New Kia Seltos now on sale in NZ, priced from $39,990
Words: Kyle Cassidy
Kia’s new-generation Seltos is on sale in New Zealand, with hybrid power across the range and prices starting at $39,990 plus on-road costs.
Five variants are available, with four two-wheel-drive options and an electrically assisted all-wheel-drive X-Line topping the line-up at $55,490 plus on-road costs.
Every model uses a 1.6-litre petrol hybrid powertrain and six-speed dual-clutch transmission. Output is 112kW in the 2WD models, rising to 129kW for the eAWD version.
Kia quotes fuel consumption of 4.5L/100km for the Light and Earth 2WD variants. The powertrain meets Euro 6d emissions standards.
Read more – 2027 Kia Seltos Hybrid First Drive Review
“Kia is confident all‑new Seltos will build on the strong reputation of this familiar nameplate, while meeting the evolving needs of new‑car buyers, many of whom are now seriously considering the move to a hybrid vehicle for the first time,” said Kia New Zealand managing director Todd McDonald.
Five-model range
The entry-level Light 2WD is followed by Earth at $44,050, Water at $47,990 and X-Line 2WD at $51,990. Moving from the front-drive X-Line to the eAWD version adds $3500.
| Model | Price, plus on-road costs |
|---|---|
| Seltos HEV Light 2WD | $39,990 |
| Seltos HEV Earth 2WD | $44,050 |
| Seltos HEV Water 2WD | $47,990 |
| Seltos HEV X-Line 2WD | $51,990 |
| Seltos HEV X-Line eAWD | $55,490 |
The new Seltos is built in Korea on Kia’s K3 platform. All variants have received suspension and steering tuning through the brand’s ride and handling programme for Australian and New Zealand customers.
Kia says the work is intended to suit both urban driving and rougher country roads. The hybrid system also introduces the brand’s Smart Regenerative Braking System 3.0.
More space and new cabin technology
The body has grown, with Kia promising more cabin space, although exact dimensions weren’t supplied. Exterior changes include a wider grille, star map lighting, flush door handles, a floating roofline and a new rear light design.
Inside, the redesign brings the Seltos closer to Kia’s newer models. Features highlighted include two 12.3-inch screens, over-the-air software updates and a steering-column-mounted electronic gear selector. The announcement doesn’t detail how those features are distributed across the five grades.
Rear-seat backrests offer 24 degrees of adjustment, with 12 degrees available forwards and backwards.
Kia says the new model comes with a full suite of driver assistance systems and is targeting a five-star ANCAP rating. A confirmed crash-test result wasn’t included in the announcement.
“This new generation of the Seltos reinforces Kia’s commitment to expanding our electrified vehicle portfolio, delivering a more advanced package that will appeal to both private and fleet customers.”
