The festive season’s thrills and alluring deals could make it tempting to buy a brand-new mid-size SUV, but the 2026 Kia Seltos might be worth it.
5 Big Reasons to Wait for the Next-Gen Kia Seltos: The second version of the mid-size SUV will be the 2026 Kia Seltos. Here are five reasons why it will be well worth the wait for the three new mid-size SUVs that are anticipated to be introduced in India next year. The hybrid is anticipated to arrive in India by the end of 2027, while Kia India will launch the second-generation Seltos in early 2026.
Key Details
| Specification | Details |
| Model | 2026 Kia Seltos (Second Generation) |
| Launch Timeline (India) | Early 2026 |
| Hybrid Version Launch | Late 2026 or by 2027 |
| Segment Rivals | Maruti Grand Vitara, Toyota Hyryder |
| Design Changes | Higher than the current Seltos lineup due to added features |
| Display Setup | Trinity Display – 12.3-inch infotainment, 5-inch climate touchscreen, 12.3-inch instrument cluster |
| Software | ccNC (Connected Car Navigation Cockpit) |
| Comfort Features | Powered & ventilated driver seat with memory, sliding & reclining rear seats, wireless charger |
| Dimensions | Length increase by ~100 mm (to ~4,465 mm) |
| Fuel Efficiency (Current) | 17.0–20.7 km/l (expected to improve) |
| Hybrid Engine | 1.5L petrol-electric drivetrain (global spec) |
| Expected Price Range | Higher than current Seltos lineup due to added features |
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1. New comfort features
The next generation Seltos from Kia will come equipped with several enhanced comfort features. The powered and ventilated driver’s chairs should have a new memory feature added by the firm, allowing users to easily adjust them to their desired setting. The rear seat’s sliding, reclining, and ventilation features will probably be new as well.
Kia intends to control costs through localisation, although prices will still be higher than those of the present Seltos line. The hybrid Seltos is a crucial component of Kia’s long-term strategy. It is positioned directly against the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara and Toyota Hyryder in one of India’s most competitive SUV segments.
2. All-new design
The interior and exterior of the 2026 Kia Seltos will be entirely redesigned. Some of the outward features, including redesigned squarish headlights, vertical LED DRLs, a more noticeable grille, and tail lamps modelled after the Kia EV5, have already been glimpsed in spy photos. Among other things, a new multi-colour ambient lighting system, a slimmer dashboard, and more upscale décor components should give the interior a more refined appearance.
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3. Kia Trinity Display
The next-generation Seltos from Kia are probably going to include three cockpit screens, similar to the Trinity Display from Syros. On the driver’s side of the dashboard, a 12.3-inch HD infotainment touchscreen on the left, a 5-inch climate control touchscreen in the middle, and a 12.3-inch HD instrument cluster on the right will probably all be combined into a single frame.
The ccNC (connected car navigation cockpit) software would be used on the new integrated displays. The upcoming Seltos are also anticipated to have quicker wireless smartphone chargers and speedier USB Type-C connections.
4. More specification
The Kia Seltos will get bigger when it enters its second generation. According to rumours, the length will grow from the existing 4,365 mm by about 100 mm. As a result, the model would be the biggest in its market segment and perhaps the largest in terms of space. This development is anticipated to have the greatest impact on boot volume and rear-seat space.
Also Read:- Hyundai To Launch 8 Hybrid Cars In India – New MPVs, EVs and off-road full-size SUVs
5. Improved fuel economy
The engines of the upcoming Kia Seltos are probably going to be better and use less fuel than those of the current model. Fuel efficiency for the present model ranges from 17.0 to 20.7 km/l. The next-generation Seltos with a hybrid drivetrain will be introduced by Kia overseas, but it is not anticipated that our market will have such an option before 2027.
As part of the debut of the next-generation Seltos, the Kia Seltos Hybrid is expected to appear by the end of 2026. Its 1.5-litre gasoline-electric drivetrain is intended to provide improved fuel efficiency, and higher trim levels may be equipped with all-wheel drive.
