Jordan Mulach
2026 Kia Seltos spied: Hybrid SUV to take on Corolla Cross, Kona
The next-generation Kia Seltos is set to gain the option of hybrid power, while it wears even boxier styling than before.
1 Month Ago
About the Kia Seltos
Last updated Dec 18, 2024The 2025 Kia Seltos remains largely unchanged for another year, but there has been a minor price increase overall. It remains a great small SUV for small families and urban commuters with a safe cabin and the latest technology.
Kia Australia calls the price rise a “small economic increase,” ranging from $70 for front-wheel drive variants to $90 for all-wheel drive grades.
However, this only applies to the list price, with nationwide drive-away prices unchanged year-on-year. While the Kia Seltos' standard equipment has not changed, the carmaker says it’ll soon roll out a software update that will make it easier for drivers to turn off the Intelligent Speed Limit Assist (ISLA).
Pros
- Drives and handles well
- Practicality up there with class leaders
- Full safety suite in this specification
Cons
- Halogen headlights, no auto wipers?!
- Turbo-AWD option is thirsty, not that fast
- Hard, scratchy interior plastics
Kia Seltos Rating
Kia Seltos News
2025 Kia Seltos Reviews
2025 Kia Seltos Price
Sport+
| Configuration | Price From* |
|---|---|
| 2.0L, Automatic, 5-door SUV, Petrol, FWD | $36,150 |
| 1.6L, 8-speed auto, 5-door SUV, Petrol, 4x4 | $39,670 |
GT-Line Two Tone
| Configuration | Price From* |
|---|---|
| 2.0L, Automatic, 5-door SUV, Petrol, FWD | $41,850 |
| 1.6L, 8-speed auto, 5-door SUV, Petrol, 4x4 | $45,270 |
S
| Configuration | Price From* |
|---|---|
| 2.0L, Automatic, 5-door SUV, Petrol, FWD | $29,850 |
GT-Line
| Configuration | Price From* |
|---|---|
| 2.0L, Automatic, 5-door SUV, Petrol, FWD | $41,850 |
| 1.6L, 8-speed auto, 5-door SUV, Petrol, 4x4 | $45,270 |
Sport
| Configuration | Price From* |
|---|---|
| 2.0L, Automatic, 5-door SUV, Petrol, FWD | $33,050 |
*excl. on-roads
All Kia Seltos Pricing
2025 Kia Seltos Dimensions
1630mm
1800mm
4385mm
The dimensions shown above are for the base model.
See all 2025 Kia Seltos Dimensions2025 Kia Seltos Boot Space
Size | |
|---|---|
With full-size spare | 1393L |
with space-saver | 1428L |
2025 Kia Seltos Gallery
CarExpert High Resolution Photos of the Kia Seltos
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2025 Kia Seltos Interior
Kia has adopted a dual display housing approach, similar to brands like Mercedes-Benz. This creates a wraparound effect that looks particularly upscale in the Seltos Sport+, which has high-definition 10.25-inch screens. This design brings a premium feel to a mainstream vehicle.
The dual displays are standard from the Sport trim level and up, featuring embedded satellite navigation, DAB+ radio, wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as Kia Connect telematics and services. The interface is consistent with what is found across Hyundai-Kia models, offering high-resolution graphics, quick load times, and smooth animations. This setup includes connected navigation, an internet-based voice assistant, and app-based remote functions, all detailed on the Kia website.
Kia Connect is complimentary for seven years, ensuring no additional costs or subscriptions for accessing the full technology suite during the warranty period. In contrast, the Toyota Corolla Cross offers just one year of Toyota Connected Services, with ongoing fees of up to $20 per month afterwards.
While the infotainment system is advanced, it still requires wired connections for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on the 10.25-inch unit with satellite navigation. Given the high-tech nature of the connected services and features, this feels somewhat contradictory.
The Sport+ trim, one step below the flagship GT-Line, retains mostly cloth seat trim with leatherette bolsters. The front seats are comfortable but could be improved in support compared to competitors like the Mazda CX-30, which offers more contoured seating.
The Seltos's material quality consists mostly of hard, scratchy plastics, which falls short of some segment benchmarks. This makes even Kia's own Cerato feel more premium. However, the build quality remains solid, as expected from Kia.
Below the screens is the climate control pod, which features more physical buttons than the previous Seltos and houses the hard controls for the infotainment system. Some may find the placement of these controls less intuitive than positioning them alongside the screen, but this is a matter of personal preference.
The Seltos maintains its practicality with various storage solutions, including a shelf for a phone, a large cubby beneath it for items like wallets and keys, a centre console with cupholders, and a slot for the vehicle key or small items like a snack.
A notable strength of the Seltos compared to many small SUVs is its rear seat space, rivalling class leaders like the GWM Haval Jolion and Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross. The second row provides ample head, leg, knee, and toe room even for taller passengers, though the flat seat design might cause passengers to slide slightly.
Rear amenities include directional air vents, a map pocket behind the front passenger seat, USB-C ports at the rear of the centre console, bottle holders in the doors, and a fold-down armrest with cupholders. The Seltos also caters to younger passengers with ISOFIX anchors and top-tether points. At the same time, the rear-centre seatbelt is conveniently fed from the seat rather than the roof, unlike some competitors.
The Seltos boasts one of the largest cargo capacities in its class. All trims except the base S, which includes a full-size spare tyre, offer 433 litres of boot space with the rear seats up; models with space-saver spares increase this to 468 litres, comparable to the Mazda CX-5’s 442 litres. Folding the rear seats expands the capacity to 1428 litres in the S and 1393 litres in other trims. While the new Nissan Qashqai surpasses this with seats down (1524-1513L), it provides less space in a five-seat configuration.
2025 Kia Seltos Infotainment
The base model Kia Seltos S infotainment system comes with the following features:
- 4.2-inch instrument cluster screen
- 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Six-speaker sound system
- 12V power outlet in front console
- USB-A and USB-C outlets in front console
- Two USB-C outlets behind the centre console
Going up to the Seltos Sport adds the following features (note that you actually lose wireless CarPlay by going above the base model, as the larger infotainment system doesn't yet support the feature):
- 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster
- 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- DAB+ digital radio
- Wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Satellite navigation
- Sounds of Nature
- Kia Connect (seven-year complimentary service)
The Seltos GT-Line adds:
- Head-up display
- Wireless phone charger
- Eight-speaker Bose premium sound system
2025 Kia Seltos Fuel Economy
There are 2 different fuel economy figures for the Kia Seltos
The most fuel efficient Kia Seltos is the S (FWD) with a Continuous Variable which is powered by a 2.0L MULTI POINT F/INJ and uses 6.9L of Unleaded Petrol per 100km on the combined cycle.
| Kia Seltos | Fuel Type | Combined |
|---|---|---|
| 2.0L, Automatic, 5-door SUV, Petrol, FWD | Unleaded | 6.9 L/100km |
| 1.6L, 8-speed auto, 5-door SUV, Petrol, 4x4 | Unleaded | 7.4 L/100km |
Cost of ownership
What are the running and servicing costs of a Kia Seltos?
The 2025 Kia Seltos is covered by a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, with seven years of capped price service and up to eight years of roadside assistance if you service the car at an authorised Kia dealer.
Servicing is required every 12 months or 15,000km with the 2.0-litre engine, and 12 months or 10,000km with the turbocharged 1.6-litre.
Below are the costs of the first seven services for the 2.0-litre Seltos.
Service interval | 2.0L engine Price |
|---|---|
15,000km/12 month | $290 |
30,000km/24 month | $496 |
45,000km/36 month | $354 |
60,000km/48 month | $616 |
75,000km/60 month | $326 |
90,000km/72 month | $626 |
105,000km/84 month | $346 |
First seven service prices for the turbo 1.6-litre variants.
Service interval | Price |
|---|---|
10,000km/12 month | $309 |
20,000km/24 month | $502 |
30,000km/36 month | $375 |
40,000km/48 month | $653 |
50,000km/60 month | $348 |
60,000km/72 month | $632 |
70,000km/84 month | $673 |
How does the 2025 Kia Seltos drive?
Our expert take on Kia Seltos drivability.
The Seltos is available with two drivetrains, a 2.0-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine and a 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine.
The 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine delivers outputs of 146kW and 265Nm.
All 2.0-litre models are front-wheel drive, while all 1.6-litre models are all-wheel drive.
2025 Kia Seltos | Front-wheel drive | All-wheel drive |
|---|---|---|
Engine | 2.0-litre four-cylinder | Turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder |
Power | 110kW | 146kW |
Torque | 180Nm | 265Nm |
Transmission | CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) | 8-speed torque-converter automatic |
2025 Kia Seltos Warranty
What is the warranty on a Kia Seltos?
The Kia Seltos offers a 7 year unlimited km warranty. This is separate to the warranty on offer under Australian Consumer Law which can be greater for certain parts based on what is deemed as a reasonable period of time.
2025 Kia Seltos vs other SUVs to consider
The Seltos should be compared to the Mitsubishi ASX, Toyota CH-R, Hyundai Kona, Nissan Juke, Honda HR-V, Mazda CX-30, Skoda Kamiq and MG ZS.
Should you buy the 2025 Kia Seltos
Is this the right car for you? Out experts buy or not guide.
Kia’s lineup generally follows a consistent pattern. The trim just above the base or flagship model often represents the best value for money, offering a solid mix of standard features.
For the Seltos, the Sport 2.0 FWD is nearly $7,000 less than the Sport+ 1.6T AWD while maintaining a similar external appearance and including key features like the digital cockpit and Kia Connect. Given the price difference, it may be reasonable to forgo some advanced driver assistance features, such as adaptive cruise control and blind-spot collision avoidance.
If you prefer a fully equipped model, the GT-Line is only a bit more expensive, and the FWD version should suffice unless you frequently drive on unsealed roads or in snowy conditions. While some buyers might appreciate the added security of AWD in adverse weather, the additional cost may not be justified for many.
Competition in this segment is intensifying, and surprisingly, Kia continues to offer halogen headlights and reserve features like rain-sensing wipers exclusively for the flagship model, especially when the vehicle’s on-road price exceeds $40,000. There’s room for improvement here.
That said, if you select the right trim, the Seltos proves to be a highly capable crossover. It is well-suited for singles, couples, small families, and older buyers, offering a well-rounded package at an accessible price point. It remains a very commendable choice in the segment.
Kia Seltos FAQs
The cheapest Kia Seltos is the S (FWD) that starts from $29,850.
The most expensive Kia Seltos is the GT-LINE (AWD) (TWO-TONE) that starts from $45,270.
The best towing capacity of a Kia Seltos is 1250 kg offered by the following variants: SPORT+ (AWD), GT-LINE (AWD) (SUNROOF) and GT-LINE (AWD) (TWO-TONE).
The largest Kia Seltos is the SPORT+ (AWD) which measures 1800mm wide, 4385mm in length and sits 1635mm tall.
The most powerful Kia Seltos is the SPORT+ (AWD) which has 146kW of power from its 1.6L TUR GASOLINE DIR INJ engine.
The Kia Seltos is built in Korea and shipped to Australia.
The heaviest Kia Seltos is the SPORT+ (AWD) which weighs 1950 kg (kerb weight).
The Kia Seltos uses Unleaded Petrol.