The Kia Seltos is a name you might not be familiar with, but outside Ireland it is a hugely successful model for the Korean brand. In fact, it’s Kia’s second best-selling vehicle globally, and it’s now set to be added to its European lineup – including Ireland – later this year.
Where does the Kia Seltos fit in?
That’s a good question, as Kia’s ever-expanding range of models now seems to have remarkably few gaps to fill. The Seltos will slot in just below the Sportage, which has been Kia’s most successful model in Ireland over the last three years.
The Seltos will offer alternative powertrains to the Sportage in a more functional, rugged design tapping into Kia’s ‘Opposites United’ design language that has helped shape its latest crop of electric cars.
Comparing it side by side with the Sportage, the Seltos is 11 centimetres shorter – or the same length as the current Kia Niro.
The Seltos features twin upright LED daytime running lights and a more pronounced grille than Kia’s other models.
A brushed aluminium lower bumper detail underlines its SUV credentials, and Kia will also offer a more rugged ‘X-Line’ specification. As with Kia’s electric cars, the Seltos gets flush-fitting door handles and a floating roof design, while riding on 18-inch wheels.
Dimensions of the Kia Seltos
Length: 4,430mm
Width: 1,830mm
Height: 1,600 mm
Wheelbase: 2,690mm
So is the Kia Seltos electric?
No, the Seltos will be offered with petrol and petrol-electric hybrid power. The former is a turbocharged 1.6-litre unit producing up to 180hp and 265Nm, paired with either a six-speed manual gearbox or a seven-speed, dual-clutch automatic, driving the front wheels in each case.
Kia will also offer a hybrid version, with a 1.6-litre engine mated to a six-speed automatic that drives the front wheels and produces up to 154hp. Further boosting the Seltos’s versatility, an all-wheel-drive hybrid system features an 70kW electric motor on the rear axle, producing a total output of 178hp.
Furthermore, the Kia Seltos hybrid marks the first time that the Hyundai Motor Group will offer Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) technology in a hybrid; thus far, this has only been available on its electric models. The tech gives owners greater functionality with their car as it can use energy from the high-voltage hybrid battery to power external devices.
What about the interior of the Seltos?
It might not come as a surprise to see that the Kia Seltos is equipped with the connected car Navigation Cockpit (ccNC) dashboard setup that serves in almost all of the brand’s other models. Made up of two 12.3-inch displays (with one serving as the infotainment touchscreen), each side of a 5.3-inch touchscreen, it presents as a single panel and, as well as looking good, is packed with useful features.
A head-up display that projects onto the windscreen will also be available. In addition to an easy-to-navigate native infotainment system, there is smartphone mirroring, connected services – including access to Disney’s streaming services – and much more.
Other features of the cabin include ambient lighting that can be customised through 64 colours, a Harman Kardon stereo system for a more immersive sound and options such as a relaxation seat for the driver that can be reclined when parked up.
There’s plenty of space for those in the rear, with second-row seats that recline by 12 degrees. The Seltos also gets a useful 536 litres of boot space.
When does the Kia Seltos go on sale in Ireland?
The Kia Seltos is set to be launched in Ireland in the latter part of 2026, with prices and specification grades due to be confirmed closer to that time.