Kia is expanding its SUV lineup with the introduction of the new, second-generation Kia Seltos. The name probably won’t ring any bells since the first-generation Seltos isn’t sold in the UK. The all-new version will be, however, to fill the (small) gap between the Kia Niro and Kia Sportage. It will go on sale in 2026 and will be available with either petrol or hybrid power.
Here’s what we know so far about the 2026 Kia Seltos.
2026 Kia Seltos: Price, Specs and Release Date
- 2026 Kia Seltos: styling and dimensions
- 2026 Kia Seltos: interior design and practicality
- 2026 Kia Seltos: engines and driving dynamics
- 2026 Kia Seltos: price and release date
2026 Kia Seltos: styling and dimensions
The 2026 Kia Seltos is quite different to the first one. That car was a rather bland, generic-looking crossover, but the new Seltos has the bold, clean lines and futuristic details we’ve come to expect from a modern Kia. It’s also slightly larger than the first-generation car, and has a more rugged look.
From many angles, the new Seltos looks like a scaled-down version of the larger Kia EV5, with a similar profile and side window line. The resemblance is especially strong at the rear, with both cars having full-width light bars that extend downwards into the bumpers, as well as black trim at the top of the ‘C’ pillars that creates a ‘floating roof’ effect.
At the side, the Seltos has diagonal character lines that differ from the more horizontal emphasis of the EV5, while at the front the Seltos has a look all of its own, with its main headlights set into a wide front grille and separate vertical secondary light units at each side.
The Kia Seltos is significantly larger than the Kia Stonic, and sits between the Kia Niro and Kia Sportage in size. At 4,430mm long, it’s 10mm longer than the Niro, and 110mm (about four inches) shorter than the Sportage. It’s a fraction wider and taller than the Niro, too, but it’s 33mm narrower and 45mm lower than the Sportage. Overall, the Seltos’ dimensions are within a few millimeters of the current Nissan Qashqai's, putting it squarely in the mid-size SUV category.
2026 Kia Seltos: interior design and practicality
If you’re thinking the interior of the Kia Seltos looks familiar, that's because the design is extremely similar to that in all of Kia’s latest models. As with the EV3, EV4, EV5 and updated Stonic, there’s a widescreen display that incorporates two separate 12.3-inch screens and what Kia describes as a ‘low, horizontal dashboard (that) enhances forward visibility and creates a sense of openness’.
While many functions are controlled through the central touchscreen there’s a row of physical shortcut buttons below it. Beneath that there are simple rocker-style switches for the air-con. There are also ‘proper’ switches on the steering wheel and individual buttons for the windows and door mirrors on the driver’s door armrest.
Practicality is likely to be very impressive. A wheelbase of 2,690mm outdoes both the Kia Sportage and Nissan Qashqai, while the availability of reclining rear seats and a panoramic sunroof should boost onboard comfort.
Boot space is another strong point, with a capacity of 536 litres that’s more than any Qashqai can manage. In fact, it’s only 5 litres less than the plug-in hybrid version of the Sportage, although hybrid Sportage models have 587-591 litres of space.
2026 Kia Seltos: engines and driving dynamics
Unlike new Kia models such as the EV3, EV4 and EV5, the Seltos isn’t an electric car. Instead, it will be available with petrol or hybrid power.
So far, Kia has released details for three engines: a 1.6-litre petrol with either 178bhp or 190bhp and a 2.0-litre petrol with 147bhp. The brand hasn’t said which (if any) of these options will be offered for the UK, but the lower-powered 1.6 is a shoe-in since this is already offered in the recently-launched Kia K4. Also unconfirmed is whether the UK will get the option of four-wheel drive (rather than front-wheel drive) that’s offered in other markets.
Kia has said that a hybrid model will join the Seltos lineup in 2026. It’s expected to be a self-charging rather than plug-in hybrid but tech details and UK availability haven't been confirmed.
2026 Kia Seltos: price and release date
The Kia Seltos will arrive in showrooms in India (where it’s built) in January 2026, and will be introduced in Korea, North America, Europe and China over the coming months. Kia has confirmed that it will be available in the UK, with an on-sale date expected to be announced in early 2026.
Prices haven’t been announced but we’d expect them to start at about £28,000 for petrol models, given that the Niro Hybrid and Sportage both kick off at about £31,000.
Standard equipment is likely to follow the usual Kia pattern, so you can expect an entry-level model that’s pretty well stacked. Trim levels available in other markets (and most likely in the UK) will include X-Line, which adds gunmetal trim and ‘projects rugged capability’, as well well as the familiar GT-Line spec that gives a sportier look.