Review - 2023 Kia Seltos GT-Line

Luckily, it’s got more than a few tricks up its sleeves, receiving a boatload of features atop the already impressive Seltos platform that offers more space than you might anticipate from a compact SUV.

It doesn’t come cheap, though, coming at a $15,000 premium over the entry-level Seltos, so let’s take a closer look at how the Seltos GT-Line stacks up on everything from features, comfort and value.

Kia Seltos Competition

Starting Price: $44,590

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How Much Does It Cost?

The Kia Seltos GT-Line is offered here in Australia in two variants, the cheapest of which is priced at $44,590 for the GT-Line 2.0 FWD.

Opting for the more powerful GT-Line 1.6T AWD brings the price up to $47,690.

Keep in mind that these prices do not include on-road costs, and are subject to change.

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Kia Seltos - GT-LINE (AWD) (SUNROOF) Specifications

For more details and other variants, check Kia Seltos car page.

What Features Does the Kia Seltos GT-Line Have?

Atop the rest of the range, the Seltos GT-Line comes packaged with features like 18-inch alloys, LED head and tail lights, LED daytime running lamps and LED fog lights, a premium black grille, a powered boot lift, sunroof, adaptive cruise control, a head-up display, leatherette upholstery with heated and ventilated seats, ambient lighting, a 10.25-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto, eight-speaker BOSE sound system and wireless smartphone charging.

Range Features:

• 18-inch alloys

• LED head & tail lights, fog lights and daytime running lamps

• Adaptive cruise control

• Sunroof

• Premium black grille

• Leatherette upholstery with power-adjustable front seats

• Heated & ventilated front seats

• Powered boot lift

• Head-up display

• 10.25-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto

• Wireless smartphone charging

Is the Kia Seltos GT-Line Fun to Drive?

Kia offers the Seltos GT-Line with a choice of two engines, the first of which offers a fairly mundane driving experience from a 2.0-litre four-cylinder, which is paired with a CVT automatic.

On the road, the base GT-Line 2.0 FWD feels like most of its rivals in the small SUV segment - inoffensive.

Considering the GT-Line’s premium over the rest of the range, we’d argue that if you’re spending the money on this trim level, you may as well splash out a little extra for the turbocharged engine that completely transforms the driving experience.

Opting for the GT-Line 1.6T brings a turbocharged four-cylinder into the mix that produces a very healthy 146kW of power and 265Nm of torque, which is paired with an eight-speed automatic and an all-wheel drive system.

“The turbocharged engine option transforms the driving experience with its eager personality.”

This engine offers some serious pace, with a charmingly eager personality that wants to get up to speed quickly, while becoming surprisingly well-mannered when you’re just bumbling around town.

Aside from the obvious power upgrade, the addition of AWD gives the platform more of a confidence-inspiring nature, while the eight-speed automatic is a much more refined transmission than the CVT.

Whichever engine you’re opting for, Kia has done a great job at ensuring the Seltos feels at home on the roads here in Australia, with the suspension helping to iron out bumps on the road without becoming too soft.

As for short hops around town, the Seltos is an eager little companion for your commute and is a delight to drive thanks to its stout platform that is easy to park and its tight steering that makes it agile through traffic.

On the open road, the Seltos GT-Line feels confident, particularly in AWD form, while the base model still feels impressive for the small SUV segment.

Is it Fuel Efficient?

Kia says that the Seltos GT-Line with the 2.0-litre four-cylinder returns fuel economy figures of 6.9L/100km on a combined cycle, which is average for the small SUV segment.

Fuel efficiency drops once again when opting for our favourite engine of the two, the 1.6-litre turbo, which has fuel economy figures of 7.4L/100km on a combined cycle.

Is it Practical and Spacious?

While the Seltos GT-Line hasn’t got a heap of space to work with, Kia’s clever designs have managed to extract an impressive amount of practicality from the small SUV.

Up front, the driving position is fully-adjustable thanks to a pair of powered seats, while all of the important touchpoints receive some soft, padded fabric that helps quite a lot after long stints behind the wheel.

While Kia has stuck with a set of analogue dials, the large 10.25-inch infotainment display adds to the premium nature of the cabin, and is a particularly user-friendly system to familiarise yourself with and use on the go.

The GT-Line’s interior design is somewhat at odds with its bold and unapologetic exterior styling, with Kia taking a more practical approach.

This means the aesthetic is predominantly black with some silver contrasts, with Kia opting for a soft artificial leather upholstery covering the comfortable seats, and the added bonus of seat heating and ventilation up front.

Storage options in the front of the cabin include a tray at the base of the centre console, large door bins on either side of the cabin, a pair of cupholders and storage inside the folding armrest.

“The Seltos GT-Line is packed to the brim with creature comforts and one of the largest boots in the small SUV segment.”

There are no issues in the front of the cabin when it comes to headroom, while the second row is treated to an impressive amount of space for the small SUV segment. In fact, there’s no real issue when it comes to accommodating a tall adult in the rear of the Seltos GT-Line, which is difficult to say for a number of its key rivals.

The second row picks up a set of ISOFIX anchors and top tether mounts for child seats, while there’s also a set of air vents, a USB charger atop a small storage tray and a folding armrest with cup holders.

Best of all, the Kia Seltos comes boasting some of the biggest boot space figures for the entire small SUV segment, with its cargo space rated at 433L, expanding to 1393L with the rear seats folded.

Combine all those details and you end up with a small SUV that punches well above expectations when it comes to space and practicality within the compact SUV segment.

Is it Safe?

The Kia Seltos has been awarded a five-star safety rating from ANCAP, with the GT-Line boasting a very generous range of active safety equipment.

The GT-Line picks up autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian, vehicle and junction assist, adaptive cruise control, lead-vehicle departure alerts, rear cross-traffic alerts, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assistance, a rear-view camera with front and rear parking sensors and six airbags.

Our Verdict: Is The Kia Seltos GT-Line Worth it?

The Kia Seltos GT-Line is a very impressive package, though its quality package does come with a commanding price tag.

Unless you’re hell-bent on added luxuries, we think the lower-spec Seltos Sport+ range offers a more attractive mix of premium features, and the option of the more potent engine, at a more reasonable price.

Having said that, if you’re looking for the most premium feeling Seltos then the GT-Line is your best option, and makes for a surprisingly practical and immensely charming driving experience.

Tossing up your best options in the world of small SUVs? Get in touch with one of our car buying specialists who can find your next car at the best possible price.

Five Specs You Need to Know

1. Seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty

2. Two engines available (2.0-litre four-cylinder & 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder)

3. Five-star ANCAP safety rating

4. 433L boot space

5. 6.9L/100km fuel economy rises to 7.4L/100km in 1.6T