Kia Seltos review

Exterior & design of the 2027 Kia Seltos

• Fits in with Kia's design language
• Distinctive front end
• Subdued paint colour palette

While the Seltos undoubtedly comes from the same school of design as the rest of the range - referred to as 'Opposites United' by Kia - it gets the most distinctive front end of the lot thanks to a unique daytime running light signature that appears to shine through a nearly full-width grille.

There's plenty more of interest in the design, too, including a rugged-looking anodised aluminium effect for the side sills, which is echoed in the front and rear bumpers.

The expressive rear lights protrude from the bodywork; the side glass tapers to a pinch point forming the D-pillar; and flush-fitting door handles smoothen off the side profile.

It's a smart-looking car that looks more expensive than it is, and it could easily be mistaken for one of the larger SUVs in Kia's lineup.

There are subtle exterior differences between the various versions of the Seltos - beyond the range of alloy wheels measuring 16- to 19 inches in diameter - and the two GT-Line models get their own design details.

Dimensions of the 2027 Kia Seltos

Length:

4,430mm

Width:

1,830mm

Height:

1,605-1,620mm

Wheelbase:

2,690mm

Paint colours for the 2027 Kia Seltos

Reflecting conservative buyer demand, there aren't loads of colour options, and none bright and vibrant, unfortunately. In the K2 and K3 grades, Clear White is included for no extra cost, while Pale Grey, Volcanic Sand Brown, Interstellar Grey and Aurora Black all command a €650 premium.

In the GT-Line cars, there's a premium white instead, called Snow White Pearl, which also costs €650.

Interior, practicality, tech & comfort of the 2027 Kia Seltos

• Big interior space and boot
• Easy-to-use touchscreen system
• Physical switchgear very welcome

One of the major selling points of the Kia Seltos is its spacious cabin and boot. It really isn't all that less capacious than the Sportage, with particularly generous headroom.

Only the entry-level K2 model features cloth seats, with synthetic leather the standard upholstery elsewhere in the lineup. Saying that, every Seltos gets heated front seats and steering wheel.

That's part of a generous standard specification that also includes dual-zone climate control and a two-screen dashboard setup.

Nevertheless, though the Seltos has plenty of technology on board, it makes us very happy to see Kia sticking with supplementary physical switchgear for shortcuts in the infotainment and full control of the heating and ventilation.

Getting comfortable in the driver's seat

It doesn't feel like you have to climb up into the Seltos, but nonetheless it offers a comfortable and upright driving position with a great view out in all directions.
Lots of adjustment in the seat and steering wheel, along with a height-adjustable seatbelt, make it a cinch to get comfortable. There's electric adjustment of the seat in the K3 and GT-Line cars.

Additionally, the GT-Line Plus model features ventilation for both front seats and a 'Premium Relaxation Seat' for the driver to recline in - when parked up we should add.

The headrest is adjustable as well in all versions, though the GT-Line cars get a particularly nice mesh design for the headrests. The style of the steering wheel varies between versions, too, if always trimmed in synthetic leather.

Infotainment and technology

At a glance, it appears that all versions of the Seltos get the full monty in terms of interior tech and infotainment, as there's a swathe of digital real estate spanning from the driver's side to well beyond the centre console.

Behind one seamless surface, this includes a 12.3-inch digital display for the instruments, a 5.3-inch panel dedicated to the climate controls and a centrally positioned 12.3-inch touchscreen.
The latter only gets full functionality including maps in the GT-Line cars, but we don't think that'll matter to many buyers, as wireless smartphone mirroring in the forms of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is standard on all cars. As are over-the-air updates.

There are plenty of USB-C ports - including those integrated into the sides of the front seats - and a (rubberised to hold the device in place) wireless phone charging pad in all models other than the K2.

The GT-Line Plus does get a few extra tech upgrades, such as a head-up display, Harmon Kardon sound system, a vehicle-to-load (V2L) plug socket and a faster USB-C port, but the Seltos is well-equipped by any measure across the range.

Practicality around the cabin

Kia's interior designers put all the space to good use elsewhere, too, as the Seltos is notably practical. The door pockets are massive, there's a decent glovebox and more covered storage in a cubby under the central armrest, as well as the expected pair of cupholders and further storage on the centre console.

Look closely at the design of the front seats and you'll notice they have a shape that allows them to hold jackets and the like, just as a hanger would.

Rear-seat passenger space

Though the floor in the rear of the Seltos isn't flat all the way across as it is in Kia's electric cars, there is plenty of space for passengers. It helps that the back seat is mounted high up, as that increases legroom, while there's also a large area under the front seats for feet.

What's more, the backrest tilt can be adjusted in the rear, and the squabs are notably wide in the outer two seats, making them really comfortable.

Only the GT-Line Plus car has heated back seats, though there are air vents, extra storage and map pockets throughout.

If there's nobody sat in the middle, an armrest can tilt down, revealing a pair of cupholders.

Fitting child seats to the Kia Seltos

The usual two sets of ISOFIX mounting points are found on the outer rear seats in the Seltos, though there's not likely to be enough space in the middle to fit a booster using the seatbelts as the space between the buckles is tight enough.

A key-operated switch allows turning off of the front passenger airbag if you wish to fit a rear-facing baby seat there using the seatbelt.

Boot space in the Kia Seltos

At 536 litres, the boot of the Seltos is only about 50 litres smaller than the hybrid-powered Kia Sportage's, and that's a useful capacity by any measure.

There's some flexibility in terms of a movable boot floor, extra storage cubbies and plastic mountings that can be relocated around the boot to be used as hooks or somewhere to tie things as needs be.

Set the floor to its highest setting and it forms an unbroken surface with the backs of the rear seats when they are folded down. A 60:40 split is standard and there's a through-load hatch in the middle as well. We also noticed that the rear seats latch down into place when folded, which is a high-quality touch.

A powered tailgate is standard on the GT-Line variants, incidentally.

Towing with the Kia Seltos

Limited to front-wheel drive and a modest hybrid powertrain, the Seltos won't be chosen for its towing capabilities. Nevertheless, it can manage 910kg of braked trailer, so plenty of owners will consider fitting a tow bar for light duties.

Safety in the Kia Seltos

The Seltos has not been assessed by Euro NCAP, but all of Kia's cars that have, scored highly, so it can be trusted to make a safe car. A full suite of active and passive safety features can be found on all models, while the GT-Line models gain a few extra niceties such as a 360-degree monitoring system, blind-spot views projected into the dashboard and Remote Smart Parking Assist.

Performance of the 2027 Kia Seltos

• Hybrid-petrol engine is efficient
• Shame no four-wheel-drive option
• Much lighter than an equivalent EV

The Seltos will be offered in a single technical specification in Ireland, with hybrid power, front-wheel drive and passive suspension.

Under the bonnet is a naturally aspirated 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine referred to as 'Kappa PE' by Kia. It pairs with a modest electric motor, driving through a six-speed, dual-clutch transmission. Peak outputs are quoted as 157hp and 144Nm of torque, lending the Seltos a 0-100km/h time of 10.4 seconds.

Suspension is by the ubiquitous Macpherson strut up front, with a sophisticated multi-link design at the back.

Driving the Kia Seltos on Irish roads

Words by Shane O' Donoghue on 4 November 2026

Our first taste of the Kia Seltos was not at the wheel of the hybrid variant that will be sold in Ireland, but in a basic 1.6-litre petrol version instead, brought in so buyers looking ahead to the 271-registration period can at least check the car out in person at a dealer while Kia Ireland awaits its first delivery of the hybrid vehicles.

To that end, there's no point discussing performance or efficiency at this stage, and you'll have to ignore the manual gear shifter in our images as well, as the hybrid will of course be fully automatic.

Even so, this early chance to drive the Seltos on Irish roads allowed us to get a feel for its comfort and refinement.

As mentioned earlier, the first thing that strikes you from the driver's seat is the great visibility, allowing you see far down the road to the benefit of safety.

The main driving controls are all well-weighted, but never heavy. The modulation of the brake pedal is particularly well-judged. There are Eco, Normal and Sport driving modes to choose from, but we suspect most drivers will leave it in its default setting.

In terms of ride and handling, the Seltos has been set up for everyday comfort, but it's not all at sea in the corners either, meaning its driver will feel confident in its ability and its passengers will be comfortable, too. Our test car sat on 18-inch wheels and Nexen tyres, giving good bump absorption and no lack of outright grip.

Running costs of the 2027 Kia Seltos

• Not a plug-in hybrid
• Officially very efficient
• Great warranty package

Hybrids such as the Seltos can't be plugged in for extended periods of electric driving to bring running costs down, but then again, that suits plenty of drivers, too.

The hybrid system should prove to be relatively efficient and come with low maintenance costs, while those that keep their cars for longer will be reassured by Kia's long warranty.

Servicing the Kia Seltos

The Seltos must be serviced every 15,000km or every year - whichever comes first.

Kia Seltos warranty

Like all Kias, the Seltos comes with a seven-year warranty up to 150,000km. The hybrid battery pack has its own eight-year guarantee.

Additionally, buyers of the Seltos get 24/7 roadside assistance via AA Ireland for three years from the first date of registration.

Irish pricing & rivals to the 2027 Kia Seltos

• Undercuts the Kia Sportage
• Priced from €39,500
• Four trim levels to choose from

The entry-level Kia Seltos K2 is €39,500 and has plenty included, including 16-inch alloy wheels, the twin 12.3-inch screens, parking sensors front and rear, heated steering wheel and front seats and much more.

Stepping up to the K3 costs €42,500, bringing with it 18-inch rims, synthetic leather upholstery, ambient lighting, electrically adjusted driver's seat, rear privacy glass, upgraded LED headlights, wireless charging pad and more.

The regular GT-Line car costs €45,000 and gets specific interior and exterior styling, along with a version of the flush door handles that pops out, upgraded infotainment with navigation, powered tailgate and a comprehensive update to the suite of active safety equipment.

Topping the range is the Seltos GT-Line Plus at €48,000, adding a Premium Relaxation Seat for the driver, head-up display, glass sunroof, Harmon Kardon sound system, electrically adjustable front passenger seat, vehicle-to-load (V2L) socket, ventilation for the front seats and heating for the rears.

Interestingly, one of the fiercest rivals the Seltos faces is its sibling, the Kia Sportage, which is only €2,000 more in diesel guise. Saying that, the hybrid Sportage is considerably more expensive, so there's clearly room in the Kia lineup for the Seltos to slot in.

Other established hybrid crossovers of note include the Hyundai Kona and Toyota Corolla Cross, along with the less-well-known - but well-regarded - Renault Austral.

Verdict - should you buy the 2027 Kia Seltos?

We applaud carmakers such as Kia for continuing to offer a wide range of options for car buyers, allowing them to choose how much electrification they can live with. There's an SUV-shaped vehicle available in the range for all price points and Kia rightfully spotted a gap for a pragmatic hybrid model to sit below its immensely popular Sportage.

The Seltos is a typical Kia product, in that it mixes distinctive style with a spacious, well-thought-out interior and a combination of excellent value with assuredly high quality.