Next-generation Kia Seltos: Completely redesigned crossover with three styles, large screens, and an engine eligible for preferential recycling fee

Kia has officially unveiled the new generation Seltos — a compact crossover now built on a fresh platform shared with the Kia K3 and Hyundai Kona. The update is not cosmetic but profound: the model received a new body, an expanded range of design options, and an extended set of powertrains. According to brand representatives, the Seltos is now closer to the brand's older models in terms of technology and perception.

Externally, the Seltos fully complies with the modern Kia style. The front end features two-tiered optics, with the main headlight elements hidden in a massive radiator grille. The side profile has become more dynamic: the door handles are visually recessed into the panel, the relief on the doors has become more complex, and the glazing line rises upwards towards the rear. At the same time, the signature "floating roof" effect, familiar from the previous generation, is preserved. At the rear, vertical lights connected by a horizontal LED strip appear.

Kia has enhanced the personalization of the model: the Seltos is now available in three style versions. The basic version offers a classic set of external elements, the GT-Line adds sporty accents and body-colored paintwork, and the X-Line version is designed for fans of conditional "off-road" driving — dark decorative details, a different body kit, and a more severe visual image. The palette has been expanded with new shades of gray, green, and red.

The interior has been redesigned to visually bring the Seltos closer to Kia electric vehicles. The basis of the front panel is two 12.3-inch screens combined into a single zone — this layout is already used in the EV6 and EV9. The central climate control unit has become compact, the deflectors have a narrow elongated shape, and the physical buttons are minimized. The multimedia system supports "over the air" updates and integration with a voice assistant, which allows you to add functions without visiting a service center.

The technical part includes two main engines: a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter with 149 hp and a turbocharged 1.6-liter, which, depending on the market, produces 180 or 193 hp. A 6-speed "mechanics", a 7-speed "robot" and an 8-band "automatic" are available for pairing with the engines. According to Kia, the new platform has improved handling, reduced noise and increased passive safety — although the company has not yet disclosed details.

Production of the new generation will start this year, with India being the first market. Then the crossover will be released in South Korea, Europe and China. The American premiere is scheduled only for 2027 — the brand explains this by its own logistics and prioritization of models.

The Seltos may enter Russia through parallel imports, like most new products from Korean brands. The peculiarity is that the version with a capacity of up to 160 hp formally falls under the updated rules of the preferential recycling fee, which can greatly affect the final cost of the car and make it more attractive to suppliers.