GaadiWaadi –
New Kia Seltos has grown larger in size and is based on a new design language with an assortment of enhancements inside the cabin
Kia has chosen India for the world debut of the all-new Seltos where it helped the brand to become a household name. Its bookings officially start right at midnight for a token of Rs. 25,000 and prices will be announced on January 2, 2026. It will be followed by customer deliveries that begin around mid-January. The Seltos debuted Kia brand to the Indian audience back in August 2019.
Dimensional tweaks were shared behind the scenes first as the new SUV now stretches 95 mm longer, grows 20 mm in width, sits 15 mm taller and has an extended 80 mm wheelbase. Kia has also quoted a 14-litre more volume in boot as the platform is brand new – global K3. It has also introduced a brand new styling philosophy to India.
What grabs attention instantly is the exterior overhaul. Instead of refining the older look, Kia has rebuilt the face of the SUV with a chunkier grille, a tall bonnet cut and a straighter, more upright nose that feels borrowed from the Telluride sold abroad. The vertical DRL modules now sit pushed outward and the C-shaped clusters with stacked inner beams sharpen the stance.
At the back, a wide LED bar, reprofiled bumper lines, new surfacing all around and new turn signals make the SUV seem visually broader. Elements like new 18-inch alloy wheels, short overhangs, roof rails, redesigned mirrors and a dual-pane sunroof help it become more appealing than before. The new projector headlamps and LED fog lamps, hidden rear wiper and automatic flush door handles are other highlights.
Kia has dropped the earlier segmented dashboard and switched to a stretched single-panel curved setup that merges the infotainment system and digital cluster under one glass structure. The cabin now displays softer materials, more upmarket textures and neater stitch lines. The GT Line trim gets two-tone treatments, new AC controls, metal pedals, a flat-bottom steering wheel with toggles and cleaner storage areas.
Powertrain choices, on the other hand, haven’t been shuffled much. The well-known trio – 1.5 NA petrol (115 PS/144 Nm), 1.5 turbo-petrol (160 PS/253 Nm) and 1.5 diesel (116 PS / 250 Nm) – continue without major changes and are offered with both manual and automatic gearboxes – iMT, IVT and AT. Overseas variants may get all-wheel drive and a 1.6-litre hybrid powertrain.
The new Kia Seltos arrives as competition in the midsize SUV segment tightens like never before. The new Seltos faces a long list of rivals – Hyundai Creta, Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara and Victoris, Tata Curvv and Sierra, Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder, Skoda Kushaq, VW Taigun, Honda Elevate and Citroen Aircross.
It uses a Syros-like 30-inch connected screen setup and the steering wheel follows a design theme similar to the EV6. The colour palette includes 10 single-tone options with new Red and Grey shades – paired with a Black and White two-tone interior. Features such as the welcome seat function, dual-zone climate control, ventilated front seats, 10-way powered driver seat with lumbar support and memory, sunshades for the rear, a panoramic sunroof, 64-colour ambient lighting, wireless charging, Type-C ports in both rows, and an 8-speaker Bose system are available.
The rear continues with three adjustable headrests, a reclining bench and a 60:40 split configuration while a 360-degree camera system is also present. Notable safety tech includes 24 standard features – highlighted by six airbags, ESP, TCS, and ADAS Level 2 functions. Connectivity gets an upgrade too with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, smart-key proximity unlock, and Kia Connect 2.0 which now incorporates 91 connected features ranging from remote operations to live vehicle diagnostics. It has been confirmed to be available in HTE, HTK, HTX and GTX trims.
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