KIA Seltos vs Changan UNI-S

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — we cover price, performance, petrol economy, safety and what it'll actually cost you to own each one long term.

KIA Seltos in South Africa

KIA Seltos

1.5D EX+ Auto Diesel 7-Speed DCT Current
ZAR 599,995 ex-showroom
⚡ 85 kW 🔧 260 Nm ⛽ 19.2 km/l
VS
Changan UNI-S in South Africa

Changan UNI-S

1.5T AT CE Petrol 7-Speed DCT Current
ZAR 469,900 ex-showroom
⚡ 138 kW 🔧 300 Nm ⛽ 14.49 km/l
Add a 3rd car

Decision summary

KIA Seltos vs Changan UNI-S: the short answer

Seltos and UNI-S are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

UNI-S starts ZAR 95 cheaper Seltos from ZAR 389,995 · UNI-S from ZAR 389,900

Five key differences

Exact selected derivatives
Specification Seltos UNI-S
Maximum Power Seltos85 kW @ 4000 rpm UNI-S138 kW
Maximum Torque Seltos260 Nm @ 1500 rpm UNI-S300 Nm
Engine Size Seltos1493 cc UNI-S1500 cc
Combined Fuel Economy Seltos19.2 km/l UNI-S14.49 km/l
Ground Clearance Seltos190 mm UNI-SNot Officially Disclosed

Strongest published figure in that row; no road-test winner is implied.

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Seltos

Strengths
  • Better fuel efficiency
  • Stronger listed safety equipment
Weak Spots
  • Less powerful engine setup
  • Lower published practicality figures
Best suited to: Published Efficiency
Specification evidence leader

UNI-S

Strengths
  • More powerful engine output
  • Stronger published practicality figures
Weak Spots
  • Lower fuel efficiency
  • Fewer listed safety features
Best suited to: Published Performance Published Practicality

Which One's Right for You?

Seltos

  • Buyers prioritising the lower published fuel or energy use
  • Buyers prioritising the more complete listed safety equipment

UNI-S

  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published powertrain figures
  • Buyers prioritising the stronger published space and capacity figures

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec Seltos UNI-S
Model Introduced Year 2020 2026
Generation First generation (SP2); SA launch 2020; 2023 facelift model current First current South African UNI-S retail generation, offered in CS, CL and CE grades.
Facelift History 2023 facelift with revised front and rear styling, updated ADAS suite and interior upgrades No South African facelift has been announced since the UNI-S entered local retail sale in 2026.
Facelift Launched Since 2023 Not Applicable
Facelift Version Ending Current Not Applicable
Body Style SUV SUV
Color Note Clear White, Aurora Black Pearl, Steel Grey, Gravity Blue, Intense Red, Pewter Olive, Glacier White Pearl (dual-tone on GT-Line) -
Dealer Stock Note Flagship grade in the South Africa lineup -
Model Year 2026 2026
Production Status active active
Segment SUV Compact SUV
Tare Mass Kg 1430 kg -
Vehicle Type SUV Passenger car
Spec Seltos UNI-S
Length 4370 mm 4539 mm
Width 1800 mm 1865 mm
Height 1640 mm 1680 mm
Wheelbase 2610 mm 2656 mm
Ground Clearance (Default) 190 mm Not Officially Disclosed
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load) 190 mm 167 mm
Fuel Tank Capacity 50 l 51 l
Boot/Cargo Space 433 l 475 l
Kerb Weight 1430 kg 1505 kg
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 1920 kg 1825 kg
Payload Capacity 456 kg Not Officially Disclosed
Towing Capacity 1100 kg Not Officially Disclosed
Seating Capacity 5 seats 5 seats
Number of Rows 2 rows 2 rows
Doors 5 doors 5 doors
Minimum Turning Radius 10.6 m 5.66 m
Front Headroom 990 mm Not Officially Disclosed
Rear Headroom 950 mm Not Officially Disclosed
Front Legroom 1030 mm Not Officially Disclosed
Rear Legroom 860 mm Not Officially Disclosed

In depth: how these cars differ

This Seltos and UNI-S comparison uses the exact South African derivatives selected above. The catalogue index covers performance, efficiency, safety equipment, practicality and ownership cover only where comparable source-backed fields are present.

Performance index: Seltos 45 vs UNI-S 59.

Efficiency index: Seltos 73 vs UNI-S 55.

Safety-equipment index: Seltos 93 vs UNI-S 92.

Practicality index: Seltos 60 vs UNI-S 68.

Ownership-cover index: Seltos 71 vs UNI-S not separately scored.

These figures are Hagalu catalogue-comparison indicators, not customer ratings, crash-test scores, resale guarantees or a substitute for a road test. Each page shows its weighted source coverage beside the result.

Specification Evidence Index

A transparent comparison of published catalogue fields. This is not a road-test score, owner rating or editorial review rating, and it appears only when every vehicle clears the same comparable-data threshold.

Evidence / 100
Evidence-index readout

UNI-S leads by 1 points

Seltos and UNI-S are close on the comparable published fields, so buyer priorities should decide.

Evidence leader 69 /100
Lead 1 points
Data 67% source coverage
69
#1 Evidence leader

UNI-S

67% source coverage 1 strong categories
Best at Safety 92 Check Efficiency 55
Performance 59
Efficiency 55
Safety 92
Practicality 68
Leads by 1 points
68
#2

Seltos

99% source coverage 3 strong categories
Best at Safety 93 Check Performance 45
Performance 45
Efficiency 73
Safety 93
Practicality 60
Ownership 71
Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%
Category leaders What moves the verdict
Performance UNI-S +14 Efficiency Seltos +18 Safety Seltos +1 Practicality UNI-S +8

Close catalogue match. Buyer priorities should decide the outcome.

Why this score View full breakdown
Evidence-index leader

UNI-S

Performance 59/100
Efficiency 55/100
Safety 92/100
Practicality 68/100

Seltos

Performance 45/100
Efficiency 73/100
Safety 93/100
Practicality 60/100
Ownership 71/100

What the evidence means

Evidence index Changan UNI-S leads the specification evidence index with 69 pts vs 68 pts for Seltos

In Hagalu's specification evidence index, UNI-S leads. However, Seltos may suit buyers prioritising different confirmed fields. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

Seltos vs UNI-S questions

There is no universal winner. Use the comparison table to match the exact South African derivatives on price, safety equipment, space, powertrain and ownership cover. The category indicators summarise published catalogue data; they are not a road test or customer rating.

Compare the published consumption or mileage rows for the exact derivatives using the same unit and test basis. A catalogue figure is useful for like-for-like comparison, but traffic, speed, load, weather and driving style can change actual fuel use.

Compare only equipment explicitly listed for each derivative, including airbags, stability control and driver-assistance systems. Confirm the exact trim with the manufacturer, and treat any independent crash-test result separately because equipment and ratings can differ by market.

A reliable five-year total cannot be calculated from catalogue data alone. Add the exact purchase and finance cost, fuel or electricity, insurance quotes, scheduled servicing, tyres and expected resale value. Check whether the selected derivative includes a service or maintenance plan.

Use the seating, boot or load-space, ISOFIX and safety rows as a first check. Then test the exact cars with your child seats, passengers and typical luggage, because published dimensions do not show every access or comfort difference.

Compare the published power, torque and 0–100 km/h rows when they are available for both exact derivatives. Vehicle weight, gearing and power delivery also matter, so catalogue outputs alone do not establish real-world overtaking or response.