Kia Seltos 2026: hybrid-only range in Australia to face Hyundai Kona, Toyota Corolla Cross and Honda HR-V

The 2nd-technology Kia Seltos will very best be sold in Australia with hybrid engines in a pass designed to every enchantment to altering buyer tastes and follow now not easy emissions regulations.

“In the 2nd half of the year we [will launch] the all-new Seltos — it’s a important automobile for us,” Kia Australia long-established supervisor of product planning Roland Rivero quick Chasing Autos.

“We can offer it in hybrid very best, as front-wheel power and all-wheel power.”

The pattern will explore the opposite Seltos engines — a mark-leading petrol engine and a top rate turbo petrol option — scrapped for Australia.

Specs for the brand new Seltos hybrid hang now not yet been confirmed by Kia nonetheless the dinky SUV is anticipated to make use of a variant of the petrol-electrical powertrain viewed in its cousin automobile, the Hyundai Kona.

The Kona hybrid’s powertrain pairs a 1.6-litre petrol four-cylinder engine with an electrical motor to salvage a mixed energy and torque outputs of 104kW and 265Nm.

Rivero’s affirmation that the Seltos hybrid will approach with the option of all-wheel power opens the door for more energy in that variant, nonetheless.

The pass will doubtless result in modest mark will increase to the Seltos to legend for the extra expense of the hybrid system.

The decision to pass to a hybrid-very best approach for Seltos will result in drastic gas economic system enhancements for the mannequin.

Currently, the most frugal Seltos 2.0-litre petrol is rated to be pleased 6.9L/100km.

Nonetheless the Hyundai Kona hybrid that can doubtless donate its powertrain drinks appropriate 3.9L/100km — representing a 43 p.c enchancment in efficiency.

For an Australian driving 15,000km per year that represents a gas saving of about $900 yearly, which must restful partly offset anticipated hang mark will increase in time.

Most importantly, the Kona hybrid produces emissions of appropriate 88g/km of CO2, which makes it compliant with Australia’s now not easy Recent Automobile Emissions Celebrated (NVES) regulations unless the tip of 2027.

After that point, jog-in hybrid or battery electrical powertrains will successfully be important for compliance.

Kia executives confirmed that the NVES procedure used to be a deciding facet in inspiring the Seltos to hybrid engines very best.

“It’s necessary to. It is the NVES actuality — nonetheless what we’re finding is that Australians are quite elated to impress the swap to hybrid. They are doing it with Toyota and with Hyundai product.

“We’re confident they’ll manufacture it with Kia product as correctly.”

In future, more Kia product lines that at indicate offer a petrol engine will most doubtless be switched to an all-hybrid lineup.

“It is rather doubtless that there will most doubtless be other pudgy mannequin adjustments [to hybrid-only engines] to practice Seltos within the arriving years,” acknowledged Rivero.