THE Seltos small SUV has been a long time coming for Kia. From 2011 to 2018, small-SUV sales in Australia have exploded, from 39,535 units to 139,163.

During that time, many manufacturers including Toyota, Mazda and Nissan have released their own brand-new crossovers that have helped add important volume to each brand’s bottom line.

While late to the party, Kia has finally thrown its hat in the ring after knocking back a number of other possible candidates sold overseas.

Now joining a relatively competitive segment, does the Seltos have what it takes to stand out from the crowd and boost the South Korean brand’s sales volume?