New Kia Seltos revealed with hybrid option and plenty of buttons, coming to Australia in 2026

Since launching in mid-2019, the Kia Seltos shrimp SUV has generated bigger than two million gross sales for the South Korean stamp — so the rigidity became on to salvage the second-technology crossover ethical.

Published to media earlier today, subsequent yr’s Seltos is a longer, broader and more sophisticated shrimp SUV that Kia global executives rating described as sitting at the core of the stamp’s future enlargement plans.

Novel K3 platform can even tranquil wait on Seltos plod and facing

The second-technology model is ‘majority-fresh’ barely than ‘all-fresh’. Beneath the skin, the Seltos adopts the Kia-Hyundai ‘K3’ platform that has previously ushered in improved riding dynamics for the most in sort Hyundai Kona and i30 Sedan fashions, plus the Kia K4 shrimp vehicle.

“Most of the worrying facets of the chassis and suspension had been [changed]. Some areas had been re-used, however it’s far a grand smaller allotment. The fresh Seltos has… grand improved plod and facing traits — force it and that it’s doubtless you’ll even in truth feel it,” said Kia head of global commercial planning Spencer Cho.

Rising self assurance within the maturity and refinement of the Seltos led to a resolution that the shrimp SUV would was a basically global model in second-technology invent.

The Seltos will likely be provided in Europe for the principle time, where Kia hopes to search out 60,000 gross sales per yr, though North The United States (130,000) and India (100,000) live focal level markets. Non-Korean Asian markets, at the side of Australia, are expected to story for 30,000 Seltos fashions every yr.

Petrol engines basically carry over however a Seltos hybrid is coming

Whereas existing four-cylinder petrol engines carry over from aged Seltos to fresh — at the side of a 110kW/180Nm naturally aspirated 2.0-litre and a 146kW/265Nm turbo 1.6-litre — Kia will reply to altering buyer rely on by at the side of a hybrid powertrain to the Seltos lineup.

The Seltos Hybrid (badged HEV) is expected to make utilize of the 104kW/265Nm 1.6-litre petrol-electric powertrain came upon within the linked Hyndai Kona Hybrid.

Kia says its level of distinction might per chance be the addition of more refined ‘Trim Regenerative Braking Plan 3.0’ tech for the Seltos HEV, which adds precise-time web page visitors budge alongside with the budge and navigation data to develop regenerative braking smoother, while the hybrid will completely match an in-cabin vehicle-to-load energy outlet for home equipment.

No electric model, however Kia answered to requests to magnify dimension

Kia president Ho Sung Song confirmed to media that Kia is now not developing a battery electric (BEV) model of the Seltos, with the carmaker’s EV3 and EV5 fashions already offering alternate choices within the shrimp and midsize BEV crossover segments.

“We conducted a form of focal level teams and surveys while developing the all-fresh Seltos. The requests got from customers and sellers became that they predominant to rating reasonably more self-discipline and utility – that’s why we extended the overall dimensions and added a num of fresh convenience facets,” said Cho.

The latter part drove Kia’s resolution to modestly magnify the scale of the following Seltos. At 4430mm prolonged, 1830mm huge and 1600mm excessive, the fresh model is 45mm longer and 30mm wider than earlier than, though peak has been subtly reduced by 35mm to 1600mm.

Cabin and cargo room each and each rise, in phase thanks to a 60mm stretch within the wheelbase to 2690mm, while boot self-discipline heads north to 536 litres (from 498L) on Korean-spec variations. Kia will provide a form of ‘AddGear’ customized cargo house hooks and attachments for the Seltos.

Styling blends existing Seltos cues with futuristic detailing

Cosmetically, the fresh Seltos hews to Kia’s ‘opposites united’ originate philosophy — however overall, the styling for this globally necessary model is much less polarising than about a of global originate chief Karim Habib’s more radical efforts, such because the K4 and EV4 sedans.

Three exterior styling capabilities will likely be available, with acquainted lower-discontinue variants love the Seltos S and Sport the utilize of a conventional ‘leer’ with the variety capped by two flagships: now not handiest by a returning, sportily styled Seltos GT-Line, however additionally a more rugged-searching Seltos X-Line with gunmetal-grey accents.

Whereas the aspect profile is a pastiche of fresh diagonal character lines and more voluminous cladding, cues from the outgoing Seltos (at the side of its distinctive daylight opening) as well because the more slab-sided EV5 model are seen, while ‘broad name scheme’ headlights are constructed-in into a brand fresh grille originate. Wheel dimension ranges from 16- to 19-inches.

Interior packaging is improved, with expanded second-row legroom and reclining rear seats, while a alternate to shift-by-wire transmission preference has increased centre console room. A fresh seat originate incorporates mesh headrests on flagship grades while excessive-energy 100-watt USB-C charging is available on the market to develop working within the vehicle less complicated.

Whereas the look is drawn to the dashboard’s twin 12.3-breeze infotainment shows (with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, Netflix and Disney streaming, ChatGPT integration and over-the-air updates), the presence of clear worrying shortcuts for infotainment, a quantity roller and each and each temperature and fan speed toggles is preferred.

Visually, internal sophistication has stepped up with extra utilize of sustainable materials with appealing textures while ambient contour lights stretches across the flee and doorways. In a cue lifted from the Kia Tasman ute, the door handles are tab-pull sort.

Both front- and all-wheel force configurations will proceed to be available for the Seltos, however now not all powertrains will provide AWD.

A beefed-up electrical structure internal the platform of the fresh Seltos has enabled fitment of more fresh-technology semi-independent riding facets, at the side of Motorway Utilizing Assist 2, supported by fresh ‘fingers-on detection’ for the steering wheel.

Smartphone-as-key will likely be supported with Kia Digital Key 2, which permits vehicle unlocking and birth credentials to be kept within the Apple Pockets app and supported equivalents.