The Kia Seltos has achieved a 5-star safety rating in Bharat NCAP crash tests, reinforcing its position as one of the safest compact SUVs in India. The SUV delivered an impressive performance in both adult and child occupant protection, with scores that place it among the top contenders in its class.
Strong Crash Test Performance
Bharat NCAP evaluated the diesel-automatic versions of the Seltos in HTE(O) and GTX trims. However, the 5-star rating is applicable across all variants, making safety a strong selling point regardless of the trim you choose.
- Adult Occupant Protection (AOP): 31.70 / 32
- Child Occupant Protection (COP): 45 / 49
The Seltos has even edged past key rivals like the Tata Sierra in overall scoring, highlighting Kia’s focus on structural integrity and occupant safety.
Adult Occupant Protection: Near-Perfect Score
In the adult safety tests, the Seltos performed exceptionally well across different crash scenarios:
- Frontal offset deformable barrier test: 15.70 / 16
- Side movable deformable barrier test: 16 / 16
Driver protection ratings were largely ‘good’ for critical body regions such as the head, chest, pelvis, thighs and right tibia. Slightly lower ‘adequate’ protection ratings were noted for both feet and the left tibia.
For the co-driver, all key areas received a ‘good’ protection rating, indicating balanced safety for front occupants.
In side impact scenarios, including the side pole test, both front occupants’ head, chest, abdomen and pelvis showed strong protection levels, although the pole test was rated ‘OK’ overall.
Child Occupant Protection: Excellent Results
The Kia Seltos also impressed in child safety tests:
- Dynamic score: 24 / 24
- CRS (Child Restraint System) installation: 12 / 12
- Vehicle assessment: 9 / 13
The SUV scored full marks in both frontal and side crash protection for 18-month-old and 3-year-old child dummies. While it lost a few points in the vehicle assessment category, the overall score of 45/49 still reflects excellent child safety credentials.
Safety Features: Well-Equipped Across Variants
Safety is not limited to higher trims, as the Seltos comes with several key features as standard:
- 6 airbags (standard across all variants)
- ABS with EBD
- Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
- Hill-start assist
- All-wheel disc brakes
- Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
- Rear parking sensors and rearview camera
- ISOFIX child-seat mounts
- Rear occupant alert
- Downhill brake control
Higher variants further enhance safety with advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS).
Price and Rivals
The Kia Seltos is priced between Rs 10.99 lakh and Rs 19.99 lakh (ex-showroom). It competes in one of the most competitive SUV segments in India, going up against models like:
- Hyundai Creta
- Tata Sierra
- Maruti Grand Vitara
- Toyota Hyryder
- Honda Elevate
- Skoda Kushaq
- Volkswagen Taigun
- Renault Duster
Final Take
With its 5-star Bharat NCAP rating, strong build quality, and comprehensive safety package, the Kia Seltos has significantly strengthened its appeal for safety-conscious buyers. Whether you’re considering the base variant or a fully loaded trim, the Seltos now offers top-tier crash protection across the board, making it a compelling choice in the compact SUV space.