2027 Kia Seltos Is No Longer Kia’s Most Boring Design — And Now There’s A Hybrid, Too

Hyundai Motor Group has been mega profitable over the previous decade-plus largely as a result of its design groups know that it is a lot better to be bizarreugly or provocative than it’s to be plain, good and boring. Kia has gone completely outrageous with its newest technology of fashions, giving even usually primary transportation just like the K5 and Sportage futuristic, forward-thinking designs. However Kia nonetheless has some older automobiles in its lineup which might be too boring, chief amongst them the subcompact Seltos crossover. Launched in 2019, the Seltos has all the time appeared nice, however by no means that particular or fascinating, and it shortly appeared outdated in comparison with newer Kia SUVs.

That modifications with the second-generation 2027 Seltos, which has a way more compelling exterior design that may undoubtedly be extra divisive. It additionally has a a lot nicer inside, an non-compulsory hybrid powertrain (a Seltos first), and numerous new know-how options. Kia’s advert marketing campaign for the brand new Seltos facilities across the thought of Seltos drivers feeling like “protagonists” of their lives. It is fairly foolish and a bit unusual, however individuals who purchase the brand new Seltos will at the very least have extra fascinating lives than in the event that they purchased the outdated one, which ought to be a great factor.

The 2027 Seltos adopts the newer K3 platform that underpins automobiles just like the Be Niro and K4 and the Hyundai Elantra and Kona, with 12% extra high-strength metal used than within the outdated Seltos (as much as 62% now). Kia says the physique is extra inflexible, the chassis is extra balanced, and it will be quieter inside. It is 1.8 inches longer than the outdated Seltos total, however extra importantly the brand new Seltos’ wheelbase is 2.4 inches longer. The brand new one is barely decrease in peak, however about an inch wider.

Carrying over from the earlier technology is the naturally aspirated 2.0-liter inline-4 utilized by lower-end Seltoses, making 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque. Then there’s the turbocharged 1.6-liter 4, which has 178 hp and 195 lb-ft (with a 7-speed dual-clutch automated) in standard-output kind or 190 hp and 195 lb-ft (with an 8-speed auto) in high-output kind. As the present Seltos has 190 hp with the conventional 8-speed, I am guessing that is the one we’ll get within the U.S. as the worldwide press launch does not specify. All-wheel drive is out there throughout the board, which additionally will get you a multi-link rear suspension (as an alternative of a torsion beam) and off-road drive modes for mud, sand and snow.

Come on

Coming later in 2026 would be the first Seltos hybrid. Kia is not giving any particulars but, nevertheless it appears seemingly it is going to share the identical powertrain because the Niro, which makes use of a 1.6-liter four-cylinder paired with an electrical motor and an 11.1-kWh battery pack for a complete of 180 hp. Kia says the Seltos hybrid could have vehicle-to-load performance and the newest model of the model’s regenerative braking, which might routinely regulate primarily based on visitors round you. The Niro will get greater than 50 mpg, so the Seltos hybrid might rival Toyota’s Corolla Cross and RAV4 hybrids for the fuel-efficiency crown.

However like I stated, the styling is the large deal right here. As on the second-gen Telluridethe brand new Seltos’ headlights seem hidden within the corners of the big grille. Relying on the mannequin the Seltos could have a distinct gentle signature; some have a clamp form within the sq. headlight pod whereas others have three vertical bars, and the operating lights might be both be white or amber in response to trim stage and market. I just like the angular gentle bar separate from the headlight itself, a element that jogs my memory of winged eyeliner on a popstar.

The greenhouse and window shapes are an evolution of the final Seltos, however with a cooler aluminum trim piece wrapping across the high edge. It has uniquely formed wheel arch trims and crisp surfacing strains across the fenders and physique sides, with decrease cladding that is complicated with out being too fussy. Flush door handles routinely come out. There are three new colours, one in all which is grey, however at the very least the others are Iceberg Inexperienced and matte Magma Pink, each seen right here.

The inside acquired a giant glow-up as properly. You get a pair of 12.3-inch screens with a local weather management panel in between, plus a bunch of bodily controls on the dashboard and heart console for features like temperature, fan pace, quantity and infotainment shortcuts. The boomerang-ish parts on the ends of the dashboard, echoed on the entrance of the door panels, have ambient gentle strips alongside the contours. The Seltos has a standard shifter as an alternative of going with a column-mounted twist knob like on many new HMG merchandise, however Kia says it now makes use of shift-by-wire, liberating up extra heart console area for larger cubbies and cupholders. That longer wheelbase means there’s extra second-row legroom, and extra cargo area and size, plus it has a foldable dual-level cargo board. It is also nice to see a cultured two-tone shade mixture just like the beige and brown you see above.

Come on

Accessible on the 2027 Seltos are options like a big panoramic sunroof, second-row seats that may recline by as much as 24 levels, a head-up show, 100-watt USB-C ports, and each Harman Kardon and Bose audio programs. The infotainment system has an app retailer with video streaming choices, an AI assistant and over-the-air software program updates, and you should utilize Kia’s Digital Key 2 to entry your Seltos by way of your smartphone. Additionally provided on the second-gen Seltos might be Kia’s newest suite of driver-assist options, together with the Freeway Driving Assistant 2 system, lane following help, entrance and rear automated emergency braking, secure exit warning, a surround-view digicam, and entrance, facet and reverse parking sensors.

Kia says the 2027 Seltos will enter manufacturing this month, with the SUV set to launch in India first. South Korea, North America, Europe and China will observe all through 2026. We should always get U.S.-specific particulars throughout the subsequent few months, together with details about the Seltos hybrid.