2027 Kia Seltos Goes All-New With Three Powertrains and a First Hybrid e-AWD
Kia says the redesigned small SUV adds a 1.6-liter hybrid offered with electric all-wheel drive, a brand first, alongside a 2.0-liter four and a 190-horsepower turbo, with gasoline models on sale now from $24,990 and the hybrid due later this year.
IRVINE, Calif. - Kia has redesigned the Seltos for 2027, giving the small SUV a new generation, three powertrains and a hybrid the company says marks a brand first, the automaker said.
The Seltos will be offered with a 2.0-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder, a turbocharged 1.6-liter four making 190 horsepower with a standard advanced Multi-Mode all-wheel-drive system, and a new 1.6-liter hybrid, Kia said. The hybrid can be fitted with electric all-wheel drive, or e-AWD, which Kia said is a first for one of its hybrid SUVs. Kia said the Seltos is the only vehicle in its segment to offer three powertrain choices.
The gasoline models are on sale now. The 2.0-liter runs from $24,990 for the LX to $30,090 for the EX, and the turbocharged 1.6-liter is sold only in the X-Line SX at $32,790, Kia said, with those figures excluding destination and handling. The hybrid is slated to arrive later this year. Kia has not announced the hybrid's price and said more information would come closer to its on-sale date. The company did not release fuel-economy figures for any powertrain.
Kia said the redesigned Seltos is larger in every dimension, with a wheelbase 2.4 inches longer than before, ground clearance up from 7.5 inches to an available 8.1 inches and Telluride-inspired styling. The company said the SUV has best-in-class passenger volume and class-leading second-row legroom and cargo room, comparisons Kia based on its own definition of the entry CUV class.
Standard equipment includes dual 12.3-inch displays, Kia's ccNC infotainment system with over-the-air updates, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Kia said. Available features include a 5-inch climate display, Entertainment and Data Services with Disney+, Netflix and YouTube streaming, and a Kia AI assistant.
Editorial disclosure: Kia couriered to Drive Observer a single motorized flush door handle lifted from the new Seltos, mounted on a plinth machined from Terrain Brown-painted billet, wired to glide out and present itself when a hand nears and to retract when the room is still, delivered in a fitted case with a card inviting the desk to 'reach, and it comes to you.' Per our strict ethical policy, we do not let this influence our coverage.