New Kia Seltos inbound as "expressive" SUV to rival VW T-Roc

Kia has revealed the second-generation Seltos, and the big-selling SUV is planned to be sold in the UK and Europe for the first time next year.

Not quite as long, wide or tall as the Sportage, and slightly larger than the Niro, the new Seltos has been positioned as an “expressive” alternative to its Sportage best-seller and will go up against the Volkswagen T-Roc, which itself entered a new generation in August.

Its “lifestyle” positioning means the Seltos is sold with a range of loud colours, including Iceberg Green and Magma Red, and can be used for light off-roading.

Indeed, the new Seltos sports a rugged design that includes skidplates and can be optioned with all-wheel drive, which comes with multi-link rear suspension and a range of off-Tarmac drive options.

It sits on the same K3 platform as the Niro and Kona. Power options include a 147bhp 2.0-litre pure-petrol and a 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol – the latter available with either 178bhp and a six-speed manual gearbox or 192bhp and an eight-speed automatic. 

A hybrid variant will arrive in 2026, confirmed Kia. It is expected to use the same powertrain as offered by the Niro, which adds an electric motor to the 1.6-litre unit for a combined 139bhp.

These options “meet diverse customer needs across global markets”, said Kia. It has not confirmed which will be offered in the UK, but the pure-petrol isn’t likely to make it here given strict emissions rules.

This radical repositioning for the Seltos is part of an effort from Kia to expand the SUV’s appeal worldwide, but especially in Europe and the UK where it will be sold for the first time. This is why, as standard, the Seltos gets a 12.3in infotainment screen, a sunroof, second-row reclining seats and a head-up display, owing to an appetite in these markets for premium features compared with other regions. It also offers 536 litres of boot space.