2026 Kia Seltos unveiled: From tiger-nose grille to new centre console - what does the Tata Sierra rival offer?

2026 Kia Seltos: Kia has unveiled the second-generation Seltos in India ahead of its official launch in 2026. Offered in four trims - HTE, HTK, HTX, GT-Line and X-Line, the 2026 Kia Seltos comes with three engine options. The bookings for the car will commence on December 11 with a token amount of Rs 25,000, while pricing will be announced on January 2, 2025. The 2nd-gen Seltos has received several upgrades. Here's all you need to know about the Tata Sierra rival:

2026 Kia Seltos: Design

The 2026 Kia Seltos gets a tiger-nose grille, which gives it a completely new face. The bumper is also completely fresh. The car gets pop-out door handles on the side and new aero-oriented wheels, which resemble the ones seen on the Carens and Carens Clavis EV. At the rear, there are connected vertical tail lamps, which provide a distinct look. You get 10 body paint options, including two new colours - Morning Haze and Magma Red.

Interior & Features

The second-generation Seltos borrows much of the cabin elements from the Carens Clavis, including the colour schemes, while the layout is similar to the MPV. The front seats’ key highlights include massive dual 12.3-inch displays, a new centre console, a panoramic sunroof and a new three-spoke Kia steering wheel. On the top-trim models, the second row splits 60:40 and also reclines to offer added comfort. The boot capacity is 447 litres, and a power function is also available for the tailgate. The length has been increased to 4.46 metres from 4.36 metres, while the wheelbase has also grown to 2,690mm, an increase of 80mm over the previous model.

Engine options

The new Seltos will be available with three engine options - an entry-level 1.5-litre NA petrol churning out 113bhp and 144Nm, and a 1.5-litre GDi delivering 158bhp and 253Nm. A six-speed manual gearbox is standard. The petrol engines offer a CVT for one version, and either a six-speed iMT or a seven-speed DCT for the other. The diesel is Kia’s 1.5-litre engine making 118bhp and 260Nm, and it comes with either a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic. There were rumours about a hybrid option, but Kia didn’t announce anything about it at the unveiling.

2026 Kia Seltos: Expected price & competition

Kia will announce prices for this second-generation Seltos on 2 January, 2026 and we expect it to be in the range of Rs 12 lakh to Rs 20 lakh. It is Kia's rival to the likes of the Hyundai Creta, Honda Elevate, MG Astor, Maruti Victoris, Maruti Grand Vitara, Toyota Hyryder, Skoda Kushaq, and the Volkswagen Taigun.

The pricing for Seltos will be announced on January 2, 2026 and it is expected to be priced between the range of Rs 12 lakh to Rs 20 lakh. Once launched, the Seltos will rival the likes of the Tata Sierra, Hyundai Creta, Honda Elevate, MG Astor, Maruti Victoris, Maruti Grand Vitara, Toyota Hyryder, Skoda Kushaq, and the Volkswagen Taigun.