Kia is bringing a new-generation Seltos to Europe and the UK, and the Kia Seltos Europe launch will not be a half-measure. The compact SUV will arrive as a hybrid-first model, get all-wheel drive on higher trims, and pick up V2L support so owners can power external devices from the car itself – a neat trick, and a first for a European Kia hybrid with eAWD.
That puts the Seltos squarely into one of the nastiest corners of the market: compact SUVs where everyone wants your customers. Volkswagen T-Roc is the obvious benchmark, but Kia is aiming to stand out by leaning into electrification without going all the way to a plug-in hybrid. Smart move? Probably. Plug-in hybrids are still expensive, heavier, and often used like a tax break on wheels.
Hybrid-only for the UK, with eAWD at the top
In British specification, the Seltos will be sold only with hybrid powertrains. The entry version uses a 1.6-litre turbo engine in a hybrid setup, front-wheel drive, and 152 hp. A pricier version adds eAWD – an electric rear axle drive – and lifts output to 176 hp.
Kia is also keeping a non-electrified 1.6-litre option for mainland Europe. That engine is rated at 178 hp and can be paired with either a manual gearbox or a DCT automatic. So while the UK gets a cleaner line-up, Europe proper gets the old-school choice board as well.
Bigger body, more cabin space, fresher look
The new Seltos has grown, with a wheelbase of 2.69 meters. That should translate into more room inside, which matters more in this class than glossy press shots and heroic parking angles. The exterior has also been redesigned with cues borrowed from Kia’s electric models, giving it a more modern face than the outgoing version.
Inside, Kia is going with a familiar high-tech setup: two 12.3-inch screens and a separate 5.3-inch display for climate controls. It is the sort of cabin architecture that has become standard in the segment, but it still reads better than a dashboard stuffed with random buttons and bad intentions.
GT and X-Line trims, plus V2L
Kia will offer GT and X-Line packages, giving buyers a route to either a sportier look or a more rugged one. The more interesting detail, though, is V2L. With this feature, the Seltos can power household appliances and other external devices directly from the vehicle.
That matters because V2L is still rare outside the EV world, and even rarer in mainstream hybrids. Kia is using it as a feature hook, but it is also a sign of where the company thinks the crossover market is headed: more electrified, more versatile, and much less willing to pay for complexity that does not earn its keep.
Europe gets it first, Britain follows in late 2026
European deliveries are set to begin before the UK launch, which is expected in the fourth quarter of 2026. That timing gives Kia a chance to slip the Seltos into showrooms just as compact-SUV buyers are making shortlist decisions for the next cycle of model updates.
The open question is whether Kia prices it sharply enough to undercut the established European favourites. If it does, the Seltos could become one of those quietly obvious buys: practical, well-equipped, and a little more forward-looking than the class default.