- The 2027 Kia Seltos makes its U.S. debut at the New York auto show, and the subcompact SUV’s second generation brings myriad changes.
- The new Seltos’s powertrain options include a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter four-cylinder, a 1.6-liter turbo four, and a hybrid setup.
- Kia hasn’t said how much the Seltos costs, but we expect it’ll start at around $27,000 when it goes on sale in the second quarter of this year.
Not everyone needs a big ol’ three-row SUV like the Kia Telluride. Heck, there are a lot of people who don’t even need a compact-sized crossover like the Kia Sportage. That’s why the Kia Seltos exists. Its subcompact size pairs with a sub-$30,000 price tag, and it’s now entering its second generation. Following its global reveal at the end of last year, Kia has debuted the U.S. version of the new 2027 Seltos at the New York auto show.
Kia’s current design language can only be described as extroverted. Naturally, that also applies to the new Seltos, which looks a lot like one of the brand’s EVs, but it also takes inspiration from the recently redesigned Telluride. Similarly, the Seltos has boxy proportions and is available with flush door handles. Its face is highlighted by vertical daytime running lights with a distinctive amber color, and the taillights are also vertically oriented, though they’re nearly connected by a light bar.
Kia says the second-gen Seltos is bigger than its predecessor, both inside and out. Its wheelbase has been stretched by 2.4 inches, and it now offers up to 8.1 inches of ground clearance. The X-Line model pictured here is the top-of-the-line model; it sits above the LX, S, and EX. While a set of 16-inch alloy wheels is standard, the X-Line offers 18- and 19-inch wheels.
The Seltos lineup continues to feature two gas-only engines: a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter four-cylinder and a 1.6-liter turbo four. Kia hasn’t released details about the base engine, but it still pairs with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) and front- or all-wheel drive. The turbocharged version that’s reserved for X-Line makes the same 190 horsepower and again mates to an eight-speed automatic; all-wheel drive is standard with this powertrain.
For 2027, there’s a third member of the powertrain party. The new Seltos Hybrid features a 1.6-liter turbo four and a six-speed dual-clutch automatic. Kia says it will release more specifics closer to the hybrid’s arrival near the end of this year, but for now, we know that, along with a front-wheel-drive setup, it’ll be the brand’s first hybrid SUV to offer the new electronic all-wheel-drive system (dubbed e-AWD).
Inside, the driver faces a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, which can be combined with a 12.3-inch touchscreen for the infotainment system and a 5.0-inch touchscreen that controls the climate settings. Thankfully, Kia also offers some physical controls for the volume, HVAC settings, and other functions. Along with a squared-off steering wheel, the Seltos adopts a column-mounted electronic shifter (a traditional gear lever is found on lesser models). Still, every model features wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Of course, Kia offers several upscale options on the new Seltos. There’s an available panoramic sunroof, memory settings for the power-adjustable seats, and driver assists such as a 360-degree camera system and a blind-spot camera that shows a video feed in the gauge cluster. The X-Line’s available Prestige package includes a Relaxation Seat that provides a pop-out ottoman for the driver to rest their legs on. And speaking of legs, Kia says rear-seat legroom has grown by an inch compared with its predecessor. Cargo space has grown too, with the new Seltos having 28 cubic feet behind the second row (that grows to 64 cubes with the seatbacks stowed).
While Hyundai hasn’t yet announced pricing for the 2027 Seltos, the automaker says the nonhybrid models will go on sale sometime in the second quarter of this year. The hybrid Seltos is slated to follow, but not until the fourth quarter of the year.
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Eric Stafford’s automobile addiction began before he could walk, and it has fueled his passion to write news, reviews, and more for Car and Driver since 2016. His aspiration growing up was to become a millionaire with a Jay Leno–like car collection. Apparently, getting rich is harder than social-media influencers make it seem, so he avoided financial success entirely to become an automotive journalist and drive new cars for a living. After earning a journalism degree at Central Michigan University and working at a daily newspaper, the years of basically burning money on failed project cars and lemon-flavored jalopies finally paid off when Car and Driver hired him. His garage currently includes a 2010 Acura RDX, a manual ’97 Chevy Camaro Z/28, and a ’90 Honda CRX Si.
