After its initial debut in December, the 2027 Kia Seltos is making its way to North America later this year.
Back in 2019, Kia introduced its Seltos SUV lineup as a new, all-wheel drive-capable option below the popular Sportage and Sorento models. It’s time for an update, though, and the automaker just debuted the second-generation model to a North American audience at the 2026 New York Auto Show. Packing multiple powertrains (including a new hybrid version), fresh styling, updated tech and a chunkier design in line with its latest, larger siblings like the Telluride, Kia aims to kick the small SUV competition up a notch with this new Seltos model.
Getting a closer look at the 2027 Kia Seltos
Kia has been on an interesting journey over the past couple years with its new ‘Opposites United’ design philosophy, going for a more distinctive and contrast-heavy aesthetic over what we saw with the first-gen Seltos. To that end, you get several more angular cues, be it in the new upright grille design, the vertical daytime running lights and the boxier rear end. Angles, creases and lines dominate the exterior design, and that also helps show off the larger dimensions as this Seltos is longer overall, wider and rides on a 2.4-inch longer wheelbase compared to its predecessor. The new Seltos also gets 8.1 inches of ground clearance, which is a marked improvement over the old car’s 7.3 inches.
Inside, the 2027 Kia Seltos sports a look that we’ve come to know well through passenger cars in the compact segment like the K4. for example, you get a 12.3-inch touchscreen display, while high-end models like the X-Line get another 12.3-inch screen for its digital gauge cluster display, with a 5-inch screen between the two for your climate controls.
The 2027 Kia Seltos lineup further brings a wide range of features usually found on larger SUVs, like a panoramic sunroof. Blind-spot monitoring, an expanded suite of standard driver assistance features (hands-on detection, forward collision avoidance with junction turning assist, smart cruise control with stop & go support and parking distance warning), and available tech like blind-spot monitoring and a memory power driver’s seat depending on which trim you select.
Speaking of trims, the 2027 Seltos comes in similar flavors to the outgoing model. The LX kicks off the range, rising through the S, EX and X-Line trims. All those models come standard with a 2.0-liter engine putting out 147 horsepower through an Intelligent Variable Transmission (Kia’s CVT). The X-Line, however, also gets a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder option that is exclusive to that trim, with 190 horsepower on tap and an 8-speed automatic transmission (not a dual-clutch this time around).
In due time, a 2027 Kia Seltos Hybrid will also hit the market, though further details on that model are still forthcoming. The gas-powered models are slated to hit the market first in the second quarter of 2026, with the HEV coming in the fourth quarter.
Specific pricing, fuel economy figures and other finer details are still a question mark, though we should have more information on those in the coming months. Check out more on the new Seltos from the New York Auto Show soon (we’ll have a full video on TFLnow below shortly)!
