• by Tanya Gazdik , Staff Writer, August 3, 2026

The last-generation Kia Seltos was no slouch. 

Customers were eagerly buying up the previous model right up until the new version recently went on sale. 

In June 2026, Kia Seltos' global sales reached 35,007 units. Kia America reported 6,627 U.S. sales (up 56% year-over-year).

But those who were willing to wait will be rewarded.

The 2027 Kia Seltos resembles a smaller version of Kia’s popular flagship, the three-row Telluride. A chiseled design, available auto-flush door handles, along with a modern, premium interior, make this vehicle feel considerably more expensive than the base MSRP would reflect: $24,990.

It’s larger, wider and roomier than the previous generation, with best-in-class passenger room and class-leading maximum cargo room behind the first row.

And good news: Those second-row seats fold almost completely flush, which makes loading cargo (especially the four-legged variety) even easier. 

The Seltos is the only compact utility vehicle in its segment to offer three powertrain options, including the 2.0-liter normally aspirated and a 1.6-liter turbocharged version.

Rounding out the lineup is a hybrid powertrain, which is a first for the Seltos. The hybrid is due out late in the fourth quarter or early first quarter.

If it’s anything like the difference between the Sportage gas engine and hybrid powertrains, it will be worth waiting for.

Kia is targeting “driven individuals seeing style, versatility, an everyday sophistication,” says Russell Wager, vice president, marketing, Kia America, who calls the Seltos the automaker’s new entry-level flagship. 

“We're looking at the Seltos as setting the standard for the compact SUV because it does have a bold styling,” Wager says. “It does have actual real capability from an SUV perspective. It's got three powertrains to to choose from. It's got the new technologies in some areas that our competition does not. And at the end, it's still a great value.”

Kia recently debuted creative featuring the Seltos from David & Goliath, which includes broadcast, print, digital, OOH and social-media elements.

The 30-second spot is entitled “A Real SUV” and plays up the vehicle's capabilities. The category is generally considered to be a practical category, he says. 

“If the category generally is perceived as entry-level, we like to think that the Seltos is a little bit more sophisticated, not necessarily just an entry-level vehicle.”

The customer profile is Gen Y and Gen Z, including young professionals, couples and young families. They are active and tech-savvy, and their key priorities are versatile capability for weekday and weekend, along with premium features at a smart price.

Kia and Innocean USA recently took to Reddit to target a demographic similar to the Seltos.

The activation was timed during the WNBA’s All-Star Weekend through the first-ever “Ask Me Anything" Reddit video by an automotive brand, dubbed “Ask Me Anything: Claw Edition.”

The host, WNBA legend and ESPN analyst Chiney Ogwumike, invited fans to ask their toughest questions on r/WNBA. Kia filmed Chiney's video responses live from its All-Star Weekend activation. After each question, Chiney shot a ball at a mini basketball hoop. Every basket resulted in a $2,000 donation to One Warm Coat, totaling $20,000.

The target audience for the activation was young, digitally native fans of the WNBA ages 18-34 and with a male/female split of 57/43, according to the agency.

This was Kia’s first organic partnership with Reddit,