The Kia Seltos has secured an impressive Bharat NCAP safety rating but its safety journey did not exactly start here. Back in 2020, when the Seltos was tested by Global NCAP, the results were not that impressive. The India spec version got a three star rating for adult occupant protection and only two stars for child safety.

That test was done on the base HTE variant, which did not have many of the safety features we now see. The structure was also rated unstable at the time. It was a bit concerning then. Over the years, Kia has clearly worked on this. Features have been added, things have improved and with the generational update the difference shows.

With the latest Bharat NCAP tests, the new Kia Seltos scores 31.70 out of 32 in adult occupant protection and 45.00 out of 49 in child occupant protection. That is a big jump. From where it started to where it is now.

The test was conducted on variants like HTE(O) and GTX with the 1.5 diesel automatic setup. The tested vehicle weighed around 1771 kg. These scores apply to multiple variants, though features may differ slightly depending on which one you pick.

In adult occupant protection, the new-gen Kia Seltos performs very well. It scored 15.70 out of 16 in the frontal offset deformable barrier test. This test simulates a partial head on crash and checks how well the cabin holds up. The SUV also scored a full 16 out of 16 in the side impact test. That is important, because side crashes are usually more serious. The side pole test was also passed, which adds another layer of confidence.

Child occupant protection is also strong. The Seltos scored 45 out of 49. The dynamic score is a full 24 out of 24, which means child seats worked as expected during testing. The CRS installation score is 12 out of 12, so fitting them is simple enough. The vehicle assessment score is 9 out of 13. ISOFIX mounts are standard on the rear seats, which helps.

On safety, the Seltos starts off on a strong note. You get six airbags, electronic stability control, seat belt reminders for all seats, pretensioners and load limiters for the front passengers, ISOFIX mounts, a passenger airbag cut-off switch, all-wheel disc brakes, an electronic parking brake with auto hold, and hill assist with stability management. All of this comes as standard, so you are not forced to move up variants just to get the basics right.

As you go higher up the lineup, the feature list builds steadily. That is where the Level 2 ADAS suite comes in, with 21 functions including adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, and forward collision warning, among others.

The Seltos feels more complete now than it did earlier. Safety has improved, features have grown, and the package makes more sense overall. Nothing changed overnight, but over time, it has come together well.

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