Is the Kia Seltos engine imported?

[DiHector]

Kia Seltos engine is not imported, it is a domestically produced engine jointly manufactured with Mitsubishi. The Kia Seltos is equipped with a 1.6-liter naturally aspirated engine, paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission. It has a maximum power output of 91.6 kilowatts, reaching its peak power at 6,300 rpm and maximum torque at 4,500 rpm. The Kia Seltos is a 5-door, 5-seater compact SUV with body dimensions of 4,345mm in length, 1,800mm in width, and 1,645mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2,630mm. It features front-wheel drive, with a MacPherson strut front suspension and a torsion beam rear suspension.

[MacKevin]

I just bought a Kia Seltos, and the salesperson specifically mentioned that the engine is assembled domestically, not purely imported, mainly to reduce costs and make the price more affordable. Many joint-venture brands do this now; for example, engines from Volkswagen and Toyota are also produced in domestic factories, but key components like turbos or electronic control systems might be imported from Korea. After driving it for a while, I feel the power output is quite stable, and the fuel consumption isn’t high—it’s perfectly sufficient for daily commuting. When buying a car, it’s best to ask the 4S store about the specific model, as some early versions or certain configurations might use imported engines. But overall, localization is the mainstream trend, making parts easier to find and more affordable for maintenance, so there’s no need to worry about after-sales service.

[Barry]

As someone who frequently works on car repairs, I've disassembled and reassembled many Kia Seltos engines. It's quite common for them to be produced and assembled domestically in China, primarily handled by Dongfeng Yueda Kia's factory. At most, some sensors or chips might be imported. The car's reliability is decent, with common issues like unstable idling mostly related to domestic manufacturing rather than import quality problems. It's easy to verify—just open the engine hood to check the label for the production origin or directly read the OBD data. Similar models like the Hyundai ix25 follow the same pattern, with domestically produced engines making maintenance significantly cheaper. I recommend owners regularly check the engine oil and keep it clean to extend the engine's lifespan.

[DeEvan]

I'm really into studying cars. Although the Kia Seltos' engine isn't imported, its performance is quite impressive with quick power response, making it very easy to handle in urban driving. Compared to pure imported hot hatches like the BMW 1 Series, there's a significant price difference, yet the Seltos drives quite steadily. Nowadays, many automakers are adopting localized production strategies, with the Honda CR-V being a similar case. For daily driving, this car is quite fuel-efficient when paired with its transmission, and the acceleration feels better than expected. Domestic engine technology is becoming increasingly mature.

[Paige]

I remember in the early years, all Korean cars were imported, with expensive and hard-to-repair engines. Now that Kia has partnered with Dongfeng, models like the KX3 (also known as the Kia Seltos or Kia KX3 in some markets) are produced domestically, including their engines, which are basically no longer imported. This brings many benefits: service centers are everywhere, and parts are not expensive. A few old buddies I know drive them and say they have no problems even on long trips. Localization is progress in the auto industry, similar to how Toyota RAV4 has followed this path.