Shocking! Kia Seltos Gets An ‘AVERAGE’ Score In Global NCAP Tests

• Kia Seltos scores three out of five stars in Global NCAP test.
• It secured three out of five in adult protection and two out of five in child protection.
• Kia Seltos is priced between Rs 9.89 lakh and Rs 17.34 lakh.

The Kia Seltos has been crash tested by Global NCAP (New Car Assessment Program) and it has scored three out of five in the safety tests. This comes as a slight disappointment, especially when you’re paying 20 big ones. Cars like the Tata Nexon and Mahindra XUV300, which cost much less than the Seltos, have achieved a full five star rating in the same test. In fact, the Mahindra XUV300 has the highest score among the made-in-India cars tested by Global NCAP yet.   

The Kia Seltos secured three out of five stars in Adult Occupant Protection (AOP) and two out of five stars in Child Occupant Protection (COP). It was crash tested at 64kmph according to Global NCAP’s standard. The structure and footwell were reported borderline unstable and incapable of taking on any further beatings.  

The Seltos’s AOP is 8.03 out of 17. Both the driver and co-driver airbags bottomed out, resulting in just-adequate head protection for both the front occupants. However, it offered good neck protection for front occupants while chest protection was minimal for the driver and good for the co-driver. Knee protection is reported as just adequate as they could come in contact with elements behind the dashboard.  

The Seltos’ COP score is an unimpressive 15 out of 49 points. The 3-year old crash test dummy, placed in a front-facing child seat, made contact with the interior trims as the Seltos couldn’t prevent excessive forward movement. Even the head and neck protection was limited for the child.  

The report also notes that the Seltos doesn’t come with three-point seatbelts for all occupants. The middle occupant in the rear seat needs to rely on a lap belt. ISOFIX child seat anchorages are offered only from the HTX variant onwards. We feel this feature should have been offered as standard.  

The Seltos getting such an average score in this safety test comes as a disappointment. It’s one of the highest selling models in the segment. It ain’t cheap and is priced between Rs 9.89 lakh and Rs 17.34 lakh (ex-showroom). The Creta, which utilises the Seltos’ platform, might also get a similar score if crash tested.