Kia Seltos Hybrid Spotted Testing in India: What the Spy Shots Tell Us

The Kia Seltos Hybrid test mule was spotted on NH48. Heavy camouflage. The same tail lamp unit as the current Seltos. Which means Kia isn't rebuilding this car from scratch. The hybrid version is going to sit on the exact same body, same chassis, same interior with one significant addition under the bonnet.

Why No Redesign in Next Gen Seltos Makes Sense

The current Kia Seltos 2026 already got a generational update last year. Sales have held up well since. Kia doesn't need a new shell. What it needs is a powertrain answer to the Hyundai Creta Hybrid, which is already generating serious interest in the market.

So instead of a full next-gen launch, the Seltos Hybrid arrives as an additional powertrain option layered onto the existing model. Cleaner rollout. Faster to market. Lower price premium.

That said, Kia is also separately testing the next-gen Sonet right now. So a full Seltos generation update will come eventually. Just not with this hybrid.

What Engine Option is Coming in Next Gen Kia Seltos?

Globally, the Seltos gets a 1.6-litre petrol with hybrid assistance. India is a different story. Kia is expected to use the existing 1.5-litre petrol engine here, paired with a hybrid motor. The standard 1.5L already puts out 155bhp and 265Nm. Add electric assistance to that and the numbers go up. But how much, Kia hasn't said yet.

The rest of the engine lineup stays. 1.5-litre turbo petrol at 158bhp, 1.5-litre NA petrol at 113bhp, and the 1.5-litre diesel at 114bhp. Four powertrain options total if the hybrid goes into production as expected.

Kia Seltos Features Stay the Same

The feature list won't change. Dual 12.3-inch screens, panoramic sunroof, 10-way power-adjustable driver seat, ventilated seats, 64-colour ambient lighting, 360-degree camera, dual-zone climate control and Level 2 ADAS are all already on the current car. The hybrid variant carries all of that over.

No surprises there. No reason to change something that's working.

Next Gen Kia Seltos Hybrid Launch and Price

Kia Seltos Hybrid is expected to arrive by mid-2027. The Hyundai Creta Hybrid launches first — Kia follows, same as always with these two.

Current Seltos prices run from ₹13 lakh to ₹24.49 lakh (on-road, Mumbai). The hybrid premium is expected to sit at roughly ₹1 to ₹1.25 lakh over comparable variants. That's not a steep ask if the real-world mileage numbers justify it.

Kia has already confirmed the hybrid is coming. These spy shots just confirmed it's closer than most expected.

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