Kia’s most popular small SUV is finally going hybrid — and that’s making waves in one of Australia’s most hotly contested segments. Confirmed during Kia’s 2025 CEO Investor Day, the next-generation Kia Seltos will get a hybrid powertrain to take on the likes of the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid and Hyundai Kona Hybrid.
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Here are five things you need to know about the upcoming Kia Seltos Hybrid.
1. Mark your calendars: 2026 Launch
Kia has locked in 2026 as the year the Seltos Hybrid will enter production. This timing aligns with the arrival of an all-new, next-generation Seltos, expected to break cover in early 2026, with the hybrid version following shortly after.
2. Corolla Cross and Kona Hybrid in its sights
Kia isn’t shy about its target. The Seltos Hybrid is being positioned directly against established small hybrid SUV favourites like the Toyota Corolla Cross and Hyundai Kona Hybrid — two models that have been quick to win over Australian buyers looking for better fuel economy without going fully electric.
3. A key piece in Kia’s hybrid puzzle
The Kia Seltos Hybrid is part of a much larger electrification plan for the Korean automaker. Kia aims to roll out 10 hybrid models globally by 2030 as it works to double hybrid sales and bridge the gap between traditional petrol engines and full battery-electric vehicles.
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4. What does this mean for the Kia Niro?
Here’s where things get interesting. At present, the Kia Niro is the brand’s electrified small SUV offering with its hybrid, plug-in hybrid and pure electric versions. But, it is getting long in the tooth and the Seltos is offering a broader appeal across multiple markets. The question now is whether there’s room for both in Kia’s lineup for both these hybrid SUVs.
5. Australia wants it — but will it get it?
Kia Australia has made no secret of its interest in the hybrid Seltos. Local executives have flagged it as high on their wish list, but for now, official confirmation remains pending. That said, given the success of hybrid small SUVs in Australia, its arrival feels more like when rather than if.
Bottom line? The Seltos Hybrid is coming— and it’s shaping up as one of Kia’s most important new models yet. Australia’s watching closely.
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