Kia has announced that it will officially unveil the second-generation 2027 Kia Seltos at the 2026 New York International Auto Show next week, on April 1. Despite the date, there are no April Fool’s jokes here. Kia held the global launch of the 2027 Seltos last December, and now it’s almost time to see the full details for the North American models.
We don’t learn much from the shadowy teaser image. However, what we can see is that the updated boxy design and Kia’s signature front lighting are quite similar to what was shown at the global launch. So, what we see next week might not be too different from what we already know. The subcompact SUV debuted a new look at its global launch. It is longer, wider, and more closely aligned with the 2027 Telluride than previous Seltos models.
Hybrid Option Expected for the First Time
One of the main points we will seek confirmation about is the addition of a hybrid powertrain to the Seltos lineup. The global launch confirmed a hybrid variant, but we haven’t received many details about what that means for the North American version.
What we do know is that the hybrid model will feature Kia’s latest regenerative braking system and paddle shifters on the steering wheel for quick gear changes. We also expect the base engine to continue using the previous Seltos’s 2.0-liter inline-4-cylinder engine that produces 147 horsepower. For global markets, additional 1.6-liter turbo engines are available with outputs of 178 hp and a sportier 190 hp. More to come on if these will be offered in the U.S. market.
We will get all the details at the auto show in New York next week and will provide updates as new information becomes available.
In the meantime, if you want to see what the 2027 Kia Seltos looked like at the global launch, check out our first-look video below.
