The Kia Seltos is now in its second generation, which is proof that this vehicle has been a huge success for the South Korean automaker. So much so that this vehicle is now Kia’s second-best-selling model worldwide in 2025. As the 2027 Kia Seltos grows and glows up, this brings into question what Kia’s plans are for the Sportage. Something tells us that the next-generation model is set to grow and become more upmarket, but that’s a story for another day.
For now, let us focus on the new Seltos, which already makes a bold statement the moment you lay your eyes on the vehicle. The Seltos was already known for its style, but Kia, as a brand that pushes the boundaries of design, doesn’t want to rest on its laurels. Imbuing the Seltos with the brand’s Opposites United design language gave it vertical LED daytime running lights, while the separate main LED headlights are cleverly integrated into the grille.
At the sides, the rising beltline that has defined the Seltos–and many succeeding Kia crossover SUVs after it, like the EV5 and EV9–has been chiseled. This is matched by a subtle character line rising from the front wheel arches, which gives its side profile a very unique character among other subcompact crossover SUVs. Lastly, the rear LED taillights are just shy of turning into a full-width light bar, which goes against the trend of full-width LED taillights. It’s a clever touch–one that still retains Kia’s distinctive light design without conforming to design trends.
Kia’s interior design is also strong, and for the Seltos, they’ve taken things up a notch. Two 12.3-inch screens and a 5-inch segment display encompass the dashboard, but what surrounds the modern technological advancements are materials that mix premium, sustainable, and utilitarian. As a subcompact crossover, there’s still a good deal of hard plastics, but they’re in the areas you rarely touch. Everywhere else, there’s a good serving of soft-touch materials that ups the premium feel, and you’d be happy to know that a significant portion of the interior is finished in sustainable materials.
Sustainability is at the heart of the 2027 Kia Seltos, but what’s amazing here is how they made sustainability trendy. Rather than the usual silver or chrome trims, the interior may feature bronze trims, while color schemes range from the usual subtlety of black, the warmth of white and brown, or the calmness of black and green. Ambient LED lighting also helps in accentuating the interior, as these strips are part of the interior decorative trim. Speaking of which, there’s a complete absence of gloss black trims, which is a huge sigh of relief for me. I think we’re finally past the era of gloss black plastics that easily wear out.
Remember when I said that the Seltos grew in size? At 4,430 mm long, it is nearly 100 mm longer than the previous model. The wheelbase is 40 mm longer as well, so you can imagine how much space this vehicle has gained. The rear seats are spacious with good amounts of headroom and legroom, though a transmission tunnel reduces legroom for the middle passenger. Also, by switching to an electronic shifter mounted at the lower part of the steering column–just like in Kia’s electric vehicles (EVs), the center stack has been given unprecedented levels of practicality–enough for Kia to release its own catalog of accessories for the Korean market.
Three powertrain options are available globally for the 2027 Kia Seltos, but we were able to try the two most powerful engine choices. The base engine is a 2.0-liter four-cylinder that produces 149 horsepower and 179 Nm of torque, and this is mated to a CVT (branded as Intelligent Variable Transmission).
The other engine choice is a 1.6-liter turbo four-cylinder in two power outputs. The standard output is 180 horsepower and 265 Nm of torque, and this is mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic or a six-speed manual. The higher-output version produces 193 horsepower and 265 Nm of torque, and it is paired with an eight-speed automatic. The latter is also available with all-wheel drive (AWD), and opting for all-wheel traction also adds a multi-link rear suspension.
The 1.6 turbo with the eight-speed auto and AWD is what we experienced, together with the first-ever hybrid. It is based on the same system found in the Hyundai Kona Hybrid and Elantra Hybrid, which combines a 1.6-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder with an electric motor integrated into the six-speed dual-clutch automatic. What’s new for this hybrid system in the Seltos is the use of electronic AWD (e-AWD), which means that the rear wheels are powered by another electric motor instead of utilizing a mechanical connection between the front and rear axles. This also results in a strong system output of 179 horsepower, though its stated 144 Nm of torque is only for the engine and not the entire system.
These two powertrain choices represent the pinnacle of the 2027 Kia Seltos range, but it is the hybrid that gets the most functionality. Due to the strong hybrid system (not a plug-in hybrid system, mind you), Kia has enabled its 1.43 kWh lithium-ion battery to offer vehicle-to-load (V2L) capabilities. This is great for camping if you want to power your devices, but since this isn’t a plug-in hybrid, don’t expect the electrical output to last long before the engine needs to kick in to life.
When it does kick into life, the Seltos offers a strong power output. It’s a powertrain we already love in the Kona and Elantra, and we love it as well here in the Seltos, especially with the addition of e-AWD. The dual-clutch auto is smooth, especially since the electric motor fills in the gaps and torque interruptions of the powertrain during gear changes. As for fuel economy, the Seltos managed 15 to 18 km/l, which is good for a crossover SUV with this much power on tap, particularly for one that uses a dual-clutch instead of an eCVT like most other hybrids.
As for the 1.6-liter turbo and eight-speed automatic, the power delivery is likewise strong, but there’s a bit of turbo lag. The eight-speed automatic’s responses could be quicker, too, but it is largely smooth. What we’re really impressed with is how the refinement and comfort levels have improved. There’s more sound insulation this time around, along with acoustic front glass. The chassis is also very solid, quelling shakes way before it rattles the cabin when going over road imperfections.
Kia has also done a great job with ride quality. I’ve always commended Kia’s vehicles for feeling more European to drive than ever, and that applies to the new Seltos as well. Ride comfort is where this vehicle is at its best. The suspension is not so soft that the ride ends up being wallowy like in many too softly sprung Chinese cars, yet it still does an excellent job of ironing out large imperfections.
Lastly, the Seltos Hybrid also gets a new Smart Regenerative System 3.0. It’s Kia’s take on regenerative braking that adjusts its slight braking force depending on both traffic conditions and navigation data, so that you’ll step on the brake pedal less while still being able to charge the battery.
As for the other features, the Kia DriveWise safety suite in Korea also comes with Highway Driving Assist 2. This combines navigational data and the vehicle’s capability to link to the country’s infrastructure to offer a high degree of Level 2 semi-autonomous driving. Though not completely hands-free, it is still reliable enough to automatically perform lane changes, as well as adjust the speed based on the traffic conditions and the changing regulations as you drive the car.
The 2027 Kia Seltos is a great subcompact crossover SUV. Though it doesn’t necessarily rewrite the genre, the amount of improvements this car offers puts it right up there with the segment’s best offerings. Distinctive design continues to be one of Kia’s selling points, but when you combine that with solid driving dynamics and smart features, you’ve got a vehicle that becomes a stylish and capable companion for your everyday life. We can’t wait for the new Seltos to arrive soon, and though Kia Philippines hasn’t given a timetable on when the car will arrive, what we can tell you is that it’ll be coming soon. Here’s to hoping it’ll be worth the wait for subcompact crossover SUV buyers.
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