New Kia Seltos Unveiled — Now Larger, Offered With AWD, and Available as a Hybrid

Kia has officially revealed the next-generation Seltos, and the compact crossover has undergone a major transformation. The redesign brings an all-new exterior, a completely reworked interior, added features, and — for the first time — a hybrid powertrain.

The new Seltos has a more confident look: up front it adopts vertically split headlights, a wide grille, and a redesigned skid plate. From the side, the crossover takes cues from the Kia EV5, featuring flush door handles, chunky cladding, and a distinctive diagonal character line. At the rear, there’s a longer roof spoiler and a full-width taillight bar with vertical “hourglass” elements.

The model has grown noticeably. It now measures 4430 mm long, 1830 mm wide, and 1600 mm tall, with a 2690-mm wheelbase — putting it much closer in size to the European Sportage, which rides on a 2755-mm wheelbase.

Buyers will see three new exterior colors, along with two trim lines: the sporty GT-Line and the more rugged-looking X-Line, which features darker matte accents.

Inside, the cabin mirrors the design language of Kia’s EV lineup. The driver faces a pair of 12.3-inch screens, accompanied by a dedicated climate control panel, an upgraded infotainment system with over-the-air updates, and an AI-powered assistant. Available equipment includes a panoramic roof, head-up display, Harman Kardon or Bose audio, 64-color ambient lighting, and an expanded suite of driver assistance systems.

Rear-seat passengers now benefit from adjustable seatback recline, and cargo capacity has grown to 536 liters, with a dual-level, foldable load floor and compatibility with Kia’s AddGear accessory system.

The crossover is now built on the K3 platform, shared with the Kia Niro, Kia K4, and Hyundai Kona. The architecture delivers improved body rigidity, better noise insulation, and a more balanced suspension setup. The base engine is a 2.0-liter naturally aspirated unit rated at 147 hp. Upper trims will offer a hybrid system producing 178 or 190 hp, depending on the market, built around a 1.6-liter engine.

Notably, the Seltos keeps a 6-speed manual transmission, while other options include a 7-speed dual-clutch and an 8-speed automatic. Higher trims will offer all-wheel drive paired with a multi-link rear suspension.

Production of the second-generation Seltos will begin before the end of 2025. India will be the first market to receive the new model, followed by South Korea, North America, Europe, and China. In the United States, it will be sold as the 2027 Seltos.