New-gen Kia Seltos spied testing for first time

The mid-size compact SUV segment is one of the most sought-after spaces in the country’s passenger vehicle (PV) industry. Among the plethora of models available, Kia Seltos is one of the most popular ones in the market. The Seltos has almost everything going right for itself including an eye-catching design, premium interiors, top-notch features, plenty of engine and transmission options to opt from.

First introduced in August 2019, the Seltos received a mid-cycle facelift in July 2023. It seems the Korean carmaker has already started developing the second generation model of the Seltos. A heavily wrapped test mule was recently caught on the cameras in South Korea which is believed to be the second-gen Seltos.

New-gen Kia Seltos: Exterior details

The latest spy images suggest no major changes in the overall shape and silhouette of the car, however, the prototype looks slightly longer than the current model. That said, the front and rear ends of the SUV will see significant changes. The front face looks upright with squared LED headlights and LED DRLs. The grille is well concealed under the camouflage but appears to get rectangular with vertical slats.

Similarly the rear is completely redesigned with new L-shaped LED taillamps which is reminiscent of Kia’s flagship model— the EV9. We haven’t come across images of the interiors yet but we expect it to be modern and equipped with all bells and whistles as the current model.

New-gen Kia Seltos: Expected powertrain

Technical details regarding the new-gen Kia Seltos are still scarce but we expect Kia to offer multiple engine options with the mid-size SUV. These include a 158 bhp turbo petrol engine, a 114 bhp diesel engine, and a new petrol hybrid engine. The new 1.6-litre hybrid petrol engine kicks out 141 bhp and has been sourced from the new  Hyundai Kona Hybrid. Transmission options will include 6-speed manual, 6-speed clutchless manual, 6-speed torque converter, CVT, and 7-speed dual-clutch automatic.

New-gen Kia Seltos: Expected India launch

From the looks of it, the second-gen Seltos is still in its early stages of development. Reports suggest that the new Seltos could make its global debut sometime next year. Therefore, a market launch in India doesn’t look probable before 2026.