What makes a Seltos service bigger or smaller?
The engine. The turbo comes due every 10,000 km, so it racks up more visits than a 2.0-litre doing the same kilometres.
Which service it is. Each visit on the schedule has its own list. The owner's manual shows what's due at your kilometres, and some services carry more items than others.
How the car is used. Kia's manual has a Maintenance Under Severe Usage Conditions list. Anything from that list comes on top of the standard service.
Wear. Tyres, brake pads, bulbs and drive belts sit outside a standard service, and so do top-ups between visits.
A late or missed service. Kia's capped-price terms warn this can add to the next visit, because more is then due.
Which Seltos is yours?
| Drivetrain | Kia's listed gap | |
|---|---|---|
| Lower grades from October 2019 | 2.0-litre with a CVT | 12 months or 15,000 km |
| Higher grades, AWD | 1.6-litre turbo with a seven-speed dual-clutch, then an eight-speed automatic from November 2022 | 12 months or 10,000 km |
| New generation from 2 October 2026 | 1.6-litre non-turbo hybrid | Check the owner's manual |
Carsales shows 10,000 km for the 2025 Seltos without splitting it by engine. Kia's own terms are the split we've used here, and your owner's manual outranks both.
What a good Seltos estimate lists
- The scheduled service for your kilometres, named as Kia names it
- The oil's brand, grade and quantity
- Parts with part numbers
- Anything extra on its own line, so you can say yes or no
- A copy of the job card to keep with the service book
The recall and oil use
SP2 Seltos built 2020 to 2022 with the non-turbo 2.0-litre were part of a 9,534-car recall with the Cerato, reported in August 2025. Piston rings may be out of spec, which could mean engine failure and stalling. A Kia dealer inspects the engine and replaces a damaged one at no charge, so have that done before you pay for a service.
One owner told CarsGuide their Seltos used about 600ml of oil per 1,000 km, and the answer tied it to that piston ring problem. So check the level on a cold engine every few weeks. A red oil light means pull over somewhere safe and switch off.
Do you need a Kia dealer?
Not for your consumer rights. The regulators' guide says any suggestion that a car must go to a dealer to keep its consumer guarantees is not correct, and a Seltos serviced by a qualified independent mechanic to Kia's schedule and specifications doesn't by itself void the new car warranty.
Kia's capped-price program only runs at authorised Kia dealers, up to 7 years or 105,000 km (70,000 km on a turbo). That's the trade-off to weigh. Warranty repairs and recall work stay with Kia.
Tell us the year, the engine and the kilometres. A local mechanic who specialises in your car.
Our take on a Seltos
Work out which engine you have, then get one written estimate that names the scheduled service and lists the parts and oil. Compare like with like: a quote that leaves out the items Kia schedules at your kilometres only looks smaller. If it's a 2020 to 2022 2.0-litre, clear the recall first, then keep an eye on the oil.