2026 Kia Seltos Live Launch Updates – Price, Variants, New Features: Launch Event Starts Now In Hyderabad

Kia has confirmed that the Seltos is manufactured for different global markets across three locations. For India, the SUV is produced at the company’s Anantapur plant in Andhra Pradesh. Design concepts and development inputs for the new-generation Seltos were also contributed by Kia’s India R&D centre.

The 2026 Kia Seltos will come with three traction modes – Snow, Mud and Sand. This changes the traction control settings to adapt to the conditions in which the vehicle is being driven.

The TVC shown at the launch event gives us a glimpse of how the new Seltos will look like. We can see that it looks a lot more aggressive and butch, because of which the road presence has also gone up. Moreover, we also get a first look at the matte red colour scheme, which comes with a black roof.

The new Kia Seltos has a trunk capacity of up to 447 litres. This is because the rear seats can fold which helps in opening more trunk space for the luggage and stuff.

• Kia has confirmed that the 2026 Seltos will come with
• Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
• 360 degree camera
• Wireless charging
• Heads-up display
• Highway Driving Assist
• 2-row flat folding seats
• 3 Traction modes
• Ambient lighting
• Dual pane panoramic sunroof
• Dual zone climate control
• Rear occupant alert
• Blind View Monitor

Kia will soon start the global premiere of the new-gen Seltos. The event is happening in Hyderabad. This is the first time the world gets to see the new-gen Seltos.

Kia has revealed a set of design updates on the new-generation Seltos through official teasers released ahead of today’s launch. These include:

– Vertical DRLs

– Redesigned headlamps

– New alloy wheels

– Larger, wider front grille

– Flush door handles

– Refreshed rear design

– Vertical, connected tail-lamps

With Kia unveiling the second-generation Seltos today, a common question is whether the SUV will also get an electric variant. As of now, Kia has made no official announcement regarding a Seltos EV.

That said, an electric version would make sense in the current market context. The Seltos shares its platform lineage with models from Hyundai, including the Creta, which already has an electric counterpart.

The current Seltos also comes with a 1.5-litre diesel engine, which will also be available with the 2026 Seltos. It puts out 115 hp and 250 Nm. Gearbox options include a 6-speed manual gearbox or a torque converter automatic transmission. People who have high running, will prefer this engine because of higher fuel efficiency figure.

Kia also offers the current Seltos with a 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine. It is tuned for 158 bhp of max power and 253 Nm of peak torque. It is offered with a 6-speed iMT or a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. This engine would also be offered with the new-gen Seltos.

The current naturally aspirated petrol engine produces 115 hp of max power and a peak torque output of 144 Nm. It is offered with a 6-speed manual gearbox or a CVT automatic transmission. This is the same engine that is also doing duty on the Hyundai Creta.

The new Seltos might also offer a hybrid engine when it is launched. At the 2025 Investor’s Day, the brand confirmed that they have a hybrid version of the 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine ready. The electrified version will offer better fuel efficiency when compared to the non-hybrid engine. Currently, the engine produces 115 hp and 144 Nm, it is offered with a 6-speed manual gearbox or a CVT automatic transmission.

As of now, Kia has not confirmed whether the new Seltos will come with all-wheel drive in the Indian market or not. However, in the global market, the brand already sells the all-wheel drive versions of the Seltos. Considering the fact that Maruti Suzuki and Toyota have started offering all-wheel drive with the Urban Cruiser Hyryder, Victoris and Grand Vitara, and Tata Motors is also prepping the all-wheel drive version of the Sierra, there is a possibility that this time the 2026 Seltos might come with all-wheel drive.

The 2026 Kia Seltos is expected to be offered in Tech Line, GT Line and X-Line. The Tech Line will be the standard trim whereas the GT Line will be the sportier one. The X-Line will be the top-end with the matte finish.

The 2026 Kia Seltos could be equipped with six airbags as standard, a 360-degree camera, an electronic parking brake featuring auto-hold, a tyre-pressure monitoring system, and Level 2 Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). Additionally, it will include Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), Stability Control, and Traction Control as well.

Kia is likely to add more premium tech, including possibly new screens, new upholstery, enhanced connected tech, and more comfort-focused cabin upgrades. The brand could add features such as ventilated rear seats, an electric tailgate and boss mode, among others.

The 2026 Seltos will come with Level 2 ADAS with features like adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist and a comprehensive airbag suite is expected. There would also be collision avoidance assist, blind spot detection, high beam assist and driver attention warning, among others.

The naturally aspirated petrol engine will be offered with a 6-speed manual gearbox and a CVT automatic transmission. The turbo-petrol engine could be offered with an iMT transmission and a dual-clutch automatic transmission. Finally, the turbo diesel engine will be offered with a 6-speed manual gearbox and a torque converter automatic transmission.

Kia is expected to retain existing engine options, including the 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol, 1.5-litre turbo petrol, and a turbo diesel engine as well. A hybrid powertrain may also be introduced, and there is also a possibility that an all-electric powertrain might be available in the future.

Unlike the current Seltos, the 2026 model looks boxier and bigger with sharper design cues, echoing global models like the Telluride. Expect a more premium and substantial stance when compared to the current generation.

The new Seltos embraces Kia’s updated design philosophy with a bold front grille, vertical LED DRLs, refreshed bumpers and connected taillamps, giving it a more modern, aggressive stance when compared to the current one.

The Seltos was introduced in the Indian market back in 2019. Since then the brand has sold over 5.5 lakh units in the Indian market. That is not it, Kia also exports the Seltos from India to other countries. The brand has exported around 1.55 lakh units of the Seltos.

The Seltos is such a huge success in the Indian market because it offers a near perfect blend of everything that a customer is looking for from a compact SUV. There is a decent amount of space on offer, the Seltos has always been a great looker, it comes loaded with features, safety tech and plenty of engine and gearbox combos. All of this ensures that there is a variant out there for everyone.

The Seltos was the first product that Kia launched in the Indian market back in 2019. The SUV received over 50,000 bookings within just two and a half months.