Forget everything you knew about the Seltos. Kia did it again. For 2027, the second generation of its compact SUV is not just a facelift — it's a total reinvention. Bigger, bolder, smarter, and ready to dominate. With Telluride DNA in every inch, this is the small SUV that finally refuses to look like a toy.
Exterior: Now It Looks Like a Real SUV
The new Seltos is finally proud of its proportions. Kia ditched the soft, rounded lines of the old model and went full Telluride.
The front is upright and muscular, with a larger Tiger Nose grille and signature amber daytime running lights that instantly link it to its big brother. On the side, you'll find flush door handles, a squared-off greenhouse, piano-black fender flares on X-Line trims, and exclusive 19-inch black wheels. The rear gets connected LED taillights and a more upright tailgate.
In X-Line S and X-Line SX trims, Kia cranks up the adventure: unique front and rear fascias, blacked-out trim, exclusive wheel designs, and up to 8.1 inches of ground clearance. Colors like Terrain Brown make it look expensive and trail-ready. As Autoblog said after their first drive, it looks even better in person than in photos and feels more aligned with the Ford Bronco Sport than with generic crossovers.
Did It Grow? Yes, and You Feel It
This is one of the biggest upgrades. The 2027 Seltos is larger in every key dimension:
Wheelbase: +2.4 inches to 105.9 inches
Overall length: +1.8 inches to 174.4 inches
Width: 72.0 inches
Height: 64.9 inches
What does that mean for you? Best-in-class passenger space with 103.5 cubic feet and class-leading max cargo room. Kia lists 27.8 cubic feet behind the second row and 64.2 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. That’s strollers, luggage, and Costco runs without playing Tetris.
Price in the USA: Still the Value King
Kia America officially announced pricing, and the value story is still strong. MSRP excluding $1,495 destination:
LX FWD: $24,990 - $26,485 with destination
S FWD: $26,390
LX AWD: $26,690
S AWD: $28,090
EX FWD: $28,390
X-Line S: $28,990
EX AWD: $30,090
X-Line SX (top gas trim): $32,790 - about $34,285 with destination
Pricing for the all-new Seltos Hybrid HEV will be announced closer to its on-sale date later this year, expected around $30,000.
Powertrain: Three Flavors for Every Driver
Kia is offering choice, not compromise:
1. 2.0L Naturally Aspirated I-4: 147 hp and 132 lb-ft of torque paired with an Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT). This is the efficient daily driver found in LX, S, EX and X-Line S trims.
2. 1.6L Turbocharged I-4: 190 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque with an 8-speed automatic and available Torque Vectoring Multi-Mode AWD. This is the top X-Line SX engine, refined for city and highway, with no torque-steer drama.
3. 1.6L Hybrid (Coming Q1 2027): The game-changer. Kia confirmed a new 1.6-liter hybrid with available electric on-demand AWD. It will be the one to watch against Corolla Cross Hybrid and Crosstrek Hybrid.
Interior: Telluride Tech at Half the Price
The cabin is where the Seltos will win most buyers. Telluride-inspired horizontal dashboard, soft-touch materials, and a palpable sense of width.
The star is the tech: standard 12.3-inch touchscreen, available 12.3-inch instrument display, and a 5-inch climate panel — nearly 30 inches of combined displays. Standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, over-the-air updates, Surround View Monitor and Blind-Spot View Monitor are all available.
Quirky but genius mesh headrests act like soft cushions, rear legroom is genuinely improved, and visibility is excellent thanks to the upright design. You also get an available panoramic sunroof and heated steering wheel.
Safety and Fuel Economy
Every trim includes Kia’s full ADAS suite: Forward Collision Avoidance, Lane Keeping Assist, Smart Cruise Control, Blind-Spot and Rear Cross-Traffic avoidance.
For efficiency:
2.0L FWD: 30 mpg combined (28 city / 33 highway)
1.6L Turbo AWD: 26 mpg combined - testers saw 27 mpg without trying
Hybrid: Estimated 35-40+ mpg combined (certification pending)
Top 3 Competitors of the Kia Seltos in the US
1. Honda HR-V: Refined and great resale, but less powerful at 158 hp, less cargo space, and a more conservative design.
2. Toyota Corolla Cross:The hybrid is the efficiency champ, but interior quality and tech feel a step behind the Seltos’ dual 12.3-inch setup.
3. Hyundai Kona / Subaru Crosstrek: The Kona is its mechanical cousin with a more futuristic vibe, while the Crosstrek offers standard AWD and off-road cred. Both lose to the Seltos on **passenger volume and max cargo room.
Final Verdict
The 2027 Kia Seltos is no longer a global-market placeholder. It’s a legitimately excellent small SUV that successfully channels enough Telluride energy to make the “baby flagship” idea believable.
It’s larger, more capable, more refined, and more upscale than ever. Starting at just $24,990, it delivers Telluride design, EV9-level screens, and three powertrain options including a segment-first hybrid at half the price of a Telluride.
For young professionals, young couples, or small families who want something smaller than a Sportage but more substantial than a Trax or HR-V, the 2027 Seltos is now the one to beat.