Kia unveils the new Seltos that will be sold worldwide
Kia has unveiled the second generation of the compact crossover Seltos. The model will be global — sales will begin in Korea, Europe, North America, and China.
What is known
The Kia Seltos has received an entirely new design. The front of the car features a wider grille with Kia's signature 'Star Map' lighting and welcome light animation; door handles are flush with the body. The sides are characterized by diagonal lines, a visually separated roofline, and pronounced shoulder contours.
The length is 4430 mm, width - 1830 mm, height - 1600 mm, wheelbase - 2690 mm. Thus, the Seltos is slightly longer than the new VW T-Roc (4.37 meters) and the current Kia XCeed (4.39 meters).
The rear lights are vertically positioned along the trunk door, highlighting the vehicle's width. The X-Line version features dark metallic accents and underbody protection elements, while the GT-Line version emphasizes body-colored decorative elements. During the world premiere, body colors such as Iceberg Green, Gravity Gray, and matte Magma Red were announced. The color palette will be different in Europe.
The configuration of the Korean-spec model includes a panoramic roof, individually adjustable interior lighting with 64 colors, rear seats with a recline feature of up to 24 degrees, as well as premium audio systems from Harman Kardon and Bose. Digital personalization options are also available through the Kia Connect Store.
The dashboard features a flat design focusing on horizontal lines. Interestingly, in some modifications, the transmission mode controls are moved to the steering column, while in others, a familiar selector is installed on the center console.
The standard trunk volume is 536 liters according to VDA standards. The trunk is complemented by a two-tier folding floor. With the AddGear system, modular storage systems can be added.
The car is built on the Kia K3 platform. The engine range begins with a 1.6-liter T-GDI turbocharged petrol engine with 180 hp and 265 Nm of torque, paired with either a 6-speed manual or a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Next is a 1.6-liter turbocharged T-GDI petrol engine with 193 hp and 265 Nm of torque, combined with an 8-speed automatic transmission. A 2.0-liter petrol engine with 149 hp and 179 Nm of torque is also provided, but it will not be available in Europe.
An all-wheel-drive option with a multi-link rear suspension and Terrain mode for snow, mud, and sand is available. The Drive Mode selection system (Eco, Normal, Sport) adapts the driving characteristics to different conditions. A hybrid version will be released in 2026, adding Vehicle-to-Load functionality and the Kia Smart Regenerative Braking System 3.0.
Production of the new Kia Seltos will begin in India in December 2025. In 2026, sales will start in Korea, North America, Europe, and China. Prices have not been announced yet, but in Europe, it can be compared to the current XCeed price — around 27,000 euros in Germany.
Source: Kia
