Kia Combi Reviews

The Sport+ is the second-highest grade in the new Kia Seltos family, above the S and Sport, and below the flagship GT-Line. It lists at $44,970, which is starting to get expensive for a small SUV, and – like its core rival the Toyota Corolla Cross – it is offered with a hybrid powertrain only. In this instance, it’s a 1.6-litre petrol engine, a six-speed dual-clutch automatic, and a front-mounted electric motor to produce 112KW and 265Nm. Acceleration isn’t exhilarating, but it has been tuned and tested for Australia, which makes it quite lovely to drive. The Sport+ feels like a bit of an equipment sweet spot as it adds the following on top of the Sport: Cloth and artificial leather seats Heated front seats Powered driver's seat Rain-sensing wipers A more premium leather steering wheel

The Sport is the second grade in the new Kia Seltos range, above the entry-level S and below the Sport+ and GT-Line. It lists at $41,910, and is an all-hybrid offering, pairing a 1.6-litre petrol engine, a six-speed dual-clutch automatic, and a front-mounted electric motor to produce 112KW and 265Nm. Like the rest of the Seltos range, it has grown in every meaningful dimension over the car it replaces, which means more space for people and stuff. Boot room is a useable 483 litres VDA with the rear seats in place, and 1441L with them folded, and there’s a temporary spare.  Extra equipment in the Sport (versus the S) includes: 18-inch alloys Gloss black treatment on the grille and mirrors More standard safety equipment

The Aussie EV switch is in full swing. Electric car sales have skyrocketed in Australia in 2026, and it has seen some record-breaking figures.  Electric cars outsold petrol- and diesel-powered cars individually for the first time in a single month in August 2026. EVs repeated that success in September 2026, but only bested petrol in October after diesel surged back ahead. Plenty of EVs have jumped up the sales charts in 2026, so here is a look at the 25 best-selling EVs through 10 months of the year. The Tesla Model Y is the best-selling EV in the world, and Australia is no exception.  The mid-size SUV is approaching the 40,000 sales mark for 2026, which is nearly 5000 more than the Toyota RAV4 (35,927) has managed. The BYD Sealion 7 claimed second place on this list with more than 22,000 units sold up to October 2026.  BYD’s mid-size SUV is the brand’s most successful model and has provided competition for the Model Y, boasting year-on-year growth of almost 130 per cent.  The Geely EX5 is currently sitting in third place at more than 14,500 sales, while the Zeekr 7X rounds out the top four with 12,241. The Jaecoo J5 EV is currently occupying fifth position (10,266), while the sixth-placed BYD Atto 2 small SUV (9126) is followed by the Tesla Model 3, which is one of only three sedans in the top 25.  Kia’s EV5 (5175) and EV3 (5045) SUV duo take up eighth and 10th spot, with the BYD Atto 3 sandwiched between the pair (5070).  The EV3 and EV5 have been crucial to Kia’s increased EV presence in Australia, because the rest of its electric line-up hasn't reached 1000 units sold collectively so far in 2026. The BYD Atto 1 became Australia’s cheapest new car on sale, currently available with a drive-away deal of $19,990 until December 15, 2026.  It's sold nearly 5000 examples up to October 2026. Geely’s EX2 hatchback is another ultra-affordable EV option, and hit the Australian market in August 2026, already proving popular with Aussie buyers.  The EX2 recently surpassed one million cumulative global sales in October 2026, and it has had a similar impact in Australia, already registering more than 4300 sales.  The MG4 Urban also joined the Australian market early in 2026 as a cheaper, front-wheel drive alternative to the MG4. MG has shifted 4233 examples of the MG4 Urban in 2026 so far, which is more than the BYD Dolphin (3894).  The BYD Seal is another electric sedan putting up competitive sales numbers, registering 4167 sales, as one of few sedan models to experience growth in 2026. Further down the list is Toyota’s bZ4X (3333), followed by the MG4 (2711), with the MG S5 next up (2670).  Chery’s E5 has managed 2056 sales, while the XPeng G6 (1673) is doing better under the brand’s new factory-backed operation Down Under.  Zeekr dropped the price of its X small SUV in April 2026, and it has seen a strong sales response, with 1635 units sold, equating to a 167.6 per cent increase year-on-year compared to October 2025. Hyundai’s Kona EV has shifted 1567 examples, while the European-built Volvo EX30 (1558) and Volkswagen ID.4 (1440) also sneak into the top 25.  The Mazda 6e has been the 25th best-selling car so far in 2026, with 1390 sales, as the Japanese brand looks to turn around impending fines under the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard.   

Hyundai has pulled the plug on its latest critical hit out of Europe, and at the 11 hour it seems. On course for a local launch early next year, the all-new Ioniq 3 electric vehicle (EV) has been sidelined due to the cost of sourcing the vehicle out of Türkiye. According to Hyundai Motor Company Australia (HMCA) Product Development Manager, Tim Rodgers, the project priced itself out of contention for our market. “The reality is, the last few years, we've been studying what Ioniq 3 could look like in our market,” he explained. “(But) the global landscape has changed quite a lot, not just the market, but even just logistics and transport. Lots of things have changed, and that's kind of dictated the decision for us in a lot of ways.” Unveiled in April at Milan Design Week in Italy, the Ioniq 3 is about the size of a Toyota Yaris, but with the interior space of a Toyota Corolla due to the packaging advantages of EVs. This fact would have given HMCA the opportunity to pitch the five-door supermini as a de facto replacement for the i30, especially as both vehicles were designed and engineered expressly to appeal to European consumers. The Ioniq 3 is also the fraternal twin to the Kia EV2, and shares variations of the same E-GMP 400-volt architecture, though finding two hatchbacks from the same DNA pool that look so different from each other would be a challenge. Broadly stepping into the shoes of the now-discontinued Rio hatchback, the EV2 is also a non-starter for Australia, as a result of its manufacturing base being in Slovenia. The company has indicated in the past that the successful EV3 small SUV is more 'right-sized' for this market. With the initial launch drives recently completed in Europe, the Hyundai has been positively received by the European press, with many reports praising the Ioniq 3’s comparatively keen pricing (for an EV), distinctive styling and or solid dynamic characteristics. If you like what you see, there is still a glimmer of hope, however. Though off the table for now, the striking Hyundai electric hatchback may eventually get a reprieve in Australia, should our currency strengthen, exchange rates improve and the geo-political climate settle down a bit in the Middle East. Watch this space.

The S grade opens the 2026 Kia Seltos family, and it shares its hybrid powertrain with the rest of the family – a 1.6-litre petrol engine, a six-speed dual-clutch automatic, and a front-mounted electric motor. It’s front-wheel drive and its outputs are a not-very-exciting 112KW and 265Nm. It’s yours for $37,990 before on-road costs, or you can add the Safety Pack, which ups the active safety suite, and ups the price to $40,150. Standard equipment in the S includes: 16-inch alloy wheels Roof rails Flush door handles and LED lighting Two-tone seats are fabric Dual-zone climate control Smart key for remote engine start Twin 12.3-inch screens 5.0-inch climate panel in the middle Wired and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. There’s no wireless charge pad, however, which kind of defeats the purpose of the latter.

Australia could welcome not one but two new electrified dual-cab ute options in 2028, with Hyundai's first proper ute seemingly firming to join a hybrid Kia Tasman 2.0 in Australia.  Both Korean brands have remained relatively tight-lipped on their ute ambitions, but Hyundai has confirmed that sharing its dual-cab with Kia is back on the table, after it was largely ruled out last year. Then, the brand looked likely to share development of an all-new dual-cab with Hyundai in America — a product that would also likely be built there to dodge tariffs. But the brand acknowledges business case challenges, and has already opted to not import products from Europe owing to large shipping costs and unfavourable exchange rates. Whatever the reason, the brand is now more open to sharing with Kia. "If we wanted to bring the speed to market, there's probably only one other option," said Hyundai Australia COO, Gavin Donaldson, before joking about shipping costs from "Tasmania". "We've kept two options open because we think both could technically work," he said. "While we can't confirm, we would probably say if they're looking at something in the States we'd still consider that one because that's definitely on the drawing board. And then the other ones." The timing is perfect, because this week a leaked document confirmed work would begin on a new Kia Tasman in 2028. The documents come from Kia’s Employment Stability Committee – the body is responsible for negotiating factory allocation, Korean factory investments and more. The documents claim the Hwaseong factory, which is responsible for building the Tasman, is slated to review the new Tasman and its derivatives in 2028. That update is tipped to review all aspects of the Tasman, from its design to its powertrain, and even potentially introduce hybrid-petrol power for the first time. In fact, parts of the new update are already being evaluated in Australia. "That's part of the process. There's a normal Product Enhancement process applied to it like any other car. So that's happening now, if you like," Kia Australia’s Chief Ride and Handling Engineer Graeme Gambold recently told CarsGuide.  "And that's not just facelifted exterior styling. That's also different shock absorber technology, probably powertrain options, and a whole lot of things." A hybrid powertrain would make a brand-share arrangement even more appealing to Hyundai, with executives repeatedly stating that electrification was a non-negotiable. That stance has softened slightly, with the brand now favouring speed to market, but a hybrid powertrain remains a key focus. "We'll never say never to a new powertrain at the end of the day because if something means it can come a lot quicker with a different powertrain, then we would say yes. But for us, we think a hybrid powertrain is what we're going to do," Mr Donaldson says. 

The all-new Seltos is a big deal for Kia, with this all-hybrid small SUV expected to be the brand's second-best seller in Australia. That's what they think, but what really matters is what you - the buyer - thinks. So should you choose this over a Toyota Corolla Cross or any of the other army of small SUVs on sale in Australia? We put the new Seltos to the test to find out.

Kia’s big plans have just been exposed.  Korean Car Blog has just revealed key details about Kia’s upcoming product line-up, with some of these models expected to land Down Under before 2030.  The leaked roadmap shows an all-new Kia EV7 electric mid-size SUV as well as a next-generation Sorento large SUV and Carnival people mover, among other models.  These models are all anticipated to hit showrooms globally from 2028 to 2029.  The document is from the Kia Employment Stability Committee, which is a body that negotiates and approves production investments and factory volumes.  The document shows Kia will begin production of an electric mid-size SUV called the EV7.  Details are scarce, but logically, it would sit between the EV6 and EV9 SUVs.  This could put it into competition with the very popular BYD Sealion 7 ($54,990) and the luxury-pitched BMW iX3 ($89,900), both before on-road costs.  The EV7 is likely to have a similar footprint to the Kia Sorento, meaning it could even be a three-row SUV.  We don't know whether the EV7 is related to the Hyundai Ioniq 7 that is rumoured to arrive in the United Kingdom in 2027. Production on the EV7 could begin as early as 2028.  Kia is also planning to overhaul its Carnival people mover. Leaked documents confirmed a “completely redesigned” Carnival hybrid is on the way and will launch in 2028.  The Carnival is the runaway sales leader of the people mover segment in Australia, available in diesel- and conventional-hybrid-powered set-ups.  It comfortably outsells the Hyundai Staria as well as the BYD M9 and Denza D9.  The first hybrid Carnival launched in mid-2024 as an electrified alternative to the diesel-powered variant.  Kia isn’t just stopping at a new-generation Carnival, with the Korean brand also rumoured to be pursuing a hydrogen fuel cell variant by 2029.  This would be Kia’s first hydrogen-powered production model, and it’s likely to lean on fuel cell technology from sister brand Hyundai.  It’s unclear whether the local branch would consider bringing a hydrogen Carnival to Australia, given the lack of usable infrastructure.  Plans show Kia is working on a new hybrid Sorento that will begin production in 2028.  The Sorento remains an important model for Kia in Australia, sitting below the brand’s best seller the Sportage.  It currently has a very broad set of variants in Australia, featuring petrol, diesel, conventional hybrid and plug-in hybrid choices.  It’s possible Kia will go hybrid-only Down Under as it has done with the Seltos, and is expected to do with the larger Sportage when it arrives in 2027.  Kia is preparing to give the Tasman ute a major makeover. Production will begin in 2028 and will spawn derivatives, including a ladder-frame SUV to compete with the Toyota LandCruiser Prado.  There’s also potential for a plug-in hybrid or even fully electric variants of the Tasman to launch in the coming years. 

Australia’s new car market is at a “crisis point”, according to the Australian Automotive Dealer Association (AADA).  The AADA has warned dealers are losing money due to the influx of new car brands. AADA Chief Executive Officer James Voortman said Australia needs to stop letting new car brands launch here. “Dealers are facing intense competition, relentless pressure to take more stock and rising business costs. Too often, they are left to absorb the financial consequences of decisions made elsewhere in the supply chain,” Voortman said.  “There are simply too many manufacturers operating in this market and we need a pause on further car brands entering this market. At a time when other countries are trying to slow the rate of change and number of brands, Australia is allowing unfettered access to this market.” New car brands continue to launch in Australia, growing from 39 in 2021 to 67 in 2026, with more on the way in the coming months.  AADA has set out a 10-point plan, with recommendations for the government, suppliers and manufacturers.  The association wants the government to consider a capped licensing regime and pause the entry of any new brands into Australia.  It has called for the implementation of proposed dealer protections to be fast-tracked and liability of Australian Consumer Law breaches to be repositioned onto manufacturers, with new brand entries paused until this has been achieved.  It also wants at least a 12-month price freeze to guard against “severe pressure” on dealer profitability.  Among the changes for manufacturers is the agreement of realistic sales targets, allowing dealers to decline excess stock without facing commercial penalties.  AADA has previously raised concerns around long car repair and refund wait times in Australia as well as a "wave of litigation" when EV batteries need replacement outside of warranty. Australia’s market provides a near-perfect environment for new car brands to launch, because they are not subjected to major tariffs or prohibitive fees. It’s seen brands from around the world, especially China, flood into Aussie showrooms offering buyers very competitive prices.  Many Chinese brands operate with extensive sub-brand networks. There could be as many as nine Chery sub-brands in Australia by the end of 2027, while BYD and GWM also continue to actively add to their line-ups. These brands have capacity to produce copious amounts of stock, but selling them isn’t as simple a task, according to Voortman.  “Pushing excessive stock onto dealers is fuelling a race to the bottom. Aggressive discounting erodes margins and devalues vehicles while dealers carry the financing costs and risk of unsold vehicles,” Voortman said. “Strong headline vehicle sales can conceal serious financial distress at the businesses making those sales. Dealers cannot keep absorbing higher costs, lower margins and greater stock risk indefinitely.” This news follows reports that some Chinese brands are losing money on cars sold. Hyundai Australia Chief Executive Officer and President Don Romano told CarsGuide in July 2026 BYD’s approach to the Australian market wasn’t sustainable.  "I think if I were to lose money and dump cars, and if my stock price was down 40 per cent, I could do the same," Romano said.  "I think there's a big difference between growth at any cost and growth organically, so I'm not surprised. I would be if it was sustainable.”

A new and improved Kia Tasman is coming soon, with a production date locked in. Leaked documents have detailed the company’s future product plan, including production of an improved Tasman ute and an expansion of Tasman derivative models. The documents originate from Kia’s Employment Stability Committee, which is a management body formed between Kia and the union representing Kia factory workers. This body is responsible for negotiating factory allocation, Korean factory investments and more. The documents state the Hwaseong factory, which is responsible for building the Tasman, is slated to review the new Tasman and its derivatives in 2028. This follows Kia Australia telling CarsGuide to not expect the upgraded Tasman until 2028 at the earliest. Australia’s importance to the Tasman success means we will likely be one of the first markets to receive it. Despite its poor sales to date, Kia won’t be speeding up the crucial mid-life update despite it already testing components here, according to Kia Australia. "That's part of the process. There's a normal Product Enhancement process applied to it like any other car. So that's happening now, if you like," says Kia Australia’s Chief Ride and Handling Engineer Graeme Gambold. "And that's not just facelifted exterior styling. That's also different shock absorber technology, probably powertrain options, and a whole lot of things. "We've got some bits here that we've got to test, or that has asked us to test. So if we like those parts, they'll come to market when we're facelifting. So there's a lot of ongoing things happening with . But that's the same for any car – it doesn't just stop once we launch it." The future production plans show Tasman model derivatives, which could be the rumoured new SUV-bodied 4WD to take on the Mitsubishi Pajero, Toyota Prado and Ford Everest. Kia has previously said an SUV-bodied version of the Tasman was a possibility, but it wasn’t a priority right now. It appears it might be more of a priority in a few years with an upgraded Tasman to base it on. Model expansion also could mean a hybrid and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) options, which will help it meet tightening emissions laws around the globe but also meet buyer demand that is gobbling up Chinese rivals with petrol-electric power. This would also make it more palatable for an SUV-bodied version, which can compete with future plug-in hybrid versions of the Mitsubishi Pajero and Nissan Terrano 4WDs.