Kia Seltos

عدي فهد

Nov 7

I test drove the Peugeot 2008, Lynk & Co 06, Kia Seltos, and Hyundai Elantra — I was mainly looking for something with good looks. The Peugeot was too small and shaky, the Lynk was better but pricey, and the Elantra looked nice but had poor noise insulation and a stiff ride. The Seltos had the weakest engine but was the most comfortable — soft suspension, which is why I chose it. I’ve driven around 600 km so far. The engine is weak, no doubt, but the throttle response is decent — it doesn’t feel too sluggish. The interior looks nice from a distance, but it’s mostly hard plastic. Press on the dashboard and it creaks. Noise insulation is great in low speeds, but once you hit the highway, wind and tire noise get loud. I’m planning to change the tires when I can. I bought it mainly for the front-end design and the good discount. My advice? If you’re not getting at least 20,000 SAR off the MSRP, don’t buy it — not worth it. If you care about looks and the badge, it’s fine. But if you’re after quality and features, Chinese cars in this price range offer better value.

مك محمد

Nov 7

When it comes to driving, the first thing I noticed was the seating position. Even though it's a small SUV, it really gives you that proper SUV driving feel — not like some compact crossovers that feel like they’re stuck somewhere between a sedan and an SUV. You sit higher up, and it's comfortable, which is something I personally appreciate. The interior design and driving experience are smooth and comfortable. The steering wheel is a good size and adjusts its weight based on your speed — light and easy in the city, but it gets heavier on the highway, giving you more confidence at higher speeds. The car offers two engine options: a 1.5L naturally aspirated engine, and the one I drove today — a 1.4L turbo paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. Fuel efficiency is excellent — I got around 6.2L per 100 km, which is great especially if your daily driving is mostly in the city. It has a front MacPherson strut and rear torsion beam suspension setup. Driving it around town felt smooth and refined. The throttle and brakes are responsive and balanced, making the car easy to get used to — nothing feels odd or takes time to adapt to. In traffic or slow driving situations, it performs really well. There's no jerkiness or lag from the gearbox, which was something I was concerned about, since some dual-clutch systems can be clunky — but not this one. On faster city roads, it switches to smart driving mode, where the car starts adapting to your driving style. If you press the gas a bit more, it responds well. But if you’re in a hurry and want quicker response, switching to sport mode is the better option. I took it on the highway, and when driving over road joints or minor bumps, the suspension handled them perfectly. There was no annoying bouncing — the car felt stable and composed. Overall, my impression is that the car leans slightly toward a sporty feel but still stays comfortable. If you have a small family, travel often, or go to places like mountains or hilly areas, the 1.4 turbo engine is more than enough. But if your use is light — just daily commuting or city errands — then the 1.5L engine will do the job just fine and save you more on fuel.