New 2026 Kia Seltos Launch Tomorrow: Here’s All You Need To Know

Kia is all set to launch the new Seltos in the Indian market tomorrow, along with the release of the official price list. Bookings for the car were opened last month, and all the key highlights were also released to the public. What remains a surprise was the pricing of the car, which will be announced tomorrow. While we have already driven and reviewed the 2026 Seltos, this story gives a short brief of what the new Seltos brings with it and what you can expect. 

Exterior Design: A New Look!

The new 2026 Seltos gets a completely redesigned look on the outside and is now based on a new platform, which makes it dimensionally bigger than the outgoing model. It has a boxy, upright, and dominating stance. The front houses new ice-cube LED headlights, vertical LED DRLs, and a sculpted grille finished in gloss black. The rear gets connected LED taillights, along with a cleaner, more refined tailgate design and an integrated sharp rear spoiler.

It also gets new front and rear bumpers with squarer lines and skid plates, new 18-inch alloy wheels, flush door handles, gloss body claddings, and subtle revisions along the profile with sharper lines to complete the visual aesthetics.

Overall, Kia seems to be aiming towards a stronger road presence while still retaining the core styling identity that has defined the Seltos so far. 

Interior: A Premium Makeover

Step inside the new Kia Seltos, and you will be amazed by the new dashboard layout. It now houses cleaner lines, noticeably more premium touch, and good quality of plastics used in the door trims and other areas. The car gets a total of four dual-tone colour themes for the cabin, which differ according to the variant you choose. 

The steering wheel now has a new design and will come finished in a dual-tone scheme as per the cabin colour theme. The cabin is wider than before and continues to focus on practicality with the use of physical buttons for key functions, avoiding an overload of touch controls or oversized screens. 

In the rear seats, thanks to a new, bigger platform, the Seltos continues to offer plenty of space. Seating 3 people is not a problem as the seats are wide, offer good cushioning, knee room, and ample headroom. For a family of five, the Seltos might be the most ideal car in the segment. The sense of comfort is further enhanced with rear AC vents and sun blinds. 

Features And Safety: Leaves Little To Be Desired

The Kia Seltos is a car that has carried a legacy of being fully loaded with all modern-day features, and the new model does not disappoint. It comes loaded with features like a panoramic sunroof, dual 12.3-inch screen setup comprising a touchscreen infotainment and another one for the driver’s display, dual-zone automatic climate control with a dedicated 5-inch screen, 10-way electrically adjustable driver seat with lumbar support, ventilated front seats, 8-speaker BOSE sound system, 64-colour ambient lighting, and drive and traction modes. 

Even for the lower variants, Kia has generously loaded them with all the important features you’d require in your modern-day car. Features like a touchscreen infotainment system, 6-speakers, and cruise control are standard across all variants.  

In terms of safety, key highlights on the new Seltos include a Level-2 ADAS suite, a 360-degree camera with front and rear sensors, and an electronic parking brake with auto-hold. 6 airbags, all-wheel disc brakes, ABS with EBD, electronic stability control, hill-hold assist, tyre pressure monitoring system, and impact sensing auto door unlock remain standard across all variants. 

Multiple Powertrain Options 

The new Kia Seltos is available across three engine options, all with a choice of manual and automatic gearboxes. These engines are the same as the outgoing model, meaning they are tried and tested. The lineup includes a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine, a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine, and a 1.5-litre diesel engine. 

Here are the detailed specifications:

2026 Kia Seltos Expected Price And Rivals 

The official pricelist of the new Seltos will be announced tomorrow, but comparing the prices of the outgoing model, we expect the prices of the new Seltos to start from Rs 11.2 lakh (ex-showroom) for the base model, while the top-of-the-line variant could be priced upwards of Rs 21 lakh (ex-showroom). 

The 2026 Kia Seltos continues to be a part of one of the toughest segments in India, the compact SUV range. It takes on cars like the Hyundai Creta, Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara and Victoris, Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder, Tata Sierra and Curvv, Honda Elevate, MG Astor, and the German siblings, Volkswagen Taigun and Skoda Kushaq. Renault's upcoming Duster and its sibling, the Nissan Tekton, are also expected to be other strong contenders against the new Seltos. 

ZigSays… 

Kia has loaded the new Seltos with all the equipment you will ever need, from modern features, enhanced safety, multiple engine and transmission options, to a new cabin layout with more space. The new Seltos ticks all boxes. But the real story will begin once the pricing is announced tomorrow, which will decide whether the Seltos can once again reclaim its spot as the favourite choice in the segment, like it did when it was first launched in 2019.

Do you like the new Kia Seltos? Or would you prefer some other car over it? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!