Kia prepares redesigned Seltos with $24,990 base price
The 2027 Seltos grows slightly, adds a future hybrid option and keeps Kia in the lower-priced small SUV market.
By Hana Yoshida · Markets Reporter
2 min read
Kia’s redesigned Seltos will start at $24,990 before delivery charges, Ars Technica reported after driving the small SUV in Newport Beach, California. The pricing puts the 2027 model in a part of the market that still serves buyers looking below luxury-vehicle territory.
Ars Technica reported that the new Seltos reflects a different response to pressure from lower-cost Chinese automakers. Some car companies have sought government protection from that competition, while Kia is bringing a more substantial small SUV to market at a mass-market price.
The second-generation Seltos has styling cues that Ars Technica compared with Kia’s larger Telluride. The publication said the new model has grown from the first-generation version, with most of the added size showing up in the wheelbase.
Even with the increase, the Seltos remains a subcompact SUV. Ars Technica listed its dimensions at 174.4 inches long, 72 inches wide and 64.9 inches tall. That leaves it one class below compact SUVs such as the Toyota RAV4 and Mazda CX-5, according to the report.
The Seltos was not originally a sure bet for the U.S. market. Ars Technica reported that the first-generation model had been developed with China as the main target, while the new version appears more directly considered for American buyers.
Kia will offer three powertrain versions, according to Ars Technica. The 1.6-liter hybrid is the variant the publication said it is most interested in, but that model is not expected in showrooms until the fourth quarter.
Details on the hybrid remain limited. Ars Technica reported that Kia has not released power, torque or fuel-efficiency figures because the hybrid Seltos is still going through EPA certification.
The first drive covered the non-hybrid vehicle, with the hybrid drive report expected later. Ars Technica disclosed that Kia paid for flights from Washington, D.C., to Orange County, California, and lodging for the event, and said it does not accept paid editorial content.
This story draws on original reporting from Ars Technica.