The new-generation Kia Seltos has reached Australian showrooms, and the big change is under the bonnet: the small SUV is now hybrid-only, with the old petrol engines dropped. Pricing opens at $39,990 drive-away for the base S.
Six grades, one powertrain
Above the S, the range runs through the S Safety Pack at $42,490, the Sport at $43,990, the Sport Plus at $46,990, the GT-Line front-wheel drive at $52,990 and the GT-Line all-wheel drive at $55,490, all drive-away. Every grade uses a 1.6 litre hybrid paired with a six-speed dual-clutch automatic, making 113kW in front-drive form and 131kW in the GT-Line AWD, which adds Kia's new e-AWD system. The entry price is about $7,000 higher than the outgoing petrol Seltos.
Cartell Assessment
Going hybrid-only is a bold call in a price-sensitive segment, and that higher entry cost will sting buyers who remembered the old Seltos as a budget choice. The upside is lower running costs and a more modern drivetrain, with an e-AWD option that echoes the hybrid Toyota RAV4.
AU Outlook
Expect Kia to lean on standard equipment and its seven-year warranty to justify the step up. Official fuel figures are still to be confirmed, but a hybrid-only Seltos signals where the mainstream small SUV class is heading.
