Key highlights
- 2026 Kia Seltos spied testing
- Possibly testing the upcoming hybrid engine
- The hybrid version is likely to launch next year
When Kia introduced the new-gen Seltos in India, it also revealed that it has plans to bring the hybrid technology to the Indian shores soon. With that said, a latest spotting of a fully camouflaged test car shows that Kia might have begun the road testing of the hybrid engine for the Seltos. Read below for more.
Also read: 2027 Kia Sonet spied testing in India for the first time
What to expect from the 2026 Kia Seltos Hybrid?
The latest spotting of a camouflaged new-gen Seltos in Maharashtra has our eyebrows raised. What we speculate is the new hybrid engine that looks to be going under the road testing phase. The hybrid engine is likely to be launched in the US by late 2026, and it is expected to hit the roads in India next year.
As most of the manufacturers are now aligned with the hybrid tech, for example, the new Renault Duster is also set to get a 1.8-litre hybrid by late 2026; Kia has also announced its plans of bringing the HEV or hybrid electric vehicle Seltos in India.
Although the test mule seen here does not reveal much, a closer look at the underbody reveals a different setup than the petrol or diesel versions. This could be our partial look of the battery pack and the drivetrain parts.
While the brand is yet to reveal the exact details of the hybrid engine, it is widely assumed that Kia will use its 1.6-litre four-cylinder naturally-aspirated petrol engine to merge with a self-charging hybrid motor, something that we have already seen on the Toyota Hyryder and the Maruti Grand Vitara.
With that said, this engine would not only offer higher fuel economy, but it would also put Kia on the hybrid technology map in the Indian car market. More details regarding the Seltos Hybrid are likely to surface in the coming months.
