Exclusive: All New Kia Seltos Hybrid Launch Pushed Back

Written By: Ajeesh Kuttan

Published: September 4, 2025 at 02:05 PMUpdated: September 4, 2025 at 02:05 PM

Kia Seltos was the first product that the Korean car manufacturer launched in the Indian market. In fact, the Seltos shaped Kia’s future in the Indian market. It was a made-in-India SUV that helped them launch the SUV at an aggressive price. The SUV has been in the market for a while now and we also got a mid-life update for the Seltos. Now, Kia is aggressively working on the next-generation Seltos and the same has been spotted testing on Indian roads as well. While we are eagerly waiting for the Seltos, we have come to know that Kia will be delaying the launch of the Seltos hybrid.

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It is no secret that with emission norms getting stricter around the world, car manufacturers are looking for solutions that would make their vehicles future-proof. Many of them have started working on electric vehicle technology while there are others who are working on hybrid technology.

Kia is one such brand. The Kia Seltos has been getting tested for a while now and it is expected to get launched in the market sometime in 2026. While Kia is working on a hybrid engine for the Seltos, it is unlikely to be launched next year. As per sources at Kia, the Seltos hybrid will be delayed by at least a year. The next-gen Seltos might come to the market in 2026 but customers will have to wait till 2027–2028 if they want the hybrid version.

We are aware of the fact that Kia falls under Hyundai Motor Company and we are also aware that even Hyundai is working on the hybrid engine for India. It seems like both brands are testing the new engine extensively and want to be sure about all aspects before bringing it to the market. It is also possible that Hyundai might launch the hybrid engine first in one of their models.

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In terms of design, the next-gen Seltos is expected to look different from the current one. It is likely to take design inspiration from its bigger SUVs like the Telluride. The front looks wide and angular and it will carry the brand's “Opposites United” design language. It is expected to grow bigger in size and we also expect a completely redesigned cabin and features list too.

As seen in the spy pictures, the SUV is expected to get all-LED headlamps with dual-function DRLs, all-LED tail lamps with a connecting LED bar, and so on. It will get features like a large touchscreen infotainment system, a fully digital instrument cluster, electrically adjustable front seats with ventilation, a panoramic sunroof, and more. Level 2 ADAS will also be offered with the SUV.

Coming to the engine options, Kia is expected to offer the next-gen Seltos with the same engine options as the current one. This means it will get a 1.5-litre NA petrol, 1.5-litre turbo petrol, and a 1.5-litre turbo diesel engine on offer.

Apart from these engines, Kia will introduce the hybrid engine at a later stage. The hybrid engine is expected to be a 1.6-litre petrol engine paired with a 32 kW electric motor. This setup is expected to generate around 141 PS and 250 Nm of torque. We would get more details about the system in the coming months.