Kia Motors’ Seltos, a mid-size and spec-rich sports utility vehicle customized for the global market, hit the showrooms in Korea on Thursday.

The car rolled out in a ceremony in Gyeonggi Province to announce the official launch of a strong candidate to become a game changer in a highly contested compact SUV market. The design of the Seltos faithful to the SP Signature, a more production-ready version of the SP concept, was first unveiled in June 20 in India.

The bold exterior with the biggest size in its class, luxurious interior and an array of convenience and safety features plus affordable prices make the brand different from peer models, Kia said.

The Seltos sports a 1.6 liter turbo-charged petrol engine and a 1.6 liter diesel engine both mated to a 7-speed DCT transmission.

Despite its compact size, the Seltos boasts an impressive array of safety features including advanced driver-assistance system (ADAS), such as forward collision-avoidance assist and lane departure warning. Rear cross-traffic collision-avoidance assist, smart cruise control, expressway driving assistance, and safety exit assist are optional. It also features a head up display, the marque’s first Bose premium sound system, wireless smartphone charging, a sound mood lamp and a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system. It also gets a first in segment remote control. Kia Motors said it has already received some 5,100 bookings for the SUV since the pre-orders started on June 26.

By Lee Jong-hyuk and Minu Kim

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