Quick take
- The redesigned Seltos is longer, wider, and rides on a 2.4-inch-longer wheelbase, with styling clearly borrowed from the three-row Telluride.
- It gets Kia's first-ever hybrid powertrain in the Seltos, including an available electric all-wheel-drive system — a first for a Kia hybrid SUV of any size.
- Gas trims (2.0L and turbo 1.6L) go on sale in Q2 2026; the hybrid follows in late Q4 2026.
- Pricing starts at $26,485 and tops out at $34,285 for the range-topping X-Line SX.
The outgoing Seltos was Kia's smallest SUV with the biggest personality gap — a genuinely likable subcompact that nonetheless felt like an afterthought next to the Telluride and Sportage. The redesigned 2027 model closes that gap on purpose: it borrows the Telluride's upright grille, boxy stance, and general sense of occasion, then backs it up with more interior space and, for the first time in a Kia Seltos, a hybrid powertrain. Kia calls it a small SUV built to "raise the bar for the segment." Whether that holds up against Honda's HR-V and Hyundai's own related Kona will depend on trim and price, but the redesign itself is real, and most of it lands in the showroom within the next twelve months.
Bigger, in the ways that actually matter
Compared to the outgoing Seltos, the 2027 model is longer and wider, with a wheelbase stretched by 2.4 inches. Kia converted most of that growth into rear-seat space: back-seat legroom is up about an inch, and cargo capacity behind the first row is now estimated at 64.1 cubic feet. Ground clearance climbs from 7.3 to 8.1 inches, which — combined with the standard Multi-Mode AWD system on X-Line trims — gives the Seltos a more credible claim to light off-pavement use than its predecessor.
| Spec | Figure |
|---|---|
| Starting price | $26,485 |
| Top trim (X-Line SX) | $34,285 |
| Base engine | 2.0L I4, 147 hp / 132 lb-ft |
| Turbo engine (X-Line only) | 1.6L turbo I4, 195 hp / 190 lb-ft |
| Hybrid | 1.6L I4 + motor(s), 141 hp / 195 lb-ft |
| Wheelbase growth | +2.4 in. vs. outgoing model |
A first-ever hybrid, with a first-ever AWD trick
The headline mechanical news is the hybrid: a 1.6-liter four-cylinder paired with one or two electric motors and a six-speed dual-clutch automatic, rated at 141 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque. It's available with front-wheel drive or Kia's first electric all-wheel-drive (e-AWD) hybrid setup — likely using a second, rear-mounted motor to drive the back wheels rather than a mechanical driveshaft, the same basic approach other automakers use to add AWD to a hybrid without a major drivetrain redesign. The hybrid is expected to arrive in late Q4 2026, several months after the gas-only 2.0L and turbocharged 1.6L trims, which go on sale in Q2 2026.
Inside, the redesigned Seltos gets standard dual 12.3-inch displays and an available 5-inch dedicated climate panel — the same panoramic-screen-plus-physical-controls approach Kia has rolled out across its newer models, including the EV4. Kia's latest Connected Car Navigation Cockpit adds over-the-air updates, and higher trims offer streaming apps (Netflix, YouTube, Disney+), a 360-degree surround-view camera, and a panoramic sunroof. On the safety side, standard driver-assistance features now include forward collision avoidance with junction-turning detection, parking distance warnings, lane-keeping assist, and driver attention monitoring, with blind-spot view monitoring and rear cross-traffic avoidance available on higher trims.
Trims and how they break down
LX / S (2.0L)
147 hp, FWD or AWD, the value entry point at $26,485 to start.
EX (2.0L)
Adds the bulk of the tech and comfort options short of X-Line exclusivity.
X-Line (1.6T)
Turbocharged 195 hp engine exclusive to this trim, with standard Multi-Mode AWD and the raised ground clearance.
Hybrid (FWD or e-AWD)
Kia's first hybrid Seltos, and first e-AWD hybrid SUV. 141 hp / 195 lb-ft. Arrives after the gas trims.
Inside the cabin
The redesign is boldest inside: a near-30-inch sweep of twin 12.3-inch displays, a squared-off steering wheel, an open center console, and quilted seats — a lot of Telluride energy for a subcompact. Official Kia press photography of the 2027 Seltos interior.
Full photo gallery (24 photos)
All 24 images below are official Kia press photography of the 2027 Seltos — static studio-location shots, dynamic driving shots, and interior detail. Click any photo to enlarge.
Common questions
When does the 2027 Kia Seltos go on sale?
The 2.0L and turbocharged 1.6L gas trims arrive in Q2 2026. The hybrid, including the e-AWD version, is expected in late Q4 2026.
How much does the 2027 Seltos cost?
Kia lists a starting price of $26,485, rising to $34,285 for the range-topping X-Line SX trim.
What's new about the hybrid powertrain?
It's the first hybrid offered in a Kia Seltos, and it introduces Kia's first electric all-wheel-drive (e-AWD) system on a hybrid SUV — a rear electric motor rather than a mechanical AWD driveshaft.
Is the redesigned Seltos bigger than before?
Yes — longer, wider, with a 2.4-inch-longer wheelbase, about an inch more rear legroom, and ground clearance up from 7.3 to 8.1 inches.
On paper, this is exactly the redesign the Seltos needed: more space where buyers actually feel it, a styling language that finally looks related to the rest of Kia's SUV lineup, and a hybrid option that arrives with a genuinely new trick (e-AWD) rather than just a badge. The catch is timing and sequencing — the gas trims land first in Q2 2026, and the hybrid, arguably the more interesting version, doesn't show up until late in the year. Buyers who specifically want the e-AWD hybrid will be waiting the longest for the version Kia is most clearly proud of.
Disclosure. This review is based on manufacturer specifications and Kia's own press materials: Kia Media — 2027 Seltos press release, Kia.com — 2027 Seltos product page, and Kia.com — 2027 Seltos Hybrid. DopamineKart did not receive a loaned vehicle, payment, or other consideration from Kia for this coverage, and no discount or sale information is referenced. Photography via Kia Press Office.
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