First C-segment SUV with CNG in the works?
Petrol and diesel cars have become hard to run due to the consistent hikes in fuel prices. Due to this, many people have started considering alternatives like CNG and EVs. Looking at this, popular carmakers have started testing their premium cars with CNG kits. A few premium cars have been spotted with a CNG kit in the past few days. Out of these, Kia is a manufacturer whose two cars have been spotted with company-fitted CNG kits. We are now expecting another car from the brand’s stable to come with a CNG kit in the coming time. We are talking about the Kia Seltos CNG. In this article, we have mentioned all the things we can expect from this upcoming car.
Why a Kia Seltos CNG?
Kia Sonet and Kia Carens have already been spotted testing with CNG kits. The brand could be doing so due to the rising fuel prices. Kia Sonet’s competitors like the Tata Nexon and the upcoming Maruti Brezza are touted to come with this technology. So, readying the CNG variants of Sonet makes sense for the brand to stay abreast the competition. Talking about the Carens, its main rival, the Ertiga has already been offering CNG variants. CNG is a popular choice in the MPV segment as many commercial fleet owners prefer it. With the latest update, Maruti has extended the CNG offering to one more variant of the Ertiga lineup. So, bringing CNG variants for the Carens makes absolute sense.
Now, coming to the next option. For Kia, the most sensible CNG choice next would be the Seltos. The Seltos sits as a C-segment SUV and no other car offers a CNG option as of now. If Kia manages to bring the Seltos with a CNG variant first, it could be a real boost for the already successful product. The Kia Seltos is a lucrative choice in the segment. With the addition of CNG variants, it would surely be able to attract more buyers. Down below, we discuss our expectations of the Kia Seltos CNG and its changes.
Design
As far as design is concerned, no changes in its design are expected. The Seltos CNG continue with its similar design and body styling as we see in the current generation Seltos. The only major change would be in its boot. We would be getting a CNG kit which would eat up the majority of boot space. However, on the contrary, Kia could be looking to take things slowly and could directly bring the CNG variants with the upcoming Seltos facelift. Only time will tell Kia’s true strategy.
Features
The Seltos would continue to get features like a 10.25-inch infotainment system, powered front seats, ventilated seats, a premium music system, mood lights, and a sunroof. We expect Kia to strategically spread out the CNG option across its variant layout in order to reach more number of buyers. The feature list would thus vary accordingly.
Kia Seltos CNG – Engine
The Kia Seltos which was spotted testing came with the 1.4-litre turbo-petrol engine. We expect Kia could be planning CNG option for its premium variants as well. Apart from this, the regular petrol engine is also expected to be on offer. With all of this being said, the power and torque figures are expected to be dropped down.
Kia Seltos CNG – Price and Launch
Kia Seltos starts at Rs 12.03 lakhs (on-road, Mumbai), and the top trim goes up to Rs 22.03 lakhs (on-road, Mumbai). The CNG variants are expected to see a rise of Rs 50,000 to Rs 70,000 over the regular variants. As far as launch is concerned, we expect Seltos CNG to enter the market sometime this year or in the first quarter of 2023.
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