The 2027 Kia Seltos has been detailed for the UK, with new information about powertrains and features that preview what’s to come for the Australian range.
For our friends in the UK, the Seltos will be available as a hybrid-only proposition, offering 2WD and new e-AWD versions, as well as a suite of new features and technologies from larger Kia models.
The Kia Seltos Hybrid (HEV) will be powered by a 1.6-litre ‘GDI’ naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine teamed with an electric motor and battery pack, with the new e-AWD version adding another e-motor on the rear axle – debuting the Hyundai Motor Group’s latest hybrid technology for the Kia brand.
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Seltos HEV 2WD models quote 154PS (113kW) system power in the UK, with the HEV AWD upping that to 178PS (131kW). Both feature a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission as standard.
Further, the Seltos HEV will be the first hybrid model from the Hyundai Motor Group stable to offer vehicle-to-load (V2L) functionality, previously reserved for the brand’s electric vehicles (EVs). As with other vehicles with this technology, the Seltos will be able to power and charge external devices via an adapter.
The broader European market will also receive a 1.6-litre ‘T-GDI’ turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine making 180PS (132kW) and 265Nm, teamed with either a six-speed manual or seven-speed DCT.
It’s the first time the Seltos has been sold in Europe, previously the realm of the now-retired XCeed crossover. UK models will be manufactured in South Korea, another change from the outgoing XCeed’s European production, with Baseline, GT-Line and more rugged X-Line trims confirmed for the UK.
While details of the Australian lineup are still to be announced, CarExpert understands that Kia’s Australian division will follow similar form, moving to an exclusively hybrid-powered lineup for the Seltos.
The second-generation Seltos has grown in almost every dimension. Its wheelbase is 60mm longer (2690mm), 45mm longer overall (4430mm), and 30mm wider (1830mm).
Cargo capacity has also increased from 498 litres to 536 litres, though the new Seltos is now 35mm lower at 1600mm.
Underpinning the new Seltos is the Hyundai Motor Group’s K3 compact car modular architecture, which means it now shares its architecture with Hyundai’s i30 Sedan and Kona, as well as Kia’s Niro and K4, among others.
UK pricing and specifications will be announced during the third quarter of 2026, though highlights will include the Korean brand’s latest Connected Car Navigation Cockpit (ccNC) infotainment architecture, with an available ‘Integrated Panoramic Display’ incorporating a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, 12.3-inch central touchscreen, as well as a 5.3-inch climate display.
Other available features confirmed for the UK-market Seltos include 64-colour interior ambient lighting, a Premium Relaxation Seat for the driver, a “wide panoramic sunroof”, Harman Kardon premium sound system, Kia Digital Key 2.0, and access to the Kia Connect Store – including collaboration with Disney.
The Seltos will also offer a projector-type head-up display compared to the old model’s flip-up polariser, as well as other trick features like an AI Assistant powered by ChatGPT generative AI for “natural, conversational interaction”. Kia Connect Services and over-the-air software updates will also feature..
An extensive suite of driver assistance systems will be offered, including:
- Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist 2 (autonomous emergency braking)
- Highway Driving Assist 2
- Lane Following Assist 2 (lane centring)
- Remote Smart Parking Assist (RSPA, HEV exclusive)
- Parking Collision-Avoidance Assist-Reverse (PCA-R)
- Safe exit warning
- Smart Cruise Control 2.0 (adaptive cruise control)
- Surround-view camera
- Front, side and rear parking sensors
Kia says the Seltos “places safety at the core of its development”, with Level 2 semi-autonomous driving capability “designed to support driver confidence in diverse traffic situations”.
The 2027 Kia Seltos is due to reach Australian showrooms in the fourth quarter (October to December) of 2026, taking over the first-generation model that was first launched in 2019.
As noted earlier, the local range is expected to follow the UK’s lead in being hybrid-only, including the new e-AWD powertrain.
Stay tuned to CarExpert for all the latest news on the next Kia Seltos.
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