Core summary
Kia Seltos
The current Kia Seltos is the second-generation SP3, unveiled simultaneously in Korea, India, Europe and America on 10 December 2025. The redesign came seven years after the original model and increased the vehicle’s size while retaining its compact crossover positioning. The current generation is not a single identical specification worldwide: engines, transmissions, grades and drivetrain choices vary by market. India lists naturally aspirated and turbocharged 1.5-litre petrol options plus a diesel, while North America offers naturally aspirated 2.0-litre and turbocharged 1.6-litre petrol engines. Brunei and Indonesia list the naturally aspirated 1.5-litre petrol engine with IVT. South Africa adds petrol, diesel and turbo-petrol combinations.
History & generations
Kia introduced the Seltos in mid-2019 as a global crossover positioned between smaller Kia SUVs such as the Stonic, Soul or Sonet and the larger Sportage. The first generation was split into three principal variations: the South Korean-built SP2, the shorter Indian-built SP2i and the closely related Chinese SP2c, also known as the KX3. The original model launched in South Korea, India and other markets during 2019, followed by North American introductions for the 2021 model year. Regional facelifts began with the SP2 in 2022 and the SP2i in India in 2023. China’s SP2c was renamed Seltos in 2023 and later replaced some earlier regional versions. The second-generation SP3 arrived in December 2025, bringing a significant redesign and larger dimensions. It then launched market by market during 2026, including India, Brunei, Indonesia, North America and South Africa.
First generation (SP2, SP2i and SP2c)
The original Seltos generation launched in 2019 in several regional forms. The South Korean SP2 was aimed mainly at developed markets, while the shorter Indian SP2i and related Chinese SP2c served other markets. The generation received facelifts from 2022 onward, with regional differences in engines, dashboards, equipment and sourcing.
Second generation (SP3)
The second-generation Seltos was unveiled on 10 December 2025 and is described as larger than its predecessor. It has launched progressively across markets with different engines, transmissions, grades and drivetrain configurations. North American sales are identified for the 2027 model year.
Body, platform & design
The SP3 is described in the reference as a significant redesign and as larger than the previous-generation Seltos. The supplied current-generation filenames identify standard Seltos and X-Line vehicles, along with views labelled SP3 or SP3K. These filenames support exterior identification, but they do not establish detailed styling themes, dimensions, lighting technology or body measurements. The first generation used visibly different regional bodies: the SP2i was shorter than the SP2, had a slightly shorter front-end region and used a different hood-line treatment. The Chinese SP2c was a related regional variation with its own market identity. Those first-generation details should not be treated as specifications for the current SP3. For the current model, the evidence supports a larger compact crossover body and market-specific X-Line branding, but not a full description of exterior materials, aerodynamic elements or individual equipment packages.
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Engine & drivetrain
The second-generation Seltos uses different powertrain combinations according to market. India lists a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine paired with either a six-speed manual or IVT. Turbocharged variants use a six-speed intelligent manual transmission or a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. India also offers a diesel engine with either a six-speed manual or six-speed torque-converter automatic. Brunei and Indonesia list a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine with IVT across their stated variants. North America offers a naturally aspirated 2.0-litre MPi four-cylinder or a turbocharged 1.6-litre T-GDi four-cylinder. The North American 1.6T is limited to the X-Line, identified in the extract as SX in that context. South Africa lists 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol, 1.5-litre CRDi diesel and 1.5-litre T-GDi turbocharged petrol options. A 1.6-litre hybrid with a six-speed dual-clutch transmission is planned for North America in late 2026.
Trim differences
Current grades are regional rather than globally uniform. Brunei lists GL, GT Line and X-Line, all with the 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine and IVT. India lists HT, GT and X-Line, with petrol and diesel combinations varying by version. Indonesia lists Trendy, Prestige+ ADAS and GT Line, all using the naturally aspirated 1.5-litre petrol engine with IVT. North America offers LX, S, EX and X-Line for the 2027 model year, with the turbocharged engine restricted to the X-Line and front-wheel drive standard except on that grade. South Africa lists LS, LX, GT-Line, X-Line and GT-Line S. The extract assigns the diesel to GT-Line and X-Line and the turbocharged petrol engine to GT-Line S in South Africa.
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Interior & seating
The supplied reference gives limited interior information for the current SP3. It confirms that the second generation is a major redesign, but does not describe its dashboard, seating materials, cargo area, dimensions or standard cabin equipment. The first-generation facelift had a revised dashboard with a single display housing a 10.25-inch instrument cluster and 10.25-inch infotainment screen, while the Indian facelift introduced a dual-screen setup with two 10.25-inch displays. Those details belong to earlier regional versions and are not current-SP3 specifications. The supplied images are exterior filenames and do not support claims about the current cabin. Accordingly, this profile does not infer interior features, passenger capacity, storage volume or comfort characteristics. Buyers should treat cabin equipment as market- and trim-dependent until confirmed by a local specification sheet.
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Efficiency & range
It identifies several engine and transmission combinations, but those alone do not establish comparable efficiency results. The earlier South Korean SP2 had claimed figures for its 1.6-litre petrol turbo and diesel engines, yet those values belong to the first generation and are excluded from current-model specifications. The planned North American hybrid is described as arriving in late 2026 with a 1.6-litre engine, six-speed dual-clutch transmission and e-AWD, but no consumption or range data is supplied. Efficiency will therefore depend on the market, engine, transmission, drivetrain, equipment and certification cycle. A meaningful comparison requires official figures for the specific current-market version being considered.
Safety & equipment
The reference provides detailed safety information mainly for first-generation versions and does not supply a crash-test result for the second-generation SP3. The original South Korean-built SP2 received five stars from the Australasian New Car Assessment Program and four stars from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The Indian-market SP2 received three stars for adult occupant protection in a 2020 Global NCAP test conducted in a basic two-airbag specification of that time. Those results should not be transferred to the current SP3. The second-generation extract contains a Safety heading but no supporting rating or equipment list. Its North American hybrid and regional trims are described, but no current-generation safety specification is stated. Buyers should verify the applicable local assessment and standard driver-assistance equipment for the exact SP3 variant.
Strengths
The current Seltos has a broad international footprint and a clearly defined second-generation redesign. Its larger body is intended to move the model further into the compact crossover category, while the market-specific range provides multiple petrol choices and, in some regions, diesel and hybrid technology. Transmission coverage is also broad, including manual, IVT, torque-converter automatic, dual-clutch and planned hybrid dual-clutch applications. Drivetrain availability varies, with front-wheel drive standard on most stated North American grades and all-wheel drive available or standard in selected versions. The range includes familiar Kia grade names such as GT Line and X-Line in several markets. These are structural strengths of the product range, not claims about ride, reliability or ownership experience, because the supplied evidence does not document those areas for the current generation.
The current Seltos is a larger second-generation global crossover with market-specific engines, trims and drivetrains.
Considerations
The main consideration is specification variation. A Seltos sold in India, North America, Indonesia, Brunei or South Africa may have a different engine, transmission, trim structure and drivetrain from a vehicle using the same name elsewhere. It also does not give a complete equipment list for any market. The planned North American hybrid is described as future availability for late 2026, so it should not be treated as universally available or necessarily on sale on the review date. Older SP2, SP2i and SP2c safety ratings, engines and interior details should not be used to fill gaps in current-generation specifications. Confirmation from the local market’s official documentation remains necessary.
Recommended use
The Seltos is positioned as a compact crossover SUV, making it relevant to buyers seeking a vehicle between smaller Kia models and the Sportage. The current generation’s market coverage and varied powertrains allow the nameplate to serve different regional priorities: simple naturally aspirated petrol and IVT combinations in some markets, manual or automatic petrol and diesel choices in others, and a planned hybrid for North America. All-wheel drive is available in selected configurations rather than universally. The evidence supports general urban, family and mixed-use crossover relevance, but it does not document ride quality, off-road ability, luggage capacity, towing or long-distance comfort. Those use-case judgments should therefore remain tied to the vehicle’s body style and stated drivetrain options rather than assumed performance characteristics.
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FAQ
Q: What is the current Kia Seltos generation? A: The second-generation SP3, unveiled in December 2025. Q: Is the current Seltos the same worldwide? A: No. Engines, trims, transmissions and drivetrains vary by market. Q: Does every current Seltos have all-wheel drive? A: No. Availability depends on market and grade. Q: Which engines are listed for the current model? A: 1.5-litre petrol and diesel options, plus 2.0- and 1.6-litre petrol engines in North America. Q: Is there a hybrid Seltos? A: A North American hybrid is planned for late 2026; broader availability is not stated.
What makes the Kia Seltos different?
The current Seltos is a larger second-generation global crossover with market-specific engines, trims and drivetrains.
Who should consider it?
Urban, family and general-purpose crossover use
Sources & updates
Research for this Kia Seltos profile prioritized current manufacturer specifications, model-year equipment pages and official press material. Independent safety or regulatory records were used where available. Historical references were kept separate from current-generation specifications and image identification.
Equipment, pricing and certified figures can vary by market, trim and model year. The expandable reference list below contains the linked sources used for verification. Last editorial review: August 30, 2026.
Last editorial review: August 30, 2026. Specifications remain market- and model-year-specific.