Kia Seltos Hybrid Shown

Kia used the New York auto show to preview a redesigned Seltos with the model’s first hybrid option, adding gasoline-electric power to one of its smallest sport utility vehicles. (hyundaimotorgroup.com) The company said the all-new Seltos will offer three powertrains, including a new hybrid variant, and described the vehicle as a more spacious compact sport utility vehicle with updated connectivity and cabin space. Cars.com reported the hybrid is part of the 2027 Seltos redesign shown in New York last week. (hyundaimotorgroup.com) (cars.com) Kia has not published horsepower or fuel-economy figures for the Seltos Hybrid yet. Cars.com said those numbers are still to come, even as the hybrid version was one of the show’s headline debuts. (cars.com) A hybrid pairs a gasoline engine with an electric motor and a small battery, using stored energy to cut fuel use without requiring drivers to plug in. That formula has spread as automakers chase buyers who want better mileage without switching fully to battery-electric vehicles. (fueleconomy.gov) (usatoday.com) Kia’s timing lines up with a broader company push into hybrids. At its April 9, 2026 investor day, Kia said it plans 13 hybrid models by 2030 and targets annual hybrid sales of 1.1 million units, alongside 14 electric vehicle models and 1 million annual electric-vehicle sales by 2030. (worldwide.kia.com) That matters for the Seltos because the current United States model is sold only with gasoline engines. Kia’s 2025 U.S. specifications list a 2.0-liter engine with 146 horsepower as standard, while higher trims use a turbocharged 1.6-liter engine. (kiamedia.com) The Seltos also sits in a crowded, price-sensitive part of the market. Cars.com lists the 2025 Seltos starting at $24,690 in the United States, which puts it in the subcompact sport utility vehicle class where fuel costs and monthly payments carry more weight than premium features. (cars.com) Kia has already tied the Seltos launch to regional growth plans. At the same investor presentation, the company set a target of 1.02 million U.S. sales by 2030 and 1.48 million sales in emerging markets, giving the new hybrid a role in both mature and cost-conscious markets. (kiamedia.com) For now, the Seltos Hybrid is still a show-stage reveal, not a fully detailed production launch. The next test is whether Kia can turn that New York debut into published range, mileage and pricing numbers before the redesigned Seltos reaches showrooms. (cars.com)