The 2026 Paris Motor Show is taking place between October 12 and 18, 2026. On the very first day, the South Korean automobile manufacturer Kia has officially showcased the Kia Seltos Hybrid. Reportedly, this car will also come to India, but there’s no confirmed launch date by the automobile manufacturer. Some reports suggest its launch in the Indian market somewhere in 2027.
The Kia has revealed the exterior, interior, and powertrain for the upcoming Kia Seltos hybrid by showing them at the event. This unveiling has revealed many details for this mid-size SUV. Notably, it is the same second-generation Kia Seltos that the company unveiled back in 2025 but with the strong hybrid powertrain. This model is already on sale in India with NA-petrol, turbo-petrol, and diesel.
How is its exterior design?
In the Indian market, the Kia Seltos with three different powertrains are available in multiple variants. The one showcased in Paris has a familiar exterior design to the X-Line variant. At the front end, we can see a double-toned gloss black bumper, grille-integrated LED headlights including low beam and high beam with squared-off styling on the sides, and a vertically oriented slim LED daylight running light.
The Kia Seltos Hybrid looks stunning from the sides, similar to the Indian-spec model. In the profile, 18-inch alloy wheels are visible that are bracketed by gloss black wheel arch cladding. The flush-type door handles, gloss black roof rails, and A-pillar mounted outside are the other elements that we get to see from the sides; among them, the hidden door handles help with reduced aerodynamic drag and improve efficiency.
Not only the front and sides, but the Kia Seltos hybrid images from the event that have surfaced online have already revealed the rear of this upcoming car. On the tailgate the large L-shaped LED taillight is present; this lighting signature enhances the car’s visibility to other road users. The roof-integrated, gloss black bumper is similar to the front end, and the Kia lettering on the tailgate are details from the rear styling.
Changes inside the cabin.
Online surfaced images of the Kia Seltos hybrid from the 2026 Paris Motor Show reveal that the gear lever that was earlier available on the center console has now been moved to the steering wheel column. If you are a Kia, you will definitely identify that the design of the lever is familiar to the ones that the South Korean carmaker introduced for the model that comes with a battery-electric powertrain.
Thanks to the gear lever place changing, the center console now has more space. Now, we can see two cup holders on it. The addition of cup holders is all set to further enhance the front-row practicality. Apart from these changes inside the cabin, all remains the same. It means the touchscreen infotainment system, digital instrument cluster, and all other comfort and convenience features are retained.
Strong hybrid powertrain.
Kia didn’t only showcase the model but also revealed its core specifications. The company says this upcoming car will have a 1.6-liter four-cylinder turbocharged petrol-powered internal combustion engine and an electric motor. Officially unveiling has confirmed that ICE delivers 102 hp and 141 Nm, and the e-motor puts out 129 hp and 388 Nm. Combinedly, their crank is 178 hp.
The carmaker has unveiled that the transmission is a six-speed double clutch and the drivetrain is all-wheel-drive. The AWD will help with better road grip on all types of terrain. In India, the existing Kia Seltos is only available with FWD. With the strong hybrid, all-wheel-drive option will be offered for the first time in the Indian market.
The carmaker also unveiled performance details such as 0 to 100 kmph acceleration timing, top speed, and fuel efficiency for the European market. As per the Kia, it takes only 9 seconds to reach the speed of one hundred kilometers per hour from zero, can catch the speed up to 155 kmph, and gives the WLTP-certified mileage of 14.71 kmpl.
