Prototype Drive: 2027 Kia Seltos Has a Glow-UpKia (Kia)When shopping in the entry-level, subcompact-SUV segment that the Kia Seltos occupies, it isn't that the vehicles are simply smaller. They also typically have a lot fewer available features, options, and powertrain choices. To date, there's been a much larger gap between subcompact and the next-step-up compact-SUV segment than between compact and mid-size. But our takeaway from driving the new, second-generation 2027 Kia Seltos in Korea is that it's poised to reset expectations, thanks to a bevy of new features, a new available hybrid powertrain, and a strikingly handsome design inspired by its big brother, the Telluride.Kia (Kia)Here's just a sampling of the new goods, none of which were available on the previous-generation Seltos: the dual-12.3-inch-screen setup from the Telluride, a 12.0-inch head-up display, a heated steering wheel, a power-adjustable driver's seat, a panoramic sunroof, Kia's latest driver-assist tech, a 360-degree surround-view camera system, a digital key, 19-inch wheels, matte exterior color options, built-in Wi-Fi with YouTube and Netflix-streaming capability, and a high-draw outlet that can power your tailgate party.Genuinely Nice, Inside and OutThe Seltos's interior is genuinely nice, no "for a subcompact" caveats. While there are certainly more hard plastics at this price point than the Telluride's, the Seltos has sophisticated two-tone color options such as brown on tan and green/black, plus available mesh headrests like the Telluride's, that elevate it way above the subcompact norm. It's a great new look, inside and out, and there's some impressive nuance to the details, such as the way the sheetmetal on the rear liftgate juts out dramatically to match the shape of the rear taillights.Kia (Kia)Based on the K3 platform, the latest Seltos is larger than before—1.8 inches longer, 1.2 inches wider, and riding on a wheelbase more than two inches longer, which means more passenger and cargo space. The back seat, which gains additional legroom, has ample room, even for adults, who will appreciate the newfound ability of the rear seatbacks to recline a luxurious 24 degrees. Cargo room behind the second row of certain versions grows by a cubic foot to 28 total, putting it at the very large end of the segment.Familiar Powertrains, with a New Wrinkle for the HybridProbably the least-new area of the Seltos is the powertrains, which carry over from the previous generation. As before, there's an entry-level, 147-hp 2.0-liter four paired with a continuously variable automatic, and the 190-hp turbo 1.6-liter four-cylinder mated to an eight-speed automatic. The 2.0-liter remains available with both front- or all-wheel drive, while the 1.6T comes AWD only and only on the top trim, which is now the X-Line.Kia (Kia)Even the hybrid option, which is new to the Seltos, is an evolution of that found in the Kia Niro, pairing a naturally aspirated 1.6-liter four with two electric motors and a six-speed dual-clutch automatic. The Seltos's version makes 155 horsepower, 16 horses more than the Niro, and a new wrinkle is that the Seltos hybrid will be available with all-wheel drive, by way of another motor at the rear axle, which ups the combined power output to 179 horsepower. Unlike the compact Sportage, where the hybrid system employs the 1.6 turbo, the Seltos hybrid is not the performance option. While the engine is well muted and switches on and off seamlessly, acceleration is modest at best. However, complicating comparisons is that the Korean-spec hybrid we drove makes less power (139 horsepower). We predict a 60-mph time for the U.S. Seltos of 8.6 seconds, which, to be fair, doesn't stand out negatively in a segment with plenty of slow options (see the Honda HR-V at 9.4 seconds to 60 mph, or the Buick Envista, which at its best posted an 8.8).AdvertisementAdvertisementFuel-economy figures aren't yet finalized, but hopefully the hybrid's will make up for the average acceleration with a near-50-mpg EPA combined rating. Other than the lack of haste, the hybrid's blended brake pedal can feel a bit nonlinear with quick stabs of the pedal or at very low speeds in stop-and-go traffic. The turbo-engine option remedies the power deficit—the last Seltos we tested with this powertrain ran to 60 mph in 7.1 seconds—and brings superior brake feel, but this engine is louder and more buzzy than the hybrid's.Kia (Kia)As we navigated South Korea's low speed limits and endless speed cameras in hybrid and 1.6T models—there were no 2.0 models available—we had lots of time to appreciate the new SUV's comfortable seats, and it steers and handles above average for the class. As before, the Seltos employs struts up front, while front-drive 2.0 models have a torsion-beam rear; all-wheel-drive variants get a multilink rear suspension. All hybrids get the multilink.The way the 19-inch wheels and tires flutter over some impacts, instigating some slight structural resonance—despite more high-strength steel and claims of a stiffer structure—is about the only thing about the Seltos that still feels like it fits in with the subcompact segment. The cars we drove also had sometimes-excessive floaty body motions, but these were Korea-spec vehicles, so we'll reserve final judgment until we drive U.S. ones, which get a different tune.Kia (Kia)More Features, More Space, More Sales?Kia, along with corporate sibling Hyundai, has an uncanny knack for being able to pack in more niceties and features at any given price point. Speaking of price, Kia hasn't yet announced that for the Seltos, but company reps tell us to expect a modest rise over the previous version, so roughly $27,000 to start. The hybrid is likely to add $1500, and the top-trim 1.6T should come in around $35,000. The 2.0-liter and 1.6T models will be at dealers shortly, while the hybrid is set to arrive toward the end of 2026; we predict Kia has another hit on its hands.Kia (Kia)➡️ Skip the lot. 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