2027 Kia Seltos

The 2027 Kia Seltos arrives with a new look and a new attitude, strutting into Kia’s SUV family with a similar swagger to the new Kia Telluride, but in a smaller package. The second-generation Seltos grows a couple of inches longer, more than an inch wider, and it has a longer wheelbase, which should lead to more interior space. Several powertrains have been introduced for the Seltos sold globally, including a hybrid powertrain for the first time. Kia has not announced which of these powertrains will be offered in North America.

In addition to the new look and larger proportions, the redesigned 2027 Kia Seltos now comes with two new trim levels, including the off-road-like X-Line variant and a sportier GT-Line model. It shares a platform with the K3 compact car sold in other markets and has three engine options to choose from. The revamped interior features a low, horizontal dash and an open floor plan, similar to what’s found in electric vehicles. The rear seats recline, and even though this is an entry-level SUV model for the brand, Kia will sell it with premium features such as a Bose audio system.

Before buying a Seltos, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should really pay. Kia Seltos resale value has been above average for the segment, and we expect that to remain the case with the 2027 model. Recouping more money when selling a vehicle can mean a bigger down payment and lower monthly payments on the next one.

A wide, low dash follows the design trend of other Kia SUVs, including the new Telluride. A thin band of vents separates the dash elements, and the steering wheel follows the same design as the Telluride, which itself looks more luxurious than one might expect from a Kia.

A 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster runs into a 12.3-inch touchscreen that curves toward the driver. Below it are slender horizontal vents and a thin bar of climate toggles that limit reliance on the touchscreen. A mechanical gear shifter remains in the console, though that probably won’t be the case for the hybrid.

The new Kia Seltos looks like a smaller version of the Kia Telluride. The Seltos has buff proportions and extends 1.8 inches longer, with a wheelbase that is 2.4 inches longer than its predecessor. It’s also 1.1 inches wider.

The Seltos adopts a tall and broad grille and a vertical tailgate topped with a roof spoiler. Up front, the brand’s “tiger nose” grille remains, but it’s flanked by vertical indicator lights that are amber, like the Telluride. In back, thin vertical taillights match the front, and a light bar spans the tailgate.

It rolls on wheels ranging in size from 16 to 19 inches. Round wheel arches clad in black support pronounced fenders, and a floating roof detail at the rear appears well-integrated into the clean profile.

Macho SUV look
The redesigned Seltos may be small but it has a big presence. Vertical ends and a broad, tall grille bookend a flush exterior studded with bulging wheel arches to give it the boxy SUV vibe that’s all the rage.

Hybrid variant
Kia hasn’t said much, other than a hybrid will join the Seltos lineup in 2026 for the first time. This will give Kia an efficient competitor to the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid and the Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid.

Updated regenerative braking system
Kia says that the hybrid model will feature the brand’s latest version of its regenerative braking system. We appreciate this feature in other Kia hybrids because it lets the driver control the vibe. In Sport mode, the paddle shifters let you change gears for the engine to rev higher for more power, for instance. In other modes, the paddle shifters become regen brake settings that let you recapture energy and conserve fuel.

Dual 12.3-inch displays
Kia’s twin 12.3-inch displays arrive in the 2027 Seltos, which is unusual for an entry-level SUV. In other Kia models that utilize this setup, the interface and user experience surpass the competition in terms of ease of use and functionality. Yet there are buttons and toggles for temperature and fan speed, which we prefer.

Available all-wheel drive (AWD)
Front-wheel drive (FWD) will be standard, but AWD will be offered, giving the Seltos an edge over other small crossovers, such as the Chevy Trax, that are FWD only.

Globally, Kia will offer three engine options for the 2027 Seltos. We don’t know which ones will be offered in North America, only that a hybrid version will follow.

The base engine will likely be the carryover 2.0-liter 4-cylinder that makes 147 horsepower. It pairs with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) with FWD.

Two turbocharged 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engines will also be offered on the 2027 Seltos, one rated at 178 hp and a sportier one, likely in the GT-Line, rated at 190 hp. A 6-speed manual will be offered, but we highly doubt it’ll come to the U.S. There could be a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, but due to the problems that transmission has had in the U.S., we expect it to come with an 8-speed automatic.

Kia released no details on the hybrid, other than that it’s on the way.

All-wheel drive will be available, and the Seltos will feature compact MacPherson front struts. The rear suspension will be either a basic torsion beam or a more dynamic multi-link setup.