Kia's Second-Gen Seltos Arrives in Europe with V2L

Step into a narrow cobbled street, and you can already picture it: a compact crossover slipping past a delivery van, paint catching the morning light. That’s the new Seltos in Europe, arriving with a few unexpected tricks up its sleeve.

Small footprint, surprising tech

It may look familiar from the outside, but this Seltos quietly changes the rules. At 4,430 mm long, 1,830 mm wide and 1,600 mm tall, it’s built for tight urban lanes yet roomy enough for weekend gear. The boot swallows 536 liters. Practical? Absolutely. Practical with novelty? Even better.

For the first time on a Kia sold here, the Seltos offers vehicle to load technology, commonly seen on electric cars. Think of it as a mobile power bank: lights, coolers or tools can draw juice from the car. And Kia’s new e-AWD system debuts too, bringing a smarter, electrically assisted torque split that sharpens traction and stability.

Buyers get two powertrain families across most markets: a conventional internal combustion option and a hybrid. The hybrid uses a 1.6-liter GDI engine paired with an electric motor. Front-wheel drive hybrids deliver 152 horsepower, while the all-wheel drive version pushes that to 176 horsepower. Both run through a six-speed dual-clutch gearbox. In the United Kingdom, Kia has opted to offer the model only as a hybrid.

Trim choices range from GS and GLS at the entry points, up to the X-Line which dresses the Seltos in darker accents, a blacked-out interior, a dark emblem and exclusive wheel designs. Ten exterior colors are available, including three shades created with European tastes in mind: Tan Beige, Denim Blue and Pale Grey.

The cabin leans into modernity. An integrated panoramic display stitches together a 12.3-inch digital cluster, a 5.3-inch climate panel and a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen. Ambient lighting offers 64 tones and an eight-speaker Harman Kardon system handles the soundtrack. It all aims to make short commutes feel less ordinary and longer trips more civilized.

Price is a sticking point for some. In Germany the new Seltos starts at around 34,000 euros. By contrast, Kia’s U.S. launch prices for the same model translated to roughly 23,000 euros, so European buyers will notice the difference.

This is not a wholesale reinvention of the Seltos name. It is, instead, a thoughtful upgrade: familiar proportions, shrewd packaging and some tech that nudges the segment forward. Whether you want a city-friendly crossover with extra capability or a hybrid that keeps the pumps at bay, the Seltos now aims to be the sensible pick with a few clever surprises.