UPDATE: 2026/10/30 12:30 EST BY SEAN MCMANUS
Kia Also Updated The Telluride For 2027
We added a brief section about the 2027 Telluride, and how it’s changed for its second generation.
The subcompact SUV segment is a popular one, with buyers who value affordable commuting seeking out crossovers that are practical, reliable, and efficient. The Kia Seltos has historically offered a high-value package against rivals like the Chevrolet Trax, Subaru Crosstrek, and Mazda CX-30, but it’s all new for 2027.
Will the 2027 Seltos retain its reputation for affordable and dependable travel? What does the new generation bring to the table? And what models make up the 2027 Kia Seltos lineup?
Base pricing/MSRP figures exclude destination fees and are correct as sourced from the automaker at the time of writing. Specifications and pricing for the Seltos Hybrid were not available at the time of publishing; keep an eye on CarBuzz news for when this information is made public.
2027 Kia Seltos Gets A Major Glowup
2027 Kia Seltos from the front three-quarter angleKia
Kia has redesigned its smallest SUV for 2027, giving it styling that aligns it with the latest Telluride, which also received a refresh after a year’s hiatus. This is the start of the subcompact SUV’s second generation, and Kia has made it “larger, wider, and roomier” than before, claiming class-leading total cargo volume and best-in-class passenger room. It also comes with more tech and a new first-for-Seltos hybrid powertrain.
At the time of writing, information on which trims the hybrid powertrain will be available in was not yet available, but we do know that the 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, augmented by hybrid power, uses a six-speed DCT for maximum performance and efficiency. A first for Kia is the introduction of electric all-wheel drive in a hybrid SUV.
The 2027 Seltos Lineup Looks Like This – For Now
2027 Kia Seltos HEV from the front three-quarter angleKia
The 2027 Seltos is currently on sale as an ICE-only model, with Seltos Hybrid models expected to hit dealerships in the last quarter of 2026. For now, the lineup offers two powertrains across five trims, with prices ranging from under $25,000 to over $32,000, excluding destination and options. Here’s how the new Kia Seltos lineup looks going into 2027
Seltos LX: The Base Model
2027 Kia SeltosKia
Base Price: $24,990
The entry-point to the range is the LX, the most basic of all the 2027 Seltos trims, and thus also only available in one of four monochrome colors. It uses a 2.0-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine to make 147 horsepower and 132 lb-ft of torque, and comes standard with front-wheel drive. All-wheel drive is available at a cost of $1,700, but in its standard configuration, it offers some of the best fuel economy figures in the non-hybrid lineup of 28/33/30 mpg on city/highway/combined cycles.
The LX rolls on 16-inch alloy wheels, has LED daytime running lights and headlights, front and rear parking sensors, a driver attention warning with vehicle departure alert, smart cruise control, lane-keep and lane-follow assist, and automatic emergency braking, to name just a few of the driver assistance features.
Inside, the upholstery is basic cloth, while the steering wheel is wrapped in SynTex. Air conditioning, a 12.3-inch touchscreen display, a 4.2-inch instrument display, and a six-speaker sound system are the standard fare. Available upgrades include heated front seats, heated side-view mirrors, and drive mode select with Sport, Normal, and Snow modes.
2027 Kia Seltos from the rear three-quarter angleKia
Base Price: $26,390
One step up takes you to the Seltos S, which opens up another four color options, including Iceberg Green, Frost Blue, and Frost Blue dual-tone with a black roof. The same engine does duty here, and there’s no change in fuel economy figures. AWD is still available at an extra cost, but for the few thousand dollars above the LX, you get a few niceties to round out the Seltos a little better.
The exterior of the 2027 Kia Seltos S sports bigger 18-inch wheels, automatically extending door handles, a gloss-black front grille, and heated side-view mirrors with integrated LED turn signal indicators. Additional driver assists on this trim include blind-spot detection, rear cross-traffic collision-avoidance tech, and safe exit warning, while the interior sees 12-way power adjustment added to the driver seat.
Seltos EX: Mid-Range Value
2027 Kia SeltosKia
Base Price: $28,390
In the middle of the range is the EX, costing $2,000 more, and doing away with the dual-tone paint option. The only exterior changes above the S are the LED combination taillights and temporary spare tire, while most of the upgrades can be found on the interior.
Heated front seats now come standard, and the basic cloth upholstery is switched out for nicer SynTex trim. The air-conditioning is upgraded to dual-zone climate control with a five-inch display for controlling the system. Buyers also get illuminated sun visor vanity mirrors, rear climate vents, and split-folding rear seats with a center armrest that can also recline. A smart power liftgate is also added as standard, while all the audio and multimedia offerings remain the same as on the S.
More packages can be added to flesh out the feature count, though, including a panoramic sunroof, heated steering wheel, and roof rails. All-wheel drive can still be optioned at the same cost as before.
Seltos X-Line S: Rugged And Sporty
2027 Kia SeltosKia
Base Price: $28,990
For $600 more than the EX, the X-Line S merges the best of the S trim with some of the niceties from the EX, adds AWD as standard, and gives the SUV some X-Line exterior styling. A whole new color palette is opened up to buyers, with three dual-tone paint jobs in Terrain Brown, Snow White Pearl, or Frost Blue, and the striking Magma Red Matter shade, all at extra cost.
The X-Line S may have the same powertrain as the other models, but its standard AWD setup drops fuel economy figures to 26/30/28 mpg, makes Sport, Normal, and Snow modes standard, and adds black SynTex seat trim as the only interior theme. LED fog lights, gloss black roof rails, and blacked-out 18-inch wheels help set this model apart from the lower-rung grades.
Seltos X-Line SX: Turbocharged Power
2027 Kia Seltos 1.6-liter Turbo EngineKia
Base Price: $32,790
At the top of the range is the most expensive and most powerful of the Kia Seltos models – for now. Until the hybrid arrives, the X-Line SX with its $32,790 starting price costs the most, but is set apart by a potent turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 190 hp and 195 lb-ft. An eight-speed automatic does duty, and all-wheel drive with Multi-Terrain Mode is standard here. The upgrade in power comes at the cost of fuel economy – thanks, in part, also to the standard AWD system – with figures of 24/30/26 mpg highlighting the tradeoff.
The X-Line SX gets 19-inch wheels with wide projector LED headlights and solar control glass, in addition to all of the goodies found on the trims below it. Inside, a panoramic sunroof, heated steering wheel, and power accessories are added to the list of features, and a wireless phone charger supplements the technology and connectivity suite.
Crucially, this trim is the only one on which you can upgrade the multimedia and audio setup, which requires optioning into the X-Line SX Prestige Package. That adds a surround-view monitor, Harman Kardon premium sound, ventilated front seats, dual 12.3-inch panoramic displays with navigation, and highway driving assist. Rear parking collision-avoidance and navigation-based cruise control round out the feature count.
Which 2027 Kia Seltos Is Best?
Close-up of the 2027 Kia Seltos HEV frontKia
While we don’t know where the hybrid model is going to fit in just yet in terms of price, power, and efficiency, the 2027 Kia Seltos still offers good value for money. For under $35,000, you can get a well-stocked Seltos X-Line SX with the potent turbo engine, or you could stick with efficiency-minded commuting with the mid-range EX that comes in at under $30,000. Our suggestion is to aim for the mid-tier trim, where you get the best of both worlds – since the Seltos competes in a category where value matters most, we wouldn’t spend our money going for performance.
If you’re looking for performance, the Mazda CX-30 starts at $26,375 for the 2026 model year, offers a 186-hp 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine from the base model, standard AWD, and impressive fuel economy of 24/31/27 mpg – there’s also a 250-hp version that costs well above what the Seltos does. If budget is your priority, the base Seltos trims are better value.
The Hyundai Kona is the Seltos’ corporate cousin, uses the same powertrain setups, and is similarly priced. It gets slightly better fuel economy across the lineup, but it isn’t quite as spacious or comfortable inside as the Seltos is. The aesthetic of the Seltos for 2027 puts it at an advantage compared to the Kona’s controversial looks, too. We’re curious as to what the hybrid Seltos will bring to the table, and look forward to updating this recommendation once it arrives.
Kia Also Updated The Telluride For 2027
2027 Kia Telluride X Pro front 3/4 angle in tanKia
We’re fans of the Seltos’ smaller footprint, but some buyers need a larger vehicle for their families. When we test drove the new Telluride, it was in the middle of winter in a northern state with a whole family to drive around — the car proved itself against the elements and our road tester described it as “almost a perfect family vehicle.” Kia radically changed the Telluride’s styling for its second generation. It fits in with the redesigned Seltos and others in Kia’s lineup now.
The new model gets a turbocharged four-cylinder base model alongside a hybrid variant. This larger SUV is walking the same path as the Seltos, in that its dimensions grew inside and out, too. Second- and third-row passenger space is increased and third-row access is easier than before. Our road tester was even able to fit himself in the back seats despite being 6-foot-5.
Base Trim Engine
2.0-liter Four-cylinder
Base Trim Transmission
CVT
Base Trim Drivetrain
Front-Wheel Drive
Base Trim Horsepower
147 hp
Base Trim Torque
132 lb-ft
Segment
Subcompact SUV
Sources: Kia, EPA, Mazda, Chevrolet
FAQ
Q: Is there a new Kia Seltos for 2027?
Yes, the 2027 model kicks off the Seltos’ second generation, with a whole new look, a larger, wider, more spacious body, more tech, and an available hybrid powertrain.
Q: What are the upgrades available for the 2027 Kia Seltos?
Each trim can be had with AWD as an option, but only some trims can be upgraded for features, driver assists, and heated seats. Only the top trim can have Harman Kardon sound, dual 12.3-inch screens, and ventilated seats as upgrades.
Q: Is the 2027 Kia Seltos reliable?
The 2027 Seltos has just been released, and as a new generation, there’s not reliability data to go on just yet. However, the previous generation earned high ratings of 86 out of 100 from JD Power, and Kia routinely lists high on the JD Power Vehicle Dependability Study. Hopefully these dependability stats will carry over.
