The Kia Seltos, which has recently undergone a generational change, has secured a 5-star safety rating in the Bharat NCAP crash tests. The rating applies to both Adult and Child Occupant Protection. And interestingly, it scored more points than the Tata Sierra and Maruti Suzuki Victoris, making it a relatively more secure offering.
Variants Used For Assessment
For the safety evaluation, the Bharat NCAP had put the one-above-base HTE (O) and the higher-spec GTX variants to the crash test. Here’s a detailed look at the results: –
- Adult Occupants Protection (AOP): 31.70/32
- Child Occupants Protection (COP): 45/49
Adult Occupants Protection (AOP) – 31.70/32 Points
- Frontal offset deformable barrier test: 15.70/16 points
- Side deformable barrier test: 16/16 points
Conducted at 64 kmph, the protection to the driver’s and passenger’s head, neck, chest, thighs and pelvis region was rated as “GOOD” in the frontal impact test. Furthermore, the SUV also offered “GOOD” protection to the driver’s right tibia and the co-driver’s both tibias. However, the driver’s left tibia and feet saw “ADEQUATE” protection.
In the side deformable barrier test at 50 kmph, the 2026 Seltos showed “GOOD’ protection to all critical body parts of the driver. The side pole test also showed the same results.
Child Occupant Protection (COP) – 45/49 Points
- Dynamic score: 24/24 points
- Child restraint system (CRS) installation score: 12/12 points
- Vehicle Assessment score: 9/13 points
The new Seltos got 12 out of 12 for the protection offered to both 3-year-old and 18-month-old child dummies, seated in child seats.
2026 Kia Seltos – Safety Features
The new Kia Seltos comes equipped with amenities like six airbags, ABS with EBD, electronic stability control (ESC), ISOFIX child seat mounts, all-wheel disc brakes, rear parking sensors, vehicle stability management, hill start assist, down brake control, and a tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) as part of the standard safety package. Additionally, its higher trims also include front parking sensors, an electronic parking brake with auto-hold, and Level-2 advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). We’ve already detailed the variant-wise features to help you choose the one that suits your needs best.
Price and Rivals
The 202 Kia Seltos is priced pfrom Rs 10.99 lakh to Rs 19.99 lakh (ex-showroom), putting it in direct competition with the Hyundai Creta, Tata Sierra, Honda Elevate, Toyota Hyryder, Renault Duster, Maruti Grand Vitara & Victoris, and MG Astor.
Also Read: 2026 Renault Duster vs Hyundai Creta: Which SUV Offers Better Value?
