Taking the Kia Seltos to an epic drive
Whenever one hears of Baler, surfing immediately comes to mind. Through the years, this small town has become very popular among adventure seekers wanting to enjoy its giant waves, natural beauty, cultural heritage, and historical sites.
Baler, the capital of Aurora province, is on the east coast of Central Luzon, bound by the Sierra Madre mountain range facing the Pacific Ocean.
The coastal town is approximately 270 kilometers from the Rizal Park in Manila. There is a much shorter route to get there but one must contend with the congested provincial roads of Bulacan and Nueva Ecija which will add at least three hours to the travel time. For the longer but much faster route, one must take the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) then continue northward along the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) before taking the back roads of Tarlac and Nueva Ecija leading towards the Sierra Madre mountains, either via the Pantabangan route, or the much scenic Bongabon way.
Kia Philippines recently invited several motoring journalists for a drive with the new Seltos crossover SUV.
The Kia Seltos is a compact crossover fitted with a 2-liter dual CVVT engine mated to an Intelligent Variable Transmission. The Seltos expects to provide drivers with the dual advantage of having ample power for aggressive driving, coupled with excellent fuel economy during relaxed driving.
Strategic breaks were plotted along the way for rest stops, driver changes, and meal time.
The trip started from the Estancia Mall in Pasig, then towards the NLEX AND SCTEX, exiting at Tarlac City, traveling eastward towards La Paz then turn Zaragoza via Aliaga. From the Aliaga bypass road, we made a left at the Maharlika highway in Talavera before making a right towards Rizal which is marked by a big “To Baler” signage. Once we entered Rizal, the long straights turned into winding roads leading up the lake of Pantabangan. The roads leading to the man-made lake was smooth and undulating—the perfect venue to test the Seltos’ nimbleness and maneuverability.
Following the sumptuous lunch and mandatory picture taking at the picturesque Highlands Bali Villas in Pantabangan, the group proceeded with the drive with the convoy crossing the Pantabangan Dam then zipping through the twisties of the Sierra Madres passing through Maria Aurora until we reached Baler.
The group checked-in at one of the most luxurious resorts in Baler, Costa Pacifica, with the famous Sabang Beach right in its backyard.
“The year 2019 has been significant for us, marking milestones such as the 124 percent sales growth, three new model launches with the Soluto, the Stinger, and the Seltos, that have allowed us to expand our reach to more Filipinos,” Kia Philippines president Manny Aligada said.
The following day saw the convoy returning to Manila via a more exciting route, the Bongabon-Baler Road. This road cuts through the what seems to be a perpetual zigzag road that snakes through the Sierra Madre mountains. The countless number of turns that followed the undulating contour of the mountain demonstrated the Seltos’ agility while providing comfort for its passengers. And after over than 250 turns and more than 70 kilometers of weaving through the tight turns, the Kia Seltos managed to get out of the meandering road unscathed.
The convoy made its way back to the Maharlika Highway in Bongabon headed to Manila via the SCTEX and NLEX.
RECOMMENDED ARTICLES
Toyota Safety Sense now available in the 2020 Alphard
Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) has officially made available in the country the updated Toyota Alphard with select...
Category: Feature
Ford Philippines names winners of 19th Henry Ford Awards
Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) has officially made available in the country the updated Toyota Alphard with select...
Category: Motoring
Baler on roads less traveled
Taking the Kia Seltos to an epic drive Whenever one hears of Baler, surfing immediately comes to mind. Through the...
Category: Cover
AAP Initiatives Help Fight versus COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic is wrecking the world as we know it. Crippling the lives of many, forcing governments to shut...
Category: Club