Kia Seltos Goes Hybrid-Only in Australia
Kia Australia will sell only hybrid versions of the new 2027 Seltos, with no petrol-only or mild-hybrid options planned.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Car Types
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Kia Australia has confirmed the second-generation Seltos will be available only with hybrid powertrains locally, starting at $37,990 plus on-road costs. The petrol-only predecessor started at $31,250 plus on-road costs.
Why it matters
The move reflects rising hybrid demand across Kia's SUV range, including the Sportage. For Australian buyers, it means a higher entry price in exchange for markedly lower fuel consumption.
The new Seltos hybrid makes 112kW/265Nm in front-wheel drive form and 126kW with e-AWD, with fuel consumption rated at 5.1-5.8L/100km versus 6.9-7.4L/100km for the previous generation. Official ratings are based on the updated ADR test method, and the extraction does not say how real-world figures will compare.
The players
Kia Australia
The local arm of South Korean automaker Kia, responsible for importing and selling its vehicles in Australia.
The details
All Australian versions of the new Seltos use a 1.6-litre hybrid powertrain, and the e-AWD variant adds a second 50kW electric motor on the rear axle. Kia is among the first models subject to an updated ADR test method aligned with WLTP rather than NEDC.
Timeline
6 November 2026: Australian media launch of the second-generation Seltos range.
6 November 2026: CarExpert publishes its first Australian drive review of the Seltos HEV.
Roadmap
The Seltos is one of the first Kia models rated under the updated ADR test method, which more closely aligns fuel and energy claims with the WLTP standard instead of NEDC. The all-hybrid lineup signals that Kia sees hybrids, rather than petrol-only models, as the core of its Australian SUV range.
Australian buyers should expect a starting price of $37,990 plus on-road costs, or $39,990 drive-away, for the Seltos Hybrid, which is higher than the $31,250 petrol-only predecessor. In return, the rated fuel consumption drops to between 5.1 and 5.8L/100km, compared with 6.9 to 7.4L/100km before.
The takeaway
If you are weighing a new Seltos, compare the higher hybrid entry price against the lower running costs implied by the official consumption ratings before deciding.
Further reading
For more on how hybrid models are reshaping the local market, browse the Car Types section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Perth Now.
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