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Premiere Test: Kia Celtus EX, Young Sportage Brother

Talkar is used to bombing the Israeli crossover market, and now it is trying to recreate the success with Saltus - a spacious crossover with an extroverted appearance and conservative propulsion assemblies. NIS 141,000 for the EX version being tested, NIS 134,000 for the basic 'Urban' version

• Kia
• Talkar
• Crossover
• Gippon

Rami Gilboa

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Has the sportage become more expensive? Saltos offers its customers high usability and impressive performance, at a relatively affordable price (Photo: Ronen Topelberg)

In 2015, Talkar launched the Sportage in the "Urban" finish level and broke many rules in the tumultuous crossover market: it was the first crossover to emerge as a family car, the generation that replaced it that year was the first to offer modern safety systems, and in 2016 became the best-selling car in Israel. New competitors popped up around and then Kia introduced the ‘Nero’ hybrid, which also broke sales records. 75% of Kia's sales in Israel are from crossovers; This is not to say that its crossovers are the most amazing in the world, but it does prove that the guys at Talkar are well acquainted with the Israeli market.

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The buttocks are high and square, somewhat reminiscent of the Toyota Rav-4 (Photo: Rami Gilboa)

Design and cabin

Kia Seltos declares that he "changes the rules of the game" and we hurriedly took him for a premiere test. Saltos is a square and tall crossover, with a visual presence required in the most crowded market segment in the world. It is a few inches shorter than the Sportage, its length and width are almost identical to those of Nero - but it is about 8 inches taller than it. The sense of size is enhanced by square and relatively upright lines, and a powerful front end that combines large air intakes, many chrome trim and modern lighting units.

Not an SUV, but has the ability to get away from the asphalt (Photo: Rami Gilboa)

In the EX version equipped with Saltos with massive plastic belts and a black roof, nice 17-inch rims, and as if a ventral shield. At the rear, too, the Saltos boasts a small underbody shield, fake exhaust ports, and impressive body carvings. With 4.37 meters from bumper to bumper and at a height of 1.63 meters, the Saltos is 12-15 inches larger than crossovers that rise like it. Its design is shabby and angular, it is not the most sophisticated and up-to-date look (aka Peugeot 2008 sculpted to glory) but you will not miss it at the traffic light, there is no doubt about it.

Conservative dashboard in its design, controlled by a large multimedia monitor in relation to the category (Photo: Ronen Topelberg)

The exterior design language is not drawn inside the cabin; The angular lines were replaced by a rounded and curved design, not what I would expect to find. And on the other hand, the cabin is spacious, very useful and fully equipped. In the EX version we found an unusually large 10.25-inch multimedia monitor for the category, impressive and easy to use (in the base version Urban you will get a fairly satisfactory 8-inch). The system includes Wise Navigation, compatibility for Apple and Android devices, under the monitor there is a row of physical switches, easy to access and operate. These are not sleek and modern to the touch switches but are very useful, placed in the right place and completely predictable. No need to rummage through layers of digital menus, everything at your fingertips. There is an electric handbrake with a useful HOLD function, the steering wheel is a bit cluttered with switches, some are less comfortable to operate. The padding materials are reasonable and basic, suitable for the price level of the Saltus.

The fabric seats are comfortable though not particularly ergonomic. They provide a high seating position, with good forward and backward observation. The vents are slightly lower. The rear is also comfortable to sit on and the EX version has a rear air conditioner port, and a single charging socket; Why not two? The trunk offers an exceptional volume of 468 to 1,428 liters, with a scaled-down spare tire and a floor with two heights to choose from.

The gearbox is traditional in its design, the physical switches are user-friendly (Photo: Ronen Topelberg)

taking off

The Saltos EX is equipped with a smart key that allows the vehicle to be started remotely; This is a nice arrangement that allows you to start the car a few minutes before entering it, and dissipate the insane heat that the Israeli summer creates. Do not worry, if a robber tries to engage a gear when the key is not in the vehicle, the engine will shut down immediately. Saltos was originally intended for the US market, where it is equipped with a 177 hp 1.6 turbo engine, robotic gearbox and dual propulsion, this is the power unit of Hyundai Kona. For the second target market (India) and us, Saltus comes with an atmospheric 2.0 liter engine that delivers 149 hp in -6,200 rpm, and a torque of 18.2 kg at 4,500 rpm. It is not a meaty engine, and the continuous gearbox takes care to keep it at a fairly high rpm.

The 2.0-liter atmospheric engine is not refined and meaty, but it does the job (Photo: Rami Gilboa)

With 9.6 seconds from zero to 100 the accelerations are not bad at all, standing or bypassing. The Saltos leaps resolutely, and the feeling is quite nimble. In calm driving, the gearbox unit functions quite well. The continuous gearbox is programmed for 8 "transmission ratios", which give a feeling similar to that of a standard gearbox. The problem is that as soon as you overtake at speeds close to 100 or more, the engine jumps to 4,000 to 5,500 rpm and even more, causing a slight commotion in the cabin. Box frenzy and moderate acoustic insulation, cause restless driving. In routine driving the noise is less disturbing, except Under acceleration pressure.We note favorably the continuous gear programming, which almost completely neutralizes the annoying-sobbing sounds of traditional continuous gearboxs.The Saltos gives the feel of a regular gearbox, as long as you do not crush the pedal.

The Celtus is very spacious, front and rear (Photo: Ronen Topelberg)

The safety department has autonomous braking and active, rather frenetic lane keeping. Cruise control is not adaptive, too bad. Fuel consumption is fairly mediocre; In relaxed long-distance driving at 100-130 km / h, we traveled about 12 kilometers per liter, which is less good than modern turbocharged engines. Hybrid, electric? Forget it, for now. But there is nothing to talk about serious off-road driving.

468 liters in the trunk (Photo: manufacturer)

Comfort and ease

The ride experience in Saltos will not surprise the regular driver of the Korean vintage; The Saltos is less refined than its older siblings (aka Sportage or Tucson), but is better than a buyer. The ride comfort is relatively good, on the swaying side - the suspensions are relatively soft, and at high speeds they provide reasonable comfort. At city speeds on broken asphalt, they fail Isolate the road ailments.

With a high altitude center, soft suspensions and 55-gauge tires, we have no sporting expectations. The Saltos do not like demanding driving, the steering is unfeeded, and there is bold understeer. We could complain about that, but it would be a big mistake - the compromise they chose Kia engineers are very suited to the nature of driving such a vehicle, with a preference for driving comfort on rough roads of the type found in India, the main destination of Saltos.Between us, quite a few of our roads are not better than those of Bombay, it is easy for me to accept the compromise chosen by the Koreans.

The ride comfort is good, as long as you do not overdo it with turns and speed (Photo: Ronen Topelberg)

And in conclusion

I'm sure even the copywriter who coined the slogan "The Game Changer" knows that Kia Saltus does not bring in a big line; This is another crossover on offer from Kia, closing the gap between the little Stonik and the family Sportage. Saltos will bring into Kia's showrooms a more square and aggressive look than is customary with the Korean company, but its technical specifications are conservative, on the verge of outdated. We can complain until tomorrow about the continuous box or the lack of refinement in the ride but it does not really interest the typical customer, who is currently stuck in the endless traffic jam between everywhere and nowhere. Kia Saltus accurately cracks the Israeli genome that asks for a lot of irons and fittings, for a fairly competitive price.

Will we see much of him? If you rely on past experience, you probably do (Photo: Ronen Topelberg)

The most advanced is the most lucrative

Compulsory insurance starting at NIS 54 per month

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On the technical side: Kia Celtus EX

Engine: Atmospheric gasoline 1,999 cc, 4
power pistons / RPM: 149 / 6,200 hp
Torque / RPM: 18.3 / 4,500 kg
Transmission: CVT Continuous, eight programmed transmission ratios Acceleration

performance
0-100 (Seconds): 9.6
Maximum speed (km / h): 190
Fuel consumption (intercity, test): 12 kilometers per liter Length

measures
(cm): 437
Width (cm): 180
Height (cm): 163
wheelbase (cm): 263
Ground clearance (cm): 18.5
tires: 215 / 55R17

trunk (liters): 468 (1,428 with the seats folded)
weight (kg): 1337

competitors:
Skoda Karok , Nissan Qashqai, Mitsubishi ASX, Hyundai Buys

Price (NIS):
NIS 141,000

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