Kia Seltos: a new compact hybrid SUV in a category already crowded with competitors
Another hybrid SUV? Yes! But the new Kia Seltos still tries to offer some original features. For its debut in France, it comes equipped with a base engine producing 154 horsepower, a spacious trunk, and even a V2L function typically found in electric vehicles. With a starting price of 36,790 €, can it make a name for itself?
Does the Sportage seem a bit bulky to you? Not SUV enough for the Niro? Kia is now introducing a third option between the two. The Seltos, the South Korean brand’s second-best-selling model worldwide, arrives in France for the first time in its second generation, available exclusively as a hybrid. And as you probably know, it fits right into one of the most competitive categories in the market.
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A hybrid that draws ideas from electric vehicles
At 4.43 meters long, the Seltos is practically identical in size to the Nissan Qashqai, down to the centimeter. Under the hood, Kia installs a 1.6 GDI hybrid engine paired with a six-speed dual-clutch transmission. The front-wheel-drive version produces 154 horsepower, while the e-AWD variant with 178 horsepower adds an electric motor to the rear axle.
The trunk offers a comfortable volume of 536 liters. Interestingly, Kia has adopted some features from its electric models. These include adjustable regenerative braking via paddles and a 3.6 kW V2L function that allows powering devices using a socket installed in the trunk. Kia even claims the Seltos is the first non-rechargeable hybrid on the market to offer this feature.
At 36,790 euros, it will have to compete fiercely
In terms of price, the Seltos starts at 36,790 € in France. The Renault Symbioz E-Tech full hybrid 160, which costs a few hundred euros less, begins at 34,400 €, representing a difference of 2,390 €.
The Hyundai Kona Hybrid, which is slightly more compact and less powerful with 129 hp, starts around 35,000 €. Then there’s the Nissan Qashqai e-Power, which is almost exactly the same length at 4.425 m. Nissan currently lists its price starting at 33,300 €. Lastly, there’s the MG ZS Hybrid+, which offers a competitive price with a base cost of 22,990 €.
The Seltos doesn’t come with the reputation of being a champion in terms of price/performance. But it has strong advantages: 536 liters of trunk space, generous standard equipment even at the entry level, the option for all-wheel drive, and some unusual technologies for a standard hybrid. These features give it a distinct identity in a category where newcomers can no longer afford to make mistakes.