Kia Seltos 2026 — the all-new, bigger second generation.
Longer, wider and on a longer wheelbase than before, with a panoramic screen panel and Level 2 ADAS packs — but you now pay for the extras through a long list of (O) and (A) variants.
Autovisor verdict: The new Seltos fixes the old car's biggest problem — rear space — with a much longer wheelbase, keeps the strong 160 hp turbo-petrol, and adds a current 5-star Bharat NCAP result.
Last updated: · Prices are indicative ex-showroom ranges and change with variant, city and manufacturer revisions.
The new Seltos fixes the old car's biggest problem — rear space — with a much longer wheelbase, keeps the strong 160 hp turbo-petrol, and adds a current 5-star Bharat NCAP result. The catch is price: ADAS and the best features live in variants that cost ₹17–22 lakh, and long-term reliability and resale for this generation are not yet known.
- + Much bigger than before — 2,690 mm wheelbase is 80 mm longer than the previous Seltos
- + Current 5-star Bharat NCAP for adult and child protection (2026)
- + 160 hp 1.5 turbo-petrol with 7-speed DCT is still one of the quickest in the class
- + Diesel automatic still offered — increasingly rare in this segment
- + Level 2 ADAS on (A) variants; Level 2+ with 28 functions on GTX(O)/X-Line(O)
- + Panoramic screen panel, Bose 8-speaker audio and ventilated front seats on upper trims
- − Complicated variant list — HTE, HTK, HTX, GTX plus (O), (A) and X-Line packs
- − ADAS only from the HTX(A), which starts around ₹17 lakh
- − Top GTX(O)/X-Line(O) costs about ₹21.6–21.8 lakh before on-road charges
- − No hybrid or CNG option for high-mileage buyers
- − Brand-new generation — no long-term reliability or resale record yet
- − Base HTE comes with 16-inch steel wheels and basic equipment
Families who want a bigger, more modern mid-size SUV with a turbo-petrol or diesel automatic, a verified 5-star Bharat NCAP result, and who are willing to buy an HTX or higher to get the equipment that makes the Seltos worth choosing.
You are shopping under ₹13 lakh (the base trims are plain), you want a hybrid for low running costs, or you prefer a proven design with years of ownership data behind it.
Variants & pricing
Indicative ex-showroom prices, India. On-road cost adds registration, road tax and insurance — typically 10–15% more.
| Variant | Fuel | Transmission | Ex-showroom | Key features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HTE | Petrol / Diesel | 6MT | ₹11.25 L | 6 airbags · 10.25-inch touchscreen, wireless CarPlay/Android Auto · 12-inch LCD cluster · Cruise control |
| HTE(O) | Petrol / Turbo / Diesel | 6MT / IVT / iMT / 6AT | ₹12.42 L | Connected LED tail lamps · Roof rails · 60:40 split rear seat with armrest |
| HTK | Petrol / Turbo / Diesel | 6MT / IVT / iMT / 6AT | ₹13.42 L | More comfort and convenience kit over HTE(O) |
| HTK(O) | Petrol / Turbo / Diesel | 6MT / IVT / iMT / 7DCT / 6AT | ₹14.52 L | First trim with the turbo-petrol DCT option |
| HTX | Petrol / Turbo / Diesel | 6MT / IVT / 7DCT / 6AT | ₹15.92 L | Upper-trim screens and comfort features |
| HTX(A) | Petrol / Turbo / Diesel | 6MT / IVT / 7DCT / 6AT | ₹17.02 L | Level 2 ADAS package |
| GTX / X-Line | Petrol / Turbo / Diesel | IVT / 7DCT / 6AT | ₹18.72 L | 18-inch alloys · Bose 8-speaker audio · Ventilated front seats · X-Line styling at the same price |
| GTX(A) / X-Line(A) | Petrol / Turbo / Diesel | IVT / 7DCT / 6AT | ₹19.82 L | Level 2 ADAS (21 functions) |
| GTX(O) / X-Line(O) | Turbo / Diesel | 7DCT / 6AT | ₹21.57 L | Level 2+ ADAS (28 functions) · Head-up display · Front and rear dashcam · Digital key |
Engines & real-world mileage
The sensible choice for mostly city use; the IVT is smooth in traffic. Not offered on GTX(O).
Quickest Seltos. The iMT (clutchless manual) is only on HTE(O)–HTK(O); the DCT runs from HTK(O) to GTX(O).
Best for high highway mileage. The torque-converter automatic is available from HTE(O) all the way to GTX(O).
Dimensions
Kia Seltos overview
Feature highlights
- Panoramic display panel on upper trims (12.3-inch touchscreen with navigation on GTX(O))
- 10.25-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay / Android Auto and 12-inch LCD cluster from the base HTE
- Level 2 ADAS on (A) variants; Level 2+ with 28 functions on GTX(O) / X-Line(O)
- Bose 8-speaker premium audio and ventilated front seats on upper trims
- Dual-pane panoramic sunroof and 64-colour ambient lighting on upper trims
- Head-up display, front and rear dashcam and digital key on GTX(O) / X-Line(O)
- Automatic flush door handles and 18-inch alloys on upper trims
- X-Line styling pack at the same price as the matching GTX
Crash-test results
Bharat NCAP · Mar 2026
5-star adult · 5-star child
Adult (31.7/32) · Child (45/49)
Tested: HTE(O), GTX 1.5 CRDi 6AT
Official resultCrash-test results are separate from the safety equipment listed below. Bharat NCAP and Global NCAP use different tests, so their scores should not be compared directly. Checked Oct 2026.
Safety equipment
- Six airbags (front, side and curtain) on every variant
- ESC and ABS with EBD across the range
- Level 2 ADAS on HTX(A), GTX(A) and X-Line(A)
- Level 2+ ADAS (adds junction-crossing and lane-change collision avoidance, evasive steering assist, navigation-based cruise control) on GTX(O) / X-Line(O)
- ISOFIX child-seat anchors on the rear outer seats
- Crash-test results for this generation are listed in the crash-test section above
On the road
The engines are familiar, so the character is too: the 1.5 petrol with the IVT is relaxed and easy in town but needs revs on the highway; the 160 hp turbo-petrol with the DCT is the one to pick if you enjoy driving or often overtake on two-lane roads; and the diesel automatic remains the long-distance choice. The bigger change is the new, larger body and platform. Expect more stability at speed from the longer wheelbase, but judge ride comfort yourself on a test drive — especially on the 18-inch wheels of the GTX and X-Line, which is where the previous Seltos felt firmest. Book a test drive on a broken road, not just the smooth stretch near the dealer.
Inside the cabin
The cabin is all new. Upper trims get a wide panoramic display panel that combines the touchscreen and the driver display, a separate small touchscreen for the climate controls, a dual-pane panoramic sunroof, ambient lighting and Bose audio. Even the base HTE gets a 10.25-inch touchscreen with wireless phone mirroring and a 12-inch LCD cluster. The headline improvement is space: the 80 mm longer wheelbase is aimed squarely at the old Seltos's tight rear seat. Sit in the back behind your own driving position before you buy — if three adults regularly share the rear bench, check shoulder room in person.
Ownership cost & resale
Standard warranty is 3 years with unlimited kilometres (reported). Because this generation went on sale in January 2026, there is no reliable resale or long-term running-cost record yet — treat any five-year resale figure you see quoted as a guess based on the previous car.
Who should buy the Kia Seltos?
Buy the Seltos if you want a modern, roomy mid-size SUV with a turbo-petrol or diesel automatic and you can spend about ₹16–20 lakh ex-showroom. The HTX is the sensible starting point for the screens and comfort features; step to the HTX(A) only if you want ADAS. The GTX is where the Bose audio and ventilated seats arrive. Skip the GTX(O) unless you specifically want the head-up display, dashcam and the expanded Level 2+ ADAS — it costs about ₹2.8 lakh more than a GTX. Avoid the base HTE unless the budget truly stops at ₹11–12 lakh.
Our pick is the Kia Seltos HTX 1.5 turbo-petrol DCT or 1.5 diesel automatic, depending on how much highway driving you do — or the HTX(A) if ADAS matters to you. It gets the new car's space and safety advantages without paying top-trim money. Choose the Creta instead if a proven design and the widest service reach matter more to you than the newest car in the class.
Alternatives to consider
Frequently asked questions
What is the price of the new Kia Seltos in 2026?＋
The second-generation Kia Seltos costs from about ₹11.25 lakh (HTE petrol manual) to about ₹21.82 lakh (GTX(O) diesel automatic), ex-showroom. On-road prices are typically 12–16% higher depending on your city, insurance and accessories.
Is the 2026 Seltos a new generation?＋
Yes. Kia launched the all-new, second-generation Seltos in India on 2 January 2026. It uses Kia's K3 platform and is 4,460 mm long with a 2,690 mm wheelbase — bigger than the previous model in length, width and wheelbase.
What engines does the new Seltos have?＋
Three: a 1.5-litre petrol (115 PS) with 6-speed manual or IVT automatic; a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol (160 PS, 253 Nm) with a 6-speed iMT or 7-speed DCT; and a 1.5-litre diesel (116 PS, 250 Nm) with a 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic. There is no hybrid, CNG or electric version.
Which Kia Seltos variant is best value?＋
For most buyers the HTX is the sweet spot — it brings the upper-trim screens and comfort features without the ADAS and GTX premiums. Choose the HTX(A) if you want ADAS, and the GTX if you want Bose audio and ventilated front seats.
Which Seltos variants have ADAS?＋
Level 2 ADAS comes on the (A) variants — HTX(A), GTX(A) and X-Line(A). The GTX(O) and X-Line(O), added in July 2026, get an expanded Level 2+ suite with 28 functions, adding collision avoidance at junctions and during lane changes, evasive steering assist and navigation-based cruise control.
Is the new Kia Seltos safe?＋
The second-generation Seltos has a 5-star Bharat NCAP rating for both adult and child occupant protection (2026). All variants have six airbags and ESC. The 3-star Global NCAP rating often quoted online was for the previous generation and does not apply to this car.
Does the old Seltos crash-test rating apply to the new one?＋
No. The previous Seltos's Global NCAP result (2022) tested a different generation with a different body and platform. Only the 2026 Bharat NCAP result applies to the current Seltos.
Is the new Seltos bigger than the Hyundai Creta?＋
Yes. The new Seltos is 4,460 mm long with a 2,690 mm wheelbase; the Creta is 4,330 mm long with a 2,610 mm wheelbase. The two no longer share a platform.
Kia Seltos petrol, turbo or diesel — which should I buy?＋
Choose the 1.5 petrol IVT for mostly city driving and the lowest purchase price; the turbo-petrol DCT if you want strong performance; and the diesel automatic if you drive a lot of highway kilometres every month.
What is the X-Line in the Seltos?＋
X-Line is a styling pack — darker exterior details, black alloys, exclusive colours such as Matte Graphite and a different interior theme. Kia prices each X-Line the same as the matching GTX variant.
What warranty does the Kia Seltos have?＋
The standard warranty is reported as 3 years with unlimited kilometres. Check the exact terms and any extended-warranty options with your Kia dealer.
Is the Kia Seltos a good resale buy?＋
It is too early to say for this generation, which went on sale in January 2026. The previous Seltos held its value well but slightly below the Creta; the new car's resale will depend on how reliable it proves over the next few years.
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