The Kia Seltos has achieved significant success in India and across global markets, with its popularity also climbing in the US, the Seltos received an important update in 2022 and has recently been surpassing sales of several other popular Kia models. Kia is in the process of developing the second-generation Seltos, and South Korean reports have verified that this new SUV will feature a hybrid petrol engine. Below is a compilation of everything known about what the most economical KIA hybrid and its potential design might be.
In November of the previous year, a Korean publication reported that the Seltos would also have a hybrid variant. The ‘hybrid plans’ were allegedly approved at the Kia Labor-Management Employment Stability Committee, and the production of these vehicles was to begin at the carmaker’s Autoland Gwangju factory. However, the publication did not specify whether it would be this generation or the next that would be electrified.
During the 2024 Kia CEO Investor Day on April 5, top executives made several important announcements. President and CEO Ho Sung Song confirmed that the company is developing a next-generation hybrid powertrain. While he did not specify which models will receive this upgrade, the Seltos is a likely candidate given its popularity.
Details about the new hybrid powertrain are limited. It is anticipated that the system will feature a new 1.5-liter naturally aspirated petrol engine, aiming to offer an improved balance of power, efficiency, and cost over hybrid models.
For those not yet aware, the Sportage and Carnival are available with hybrid powertrains in numerous global markets, featuring a 1.6-liter turbocharged petrol engine. According to Song, this new engine will deliver significant enhancements in both power and torque.