The Seltos was Kia’s maiden product in India when it was introduced in June 2019. Over six years later, Kia has now debuted the second-generation Seltos SUV. The model has been a solid brand-builder for Kia in India, which is why it’s no surprise that the company has once again opted to globally debut the second-gen model right here. The new Kia Seltos comes with a completely overhauled exterior and interior, but mechanically, it remains unchanged from its predecessor.
- Second-gen Seltos gets petrol, turbo-petrol and diesel engine options
- It’ll be available in Tech Line, GT Line and X-Line trims, as before
- New Seltos bookings open on December 11 for Rs 25,000
Bookings for the new Kia Seltos will commence from December 11 for a token amount of Rs 25,000. Deliveries are slated to begin around mid-January following the price announcement on January 2.
New Kia Seltos exterior design
Up front, the new Seltos seems to have taken a leaf out of the latest Telluride’s design. The new grille is unmissable thanks to its jagged appearance with vertical gun-metal accents, spanning almost the entire width of the fascia. Housed at the grille’s edges are the new squarish headlamps, which continue the vertical theme with the LED daytime running lamp signatures; there’s also a separate lightning bolt-like LED signature at the extreme edges of the face. Lower down, the bumper gets contrasting black cladding and rectangular body-coloured accents for the fog-lamp surrounds.
In profile, the new Seltos sports sharper character lines, thicker cladding over the wheel arches and door sills and new flush-fitting door handles. The window line gets the same pinched treatment over the C-pillar as before, and there’s a contrasting black trim connecting it to the rear windscreen, giving it a wraparound effect. Speaking of which, the tailgate boasts a cleaner design, as the number plate has been relocated to the bumper, but the most defining feature is, of course, the inverted L-shaped LED tail-lamps bearing a resemblance to those of the Carens Clavis. There’s also a prominent roof spoiler and a new 18-inch alloy-wheel design with geometric motifs.
The new Seltos is also larger than its predecessor, with the wheelbase having grown by 80mm. This should translate into better interior space. Overall, it is 95mm longer, 30mm wider but 10mm shorter.
New Kia Seltos interior and features
Just like the exterior, the interior has been completely overhauled, but there’s some familiarity with existing Kia models. For instance, the panoramic display, comprising a 12.3-inch infotainment screen, a 12.3-inch instrument cluster and a 5.0-inch HVAC display, is shared with the Syros. The layout of the physical switchgear on the centre console is also similar to that of the Syros. However, the Seltos gets an all-new, three-spoke steering wheel with new drive and traction mode buttons.
There’s also tasteful use of ambient lighting and soft-touch leatherette on the dashboard and door pads, imparting a premium feel to the cabin. Thankfully, Kia hasn’t gone overboard with screens and has retained plenty of buttons, dials and knobs for ease of operation.
On the equipment front, the top-spec Kia Seltos gets ventilated front seats, a panoramic sunroof, a wireless charger, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a powered driver’s seat with memory function, rear sunshades, dual-tone leatherette upholstery, a 360-degree camera, 64-colour ambient lighting, an 8-speaker Bose sound system, OTA updates, connected tech and a Level 2 ADAS suite. Standard safety features include 6 airbags, ESC, all-wheel disc brakes, hill-start assist, a tyre-pressure monitoring system (TPMS), ISOFIX anchorages, a rear camera, and more.
New Kia Seltos powertrain options
The new Seltos carries over all three engine options from its predecessor, including their respective gearbox options. The range starts with a 115hp/144Nm 1.5-litre petrol engine offered with a 6-speed MT or a CVT gearbox. Then there’s the 160hp/253Nm 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine with a 6-speed iMT or a 7-speed DCT gearbox option. There’s also the 116hp/250Nm 1.5-litre diesel engine, available with a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed torque-converter automatic gearbox.
New Kia Seltos trims and variants
As before, the Seltos will continue to be offered in Tech Line, GT Line and X-Line trims. These are set apart by minor cosmetic differences on the outside and different upholstery inside. The Tech Line trims comprise HTE, HTE (O), HTK, HTK (O), HTX and HTX (A). Meanwhile, the GT Line comes in GTX and GTX (A) trims, also packing some additional features over the Tech Line trims. The X-Line styling package, which brings blacked-out aesthetic bits, can only be opted for on the GT Line trims.
Prices for the new Kia Seltos are set to be announced in early 2026. The midsize SUV segment is currently quite abuzz with new launches like the Maruti Victoris and Tata Sierra, along with the new Renault Duster set to join the ranks pretty soon. The Seltos will also continue to rival the likes of the Hyundai Creta, Toyota Hyryder, Skoda Kushaq, Volkswagen Taigun and Honda Elevate, among others.
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