Kia just hit the reset button on the mid-size SUV segment. As of Saturday, January 3, 2026, the second-generation Seltos is officially out in India, and it’s a lot more than just a bumper swap. We’re talking a brand-new K3 platform, a longer wheelbase, and enough screens to rival a small TV showroom.
The thing is, Kia is launching this with “introductory” prices ranging from ₹10.99 lakh to ₹19.99 lakh.1 Or nothing. Let’s be real, those prices are going to climb by March once the “new car smell” excitement dies down. Those too.
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The “New Seltos” Log: Field Notes
It’s an ongoing situation where Kia is trying to maintain its “tech king” status while everyone from Maruti to Tata is gunning for its spot.
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The “Flush” Flex: It’s got segment-first auto-flush door handles.2 Very Tesla-esque.
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The Growth Spurt: It’s 95mm longer than the old one.3 That extra room has gone straight to the rear legroom and the boot (now 447 litres).
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The Triple Screen: The dashboard now sports a massive panoramic curved display—12.3-inch for the driver, 12.3-inch for the infotainment, and a weirdly specific 5.0-inch screen just for the AC.5
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The Engines: Mechanically, it’s the same trio (1.5L NA, 1.5L Turbo, and 1.5L Diesel).6 But here’s the kicker: for the first time, you can get the Top-spec GTX with the basic 1.5L engine. Luxury looks without the turbo price tag.
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The Variant Matrix: Price & Power
[Table: 2026 Kia Seltos Key Variant Pricing (Ex-Showroom)]
| Trim | Base Petrol (MT) | Turbo Petrol (DCT) | Diesel (AT) |
| HTE | ₹10.99 Lakh | — | — |
| HTK (O) | ₹14.19 Lakh | ₹16.29 Lakh | ₹17.09 Lakh |
| HTX (A) | ₹16.69 Lakh | ₹18.79 Lakh | ₹19.59 Lakh |
| GTX (A) | — | ₹19.99 Lakh | ₹19.99 Lakh |
The Competition Catch-Up
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And here’s the kicker: the Seltos isn’t alone this month.
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Maruti Suzuki Victoris: Launched recently (Sept 2025), it’s the 5-star safety rival that’s making Kia nervous.7
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Tata Sierra: Deliveries for the rebooted icon start January 15. It’s aimed right at the Seltos’ throat with a “Lounge” interior.8
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Tata Punch Facelift: And if you’re looking smaller, that’s hitting the floor on January 13.9
Basically, Kia has made the Seltos “bigger and boxier” to feel more like an SUV and less like a crossover. If you’ve been waiting for the “tech-heavy” choice, this is it, but you’ll have to deal with the 34 different variant combinations, which is… a lot.
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