millennials nowadays have obvious interest for more advanced technology and more comfortable drives, Kia Seltos is truly the best subcompact crossover SUV so far. Given that its price is in the middle of Kona and HR-V, this can be an ideal investment for the young drivers and car owner wanna-bes as well.”

Specifics of the Advanced High-Strength Steels Kia is Using

According to Repairer Driven News, the engineering team at Kia Motors took advantage of the strength Advanced High-Strength Steels, using AHSS throughout the 2021 Kia Seltos body.

Repairer Driven News uncovered this video from 2015 that demonstrates the difference between mild, advanced and ultra-high-steel and how it behaves in a crash.

Kia’s Advanced High-Strength Steel body structure applications from worldautosteel on Vimeo.

The explanatory program “offers a reference point for nonmetallurgists to understand the strength of the extensive advanced-high-strength steel used throughout the body. According to Kia, a 1-square-millimeter thread of 590+ MPa wire would be strong enough that you could hang 132 pounds off it without the wire breaking.”

From Kia’s Press Room

Similar to Telluride’s design theme, the 2021 Kia Seltos is a marriage of bold design and delicate details, and stands apart from rivals with its strong, upright stance. The tall front end and 7.2-inch ground clearance translate to a tough attitude and an adventurous spirit. Its assertive presence is spearheaded by Kia’s signature tiger nose grille that includes unexpected diamond-like detail. Chiseled surfaces and well-drawn lines lead back to a distinctive profile highlighted by a chrome beltline (available on S, EX and SX) that melds into the D-pillar for a streamlined appearance. And the optional two-tone roof gives Seltos an added layer of coolness and character. Other key design cues include:

• Long wheelbase and hood for a robust and substantial look
• Harmonized grille and headlamp design featuring full LED “Beat” lighting for a modern appearance (SX)
• Aggressive lower front bumper design provides sharper approach angle for adventurous driving
• Front and rear skid plates and black wheel arch cladding reference off-road abilities
• Sleek and tapering greenhouse conveys athleticism
• Eye-catching red wheel center caps hint at performance
• Tailgate garnish connects rear lamps to create a sense of width and stability
• Sculpted dual exhaust outlets highlight power and are connected by chrome trim to emphasize premium status
• Eye-catching 17-, and 18-inch alloy wheels give Seltos an up-level appearance and stance befitting its bold personality
• The Seltos’ interior design continues the theme of upscale adventure:
• A cabin crafted with meticulous attention to detail helps Seltos punch above its weight class
• Wide instrument panel has a high-tech feel with an asymmetrical design that skews toward the driver
• Spacious and versatile cabin with generous hip, shoulder, leg and head room in both rows, offering more interior volume than most rivals
• An abundance of cargo space that can be expanded by lowering the adjustable luggage board

Adventure in Style

The Seltos outclasses its class with an upscale look and feel throughout its well-appointed cabin. Whether it’s a quick trip around town or a longer sojourn “into the wild,” owner and occupants will enjoy premium details and convenience features such as:

• Clean and sophisticated gauge cluster – 3.5”-in. OLED (LX, S, EX) and 7-in. Supervision (SX)
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob (S, EX, SX)
• Sliding front console cover (S, EX, SX)
• Fractal pattern Bose2 speakers and six sophisticated color themes echo the sound connected mood lighting found in the iconic Soul. The mood light changes color and intensity based on volume level (SX).
• Rear air vent and USB charging port for convenience of backseat passengers (EX and SX)
• Two-step reclining rear seat functionality enhances second row comfort level (standard on all trims)

Well-Engineered Machine

Seltos is engineered to deliver a comfortable, capable and confidence-inspiring experience for both driver and passengers. A number of elements contribute to Seltos’ composed ride and lively driving performance:

• Strong and rigid body composed of 61 percent advanced high-strength steel and further enhanced with 374 feet of structural adhesives
• 2.0-liter four-cylinder MPI engine producing 146 horsepower and 132 lb.-ft. of torque, managed by an Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT) (LX, S and EX)
• 1.6-liter Turbo GDI engine outputting 175 horsepower and 195 lb.-ft. of torque, paired with a 7-speed Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT) (S and SX)
• MacPherson strut front suspension; Coupled Torsion Beam Axle (CTBA) rear suspension on front-wheel drive models and Multi-link rear suspension on all-wheel drive models
• Choice of three drive modes – Normal, Eco, Sport – each using specific settings for powertrain, drivetrain and steering mapping to provide the desired driving experience
• Available active on-demand all-wheel drive1 (AWD) system, similar in technological design to the award-winning Telluride, provides all-weather capabilities and enhanced driving performance with a center locking differential that splits power equally between the front and rear wheels for more severe environments. The AWD system also makes use of torque vectoring, which increases traction by predicting which wheel will best utilize power in a given on-road situation. This enhances stability in corners and gives the vehicle more connection to the road.

Teeming with Technology — Connectivity, Safety, Driver Assistance

Seltos is packed with technology features, including the“Kia Drive Wise” suite of Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems as well as a wide array of standard and optional equipment. Tech highlights include:
Available 10.25-inch high-resolution color touchscreen3 with satellite radio, UVO telematics, navigation and split-screen display.

• First time in Kia available 8-speaker Bose2 premium sound system
• Apple CarPlay4 and Android Auto5
• Available wireless smartphone charging
• Available three total USB charging ports
  Available multi-Bluetooth wireless connectivity allows two phones to connect simultaneously
• Available “Kia Drive Wise” Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS):8
• Seltos is equipped with the UVO13 Link telematics system debuting a number of innovative vehicle features.

Photos, video, vehicle details courtesy of Kia Motors