New Kia Seltos hybrid coming next year to rival Toyota, Hyundai – report
07/07/2024 06:00 PM
Hybrid power is reportedly planned for the next-generation Kia Seltos compact SUV, due towards the end of next year.
The Kia Seltos small SUV is planned to enter a second generation next year, with the option of petrol-electric hybrid power from its Hyundai Kona Hybrid sibling, according to a new report.
South Korean publication ETNews claims the next Seltos is due to commence production in the country in August 2025, ahead of showroom arrivals in Kia’s home market by the end of the year.
It would suggest the first Australian deliveries will come at the end of next year, or the first half of 2026 – pending any delays – although Kia has not confirmed timing, nor formally announced plans for a new Seltos.
The news outlet reports Kia will introduce a petrol-electric hybrid variant as part of plans announced earlier this year for an expanded range of Kia hybrids amid a slowdown in the growth of electric-vehicle sales.
The Seltos is said to use the 1.6-litre hybrid system from the related front-wheel-drive Hyundai Kona Hybrid, but with the option of ‘electronic’ all-wheel drive, likely to use a second electric motor driving the rear wheels.
The Kona Hybrid uses a 1.6-litre non-turbo four-cylinder petrol engine (77kW/144Nm), 32kW/170Nm electric motor, lithium-ion battery and a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission to develop 104kW and 265Nm combined.
Hyundai claims fuel consumption of 3.9 litres per 100 kilometres for its hybrid small SUV.
Plans for a Seltos hybrid – reportedly set to be offered alongside a regular non-hybrid petrol version – are despite Kia already selling a hybrid small SUV, the Niro.
It means the Niro will be attacked from both sides by other similarly-sized models in the Kia range – the new EV3 for the electric Niro, and the Seltos for the hybrid.
The current Kia Seltos is slightly smaller than the Niro – and outsells it five to one. The next-generation model is likely to grow, but it is unclear by how much.
The South Korean car giant has confirmed the Niro will live alongside the EV3, and the hybrid version will remain important in Western Europe, where the Seltos is not sold.
Kia has announced plans to offer nine hybrid models in 2028 – up from six in 2024 and eight in 2026 – while demand for fully-electric vehicles wavers.
ETNews reports sales of electric vehicles in South Korea over the first four months of 2024 were down 0.8 per cent – while hybrid sales grew by 40.8 per cent – compared to the same period in 2023.
The post New Kia Seltos hybrid coming next year to rival Toyota, Hyundai – report appeared first on Drive.
