Gen 2 Kia Seltos Arrives in 2026 With a Grown-Up Look, New Hybrid Option, and a Lot of Responsibility

Kia continues to modernize and refine its models in the North American market. Now it’s the Seltos’ turn to get a complete makeover. This is a compact crossover we’ve tested and reviewed numerous times, and looking back on our reports, we can safely say we loved the Gen 1 Seltos.

Our first review was titled 2021 Seltos SX Turbo AWD Review – Another Hit From Kia. We remember exploring logging trails in the small crossover, a task that seemed like it would be outside of the vehicle’s comfort zone. Yet, it was splendid on those New Hampshire unpaved sections.

Our second review was titled 5 Reasons To Buy The 2024 Kia Seltos. Again, we loved the Seltos for not just one or two features, but for five important reasons. Finally, in our last news update on the Seltos, we happily reported that the final model year of Gen 1 would drop its base trim’s cost by $1,500. Perfect timing to meet the challenges of inflation head-on, and give entry-level shoppers one compelling reason to shop Seltos first. We called it "Tariff-proof."

The second-gen Seltos will arrive in 2026, and we suspect it will be called a 2027 because we already have prices for a 2026 model year Gen 1. We’ve seen the full specs list, and they seem impressive for the segment. Here is a punch list of things that jumped off the page when we read the info, which may have sneaked in a few bits that will be for the European version:
1) A grown-up “Mini-Telluride” design language.
2) Two automatic transmissions - An 8-speed Auto and a 7-speed DCT, both of which can be mated to a 1.6-liter turbocharged engine. I’ll take the 8-speed with a traditional torque converter. 
3) There is a manual transmission mentioned in the press packet - Likely for base trims in Europe only, but time will tell. 
4) A hybrid joins the lineup shortly after the initial launch - Worth waiting for in my opinion, as long as it comes with a spare tire.
5) Optional all-wheel drive and six drive mode settings mean you can tailor the Seltos to your conditions. 
6) Head-up display
7) Full active safety suite

Looking over the interior of the new Seltos we see a lot to like. These include:

• 2-tone colors
• Physical buttons under the main screen
• A conventional gear shifter
• Perfectly placed phone cradle and cupholder
• Open and airy greenhouse for good visibility

Kia picked a theme for its online media launch named “The Protagonist.” Normally, I think these marketing themes are dumb, but not this time. The new Seltos is tasked with a lot of responsibility in the Kia line. Specifically, its job will be going head-to-head with solid offerings from entrenched competitors. Seltos will need to appeal to a very wide range of consumers, including the critical entry-level shopper, since Soul is being sunsetted. If Subaru’s Crosstrek and Mazda’s CX-30 are the "antagonists," then Seltos is the protagonist. Very cool, and someone in marketing gets this segment. Frankly, Protagonist would be a cool name for a sports car. (Like Challenger is)

We’ll learn more and report more details as we enter the new year. Expect pricing to be announced in Q1 and availability mid-year or later. Torque News enjoys the full support of Kia, so don’t be surprised if we are one of the first outlets to do a week-long test and detailed review of the new Seltos in early 2026.

Tell us in the comments below if you like the styling. 
 

John Goreham is the Vice President of the New England Motor Press Association and an expert vehicle tester. John completed an engineering program with a focus on electric vehicles, followed by two decades of work in high-tech, biopharma, and the automotive supply chain before becoming a news contributor. He is a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE int). In addition to his fourteen years of work at Torque News, John has published thousands of articles and reviews at American news outlets. He is known for offering unfiltered opinions on vehicle topics. You can connect with John on LinkedIn and follow his work on his personal X channel or on our X channel. John employs grammar and punctuation software when proofreading, and he sometimes uses image generation tools.