2026 Kia Seltos Live Launch Updates - Price, Variants, New Features: Launch Event Starts Now In Hyderabad

The Seltos was the first offering from Kia India to mark its entry on our shores, and the compact SUV has since played a major role in establishing the South Korean carmaker's presence in the Indian market. The 2026 update marks its second generation, with which Kia intends to take its ambitions a step further and increase its market share within a highly competitive segment.

While not a true off-roader, the 2026 Seltos is more capable of taking on the occasional adventure off the beaten path. It comes with new traction modes, Snow, Mud and Sand, enhancing grip and stability, depending on the surface. Combined with electronic stability control, all-wheel disc brakes, 360-degree cameras and a more planted stance, the SUV offers improved usability in mixed driving conditions.

The Seltos X Line stands out as the most distinctive and premium-looking variant in the lineup thanks to a set of exclusive design touches. It gets a bold front and rear skid plate finished in high gloss black, along with a dark gunmetal accented side door garnish that gives it a more rugged and upscale presence.

The cabin carries a unique smoky black and hunter green two-tone theme with satin metal accents and matching leatherette seats that instantly set it apart from the standard trims. The X Line also rides on larger 18-inch black painted alloy wheels that add a strong visual presence. Buyers can choose between two exclusive exterior shades, Matte Graphite and Aurora Black Pearl, completing the X Line’s more stylish and imposing identity.

The new Seltos offers a wide range of powertrain options distributed across its trims. The Smartstream 1.5 petrol with a 6-speed manual is available from the HTE trim all the way to the HTX. The 1.5 petrol IVT starts from the HTK(O) trim and goes up to the HTX(A). The 1.5 turbo petrol comes with two gearbox choices, a 6-speed manual and a 7-speed DCT, both of which are offered from the HTX up to the top-end X Line variants in their respective manual or automatic forms. Diesel buyers get the 1.5 CRDi VGT engine with a 6-speed manual available from HTE to HTX, while the 6-speed automatic is offered from HTK(O) through to the X Line(A).

The new Seltos comes well equipped as standard with a blend of style, tech and everyday practicality. It features Ice Cube MFR LED headlamps paired with Star Map LED DRLs and matching LED tail lamps, while elements like a shark fin antenna, integrated rear spoiler with LED stop lamp, robust skid plates and 16-inch steel wheels with covers add to its visual appeal.

The cabin gets smoky black and grey two-tone trim, a double D cut steering wheel with audio controls, manual height adjustment for the driver's seat and practical touches such as illuminated power window switches, a centre armrest with cup holders and multiple storage points.

Tech highlights include a 12-inch LCD instrument cluster with a 4.2-inch colour TFT MID, a 10.25-inch HD touchscreen with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, six speakers and C-type USB ports for both rows. Convenience features like cruise control with manual speed limit assist, keyless entry, electric adjust ORVMs, rear AC vents, LED interior lamps, a day and night IRVM and a sunglass holder all come included, making the base Seltos feel far from basic.

The new-gen Seltos makes an entry on stage at the event in Hyderabad.

The new Seltos packs a comprehensive ADAS Level 2 suite with 21 autonomous features that significantly enhance safety and convenience. It offers multiple layers of collision avoidance, including forward collision warning and assist for vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists, direct oncoming traffic, and junction turns. Lane discipline tech is well covered with lane departure warning, lane keeping assist, and lane following assist, while high beam assist and driver attention warning add to overall awareness.

The SUV also supports smart cruise control with stop-and-go for relaxed highway runs. Blind spot monitoring and avoidance, rear cross traffic warning and assist, safe exit warning, and parking collision avoidance assist work together to protect you in tight urban situations. A 360-degree camera paired with a blind view monitor further improves visibility, making the Seltos feel more confident and effortless to drive.

The new Kia Seltos packs a long list of safety features that aim to protect occupants while also enhancing overall control and confidence on the road. It offers a comprehensive airbag suite with front, side and curtain units, along with an option to switch the front passenger airbag on or off. Key electronic aids include ABS with brake assist, electronic stability control, vehicle stability management, hill start assist and downhill brake control.

The SUV also gets rollover sensors, all wheel disc brakes and an emergency stop signal for added reassurance. Daily usability improves with speed sensing locks, impact sensing unlock, a rear occupant alert and ISOFIX mounts. Convenience is boosted by a tyre pressure monitor, rear parking sensors and a rear camera with dynamic guidelines, while auto light control and a headlamp escort feature add to visibility and safety after dark.

The 2026 Seltos with a naturally aspirated petrol engine and a diesel engine uses a 47-litre tank, whereas the turbo-petrol engine gets a slightly larger 50-litre fuel tank.

Kia will offer the 2026 Seltos in 10 variants - HTE, HTE (O), HTK, HTK (O), HTX, HTX (A), GTX, X-Line, GTX(A) and X-Line (A). These variants fall under three trims - GT Line, Tech Line and X-Line.

Here's a quick look at the 2026 Seltos that has just been unveiled for the Indian market. The video was shot in Hyderabad, where the event took place. What are your thoughts on the design of the new-gen Seltos? You can comment in the Instagram reel.

We know that the bookings will open from today midnight for a token amount of ₹25,000, and the full price announcement will be made on 2nd Jan. The deliveries of the SUV will start from mid-January onwards.

The X-Line trim will come with Smoky Black and Hunter Green two-tone interiors with Satin Metal accents. The GT Line will come with Smoky Black and White two-tone interiors with White accents. Then there is Tech Line, which is available in Premium Brown and Grey two-tone interiors with Green accents and Smoky Black and Grey two-tone interiors with Matte Blue accents.

The 2026 Seltos will be offered in three alloy wheel sizes. There are 18-inch black painted alloys, 18-inch sporty crystal cut alloys and 17-inch crystal cut alloys. There are also two 16-inch steel wheels, where one of them comes with a standard cover, whereas the other one gets a stylised cover.

The new-gen Seltos is available in 10 Monotone colours. There is Morning Haze, Magma Red, Imperial Blue, Gravity Gray, Aurora Black Pearl, Frost Blue, Ivory Silver Gloss, Glacier White Pearl, Pewter Olive and Xclusive Matte Graphite. There are also two dual-tone colours - Glacier White Pearl with Aurora Black Pearl and Magma Red with Aurora Black Pearl.

The new Kia Seltos gets a design inspired by the Telluride that is on sale in the global market. There are new alloy wheels, tiger nose grille in gloss black, LED Daytime Running Lamps and new connected LED tail lamps, among others.

Kia has confirmed that the 2026 Seltos will be offered in HTE, HTK, HTX and GTX trim levels. Along with the standard variants, the brand is also introducing optional add-on packages. Buyers will be able to choose from Convenience, Premium, ADAS and X-Line Design packages to customise features based on preference.

Kia has declared that reservations for the 2026 Seltos will commence tonight at midnight. The booking amount is ₹25,000. However, the pricing details have not been disclosed during today’s launch. The company has confirmed that comprehensive pricing information will be provided separately on 2 January.

Kia has officially revealed the 2026 Seltos in the Indian market. Here is your first look at it. It looks substantially larger and more imposing because of the larger dimensions.

Kia has confirmed that the 2026 Seltos will be offered with multiple transmission choices, including a manual gearbox, iMT (clutchless manual), CVT automatic, and a torque-converter automatic transmission.

Kia has announced the powertrain details for the 2026 Seltos lineup:

* 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol: 115 PS and 144 Nm

* 1.5-litre turbo-petrol: 160 PS and 253 Nm

* 1.5-litre turbo-diesel: 116 PS and 250 Nm

These are the same engines that are doing duty on the outgoing Seltos and the Hyundai Creta.

Kia has confirmed that they will sell the Seltos in three engine options - a naturally aspirated petrol engine, a turbo petrol engine and a diesel engine. All have a cubic capacity of 1.5-litres.

Kia has confirmed that the 2026 Seltos will be offered in 10 single-tone exterior colour options. Two new shades have been added to the palette: Morning Haze and Magma Red.

Kia has officially announced several new exterior features for the 2026 Seltos. The SUV will be equipped with 18-inch alloy wheels featuring a newly crafted design, as well as door handles that fit flush with the body. Additional enhancements comprise a hidden rear wiper, a shark-fin antenna, and decorative skid plates located at both the front and rear.

Kia has officially announced the revised exterior dimensions of the new-generation Seltos. The SUV now has a length of 4,460 mm and a width of 1,830 mm, which makes it 95 mm longer and 30 mm wider compared to the previous model. Additionally, the wheelbase has been extended by 80 mm, now measuring 2,690 mm, which is expected to enhance cabin space.