Kia has teased the next-generation Seltos. Now six years into its lifecycle, the subcompact SUV has been redesigned to align with the brand’s latest styling direction, giving it a more EV-inspired look while retaining its combustion engines.
Since its debut in 2019, the Kia Seltos has been a strong performer for the automaker, racking up around 300,000 U.S. sales and establishing itself as one of the brand’s most reliable models.
Kia’s upcoming Seltos will adopt the newest iteration of the brand’s ‘Opposites United’ design language. Its styling will echo recent updates seen on the Carnival and Sorento, highlighted by the sharp-edged ‘Star Map’ lighting signature.
According to the company, some of the styling cues draw inspiration from Kia’s EV lineup rather than its gasoline models. This includes flush door handles that extend when approached or when the key fob is used to activate them.
In contrast, the thick fenders and lower-body cladding are meant to give the impression that the crossover can handle rough terrain.
Kia has confirmed that the next-generation Seltos will come with a broader range of paint options. Meanwhile, the well-known X-Line trim will remain in the lineup, now joined by a sportier GT-Line variant.
Kia will keep the interior under wraps until the full reveal on December 10. The next Seltos will likely feature a pair of large displays housed within a single bezel, with higher trims offering 12.3-inch units similar to those in the Telluride.
According to Carbuzz, the next Seltos will introduce a hybrid option for the first time. This may use the 139-horsepower system from the Kia Niro hybrid, while the 1.6T system from the Sportage, producing 232 horsepower, could be an alternative.
Currently, the Seltos comes with either a 147-horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder or a 190-horsepower 1.6-liter turbo-four.
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