After 6 Years Full Change New Kia Seltos 2026 Review (trim & Price)

Kia’s flagship compact SUV, the Seltos, has returned with a new look after six years.

On the afternoon of the 10th, Kia unveiled the world premiere video of “The All New Seltos 2026,” introducing the second-generation model for the first time.

Launched in 2019, the first-generation Seltos has sold approximately 1.88 million units worldwide, establishing itself as a core model in Kia’s SUV lineup.

The all-new model stands out with significant improvements, including the introduction of a hybrid powertrain for the first time and a larger body.

Kia President and CEO Song Ho-sung said, “Through market research targeting existing Seltos owners, the most frequent requests were for a wider variety of powertrains and more spacious interior room.”

In response, the new Seltos offers two powertrain options: a 1.6-liter hybrid and a 1.6-liter turbo gasoline engine.

After 6 years Full change New Kia Seltos 2026

The Seltos is Kia’s global strategic model, so it seems they had no longer had a choice but to reveal it on a very tight schedule to match worldwide timelines. Now, let’s talk about the design. According to Kia, this design is the vehicle that best expresses the brand’s bold and progressive identity. It definitely feels very “Kia-ish,” doesn’t it?

They also say it embodies Kia’s commitment to creating sustainable mobility solutions. That sounds a bit grandiose, and honestly, if they were serious about sustainability, you’d think it would have launched as a full EV… but anyway, that’s what they’re claiming.

Kia says it offers outstanding design, practical product value, and even a brand-new hybrid powertrain in the lineup — the hybrid we’ve all been waiting for. On top of that, they claim it has competitive strength that goes beyond its class, which basically means “it got a lot bigger.”

When a carmaker leans too hard on emotional appeal and long explanations, it sometimes feels like they’re hiding a lack of actual features — but let’s take a closer look at the car itself.

Front Design

Let’s start with the front. Kia says the Seltos was created based on their “Opposites United” design philosophy. Everyone’s familiar with it by now, right? It’s about harmoniously combining completely contrasting concepts — it could look unbalanced, but they made it work.

They combined the solid style of a traditional SUV with a futuristic image, and the explanation actually makes sense. The grille stretches aggressively from end to end, giving off a classic old-school SUV vibe. These days most brands are hiding or eliminating grilles altogether (like the K8 where you can barely find it), but this time Kia deliberately went with a big, bold, old-Jeep-style grille.

The headlamps are vertically long inside a plastic cover and split top-and-bottom, so the lamps and grille feel integrated and look even more imposing. The Tiger Nose is properly emphasized, and the Star Map signature lighting on the edges clearly screams “this is a Kia.”

The lower skid plate is rugged and well-executed too. The previous generation had lots of busy, rounded lines, but this one uses sharp angles and straight lines for a much cleaner, more modern and futuristic appearance.

There’s also a GT-Line and an X-Line — the X-Line has a boxier lower bumper design that gives off strong Jeep Renegade vibes, which is pretty unique.

Side Profile

Moving to the side, you immediately feel how much bigger the car has become:

Overall length +40 mm
Wheelbase +60 mm → now 2,690 mm
Only 65 mm shorter wheelbase than the Sportage (almost the same size)
80 mm longer and 30 mm longer wheelbase than the Hyundai Kona

So the claim that it “transcends its class” really isn’t an exaggeration.

The door handles are flush-type (the pop-out kind) — the first time on a Kia with an internal combustion engine. Until now we’ve only seen that on EVs or the Grandeur/Genesis level. The lower chrome molding might be polarizing, but it definitely adds toughness. The wheels have grown to around 19 inches, making it look much more commanding.

Rear Design

The tailgate is wide, and the horizontally/vertically connected lamps give a very confident stance. But… it looks really familiar — basically identical to the EV5, right?

One unusual detail: the taillamps slightly protrude from the body. Until now Kia bragged about stretching the Star Map signature as far outward as possible along the body, but now they’ve gone a step further and literally made it stick out. The protruding design definitely makes it look wider and more aggressive.

The exhaust is completely hidden, and the rear wiper is also hidden-type — very clean finish.

Interior

Inside, Star Map signature ambient lighting is applied to the doors and console. Every trim gets only two-tone color schemes (Gray+Black, Brown+Gray, or Black+Green for X-Line) — no single-tone option at all. That shows how high customer expectations have become.

Displays are a panoramic setup with a 12.3-inch digital cluster + 12.3-inch center screen connected as one piece, plus a 5-inch climate control screen in the middle (the style that started with the EV9). The shifter is column-type (though clean domestic trims for Korea might still get a mechanical knob). HUD has been upgraded from the old combiner type to glass-projection type, and the panoramic sunroof is significantly larger. You also get front relaxation comfort seats and manually reclining second-row seats. At this price point, that’s genuinely class-transcending.

Trunk capacity is 536 L, with a two-level luggage board and Kia’s “Add Gear” mounts included.

Advanced Safety & Convenience Features

Steering wheel grip detection (no warning if you’re not holding it)
Forward/rear-side collision avoidance, lane departure prevention, safe exit assist
High-beam assist, rear side-view monitor
Lane Following Assist 2, Highway Driving Assist 2
Remote Smart Parking Assist
Harman Kardon premium audio
Kia Connect Store (YouTube, games, sports/Disney themes, etc.)

Unfortunately, the flexible large single display “PlayOS” is missing — a bit disappointing for a car with the latest ccNC infotainment system.

Powertrains

Now only two options:

1.6 Turbo gasoline (193 hp) → AWD available + Terrain modes (Snow/Mud/Sand)
1.6 Hybrid (same spec as the Niro)
- 6-speed DCT
- V2L (220 V household outlet) support
- Smart Regenerative Braking 3.0 (almost one-pedal driving possible)
- Official fuel economy ~20.8 km/L (many real-world users report over 25 km/L)

The newer TMED2 hybrid system isn’t used, but the current Niro hybrid is already so well-reviewed that this should still be very satisfying. They probably kept the proven system to minimize price increases.

New Kia Seltos 2026 Trim & Price

The 2026 Kia Seltos is a compact SUV available in four main trims: LX, S, EX, and SX. All trims seat five passengers and offer front-wheel drive (FWD) as standard, with all-wheel drive (AWD) available on LX, S, and EX (standard on SX).

It comes with two engine options: a base 2.0L four-cylinder (146-147 hp, 132 lb-ft torque, CVT transmission) on LX, S, and EX, and a 1.6L turbocharged four-cylinder (190-195 hp, 195 lb-ft torque, 8-speed automatic transmission) standard on SX. Fuel economy ranges from 25-31 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain.

Starting MSRPs (excluding destination fee of ~$1,445, taxes, and options) are as follows, based on official Kia pricing:

New Kia Seltos 2026 LX (Entry-level)

Starting price: ~$23,690
Engine: 2.0L naturally aspirated (146 hp)
Key points: 17-inch wheels, 8-inch touchscreen, basic safety features, cloth seats, no keyless entry or push-button start
→ Cheapest, very basic convenience

New Kia Seltos 2026 S (Popular mid-tier)

Starting price: ~$25,390
Same 2.0L 146 hp engine
Adds over LX: smart key, push-button & remote start, rear cross-traffic alert, nicer cloth seats
→ Best-selling trim for good value

New Kia Seltos 2026 EX (Sweet spot / most recommended)

Starting price: ~$26,390
Still the 2.0L 146 hp engine
Big upgrades: 10.25-inch dual screens (infotainment + digital gauges), heated front seats, power driver’s seat, wireless charging pad, roof rails
→ Most reviewers say this is the best balance of price and features

New Kia Seltos 2026 SX (Top / performance trim)

Starting price: ~$31,390
Engine: 1.6L turbo (195 hp) + 8-speed auto
Standard AWD (others have AWD as option)
Luxury stuff: leather/SynTex seats, Bose audio, LED lights, sunroof option, ventilated seats option, surround-view camera
→ Fastest and most loaded version

New Kia Seltos 2026 Review

Kia is aiming for annual global sales of 430,000 units with the new Seltos. This is the first time it’s entering the European market as well, so it’s now truly a global strategic model covering India, China, the U.S., Korea, and Europe.

Overall — design, size, premium interior feel, and the long-awaited hybrid option — this facelift genuinely delivers class-transcending product strength.