Kia EV3, next-gen Seltos could be good matches for PH market

MANILA: Kia has presented the EV3 subcompact sport utility vehicle (SUV) and the next-gen Seltos at the 2026 New York International Auto Show (NYIAS) - two vehicles that could be a good match for the Philippine market.

The two models are both small in form factor and thus designed for in-city driving. Plus, the two boast electrified powertrains, specifically a hybrid for the Seltos and an electric motor for the EV3. 

Notably, Kia Philippines, at the moment, doesn’t have anything in the way of electrified small rides. Sure, the brand’s local arm already offers subcompacts, but all of these exclusively use internal combustion engines (ICE). 

On that end, we can imagine these two offerings may be able to do well in the local market, where the electric vehicle (EV) and hybrid segments are currently seeing accelerated growth. 

So, what are the Kia EV3 and next-gen Seltos offering to would-be adopters? Let’s find out here. 

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Kia EV3

The EV3 was displayed at the 2026 NYIAS, one year after its world premiere in May 2024. As mentioned, it is a subcompact all-electric SUV that promises a good balance between everyday usability and advanced technologies. 

Propelling the model is an electric motor with two battery options: 58.3-kilowatt-hour (kWh) and 81.4 kWh units. At most, Kia says that the EV3 can cover up to 514 kilometers (km) from a single full charge. 

It also has a direct-current (DC) fast-charging feature that enables power levels to increase from 10-80 percent in just 29 minutes, a regenerative braking system, one-pedal driving via Kia’s i-Pedal 3.0, and a vehicle-to-load function. 

Style-wise, the Kia EV3 follows the design direction of other Kia EV nameplates. The aforementioned are headlined by the brand’s ‘Star Map’ design daytime running lamps, its small-cube LED headlamps, and the brand’s ‘Tiger Face’ design. 

From the side, the model comes with a sloping, aerodynamic profile with flush-door handles and roof rails. It also comes with hidden rear door handles and combination rear lights, both in the ‘Star Map’ design language. 

Similar to the next-generation Kia Seltos, the EV3 also comes with a five-seater interior with dual 12.3-inch digital displays. Adding on to those is a dual-zone fully automatic temperature control system, 60:40 split-folding rear seats, and a power tailgate. 

Additionally, the Kia EV3 has a slew of advanced driving-assist systems (ADAS), an AI assistant, over-the-air software updates, and Kia’s ccNC. 

For now, Kia has not disclosed the full specs and feature list of the US-market EV3. 

Next-gen Kia Seltos

The Kia Seltos, which was shown off at the 2026 NYIAS, previously had its global debut back in December 2025. It is essentially a new and improved sequel to the Seltos SP2's first-generation version. Notably, the Seltos SP2 is still sold in the local market with a price of P1.688 million for the SX AT variant. 

As mentioned above, the second-generation version marks the first time the Seltos has received a hybrid engine, specifically a 1.6-liter mill paired with an electric all-wheel-drive (e-AWD) system. 

No US-spec output figures were provided by the brand, but it is touted as providing EV-like driving. It also has several AWD drive modes and 205 millimeters of ground clearance. 

Other powertrain options for the all-new Kia Seltos include a naturally-aspirated 2.0-liter engine and a non-hybrid 1.6-liter turbocharged engine. Again, no power figures were published for these powertrains. 

In other markets, however, the next-gen Seltos’ 1.6-liter turbocharged variant can produce up to 190 horsepower and 265 Newton-meters of torque. 

Style-wise, the next-gen Kia Seltos has departed from the more conservative design of the SP2 version for a more aggressive look that resembles a miniaturized version of the current Sorento. 

It wears a tall grille flanked by attractively styled LED lighting fixtures, a broad, muscular front fascia, squarish side fenders, and a pair of large inverted “L”- shaped LED taillights. 

Inside the five-seater SUV is a tech-heavy interior that Kia has described as “flexible.” Some notable amenities inside the model include: 

• 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster
• 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Connected Car Navigation Cockpit (ccNC)
• Power-adjust driver’s seat with memory function
• Panoramic sunroof
• Artificial-intelligence (AI) assistant
• Over-the-air software updates

Availability

With the two models being presented at the 2026 NYIAS, it is clear to see that the American market will be getting these rides. 

For now, no exact dates were provided for the kickoff of their sales periods, but the next-generation Seltos will be offered in the US in the second quarter of 2026, while the EV3 will be sold in the same market later this year. 

We can expect more information about the two nameplates’ US market versions when they go on sale in the said market, but do you think that these models are a good fit for the Philippine market as well? 

Also read:

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