Kia Seltos’ next generation spotted in South Korea
Kia has been testing the next generation of its popular SUV, the Seltos. The new model, which is heavily camouflaged, can be spotted with some major updates to the styling. This can make the Seltos a more appealing choice in the Indian Market. Kia was testing the Seltos in India, but recently, it has emerged that they have been testing it in South Korea, the country from where the brand originated.
New Design Aspects
This Kia Seltos has been heavily camouflaged like the previous sightings. This makes it incredibly hard to tell the differences. However, some notable aspects include a new design for the LED Lighting Pattern. The lighting pattern spotted doesn’t resemble any of the existing models in the Kia lineup with a distinct H pattern in the headlights.
The grille also had three illuminated vertical slats. Previously, the sightings had revealed a concave design with vertical strakes. The rear will remind people of the Kia EV5, as a Taillight Bar connects the two rear lights.
It is expected that the next generation will carry the same platform as the outgoing model. The current generation of the Kia Seltos was refreshed in 2023 and it can be considered one of the most comprehensive refreshes. It should be noted that in addition to exterior design changes, there can be interior design changes as well.
Expected Changes
The next generation of the Kia Seltos will carry the same engine options as the outgoing model as they have been receiving good feedback from owners when it comes to fuel economy and performance. The current Seltos lineup has a lineup of a 1.5-litre Turbo and Naturally Aspirated Engine, and the 1.5-litre diesel engine. The next generation may see the introduction of a 1.6-litre engine with mild hybrid technology globally.
Kia has said in the past that they are considering launching a hybrid powertrain in India. This is why the global powertrain may be available in India as well. In addition to this, the Seltos has been well recognised for its features so it will be interesting to see what new creature comforts will the SUVs have to offer.
Outlook
The South Korean automaker will debut the next generation of the Seltos in the second half of 2025 globally for the 2026 model year. However, the aspect Kia and Hyundai should improve upon is their Dual Clutch Transmissions for the future. The current DCT feels hesitant in traffic and delayed when it comes to shifting.
