Kia has unveiled the second-generation Seltos, marking a significant redesign for one of its bestselling compact SUVs. The all-new model made its global debut in December 2025, with India set to be the first market to receive it. Prices will be announced on January 2, 2026, and deliveries are expected to begin shortly after, making India the launchpad for this redesigned SUV worldwide.
While the standard petrol and diesel variants will roll out immediately in India—with familiar engines including a 1.5-liter naturally aspirated petrol, 1.5-liter turbo-petrol, and 1.5-liter diesel—the hybrid version tells a different story.
Kia has confirmed that a hybrid variant of the new Seltos will join the lineup globally in 2026. This will be the model’s first-ever hybrid powertrain, featuring advanced technologies such as Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) functionality and Smart Regenerative Braking System 3.0 for optimized energy recovery. The global hybrid is expected to pair a 1.6-liter petrol engine with an electric motor, potentially including an electronic all-wheel-drive (E-AWD) system in select markets.Production for the global model begins in India this month, with rollouts expanding to Korea, North America, Europe, and China throughout 2026.
In contrast, the India-spec Seltos Hybrid is slated for a later arrival, likely by late 2026 or the first half of 2027—with some reports pointing to June 2027. Kia is prioritizing heavy localization of key hybrid components, including batteries, motors, control electronics, and inverters, to ensure competitive pricing in the price-sensitive Indian market.The India version is expected to use a different configuration, potentially based on the locally produced 1.5-liter naturally aspirated petrol engine paired with a strong hybrid system, rather than the global 1.6-liter setup. This adaptation aims to keep costs in check while delivering strong fuel efficiency to compete with rivals like the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder and Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara hybrids.
Atul Sood, Senior Vice President – Sales & Marketing at Kia India, has confirmed the company’s direction toward introducing hybrid technology in the Seltos but emphasized the need for localization. He also hinted that hybrid tech may debut on another Kia model first—widely believed to be the Sorento Hybrid, which has been spotted testing in India and is expected to launch around 2026, possibly during the festive season.
