2027 Kia Seltos to stay hybrid-only in Australia as Kia rules out cheaper petrol versions

No firm plans for a cheaper petrol Seltos

Kia Australia has ruled out introducing cheaper petrol-only or mild-hybrid versions of the new Seltos any time soon. Speaking with CarExpert at the Australian media launch of the second-generation range, senior manager for product planning Raymond Pok said the brand does not have "any firm plans on introducing any other alternative powertrains that are available globally", adding that Kia is "pretty confident in Seltos Hybrid" and believes it is "the right fit" for the Australian market. ¹

Mr Pok pointed to rising hybrid demand across Kia's other SUV lines, notably the Sportage mid-size SUV, telling CarExpert: "We think that's where the market's at." Kia Australia had flagged the hybrid-only approach as early as May, citing the need to future-proof the small SUV amid tightening emissions regulations, with the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard described by Mr Pok as a variable the product planning team must now weigh closely. ¹³

What the hybrid-only shift costs buyers

Pricing for the 2027 Kia Seltos Hybrid starts from $37,990 plus on-road costs, or $39,990 drive-away, according to CarExpert. MotorLoop reports the range tops out at $55,490 drive-away for the all-wheel-drive GT-Line. By comparison, the outgoing petrol-only Seltos started at $31,250 plus on-road costs for the base S 2WD. ¹²

MotorLoop, citing Chasing Cars, puts the increase at $4,670 drive-away at entry, attributing part of the rise to the loss of the old 2.0-litre petrol engine as the price leader. MotorLoop also notes the entry Seltos remains priced slightly under the hybrid Hyundai Kona and Toyota Corolla Cross; the Corolla Cross starts at $37,440 plus on-road costs for the GX 2WD per CarExpert's earlier reporting. ²³

MotorLoop's commentary is clearly identified as opinion: the publication argues the hybrid hardware adds up-front and potential out-of-warranty cost, and suggests buyers wanting a simple petrol small SUV consider the used market. These are MotorLoop's views, not established findings. ²

Australian powertrain and fuel figures

All Australian-delivered versions of the new Seltos use the latest version of Kia's 1.6-litre hybrid system, familiar from the discontinued-in-Australia Niro HEV as well as the Hyundai Kona and i30 Sedan hybrids. In the Seltos it produces 112kW/265Nm in front-wheel-drive form, or 126kW with the new e-AWD version, which adds a second 50kW electric motor on the rear axle, per CarExpert. ¹

Fuel consumption is rated between 5.1 and 5.8L/100km depending on grade, with CO2 emissions quoted at 115–131g/km, against 6.9–7.4L/100km for the previous-generation petrol Seltos on official figures. CarExpert notes the Seltos is among the first models subject to an updated ADR compliance test method more closely aligned with WLTP rather than the older NEDC standard — a point Kia representatives raised given the Seltos' higher official figure than the related Kona Hybrid (3.9L/100km), which still uses the previous method. Kia claims indicated real-world consumption should sit close to the official claim. ¹

What overseas markets get instead

While Australia goes hybrid-only, other markets retain combustion choices. CarExpert reports Europe offers an updated 1.6-litre T-GDI turbo-petrol four-cylinder producing 132kW/265Nm with six-speed manual or seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmissions, while the Korean domestic market receives a 142kW/265Nm version of the same engine with an eight-speed automatic, in front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive forms. ¹

CarExpert's May report also noted UK-market Seltos hybrids get vehicle-to-load (V2L) functionality — a first for Hyundai Motor Group hybrids — but Kia Australia confirmed it will not offer V2L locally, instead fitting a space-saver spare wheel to all 2WD variants. Packaging limitations mean a spare wheel will not fit under the boot floor when the V2L inverter is fitted. ³

Market context and the new-generation car

MotorLoop frames the hybrid-only Seltos as part of a broader shift, citing the FCAI's September 2026 sales release: petrol vehicle sales down 36.2 per cent year-on-year, conventional hybrids up 20.7 per cent, and battery-electric cars at 24.2 per cent of the month's market, with the overall market up just 0.9 per cent. MotorLoop also notes the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard's passenger-car CO2 target falls from 141g/km in 2025 to 117 in 2026, 92 in 2027 and 58 by 2029, as set out by the NRMA — while stating Kia has not said the standard is why the petrol Seltos went. That regulatory link is MotorLoop's own analysis, not a Kia statement. ²

The second-generation Seltos sits on Kia's K3 platform — shared with the K4, Niro and Hyundai Kona — and measures 4430mm long, 1830mm wide and 1600mm high, with a 60mm-longer wheelbase at 2690mm and boot space of 483 litres. CarExpert reports the interior gains a three-screen layout with two 12.3-inch displays, over-the-air software updates and safety features including Highway Driving Assist 2, Remote Smart Parking Assist and a surround-view camera. Kia says it is targeting a dual 4/5-star ANCAP rating. CarExpert's first Australian drive review of the Seltos HEV is due on Friday, November 6. ³¹