"No plan" for a 2026 Kia Seltos EV

Kia has ruled out the emergence of an electric version of its all-new Seltos small SUV, despite the existence of the closely related Hyundai Kona.

Speaking to global media this week at the 2026 Seltos’ reveal, Kia Motors CEO Ho Sung Song said there were no plans to offer an electric powertrain in the new model even though its K3 platform is fully compatible.

“We don’t have any plan for an EV option for Seltos,” he said.

“Seltos you’ll have IC (internal combustion) and hybrid options.”

Song’s definitive answer comes as a surprise seeing as the new Seltos sits on the same K3 platform as the current Hyundai Kona which is offered in petrol, hybrid and battery-electric forms.

Hyundai went so big on the EV angle it actually designed the electric Hyundai Kona version first, and then adapted the look for its ICE and HEV application rather than the other way around.

Neither Song nor any of the other global executives present expanded on the reason behind this decision, but it’s widely expected the new Seltos will debut the Hyundai Group’s first e-AWD system; an all-paw setup that uses an e-motor to power the rear wheels rather than a physical drive shaft.

Toyota has been using this arrangement for years in the RAV4 and Corolla Cross to great effect for years now.

We’re yet hear if Hyundai is eyeing the set-up for a future Kona update, but we wouldn’t be surprised if it was, nor if such an arrangement was used on next-generation N hybrids like the Tucson.

While developing and utilising largely the same hardware – platforms, powertrains etc – the Korean sister brands have a healthy track record of not stepping on each other’s toes too much when it comes to their niche products; the Kia Stinger didn’t have a Hyundai equivalent, in the same way Kia has no direct answer for the N portfolio.

Even when niche models – like EVs – do overlap, they’re either pitched a long way apart or approach the consumer in two very different ways; think Kia EV3 vs Hyundai Kona Electric, or Carnival vs Staria.

While the new Seltos and Kona might share the same bones and vital organs, the future e-AWD system will help mark the former apart from the latter on top of their very different designs and proportions (the Seltos is bigger).

Kia also doesn’t need another electric small SUV in its ranks when, globally at least, it already has the Niro EV and EV3, the latter of which is priced particularly aggressively in Australia.

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