The Kia Seltos goes hybrid for the first time: Will we see an EV version next?

Kia opened orders for the Seltos hybrid in South Korea, saying it lays the groundwork for the electric vehicle era. Does that mean the Seltos will get an EV version, too?

Kia Seltos launches as a hybrid for the first time

After another record-breaking sales year in 2025 with over 3.13 million vehicles sold, Kia credited its growing electric vehicle lineup, including the EV3.

Kia has no plans to slow down in 2026, with the EV4, EV5, and PV5 now rolling out across global markets, and the entry-level EV2 joining them later this year.

We will also see new hybrid powertrains on some of Kia’s top-selling SUVs, including the Telluride and Seltos. After unveiling the Telluride Hybrid for the first time at the LA Auto Show, Kia plans to launch it in the US in Q1 2026, followed by the Seltos Hybrid later in the year.

“To achieve full electrification, we added a 1.6-liter hybrid to the Seltos,” Kia’s head of domestic operations, Won-Jeong Jeong, said during a launch event for the Seltos Hybrid in South Korea on Monday.

The Seltos Hybrid will be available in two powertrains starting on Tuesday, January 27, 2026: A 1.6 hybrid and a 1.6 gasoline turbo. The hybrid variant starts at 28.98 million won ($20,100).

“To lay the groundwork for the electric vehicle era, we achieved a combined fuel efficiency of 19.5 km/L in Korea and equipped it with various advanced safety features,” Jeong explained.

Kia added “electrification-specific” features, such as vehicle-to-load (V2L) and smart regenerative braking, that were previously only offered on EVs.

Jeong’s comments sparked speculation online that the Seltos will get an EV version in the future. A Kia representative clarified that “The Niro will target the domestic market with both an electric and hybrid version, while the Seltos will be available in both a gasoline and hybrid version.”

That will likely be the case in most overseas markets as Kia ramps up EV3 output, which is about the same size as the Seltos but fully electric.

So what does that mean for those in the US, where the EV3 isn’t currently sold? In November, Kia America’s marketing boss, Russel Wager, told Car and Driver that Kia is still planning to bring the EV3 to the US at some point in 2026.

Staring at about 36,000 euros ($42,000), the EV3 is one of the top-selling EVs in Europe, the UK, and South Korea.

When (and if) it arrives in the US, the EV3 is expected to start at around $35,000 to $40,000 as an electric alternative to the Seltos.

Source: ET News, Hyundai Motor Company