Kia Seltos Two Years On: Small Price Bumps, Then a $1,300 Jump for 2027
In June 2024 the 2025 Seltos rose by $100 to $1,000. Two price lists later, the redesigned 2027 model starts $1,300 above the cheapest 2026 car.
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When Kia priced the 2025 Seltos in June 2024, the story was how little had changed. The small crossover had been refreshed for 2024, so the 2025 model got equipment tweaks and increases of $100 to $1,000 depending on trim. Two years and two price lists later, the Seltos is a different car at a different price.
The 2024 story
The 2025 changes were minor. Parking Distance Warning-Reverse became standard on the EX and SX, a Smart Power Liftgate on the EX AWD and SX, and the base S gained new 17-inch wheels. Engines carried over: a 2.0-liter four with 146 hp and a 1.6-liter turbo with 195 hp. Kia also said the first-generation Seltos would not get a hybrid.
What happened next
For 2026, Kia went the other way on price. It added a front-wheel-drive LX at $23,690, according to Kia America's June 2025 pricing release as a new entry point. The range topped out at $31,390 for the SX AWD, before a $1,395 destination charge.
Then came the second generation, revealed on December 10, 2025. It is longer and wider, with a 2.4-inch longer wheelbase, a boxier body and two 12.3-inch screens as standard. New X-Line trims add a rugged look and up to 8.1 inches of ground clearance. In its June 2026 pricing announcement, Kia set the 2027 range at $24,990 to $32,790, plus $1,495 for destination.
2024 vs 2026
| 2025 Seltos | 2027 Seltos | |
|---|---|---|
| Generation | First, refreshed for 2024 | Second, revealed Dec 10, 2025 |
| Price move | +$100 to $1,000 vs 2024 | $24,990 to $32,790 |
| Engines | 2.0 (146 hp), 1.6 turbo (195 hp) | 2.0 and 1.6 turbo |
| Hybrid | Ruled out for this generation | Confirmed, priced later in 2026 |
The hybrid that Kia ruled out in 2024 is now on the way: the company says Seltos Hybrid pricing will be announced closer to its on-sale date later in 2026. It will meet the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid and the Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid.
Our read
In its last year the first-generation Seltos got a cheaper front-wheel-drive LX, and the redesign resets the entry price $1,300 higher. For buyers who want the lowest price, leftover 2026 stock is the better deal. The real reason to wait is the hybrid, which the old car never had.
