Preview: Next-Gen 2027 Kia Seltos Levels Up
Kia’s smallest SUV is bigger, smarter, and available as a hybrid
A few years ago, the subcompact SUV market blossomed with a wide variety of tall hatchbacks sourced from around the globe. Models like the Chevrolet Trailblazer, Hyundai Kona, and Kia Seltos combined the frugal nature of small cars with the convenience of large doors, a tall roof, and a roomy cabin on a tiny, urban-friendly platform. Now, some of these baby SUVs are growing up, like the redesigned 2027 Kia Seltos.
- Kia Seltos: CR's Take Outside Inside What Drives It Safety and Driver Assistance
Photo: Kia Photo: Kia
CR's Take
At a time when other manufacturers are giving their SUVs rather predictable, incremental redesigns, Kia makes a bold move with the Seltos. Increasing the size slightly and adding a hybrid would be enough to stay on shopping lists, but Kia has gone beyond by squeezing in seemingly every lesson and feature from the brand’s larger, fresher models.
As a result, “entry level” is becoming a bit of a misnomer because some versions of the Seltos will be richly appointed.
Expanding the range with the GT-Line and X-Line moves the Seltos along a similar path as its larger siblings, giving buyers more choices in presentation and feature sets. And advancements in driver assistance systems are always welcomed.
We hope that our chief concerns with the outgoing Seltos have been resolved: a stiff ride, a loud cabin, and lackluster reliability and owner satisfaction. Time and testing will tell.
Outside
The design evolution is striking. Side by side with the outgoing model, the new Seltos showcases natural changes, adopting various styling cues like the flush-mounted door handles, distinct rear corner geometry, and lighting from electric models like the EV6 and EV9. In the process, the vehicle looks more modern, sophisticated, and even upscale than the original Seltos.
Photo: Kia Photo: Kia
Without something to represent scale in the images, it is easy to look at the photos and expect the Seltos to have grown to the proportions of the Sportage or Sorento. Not quite, but it has gained in most dimensions. Increasing slightly in length, width, and wheelbase, the new Seltos provides more passenger and cargo room than before. This should add to its appeal for Americans, who favor a bit more elbow room than other markets, and strengthen the case for owners to trade in for the new model.
The X-Line is distinguished by its elevated ride height, dark metal finishes, and added lower trim elements, which give it a more rugged appearance. The GT-Line favors body-colored accents to convey a sporty personality.
It will be available in a matte finish, which looks cool, but buyers should be aware of paint care restrictions before buying. Often, matte finishes cannot be run through an automatic car wash, and there can be rather stringent guidance on how to clean the paint without scratching.
Integrating the headlamps into the grille to create a “star map” lighting effect, with a twinkling welcome sequence when approaching the vehicle, is neat, as seen on other models. But we don’t love motorized exterior door handles. They can be difficult to operate when coated in winter ice, have an odd shape to grip, and generally complicate one of the simplest functions on a car. But sure, it looks cool, especially on a lower-priced vehicle.
Inside
As we have seen with other recent Kia models, the interior features a modern design with a clean aesthetic that exudes a distinctly upscale feel. The wide panoramic display, as used on other Kias, consists of two 12.3-inch screens and a dedicated 5-inch climate control panel. The benefit to this approach is that climate settings are readily available, without needing to navigate through the function-rich infotainment system. Plus, there are physical buttons for some common functions.
Photo: Kia Photo: Kia
The AI-enabled digital assistant for voice controls and various infotainment functions is run via ChatGPT. When parked, the Seltos will offer access to streaming entertainment and gaming content, as well as personalization through a partnership with Disney.
Behind the not-quite-round steering wheel is a 12-inch head-up display that projects speed, speed limit, directions, and safety-related alerts onto the windshield in front of the driver—a premium feature for the class. There is a driver attention monitor that senses whether hands are on the wheel.
The interior color options include earthy tones inspired by the elements, as well as a traditional, all-business black presentation.
There are USB-C ports throughout the cabin, and a 100-watt USB port is available up front, along with a wireless phone charging mat.
A panoramic moonroof is optional.
The rear seat can recline, and Kia says passenger space there and in the cargo compartment is notably roomier than in the previous Seltos. The automaker says the glass is thicker to reduce interior noise, addressing one of CR’s past criticisms.
What Drives It
Based on the new K3 platform, the Seltos is configured with three gasoline engines for world markets. We expect two of the three will come to the U.S., similar to offerings in the outgoing Seltos.
Based on initial figures released by Kia, this points to the base powertrain being a 149-hp, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with a continuously variable transmission. The step-up is a 193-hp, 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The exact output for our market may shift slightly, but these ratings are similar to the current Seltos. Either configuration would be available in front- or all-wheel drive.
Driver-selectable modes allow a choice of Eco, Normal, Sport—as is common on many vehicles these days. Additionally, all-wheel-drive models have a terrain control selector with choices that include Snow, Mud, and Sand.
The automaker has pledged that a hybrid powertrain is forthcoming, although it has not yet released details. Given the company’s strategy of sharing powertrains, and indeed many features, across its models, it is reasonable to expect the hybrid will be similar to the offering in the Kia Niro. That delightful hatchback is equipped with a 139-hp, 1.6-liter four-cylinder hybrid engine paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. The Seltos hybrid will utilize the company’s next-generation regenerative braking system to capture energy from braking forces. The hybrid will feature Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) capability, allowing the SUV to serve as a mobile power source or even an emergency backup, much like a portable generator.
Kia executives have announced that the automaker is aiming to offer a hybrid version of every non-electric car, so expect to see even more hybrids in the future.
The suspension has been redesigned and tuned for each market. With the last Seltos we tested, ride quality was a shortcoming, so we’re eager to see whether the new model brings a marked improvement.
Safety and Driver Assistance
A generous roster of driver assistance systems will be available on the Seltos, such as automatic emergency braking, lane centering assistance, adaptive cruise control, rear cross traffic warning, surround view camera, and safe exit warning to prevent occupants from opening a door when a vehicle or bicycle is approaching from behind.
There are parking sensors to assist the driver, and available remote parking assistance whereby the Seltos can park itself with the driver out of the SUV.
Highway Driving Assist 2 offers semi-autonomous driving capabilities, combining adaptive cruise control and lane centering assistance with the ability for automated lane changes.
