2027 Kia Seltos review: Australian price, hybrid fuel use and which grade to buy

The all new Kia Seltos is now a hybrid only small SUV, from $37,990 plus on road costs or $39,990 drive away. Here is what each of the six grades gets, the official fuel use and the Seltos we would buy.

By Varun Punyamurtula ·

2027 Kia Seltos hybrid driving on a winding mountain road, front view, overseas model shown (Image: Kia Australia)
7.8/10

Our verdict

The new Seltos is a roomy, frugal and properly modern small SUV. The Sport at $41,910 plus on road costs ($43,990 drive away) is the sweet spot, adding the 360 degree camera, sat nav and Highway Driving Assist 2 over the base S.

S $37,990, S with Safety Pack $40,150, Sport $41,910, Sport+ $44,970, GT-Line FWD $49,870, GT-Line e-AWD $52,780, all plus on road costs. Kia national drive away: $39,990, $42,490, $43,990, $46,990, $52,990 and $55,490.

Get help finding the best price

The all new Kia Seltos has arrived in Australian showrooms, and it is a very different small SUV to the one it replaces. Every Seltos is now a hybrid, it is bigger inside, and it comes with a long list of safety and tech features as standard. Prices start at $37,990 plus on road costs, or $39,990 drive away on Kia's national drive away pricing. Here is what each of the six grades gets, what it costs to run, and which Seltos we would buy.

Quick answer: The new Seltos is one of the best equipped small hybrid SUVs under $45,000. Our pick is the Seltos Sport at $41,910 plus on road costs ($43,990 drive away). It adds the 360 degree camera, blind spot camera, sat nav, bigger wheels and Highway Driving Assist 2 over the base S for about $4,000 more. Choose the GT-Line only if you want the full luxury list, and the e-AWD version only if you really need all wheel drive.
2027 Kia Seltos hybrid driving on a winding mountain road, front view, overseas model shown (Image: Kia Australia)

Our verdict in one line: a roomy, frugal and properly modern small SUV, with the Sport the sweet spot of the range. Just be ready to pay more than you did for the old petrol Seltos.

What's new

This is a full new generation, not a facelift. The big changes:

  • Hybrid only: every grade uses a 1.6 litre petrol hybrid. There is no plain petrol or turbo version any more
  • All wheel drive option: the top GT-Line can be had with e-AWD, which uses an electric motor to drive the rear wheels when grip runs low
  • Bigger cabin and boot: 483 litres of boot space with the rear seats up and 1,441 litres folded (VDA), plus reclining rear seats
  • New screens: every grade gets a panoramic display that joins a 12.3 inch driver display, a 5 inch climate screen and a 12.3 inch touchscreen under one panel, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
  • More safety as standard: autonomous emergency braking with junction assist, adaptive cruise control, blind spot and rear cross traffic collision avoidance, safe exit warning and a driver monitoring camera in every grade
  • Australian tuning: Kia ran a local ride and handling program, as it does on most of its models here
2027 Kia Seltos GT-Line in Denim Blue parked on a tennis court, front three quarter view (Image: Kia Australia)

Price and grades in Australia

Kia lists a recommended price (plus on road costs) and a national drive away price for every grade. Both are shown below.

  • S: $37,990 plus on road costs ($39,990 drive away)
  • S with Safety Pack: $40,150 plus on road costs ($42,490 drive away)
  • Sport: $41,910 plus on road costs ($43,990 drive away)
  • Sport+: $44,970 plus on road costs ($46,990 drive away)
  • GT-Line FWD: $49,870 plus on road costs ($52,990 drive away)
  • GT-Line e-AWD: $52,780 plus on road costs ($55,490 drive away)

Premium paint adds $600. Kia's drive away prices are the same in every state at the time of writing, so you know exactly what you will pay before any discount we can negotiate.

2027 Kia Seltos in blue, side profile parked in front of a building (Image: Kia Australia)

What each grade gets

Seltos S

16 inch alloys, LED headlights, the panoramic display with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, dual zone climate control, a smart key with remote engine start, cloth seats, six speakers, digital radio, front and rear parking sensors and a reversing camera. The full safety suite is standard, including adaptive cruise control, lane following assist, blind spot collision avoidance, rear cross traffic collision avoidance, safe exit warning and a rear occupant alert. You also get a space saver spare.

S with Safety Pack (adds $2,160)

Adds a 360 degree camera, a blind spot view camera in the driver display, side parking sensors and reverse automatic braking.

Sport (adds $3,920 over the S)

18 inch alloys, built in sat nav with 10 years of map updates, the 360 degree camera and blind spot camera, reverse automatic braking, Highway Driving Assist 2 with lane change assist, remote smart parking assist, heated mirrors, a rear centre armrest, a cargo cover and a gloss black grille.

Sport+

Cloth and artificial leather trim, an 8 way power driver's seat with lumbar adjustment, heated front seats, rain sensing wipers, privacy glass and a two tone steering wheel.

GT-Line FWD and GT-Line e-AWD

19 inch alloys, artificial leather, ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, a power passenger seat, driver's seat memory and a relaxation seat, a panoramic sunroof, a head up display, an eight speaker Harman Kardon sound system, wireless phone charging, ambient lighting, a hands free power tailgate, projector LED headlights, LED fog lights and auto flush door handles. The e-AWD version adds all wheel drive and a Snow drive mode, but swaps the space saver spare for a tyre repair kit.

2027 Kia Seltos dashboard with the panoramic display joining the driver display and touchscreen, left hand drive overseas model shown (Image: Kia Australia)

Which grade to buy? The Sport is the one to get. For $3,920 more than the S you get the camera tech, the better highway assistance, sat nav and nicer wheels. The S with Safety Pack is a good choice if you want the cameras and sensors but can live without the rest. The GT-Line is lovely, but at more than $50,000 plus on road costs it costs as much as a mid spec Sportage hybrid.

Close up of the 2027 Kia Seltos 12.3 inch touchscreen and climate controls (Image: Kia Australia)

Engine, fuel use and towing

Every Seltos uses the same hybrid system: a 1.6 litre petrol engine (74kW and 139Nm) teamed with a 45kW and 203Nm electric motor and a small 1.49kWh battery, driving through a six speed dual clutch automatic. You never plug it in; it charges itself as you drive and brake.

  • Combined output: 112kW and 265Nm (front wheel drive), 126kW (e-AWD, with a 50kW rear motor)
  • Official fuel use: 5.1L/100km (S), 5.3L/100km (Sport and Sport+), 5.4L/100km (GT-Line FWD), 5.8L/100km (GT-Line e-AWD)
  • Fuel: 38 litre tank, regular 91 unleaded
  • Towing: 910kg braked (front wheel drive) or 810kg (e-AWD), 750kg unbraked

What that means for you: at the official figure, the S could cover about 700km on a tank. Owners coming from the old petrol Seltos should use noticeably less fuel, especially in stop start city driving where the hybrid does its best work. The low towing capacity rules it out for anything heavier than a small box trailer.

2027 Kia Seltos GT-Line e-AWD driving on a dusty gravel track (Image: Kia Australia)

Size, seats and boot

The new Seltos is 4,430mm long, 1,830mm wide and 1,605mm to 1,620mm tall depending on grade, on a 2,690mm wheelbase. That still counts as a small SUV, but it is close to the size of some medium SUVs from a few years ago.

  • Rear seat: the 60:40 split rear backrests recline, and there are rear air vents and two USB-C ports
  • Boot: 483 litres with the rear seats up and 1,441 litres folded (VDA), with a height adjustable floor
  • Child seats: three top tether points and two ISOFIX points
  • Turning circle: 10.7 metres, handy in car parks
2027 Kia Seltos reclining rear seats in light grey trim (Image: Kia Australia)2027 Kia Seltos boot with the rear seats folded and luggage loaded (Image: Kia Australia)

Safety and warranty

The new Seltos has not been crash tested by ANCAP yet. It does have a strong standard safety list, with seven airbags including a front centre airbag, and autonomous emergency braking that covers cars, pedestrians, cyclists and turning across traffic. We will update this review when a rating is published.

Kia covers the Seltos with a 7 year, unlimited kilometre warranty, and capped price servicing is available.

Should you buy one?

Go for it if: you want a small SUV that is cheap to run, has a roomy back seat and boot, and comes with the latest safety and screen tech.

Skip it if: you need to tow more than about 900kg, you want a full size spare on the all wheel drive version, or you would rather wait for an ANCAP rating.

Our pick: the Seltos Sport at $41,910 plus on road costs, or $43,990 drive away.

Our scores

  • Performance: 6.8/10
  • Comfort: 7.6/10
  • Practicality: 8.0/10
  • Safety: 8.0/10
  • Technology: 8.4/10
  • Value for money: 8.0/10

Frequently asked questions

How much is the 2027 Kia Seltos in Australia?

From $37,990 plus on road costs for the S, up to $52,780 plus on road costs for the GT-Line e-AWD. Kia's national drive away prices run from $39,990 to $55,490.

Is the new Kia Seltos a hybrid?

Yes. Every 2027 Seltos sold in Australia is a self charging hybrid. You do not need to plug it in.

What is the fuel consumption of the new Seltos?

5.1L/100km to 5.8L/100km on the official combined test, depending on grade.

Does the new Seltos have all wheel drive?

Only the top GT-Line e-AWD, which uses an electric motor on the rear axle.

Does the Seltos have a spare tyre?

All front wheel drive grades have a space saver spare. The GT-Line e-AWD has a tyre repair kit instead.

What are the main rivals to the Kia Seltos?

The Hyundai Kona Hybrid, Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid, MG ZS Hybrid+, GWM Haval Jolion Hybrid and Nissan Qashqai e-Power.

Want a new Seltos, or one of its rivals? Tell us the grade and colour you're after and we'll use our network to find the best deal anywhere in Australia, on a new, demo, near new or used small SUV. Get the best deal. Trading in your current car? We can help you sell your car too, and you can see what it's worth with our car value tool.

Prices and specifications checked on 2 November 2026. Images: Kia Australia (some overseas models shown).

What we like

  • Every grade is a frugal hybrid, 5.1L/100km to 5.8L/100km officially
  • Big 483 litre boot and reclining rear seats
  • Long standard safety list incl. adaptive cruise and junction AEB
  • Panoramic display with wireless CarPlay and Android Auto in every grade
  • 7 year unlimited kilometre warranty

What we don’t

  • Costs more than the old petrol Seltos
  • Low 810kg to 910kg braked towing capacity
  • No ANCAP rating yet
  • e-AWD version has no spare tyre

Score breakdown

Performance6.8
Comfort7.6
Practicality8
Safety8
Technology8.4
Value for money8

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Tags: Family, Hybrid, Budget

Sources

  1. Kia Australia: all new Seltos Hybrid
  2. Kia Australia: Seltos MY27 specifications and features (PDF)
  3. Kia Australia: Build and price, Seltos Hybrid
  4. ANCAP safety ratings

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