Last Updated on 12/08/2026 by Raj
The New Midsize SUV in INDIA
The 2026 2nd-gen Kia Seltos has arrived and now all set to reach showroom floors, and its larger and more feature-rich than ever before. But the question is simple – does it still have what makes it so dominant? Let’s find out in our review.
Kia Seltos- Overview
When Kia entered India it took a huge risk, not only they was stepping into a sensitive market, but they also chose most competitive midsize SUV segment, dominated by its sister brand Hyundai. And in 2019 after the launch of Kia Seltos it was an instant hit and, since then, has sold in consistent numbers the big gamble paid off.
It became a household name and a benchmark for the segment. In 2023, the Seltos gets some updates, including a new turbo-petrol engine, but with incressing competition form other brands like Hyundai Creta, Maruti Grand Vitara & Victoris, Toyota with there new improve cars Kia has unveiled the 2nd-gen Kia Seltos to catch with them.
It gets the K3 platform, which is heavier and makes it safer, with a new look and new interiors as well. The engines and transmissions is unchanged, only the suspension and steering get a few twiks. But the question is – does the new-gen Kia Seltos still have what makes it so special?
Kia Seltos: Design and Exterior
At first glance, the new 2nd gen Seltos looks more larger than older model measuring 4,460 mm in length, 1,830 mm in width, and 1,635 mm in height and 2,690 mm wheelbase. So it’s longer and wider all thanks to the new K3 platform. The wheelbase is about 80 mm but few millimetres shorter in height. Due to the larger size and unique styling.
The car has a good road presence. Come to the style the new Seltos look way different from the previous model and based on Kia’s global design philosophy. Up front, it has some resemblance to the 2nd-gen Kia Telluride . That new bold grille the signature digital tiger design with a black finish dominates the face give a elusion of a more bigger SUV form distance.
It gets Star Map LED DRLs like new Kia Carens Clavis that also act as turn-indicators. New ice cube LED projector headlamps but not connected like all new cars nowadays. LED fog lamps at bumper, a black air dam, and a redesigned skid plate.
On the side there’s black cladding on the wheel arches and sides with body colour inserts, and new 18-inch crystal cut alloy wheels and upper variant cames with neon brake callipers, they give the car a sporty and bold look. On the roof, it has a dual-pane panoramic sunroof, and roof rails. At the rear, the car gets a big roof spoiler, hidden wiper with a washer also Star Map LED connected tail-lamps, LED reversing lamps, and a skid plate in dark gunmetal finish.
The profile is clean with flush-fitting door handles, a smooth shoulder line, gives a sense of suttleness. But the boxy stance, wide grille and integrated LED DRLs give a polarising look. You’ll either like it or you won’t, like Verna when they change the design. The Seltos is available in a total of 10 singletone and 2 dual-tone colours, and the doors, bonnet, tailgate and body panels are solid. It has good amount of mass, and there’s hardly gap, and overall fit-and-finish is also good.
The lower variants get the 16-inch wheels shod with 205/65 section tyres and the top variants get 18-inch alloy wheels shod with 215/55 section tyres. The spare is a 16-inch and 17-inch steel wheel fitted with a 215/60 section tyre depend on the model. Boot space has grown to 447 litres, but the loading lip is slightly high, the flat floor and a full-size spare wheel make it more practical.
Interior:
The interior design of Kia Seltos is also changed as much as the exterior based on the Kia’s new global design language. The dash are a mix of hard plastic and leatherette, with dual tone theme like smoky black and white. Smoky Black & Hunter Green, and Brown & Grey dual-tone with green accents or Matte Blue accents. And fit, finish and quality are top level and can last for long duration and the maximum upholstery is soft to touch.
The dashboard, armrest and doorpads and the quality of plastics used is also good. Interior is more spacious due to the growth in length and breadth and this reflect in the cabin. There is enough headroom, legroom and shoulder room and front seats offer very good support with leatherette. Soft padding and ventilation and now come with mesh-type headrests. The driver’s seat is 10-way electronically adjustable with lumbar support, memory and indulgent relaxation functions.
Kia Seltos dash got a connected twin 12.3-inch screens with a 4-inch touch control screen for the air conditioning, also physical buttons for media, navigation, and home settings are also available. The screens comes with Kia’s latest software and it’s very responsive and easy to use. The others thing is steering too is chunky and nice to hold and now it’s leatherette-wrapped. Three-spoke with a flat top and flat bottom squared circular shape and its look sporty, and also height and reach adjustable.
Paddle shifters are available and the controls for drive are on the steering wheel with buttons for hill descent and traction control. Narrow AC vents and various storage compartments are integrated throughout, like good amount of storage in the front. Doors can hold bottles and other small items, but the glovebox is bit small. A sunglass holder in roof, and the centre has two cupholders. A storage box under the centre armrest at front and a small pocket below the rear A/C vents and centre armrest of the rear seat also have two cupholders.
Kia Seltos charging options are plenty, with three USB ports at the front and two at the rear, one wireless charging pad is also present at front. Also get auto-dimming rear view mirror and passenger-side vanity mirrors and all interior lighting is LED. The new Seltos is loaded with features. Like keyless entry & go, trinity panoramic display panel, remote engine start, electric parking brake with auto hold, a dual-zone climate control system, 64-colour ambient lighting, alloy pedals, 8-speaker Bose sound system, drive & traction modes, navigation, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, digital passport, rear A/C vents, 360-degree camera, and a dual-pane panoramic sunroof.
More longer wheelbase means that there is more legroom for rear passengers and also increase in under-thigh support, along with more knee room and good amount of headroom as well tall passengers can sit comfortably. Further, the seats can be reclined and have good cushioning. Boot space too has gone up by 34 litres and can now house 447 litres. With a relatively high seating position and a large glass area. It gives a good visibility and all controls are on spot and within easy reach of the driver.
Safety:
Safety is an important consideration and new Kia Seltos excel on it, and loaded with safety features. New K3 platform uses high-strength steel and 10 more hot stamped components for better structural rigidity than before and and crash protection. The level 2 ADAS has been given 21 autonomous features with OTA update for the ECU.
It also comes with 24 standard safety features, including six airbags, ABS, brake assist, electronic stability control, vehicle stability management, hill-start assist control, downhill brake control, emergency stop signal, advance parking sensors, 360-degree camera, ISOFIX seat anchors and TPMS. And level 2 ADAS is camera- and radar-based with eight cameras around, gives features like forward collision warning and avoidance, rear cross-traffic alert with intervention and lane-keep assist. ADAS won’t suit sometime depending on road conditions, which can limit its usefulness, so the functions can be switched off.
Kia Seltos- Performance
Under the bonnet, the Kia Seltos uses the same powertrain unit from the previous gen car so we it still get the familiar lineup. The 1.5-litre NA petrol makes around 115bhp and 144 Nm of torque and comes with 6-speed manual or CVT transimission. The 1.5-litre turbo-petrol makes 158bhp and 253 Nm, paired with either a 6-speed iMT or a 7-speed DCT.
And the 1.5-litre diesel makes around 116bhp and 250 Nm of torque, and goes with 6-speed manual or 6-speed torque-converter automatic. There’s also 1.5 petrol hybrid version Kia offers globally and expected to come to India. Of these, the 1.5 turbo-petrol remains most engaging to drive, and the engine’s character is largely unchanged. The 7-speed DCT is well responsive, intuitive and smooth.
It gives clean shifts and puts power down effectively even at low speeds. It’s tuned for more relaxing power output rather than brute aggression, but the paddle shifters with sport mode can add a layer of fun. Kia continues to offer the 6-speed iMT instead of a manual, unlike the Carens. The TGDi engine’s refinement is good and the power delivery, is also strong, with rush coming at near 2,000rpm. And it builds up in a strong linear way to the red line, around 6,200rpm but there is noticeable turbo lag at low RPM.
The diesel unit is also same as older model and its character remains unchanged. While there is the diesel sound, it’s very well insulated, and NVH levels are well managed. Power delivery is smooth and constant, and with the max torque coming in at 1,500rpm. The engine pulls at even lower revs but the engine does feel lacking in top end power but mid range is solid. You can change the drive and traction modes via buttons which are now placed on the steering.
You get 3 modes to choose from: Eco Mode – Engage the Eco mode for maximum fuel efficiency and it is best for the city and its quite comfortable smooth to drive. Normal Mode – This is the default mode, and there is a noticeable difference between Normal and Eco mode. Sport Mode – in this mode engine becomes more responsive and throttle response gets sharper, the transmission also holds gears longer and the steering is also feels heavier.
Comfort and Dynamics:
1st-gen Kia Seltos had a firm ride, and it earned a reputation for being stiff and give some jolts on uneven surfaces. But with the new K3 platform, things are now changed and Kia has managed to make the car significantly comfortable without loosing the steering sharpness. The result is a car that feels composed on highways, and also in cities. It gets a McPherson strut suspension at the front and at the rear the same torsion beam axle with coil springs like older car, this gives more planted ride and deals with bad roads better with minimum body roll.
Kia Seltos may have softened the suspension, but this hasn’t come at the expense of body control. So the Seltos remains tidy at high speed. There is no bounciness and high-speed stability is also very good, and the car remains straight on bad road surfaces. While doing triple-digit speeds on highway, the car feels stable. Thanks to the new K3-platform steering setup which is a well-tuned EPS steering car feels composed and predictable to drive. The steering weight is depends on the drive modes like light & smooth in Eco and Normal mode and with rising speed, the steering weighs up well and feels responsive and fast too giving the driver a strong sense of control.
In fast corners the car holds its line well, and due to its height. Some body roll is present, but it is minimum and controlled, also equipped with ESP and it can push it through corners confidently. Brakes are progressive and continue to impress, and stopping power from the all-discs are crisp, and gives confident feel. They offer good feedback through the pedal are extremely sharp to the inputs, fine for everyday driving, including some quick stops and you also get brake assist and ABS. With good all-round visibility a smooth gearbox and light steering makes the Seltos easy to drive in city conditions and on the highway as well. The Seltos is a well-rounded package and there’s little to complain about.
Pricing:
The Kia Seltos is available in 10 variants and the main 3 are the Tech Line, GT Line and X-Line versions. The prices of the different variants are scheduled to be announced in 2026. Seltos now, facing off against the Grand Vitara, Kushaq , Creta and Sierra.
Pros and Cons:
Pros:
- Kia Seltos Build solid, good material quality, and careful engineered gives a premium.
- Bold and futuristic styling makes it stand apart out in a crowd.
- Sufficient space front & back with premium interior.
- Wide engine and transmission option.
- Comfortable ride quality and remain stable at highway speeds.
- Loaded with safety and tech including Level 2 ADAS.
- Smooth and strong engine and transmission performance.
Cons:
- Styling is polarising, you may like it or not.
- Back seat’s little cramp for 3 adults.
- IMT is not very engaging to drive.
- It lacks some premium features, like head-up display unit, powered tailgate, cooled glovebox, rain-sensing wipers, cabin air purifier, etc.
- No all-wheel drive again.
- Diesel engine lacks some kick
Verdict:
The all-new Kia Seltos is a well-calibrated evolution rather than a facelift compared to the outgoing model. It excels in design, tech, engine option, and safety, making it one of the most VFM choices in the mid-size SUV range. It’s bolder and more distinctive design and boxy stance give it a good road presence, but the real highlight is the comfort and the smart, more meaningful tech.
Its increased dimensions and new platform offers more space and stable ride, especially the new suspension tuning. Drive and engines feels familiar, and that’s a good thing but some features are missing that its predecessor offered, still the changes is significantly enough. If you’re looking for a mid-size SUV that offers good road presence, practicality, and smooth performance, the Seltos can be good choice and a smart upgrade for anyone who is coming from a hatchback or subcompact sedan.
