Page 96 - Motoring World (January 2020)

HIGH HORSE

Get off yours and see what the Kia Seltos can do

Q uestions can be funny, boxes, but what does the Seltos do for the covered everywhere, but there are a
The Kia Seltos pretty much had it
especially when they are hurled
enthusiast? A well-paved road awaited us.
at you from a height. I haven’t
The road in question is the stretch
few points to emphasise upon. Firstly,
the slightest clue about human
turbocharged Smartstream 1.4 T-GDi
psychology, but people do love to get on between Gudalur and Ooty. It has a total what drives it: a 138-bhp/24.6-kgm
of 36 tight hairpins, with the entire road
a high horse. In this case, the relevance being barely wide enough to fit just two Petrol engine mated to a 6-speed manual
of compact SUVs to keen drivers was cars. With a well-made barrier on the side, gearbox. It makes mincemeat of highways
being questioned. And the logic was one need not worry about overshooting. with a strong push once the turbo spools
relatively simple: how can something But placing your car exactly where you’d up. In the hills, keep it at around 1500
made to handle everyday tasks satiate want it to be is crucial. Lose momentum rpm and you have enough poke to climb,
those who love judging corner grip and you risk the chance of stalling. Turn a turn, and even wheelspin your way out
through their palms and the seat of touch too much/too hard and you’re bound of corners. The shifts are smooth, but
their pants? It’s an eccentric bunch of to go wide. Brake too late and you might not vague, and you can properly slot
people (who love cars), so getting it right lock up and hit the guard rail, or brake a each gear in which is reassuring. The
becomes all the more difficult — and little early and you’ll embarrass yourself. disc brakes (on all four wheels) ensure
even more so for a manufacturer new These are just a few of the things that that despite some substantial retardation
to the local market. The burgeoning can go wrong, and let’s not forget how repeated for longer than I can remember,
success of the Kia Seltos might tell you essential it is to power out of the corners there wasn’t any fade at all — it’d be
that Kia’s managed to tick all the right at the right moment. interesting to see how the Seltos copes up

96 MOTORING WORLD | JANUARY 2020