New-generation Kia Seltos launch in India in December

The second-generation Kia Seltos will be launched in India on December 10. (Representative image)

The Kia Seltos is all set to enter the market in a new avatar. The second-generation version of the popular mid-size SUV will be launched in India in the first half of December 2025. The first-generation model was introduced in August 2019.

Kia's maiden car in India, the Seltos, is credited with establishing the brand in the country. The Seltos ensured that Kia became the fastest-growing original equipment manufacturer (OEM) in the Indian automotive space.

The Seltos hit the right note in several aspects. Its design appealed to urban SUV customers. It had several segment-first and segment-best features. Availability of petrol, turbo-petrol and diesel engines with manual and automatic transmission options helped it reach a broad audience.

While competitive pricing kept the Seltos positioned strongly against rivals, regular updates and feature additions ensured that the vehicle remained relevant in a fiercely competitive mid-size SUV segment. Besides, Kia's quick expansion of sales and service network strengthened customer confidence.

The Kia Seltos rivals the likes of the Hyundai Creta, Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara, Maruti Suzuki Victoris, Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder, Mahindra Thar Roxx, Tata Curvv, Honda Elevate, Skoda Kushaq, Volkswagen Taigun and MG Astor. It will soon have a new rival in the form of the Tata Sierra.

The mid-size SUV segment contributed 25.76% to the overall SUV volumes in the domestic market in FY25. Of the 23,66,274 units of SUVs sold in India during the fiscal, 6,09,516 units were of mid-size SUVs. The Seltos contributed with 72,618 units.

In FY26 (April-October), the Seltos is at 41,085 units. With the new model arriving, expectations are that the volumes of the Seltos will improve.

The Seltos is already a feature-loaded SUV. It comes with bells and whistles like 18-inch alloy wheels, 10.25-inch HD touchscreen navigation with 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, front ventilated seats with 8-way powered driver's seat adjustment, 360-degree camera with blind view monitor in instrument cluster, dual-zone automatic climate control, 8-inch HUD, panoramic sunroof and ADAS with 19 features.

We expect the new model to have memory function for seats, second-row seat ventilation, and overall better cushioning and comfort for seats. When it comes to features, Kia has always set the bar higher with new models, and we expect the new-generation Seltos to get a similar treatment.

The second-generation Seltos is expected to get the powertrain options from the outgoing model. The old Seltos has three internal combustion engine (ICE) choices -- 1.5-litre naturally-aspirated petrol (115PS and 144Nm), 1.5-litre turbo petrol (160PS and 253Nm) and 1.5-litre diesel (116PS and 250Nm). There are multiple transmission options like 6-speed MT, 6-speed iMT, IVT, 7-speed DCT and 6-speed AT.

In terms of pricing, the outgoing model is available from Rs 10,79,276 to Rs 19,80,529 (ex-showroom). We expect the new Seltos price to be in the range of Rs 11 lakh to Rs 20 lakh (ex-showroom).