2nd-gen Kia Seltos production begins in India

The 2nd-generation Kia Seltos has gone into production in India. The first unit of the midsize SUV was rolled out of Kia’s manufacturing plant in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh. Mr Gwanggu Lee, MD & CEO, Kia India, was in attendance for the ceremonial rollout. The new-gen Seltos made its debut earlier this month. Its grand unveiling took place in New Delhi. The automaker will announce the prices on January 2, 2026.

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2nd-gen Kia Seltos: What’s on offer?

The 2nd-gen Seltos is built on the new K3 platform by Kia. It is 4,460mm long, 1,830mm wide, and 1,635mm tall. This makes it 95mm longer, 30mm wider, and 10mm shorter than its outgoing version. Its 2,690mm wheelbase is 80mm larger than the 1st-gen model.

Kia has made several cosmetic changes to the new Seltos in line with its ‘Opposites United’ design philosophy. The front fascia of the SUV rocks the ‘Digital Tiger Face’, which is typically found in more premium Kia offerings. It comprises a black high-gloss grille with gunmetal accents, ‘Ice Cube’ LED headlamps with a dynamic welcome function, ‘Star Map’ LED DRLs with integrated turn signals, and LED fog lamps. The LED tail lamps also follow the Star Map pattern.

Along the sides, the new-gen Kia Seltos flaunts 18-inch crystal-cut alloy wheels. The profile is characterised by prominent character lines, thick wheel cladding, and flush door handles. At the back, the number plate has been moved from the tailgate to the bumper. As a result, the tailgate looks much cleaner. The rear skid plate gets a gunmetal finish. The automaker has added 2 new exterior colour themes – Morning Haze and Magma Red.

Inside, the Seltos flaunts the Trinity Panoramic Display, similar to the Kia Syros. This panoramic setup comprises a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, an equally large digital instrument cluster, and a 5-inch display for HVAC controls. The cabin has a dual-tone smoky-and-white colour theme. The new 3-spoke steering wheel is wrapped in leatherette and integrated with dedicated buttons for drive and traction modes.

When it comes to creature comforts, Kia’s midsize SUV rocks a 10-way powered driver’s seat with lumbar adjust and relaxation functions, ventilated front seats with a ‘welcome retract function’ that adjusts them for easy entry and exit, an 8-speaker Bose sound system, 64-colour ambient lighting, a dual-pane panoramic sunroof, keyless entry, and wireless charging. There’s support for wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay on board.

No changes have been made under the hood of the new Kia Seltos. It carries forward the 3 engine options of the outgoing model. The 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine produces a maximum power output of 115hp and 144Nm of torque. It can be linked to a 6-speed manual or CVT gearbox. The 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine puts out 160hp and 253Nm. It can be mated with a 6-speed iMT or a 7-speed DCT gearbox. Lastly, the 1.5-litre diesel engine generates a maximum power output of 116hp and 250Nm torque. This engine can be paired with a 6-speed manual or automatic transmission.

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Final Thoughts

Prices for the current-gen Seltos range start at Rs 10.79 lakh and go up to Rs 19.81 lakh. The new model will come with a premium. It will start reaching authorised Kia dealerships across the country in the coming days. Upon launch, it will continue to rival the Hyundai Creta, Skoda Kushaq, Volkswagen Taigun, Honda Elevate, Citroen C3 Aircross, Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara, and Toyota Urban Cruiser HyRyder in India.