2027 Kia Seltos: a Bold New Face, New Tech and a New Attitude—And We’re Here For it
The Kia Seltos has grown up—width-wise, length-wise, and in height; and it shows us the direction the company is going. And we can’t wait to test drive one.
There’s a reason the Kia Seltos is one of the company’s best-selling models, selling 400,000+ units globally: it’s a good fit for drivers and families, has top-notch safety features and an approachable design for a friendly price. It’s a bit bigger than the Kia Niro but not as large at the Sportage, giving customers a happy medium between a family SUV and something that’s commuter-friendly.
For 2027, Kia is putting even more responsibility on the Seltos’ shoulders, leaning in on the idea of a “protagonist mantra.” The result is a bigger SUV with a wider stance, more cargo space, and a fun design language that harkens to the new Telluride, the updated Sorento, and the brand’s EVs, including the EV9, without compromising the Seltos’ affordability and versatility.
Here’s what the new Kia Seltos has to offer when the new design comes to North America for the 2027 model year (the design will roll out in other countries starting in early 2026), and why we’re excited to learn more. Pricing is TBD, but we anticipate it will start around $35,000 and top out at around $42,000.
This story is 100% human-researched and written based on actual first-person knowledge, extensive experience, and expertise on the subject of cars and trucks.
The Design and Philosophy are Different, and Maybe That’s a Good Thing
When I first saw the reveal through video, the boxier, futuristic, and bold styling immediately reminded me of the 2027 Kia Telluride’s new look, paired with the Cyberpunk-esque looks of the EV9. It’s not an EV or a 3-row SUV, but it borrows the best design cues from both of its siblings.
Karim Habib, Kia’s chief of global design, described the new philosophy simply: the new Seltos is meant to “awaken the protagonist in all of us,” so we can “be the author of our own story.” The bold design and purposefully wider stance are meant to inspire its driver to explore new heights, chase their dreams, and live a fuller life.
Its wide grille, boxy design, bold lines, and new headlights, he said, are meant to appeal to our primal nature, even if we’re doing something as mundane as commuting: it’s built like a prize fighter, so it inspires strength, capability, and versatility.
The interior is on par with the new Telluride, with two-tone contrasting, premium-looking textures, and ambient lighting to help make the car feel much more expensive. It, like the rest of the car, is purposefully wider and open to make long drives comfortable. Kia said there’s more steel in the new Seltos with upgraded sound dampening, so it’s quiet, too. Though we’ll be the judges of that.
Read: The 2024 Kia Seltos: an All-Rounder with Good Looks to Boot
It’s Described as a Subcompact SUV, but It Looks Bigger
And that’s because it is. The wheelbase is 2.4 inches longer, it’s 1.8 inches longer, it’s a few nearly 2 inches wider, and taller, too. The new size, Kia says, means there’s more cargo and passenger space: an inch in the second row, and a slightly larger cargo area. This, they say, helps make the Seltos a lot more versatile for a wider range of buyers, and therefore, stay relevant for Kia’s other markets—Europe and Asia in particular.
Read: The 2023 Honda HR-V Delivers on the Promise of a Go-Everywhere Vehicle
Kia Plans to Integrate AI to Make the Day-to-Day Smoother
Something Kia was careful to mention is the standard, AI-powered technology that will come packed into the Seltos. The reveal video showed a driver asking, “Hey, Kia? What’s the best way to train my body for a boxing match?” and it used Generative AI from ChatGPT to answer the question.
In this format, you could ask it questions that will break up back-seat arguments (like, “Who would win in a fight, a polar bear or a kodiak bear?”), or even navigational questions, like, “Where’s the closest off-road trail that leads to a waterfall?” or, “Take me to a beach with the best sunsets.”
A lot of cars have similar features; it’s been a standard feature in Korea since January of 2024, and it’s slowly making its way into the rest of Kia America’s lineup. It’s meant to make everything easier, not just car-dependent things.
Read: 6 Reasons We Can’t Wait for the Redesigned 2026 Mazda CX-5
There are Other Highlighted Technology Features, Too
Aside from generative AI, the Kia Seltos will also come with streaming capabilities from the front screen, and you’ll be able to download themes (they showcased a Disney theme) from the Kia Connect store. The connectivity means there will be faster, more frequent OTA updates for the Seltos, too, which will eliminate the need to see a dealership for minor repairs and software updates. There are even gaming capabilities built in, too, but more information about that is coming soon.
Because most modern families have multiple devices, the new Kia Seltos comes chockablock full of USB charging ports for the front and rear. There’s even a 100W charging port in the front for larger devices, should you ever need it.
A Hybrid Version and an Off-Road Trim Will Be Offered
The 2026 Kia Seltos offers an X-Line trim, which is geared towards the adventurous type. Kia’s AWD system is plenty capable—we’ve experienced it ourselves and can vouch for it—and Kia was careful to mention that the increased ground clearance, optional all-wheel drive, and multi-terrain selector mean it’s “X-Rated,” which implies a more capable off-road trim is on the horizon.
They also mentioned the new Kia Seltos will be offered with three engine options, including a hybrid version; it will feature the company’s latest iteration of regenerative braking, so more of the engine’s kinetic energy is fed back into the hybrid battery. This makes it more efficient and capable as a hybrid, so you could go anywhere and stay out for longer without having to worry too much about fuel.
The New Kia Seltos is Different, But in a Good Way
The new Kia Seltos is visually and dimensionally very different from the current Seltos model. The new one just got a facelift and an attitude adjustment, but it still fits within the same category: affordable, yet premium. Kia’s new Seltos shows us that they’re paying attention and making the right adjustments to appeal to multiple demographics. We can’t wait to see what else the Seltos is hiding behind that new face.
More About:Car Reviews