2026 Kia Seltos makes world debut

The 2026 Kia Seltos has made its global debut looking a lot more modern, advanced and efficient, even though we’re yet to hear anything concrete about the second-generation compact SUV’s hybrid powertrains.

Walking a fine line between the rugged design of the Sorento and Telluride SUVs and the sleeker, electric EV5 and EV9, the new Seltos looks more muscular than the old model with its wider grille, ‘star map’ lighting signature, bolder lines, and bigger dimensions.

Spanning 4430mm (L) x 1830mm (W) x 1600mm (H), the 2026 Kia Seltos is 45mm longer and 30mm wider than its predecessor and sits on a 60mm-longer wheelbase (2690mm).

The end result is a much more spacious cabin and significantly more cargo capacity – the 536-litre boot (VDA) expands out to 929 litres when the reclining rear seats are folded.

Inside the cabin, you’ll find the latest application of Kia’s current interior design language similar to that of the EV3, EV5 and EV9; drivers are greeted by a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, next to which is a 5.0-inch climate control interface and a matching 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen – all housed behind the same piece of glass.

The centre stack features a line of shortcut buttons for the infotainment system, below which are a quartet of toggles linked to the climate control (temperature, fan speed etc).

One of the big talking points coming into the new Seltos’ reveal was the introduction of hybrid powertrains – including Hyundai Group’s first hybrid e-all-wheel drive (e-AWD) system.

However, there was no mention of the electrified drive units beyond the inclusion of vehicle-to-load (V2L).

“A hybrid variant will join the line-up in 2026 bringing higher efficiency and expanded everyday usability,” Kia said.

“Along with vehicle-to-load (V2L) functionality for powering external devices, the hybrid model will introduce Kia’s Smart Regenerative Braking System 3.0 – a next-generation technology that automatically adjusts regenerative braking based on traffic flow and navigation data to optimise energy recovery.”

The core powertrains in a global context will be a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine (110kW/179Nm) mated to a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and a pair of 1.6-litre turbo-petrols.

The lower-spec 1.6-litre (132kW/265Nm) will be offered with the choice of a six-speed manual or a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission while the higher output (142kW/265Nm) unit will come exclusively with an eight-speed automatic.

With the new Seltos not due in Australia until the fourth quarter of next year, it’s far too early to talk about trim levels, the associated equipment, pricing or even broader specification.

That said, highlights at the top of range will include ambient lighting, a head-up display, 360-degree camera, over-the-air updates, digital key functionality, a panoramic sunroof, power-adjustable front seats, and premium sound systems from Harman Kardon and Bose.

“Local suspension tuning is to commence in early 2026, with further details on powertrains, trim variants, features, and pricing to be announced in due course,” a Kia Australia spokesperson said.