All-new 2026 Kia Seltos makes world debut with hybrid power
The Kia Seltos is one of the best subcompact crossovers in the market for offering a superb mix of style, practicality and performance.
But for 2026, it has been totally transformed into what could potentially be one of the deadliest cars in its class. The South Korean carmaker officially unveiled the all-new Seltos to the world on Tuesday in an online press conference.
“The Kia Seltos has always represented best-in-class value, and the next generation model builds on that legacy with an enriched offering that resonates with the diverse passions of our customers,” said Kia Corporation president Ho Sung Song in a press statement.
“Its expanded global presence and abundant practical and stylish features underline Kia’s commitment to meeting diverse mobility needs worldwide,” he added.
EV5 looks
As with all the latest Kia models, the 2026 Seltos borrows heavily from its battery-electric cousin, the EV5 subcompact crossover.
Exciting flourishes include the blade-like LED daytime-running lights that extend into the hoodline. These flank a large front grill with Kia’s new “Star Map” LED headlights with dynamic welcome sequence, while the lower grill features silver trim that balances out the black protective cladding.
Down the side, that black cladding has straight edges to emphasize the new model’s less-flowing design language, with touches like the gloss-black pillars, pop-out door handles and crimped rear-quarter windows giving the all-new Seltos an unmistakable look. The alloy wheels range from 16 to 19 inches, with some sharing a similar design with the EV5’s.
Finally, the rear end is dominated by the LED taillights that reflect the blade-like elements of the front. The pert bumper and large tailgate spoiler add a sporting flavor to this reborn subcompact crossover.
Three colors were presented, namely Iceberg Green, Gravity Gray and matte-finish Magma Red. Kia likewise confirmed two variants, as of press time – the X-Line with its dark-gunmetal finishes and reinforced lower garnishes, along with the GT-Line with its sleek, body-colored accents.
Clean and airy
Inside, the all-new Seltos carries over many styling elements from the EV5, while maintaining its position as one of the roomiest cars in its class.
The low, horizontal dashboard is made possible by the dual 12.3-inch screens for the gauges and the infotainment system – the latter incorporates Kia’s A.I. Assistant that is powered by ChatGPT. This also makes the all-new Seltos capable of over-the-air updates, as well as having custom screen themes from major entertainment franchises like Disney.
In addition, the column-mounted Shift-By-Wire gear selector allows for a very wide center console. The next-generation Seltos will also have the option of light-colored upholstery, which compliments premium features like the panoramic moonroof, customizable 64-color ambient lighting and surround-sound systems from Bose or Harman Kardon.
Another major change is the reclining second-row seat that offer up to 12 degrees of forward pitch and 12 degrees of backward pitch. Kia said cargo space is 536 liters with the rear seats up, while the AddGear system uses modular storage accessories help keep items organized.
Electrified power
Under the hood, the all-new Seltos is available with three gasoline engines, along with a new hybrid-electric-vehicle (HEV) powertrain.
These include a 2.0-liter, twin-cam, 16-valve inline-4 gasoline engine pumping out 147 horsepower and 179 Newton-meters of torque. There are also a pair of turbocharged 1.6-liter inline-4 units – the Standard Output with 178 horsepower and 265 Newton-meters of torque, mated to either a 6-speed manual or a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT).
Meanwhile, the High Output model gets 190 horsepower and 265 Newton-meters of torque that are coursed through an 8-speed automatic gearbox. Other options include a continuously variable transmission and a 6-speed DCT.
Kia has not yet released the full specifications of the HEV variant, but it confirmed that it will incorporate Vehicle-to-Load functionality and Kia’s Smart Regenerative Braking System 3.0 that automatically adjusts regenerative braking according to traffic flow and navigation data for maximum efficiency.
The South Korean carmaker added that the all-new Seltos will be available with front-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive (the latter getting Snow, Mud or Sand Terrain Modes), along with Eco, Normal and Sport driving modes.
The all-new Seltos will be available with a comprehensive active-safety suite that includes Highway Driving Assist 2, Lane Following Assist 2, Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist 2, Safe Exit Warning, Surround View Monitor, Parking Collision-Avoidance Assist-Reverse and Parking Distance Warning-Front/Side/Reverse.
Kia said production of the 2026 Seltos begins this month in India, with the model being launched in South Korea, North America, Europe and China next year. Given that we were among the first to see it, the all-new Seltos will likely be on our roads soon to build upon the impressive legacy of its distinguished predecessor.
