Kia Seltos News

Kia’s head of global product planning has fired a cheeky shot at rival brands, said he believes no brand is as well-prepared as Kia for the world’s unpredictable automotive market.Spencer Cho, Kia’s Senior Vice President and Head of the Global Business Planning Subdivision, said it’s impossible to know what the industry might look like in the future, but being prepared for as many possibilities as reasonable is the best answer.Speaking with Australian media at the launch of the new-generation 2026 Kia Seltos, Cho said that he thinks no one can know how global events will affect the industry.Trying to predict the events that might change the way brands need to operate is impossible, he said, but understanding what needs to be done to respond can’t be known until after the fact.“Let me put it this way. If I can say that I can expect everything… that's not possible,” Cho said.The US-Israel war in Iran and the effects it has had on global oil shipping is front-of-mind for Cho.“No one can expect this kind of war will happen, and also a couple years ago for Russia and Ukraine, no one can expect that kind of thing.”"But what we are doing is we carefully monitor the market demand or market changes. And development of product takes quite some time. We should create very sound product strategies, and we have to maintain those strategies in a consistent manner.”Rather than scrambling to respond to changes in the industry, Cho said Kia has built enough options to be able to react quickly in a ‘here’s one we prepared earlier’ manner.“Thankfully, we studied the EV transition quite earlier than any other brand. There are also some ups and downs, but the transition and the trend stays the same, just the differences are a little bit of this slow down. So speed might be the difference.”He says the key is not drastically changing for short-term gain, rather slightly adjusting without removing options for the future. Essentially, giving EVs a boost shouldn’t mean forgetting to continue ICE development, he said.“But we stay in the course to maintain the development of the planned EV models entering each global market, step by step. Yet we're still developing the all new ICE models as well as you see in the new Seltos. “So one of the key strengths we have is all the technologies, the diesel or gasoline or hybrid and plug-ins and EVs.”“So we have all the options in our hands. “Certain market ups and downs… hybrid is rising, we can provide hybrid models. If EV is coming, we can provide EVs. So thankfully, we have all the technologies in our hands, and we have the all the product lineup as well.”Cho took a cheeky swipe at rivals, too, rare for a senior executive. He said Kia’s strength globally is its range of cars available from the budget end, Picanto for example, through to hybrids, plug-ins, and more expensive performance cars or large electric SUVS.“So that's probably one of the strengths Kia has compared to other brands. I don't know whether you can name any other OEMs better than us in the case of the product line-up as of today.”

Kia’s new generation Seltos small SUV will use only hybrid power, putting it on a collision course with big name petrol-electric SUVs such as the Toyota Corolla Cross.The Seltos is one of Kia’s best-selling models in Australia, with only the Sportage SUV and the Carnival people mover better sellers for the brand.Kia Australia’s Chief Executive Officer Damien Meredith said other brands have paved the way for a hybrid-only strategy. “We’re pretty confident the hybrid-only strategy is going to be ok,” Meredith said.“The Australian market is very open to hybrid for obvious reasons with what Toyota have been able to do.” Toyota has gone hybrid-only on many of its key models, including the RAV4 SUV and the Corolla hatchback. The move brings the Seltos into direct competition with other hybrid SUVs in the segment such as the Toyota Corolla Cross and Hyundai Kona.According to Kia Australia Product Planning Manager Raymond Pok, the emissions benefits hybrid power’s growing popularity were contributors to the switch-up. General Manager Marketing Dean Norbiato highlighted the impending fines on petrol models under the federal government's New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES).“You just have to look at the penalties for NVES on a petrol vehicle versus a hybrid vehicle," Norbiato said. “For us to be a sustainable OEM in this market, hybrid obviously makes sense from that standpoint.”Meredith said the brand is not concerned about losing potential sales on petrol Seltos.He said Kia is content with its current split of 40 per cent electric, 30 per cent hybrid and 30 per cent petrol. While the new generation Seltos will not have a petrol option, the brand will continue to offer other petrol options in its range.The likes of the budget hatch Picanto and the Stonic compact SUV, along with the K4 sedan will all remain petrol-only for the foreseeable future. 

Kia has announced its new Seltos small SUV will ditch a pure petrol power in favour of a hybrid-only lineup for the new generation. It marks a significant change for one of the brand’s best-selling models in Australia, with it previously being a petrol-only model. The switch puts the Seltos into direct competition with hybrid variants of the Hyundai Kona as well as the hybrid-exclusive Toyota Corolla Cross. It will also take on budget offerings such as the Chery Tiggo 4 and the GWM Haval Jolion, which have hybrid choices, as well as petrol. The Seltos has been one of Kia's best-selling models and accumulated more than 9000 sales in 2025.There is no official news on price but it is likely to be a step up on the outgoing petrol variant’s starting price of $31,250 (before on-road costs).Based on South Korean pricing, it could even sit around the $40,000-plus bracket, especially for high-specification models.The brand has not yet revealed the set-up that will power the new Seltos in Australia. Overseas examples have a 1.6-litre turbo-petrol engine, which produces 105kW and 265Nm, so we can use this as a guide. The car will be available with front-wheel- or all-wheel-drive. The brand stated its move to hybrid only has been directed by the need to meet Euro 6d standards and also to stay within New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) emissions regulations in Australia.There will still be a petrol variant of the car sold elsewhere in the world, but we will not see it Down Under.  One of the other major changes to the next-generation Seltos is that the car has grown in every dimension but height, where it has shrunk slightly. This has increased headroom and legroom in the car as well as rear storage space, which is now at 483L.Elsewhere inside, there is a single panel of a central touchscreen, digital driver display and climate control screen spanning much of the dashboard. The Seltos is expected to launch in Australia in the fourth quarter of this year, with further details, including price to be announced closer to then. 

Sales of petrol-powered cars are declining in the Australian new vehicle market and the popularity of electric propulsion is on a fuel price-driven tear, but there are some significant models bucking the EV transition trend.According to data from industry statistician VFacts and the Electric Vehicle Council, year-on-year sales of pure-electric vehicles were up 92.1 per cent at the end of the first quarter (34,382 vs 17,901 units) with EV uptake rising by 88.9 per cent in March compared to the same month last year (15,839 vs 8385 units).At the same time, sales of petrol-powered vehicles have decreased by 17.8 per cent YTD (101,147 vs 123,132) and 20.1 per cent for the month of March (34,694 vs 43,784).And it’s worth noting hybrid sales are in line with 2025 so far this year (46,952 vs 47,014), which may be explained by a supply shortage in the first quarter for Toyota’s top-selling RAV4. Plug-in hybrids are up 40.2 per cent (13,715 vs 19,230).But despite oil supply shortages caused by the current conflict in Iran sending the price of petrol through the roof, several conventionally-powered models have seen sales grow strongly so far this year.  Kia’s compact K4 has clearly built a strong following with the sedan arriving here early in 2025 and the hatch version joining it late in the year.From a modest launch base year-on-year sales are up no less than 240.8 per cent (2771 vs 813 units), the sleek 1.6- and 2.0-litre five-seater now standing as the Korean brand’s third-best seller so far in 2026.And Kia’s Seltos small SUV hit a purple patch in March with sales up 13.8 per cent compared to the same month in 2025 (849 vs 746).Mazda’s evergreen CX-5 medium SUV is up 12 per cent YTD (6247 vs 5538), likely winning over Toyota RAV4 prospects unwilling to wait the three to six months it currently takes to put the previous category-leader on your driveway.The CX-5 (6247 units) is now in a mid-size SUV cage fight with the Mitsubishi Outlander (6363 units) for category leadership.On the subject of Mazda, the long-serving fourth-generation version of the Japanese maker’s iconic MX-5 sports car has jumped 34.2 per cent so far this year (196 vs 146) with 90 sold in the month of March compared to just 34 last year (+164.7 per cent). And thumbing your nose at EVs via a roofless petrol-powered car must be a theme because the Mini Convertible is up 202 per cent YTD (103 vs 34 units).Then, despite Porsche taking a hit in sales overall so far in 2026, the latest iteration of its celebrated 911 is up a healthy 182.8 per cent (345 vs 122) YTD. What fuel price increase?

Hyundai’s Kona, now Australia’s best-selling small SUV, is set for a deeper upgrade than first expected, if a test mule spotted in its South Korean home market is anything to go by.Spotted by South Korean YouTubers, ShortsCar a camouflaged version of the the incoming new Kona has significant design changes more in line with a next-generation offering than the facelift it was expected to be.Among the changes highlighted by the channel, there’s a completely new light signature at the front, an even boxier profile, as well as a completely new roofline and door shapes.The Korean YouTubers point out that the test mule under scrutiny must be a Kona as it has markers on its wheels indicating it is a test model for the European market, where other models (like the smaller Creta or Venue) are not sold.The wheels also carry the expected code-name of the upcoming next-gen offering, SX3.As ShortsCar points out, this Kona test mule has many of the design signatures of the Crater concept car Hyundai displayed in 2025. This is indicated by the boxy bonnet features, new light profile, bulges over the rear wheel arches which appear to include the rear light clusters, and a pronounced spoiler piece over the tailgate.Interestingly the spotted car also features active aero pieces, and very short overhangs. There are also sporty blacked-out 18-inch wheels and sunken aerodynamic door handles.Korean media is also speculating the Kona will launch Hyundai’s upcoming Pleos Connect operating system from the Korean giant’s recently-established dedicated software brand, designed to lean into the ‘software defined vehicle’ concept.The Pleos Connect suite was shown in 2025 on what now appears to be a concept version of what could be the Kona’s new interior. The brand earmarked a quarter two, 2026 launch for the suite, and expects it to be available on “20 million vehicles by 2030".Based on Android Automotive, Pleos Connect is designed to completely overhaul the in-car software and will feature a refreshed interface, deeper over-the-air features (with the ability to tweak drivetrain features with a software update), new developer and fleet management tools, and the ability to collect mass amounts of data to train Hyundai’s future self-driving tech.Expect to learn more about the next-generation Kona imminently if it expects to meet its international launch window of mid-2026.Such a revolutionary change so soon after the launch of the existing Kona is also a risk for Hyundai. The small SUV was the top-selling small SUV in Australia last year, no doubt helped by a diverse powertrain offering and price points.It's priced from just $33,700 before on-road costs with a 2.0-litre petrol engine and continuously variable transmission (CVT), while the fuel-efficient hybrid is $36,950. It is available in fully electric form, starting from $54,000, with the range topping out with the Electric N-Line Premium at a whopping $71,000.Hyundai has emerged as a hybrid hero, taking second position last year for hybrid sales in Australia, tallying 28,819 units. This is double the previous year, and a positive sign for the Korean brand as its major models are nearly all more than 50 per cent hybrid by sales.However, its lack of solid EV sales (only two per cent of Hyundais sold in 2025 were EVs) thanks to its relatively expensive electric models meant the brand still managed to attract a penalty under Australia’s tough New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES), which tightens the vice on high emitters every year from now until 2030.

Fuel prices in Australia are soaring, meaning fuel efficiency in vehicles is a more important consideration than ever. Hybrid cars offer the potential for superior fuel efficiency compared to internal combustion power without the big price premium if fully electric or plug-in hybrid options. This makes them an increasingly attractive option for buyers given the current global climate. Hybrid sales are already booming in Australia, but will increases in fuel prices accelerate the shift away from pure internal combustion cars? NRMA spokesperson Peter Khoury said that while hybrid sales are increasing, an even swifter transition is less than clear. “If you’re driving a standard vehicle with a 55-litre tank, compared to what we were paying before the war began to now, it’s a $45 increase on one tank of petrol. That applies regardless of whether it’s hybrid or petrol,” Khoury said. “Historically speaking, looking at what happens after an oil shock, it certainly opens up their consideration. “No doubt that if this crisis continues and these prices hang around for weeks or months, Australians will look at those alternatives more seriously.” Below is a comparison between popular petrol and hybrid choices in each segment to see how they stack up in a changing fuel context. Fuel cost has been calculated using current data from the New South Wales’ government’s average fuel price for unleaded 95 petrol and diesel. Toyota’s Corolla hybrid hatch offers superior fuel efficiency and driving range compared to the Kia K4 petrol model. The Corolla is also cheaper to fill up with fuel thanks to its smaller tank and offers a substantially bigger driving range. The Kia Seltos is a petrol-only variant, but despite its bigger fuel tank, it has less driving range than the Toyota Corolla Cross, courtesy of the hybrid powertrain. The bigger fuel tank means the Seltos is also more expensive to fill up. The mid-size CX-5 has a non-turbo charged petrol engine, which sees it offer an impressive estimated driving range of more than 800km, but once again the Toyota competitor’s fuel efficiency wins out in the RAV4 hybrid. The Toyota Kluger continues the Japanese juggernaut’s fuel efficient theme, with a hybrid set-up offering a driving range of more than 1122km, which is significantly more than the MQ QS, despite both cars costing a similar amount to fill up at the bowser. Utes are some of the worst affected by the fuel price increase as many of them are powered using diesel engines, with diesel fuel rising more than petrol. It has now risen to well beyond the $2.60 mark per litre. The BYD Shark’s plug-in hybrid set-up uses petrol, which makes it an affordable option, given the price of diesel. It should be noted that the Shark 6’s fuel efficiency is significantly reduced when the battery is not charged. It’s a similar story for the GWM Cannon Alpha, which should be noted is no longer on sale, but remains one of limited plug-less hybrid utes in Australia. 

The new-generation Kia Seltos compact SUV has been officially priced in South Korea.The Seltos petrol starts from around 24.8 million Korean won, which equates to just less than $25,000.Kias in Australia tends to cost an extra 30-40 per cent compared to South Korean equivalents. Based on this, we can speculate a starting price of somewhere in the mid-$30,000s, so there will be a subtle price increase on the previous model.Hybrid variants of the Seltos will be more expensive and we can expect a start price of around the $40,000-plus bracket. This pricing would position the Seltos in a similar price range to the current Hyundai Kona, its sister car, which comes with petrol, electric and hybrid set-ups.The Seltos' base hybrid variant would be more expensive than the base Toyota Corolla Cross, which is a hybrid-exclusive model.The Seltos hyrbid will be the first non-petrol model available for the compact SUV, with just two petrol-only choices on sale in Australia at the moment.The incoming hybrid Seltos will help fill the void left by the axed Niro electric and hybrid compact SUV, with its new-generation model officially ruled out for an Aussie launch. The Seltos’ has four power set-up choices on the new model.There will be a 2.0-litre non-turbo petrol option, producing 110kW and 179Nm along with a 1.6-litre turbo-petrol engine, producing 132kW/265Nm or 142kW/265Nm.The hybrid will have a 1.6-litre turbo-petrol engine and an electric motor, which produces 105kW and 265Nm.The car will continue to be available in front-wheel and all-wheel drive layouts. It will feature plenty of new safety gear onboard, including advanced collision avoidance systems for forward, blind spot and rear cross traffic.There will be a digital key, wireless phone charging and a revamped multimedia system, which has a single digital display spanning across the dashboard.Deliveries in South Korea will begin in the coming days. The new Kia Seltos will launch in Australia in the fourth quarter of 2026. 

Aussies SUV shoppers will be spoiled for choice in 2026.Kia is the latest carmaker to confirm a new version of one its most popular models, with the new-generation Seltos breaking cover ahead of its Australian arrival late next year.The new Seltos ushers in a lot of changes to beef up its arsenal to battle newcomers such as the MG ZS, Chery Tiggo 4 and old favourites including the Toyota Corolla Cross and the Kona from sister brand Hyundai.Kia’s compact SUV will come with hybrid power for the first time. The brand hasn’t revealed any details of the hybrid set-up, but it is believed to mirror the one found in the Kona.That likely means a 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine matched with an electric motor and small battery. This set-up produces a combined 104kW and 265Nm in the Kona and is paired with a six-speed dual-clutch auto that drives the front wheels. Fuel use should be sub-4.0L/100km, too.This will be joined by two petrol engines.The first is a familiar 2.0-litre four-cylinder non-turbo motor found in the current Seltos (minus 1kW), which now makes 110kW and 179Nm. It will likely be matched to a CVT auto.Next up is a 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol engine. This is available in two tunes making either 132kW/265Nm or 142kW/265Nm. It is likely Australia will use the second option paired with an eight-speed auto, which is currently used in the Seltos albeit with 4kW more.Kia Australia hasn’t confirmed the Seltos line-up for Down Under yet, but it is likely to offer the two petrol options and hybrid from its Q4 launch.It will be available in front- or all-wheel drive layouts, with the AWD versions swapping out a rear torsion beam set-up for a more refined multi-link suspension at the back.Currently Kia fits the turbo motor to AWD versions and the non-turbo engine to FWD examples, this strategy is expected to carry-over to the new generation. No word yet on if the hybrid will be available in FWD or AWD layouts, but Hyundai only sells the Kona Hybrid in FWD.The Seltos will also benefit from a local ride and handling tune, which it said will take place at the start of next year.The company also claimed to have improved sound deadening to improve the driving experience.Kia has stretched the Seltos. It is now 45mm longer than before and with a 60mm longer wheelbase. The longer wheelbase — or distance between front and rear axles — typically determines how much interior space a car has. The spacious cabin has also been enhanced with a column-mounted shift-by-wire gear selector, which leaves the centre console free for other uses.The Seltos is also claimed to have class-leading boot space, with 536L of storage, according to Kia.A new design maintains the Seltos’ boxy physique but new lighting signatures front and back add some modern touches to its appeal. There is the option of 16-, 17-, 18- or 19-inch alloy wheels.Kia has also confirmed a new X-Line trim, which will feature more rugged styling compared to the more glitzy GT-Line.High-end models will benefit from plenty of large screens inside and a head-up display that projects vital information, such as travelling speed and safety warnings, onto the windscreen in front of the driver.Kia has fitted plenty of advanced safety tech to the new Seltos, with all bases covered.Kia will produce the Seltos in China, India and South Korea, with Australian-delivered vehicles built in Korea.

We just got a closer look at a revamped compact SUV. Kia has released an official teaser video for its new-generation Seltos. The video runs for 27 seconds, so we do not get a comprehensive look at the new Seltos, but do get some key details. In the absence of full body shots of the car, the video focuses on specific elements of the exterior design. The car in the photos is an all-wheel drive version of the Seltos, bearing the ‘4X’ badging on the back. It gets a boxy overall design, and it is similar to what is found on the brand’s all-electric EV3 small SUV, and in keeping with the just-unveiled Telluride three-row SUV. It features a curious light design, with a light strip that runs along the length of the boot. Other elements include a rear spoiler, alluding to a sleek design, and hidden door handles.It is anticipated the new-generation Seltos will get a hybrid power set-up for the first time ever. This hybrid is likely to have the same 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine paired with an electric motor found in its sister car, the Hyundai Kona, producing a combined 104kW and 265Nm. It has not been confirmed where the new Australian Seltos will be built, with Kia capable of producing the car in either India or South Korea.It is likely that the Aussie version will continue to be built in South Korea to share the K3 platform also found on the Kona. The Seltos is currently available in Australia exclusively with a petrol engine. A hybrid set-up would bring it into line with much of Kia’s range, which has undergone a sustained hybrid shift. The brand recently unveiled a more comprehensive range of HEVs and PHEVs for its larger Sorento, with a now 20-strong variant lineup for the SUV. The Seltos is still battling to recapture its status as a strong seller in the Aussie market’s busy small SUV category. It sits behind many of its rivals, selling less than 9000 units so far in 2025. It trails its sister car the Kona, with MG’s ZS and the Chery Tiggo 4 Pro among other better sellers. Its rumoured starting price in its native South Korean market is roughly 20 million won, which is around $21,000, but it will endure a bit of a tax-related price hike when it hits Australia. The new-generation Seltos will be officially unveiled tomorrow, with an Australian launch date in the second half of 2026.

Kia’s SUV gold rush is in full swing.