KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- 2026 Kia Seltos unveiled with bookings kicking off at Rs 25,000
- Offers radical design changes and truckloads of features
- Still misses out on some features when compared to rivals
The 2026 Kia Seltos arrives with meaningful improvements, refreshed styling, and a far richer feature list than before. But in a segment evolving faster than ever, thanks to rivals like the Tata Sierra, Hyundai Creta, Skoda Kylaq, and even Kia's own Syros, the updated Seltos surprisingly skips a few features that could have further strengthened its appeal. Here are the standout omissions that would have elevated the SUV to a true segment benchmark. Before that, make sure to join the 91wheels WhatsApp Community, specifically curated for petrolheads like us to keep up with the latest news and automotive updates.
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1. Ventilated Rear Seats: Offered In The Kia Syros
Rear seat comfort has become a major differentiator in family-focused SUVs, and Kia has proven that it understands this with the Syros, which already offers ventilated rear seats. The Kia Seltos, however, continues to offer cooling only for the front row. In India's climate, where cabin temperatures soar with ease, rear ventilation would have been a big win for passengers, especially during long highway drives. Including it would not only have enhanced comfort but also positioned the Seltos as a more premium, chauffeur-friendly option.
2. Rear Sliding Seats: Also Seen On The Kia Syros
The Kia Syros further improves practicality with rear sliding seats, allowing passengers to optimise either legroom or boot space instantly. While the Seltos offers a comfortable second row, the absence of sliding functionality means it misses out on the cabin flexibility that families increasingly value.
Given the Seltos' focus on practicality and versatility, this would have been a natural addition, especially for users who regularly switch between people-moving and luggage-heavy usage.
3. Powered Tailgate
The new Tata Sierra has pushed the segment forward by offering a powered tailgate, a feature that greatly improves everyday convenience, especially in tight parking spaces or when your hands are full. The Seltos still relies on a manual boot lid, which feels like a missed opportunity in a segment where convenience features play a significant role in buyer decisions. A power tailgate would have elevated the SUV's premium quotient and matched the expectations of tech-savvy urban buyers.
4. Powered Co-Driver Seat & Boss Mode
While the Seltos offers an 8-way powered driver seat, the co-driver seat remains manual, unlike the Hyundai Creta, which even offers an additional Boss Mode, both of which include powered adjustment for the front passenger. In this price bracket, buyers increasingly expect dual-powered front seats for comfort, convenience, and a premium cabin feel. Adding this capability would have rounded out the Seltos' otherwise strong front-row experience.
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5. Second-Row Wireless Charging
Hyundai's Alcazar, although a segment above, matches prices towards the top-end, already provides wireless charging pads for second-row passengers, catering perfectly to smartphone-dependent families. With entertainment, navigation, and work often handled via mobile devices, second-row wireless charging is no longer just a luxury but a practical necessity. The Seltos misses this entirely, requiring rear passengers to rely on cables, which breaks the modern, clutter-free cabin vibe that the SUV otherwise maintains very well.
Verdict
The 2026 Kia Seltos remains one of the most balanced and desirable SUVs in its class, offering strong performance, premium tech, and proven reliability. However, as competition tightens, these missing features stand out more sharply, especially when rivals and even Kia's own lineup are raising the bar in comfort, convenience, and innovation. If Kia chooses to introduce a future update or variant addressing these gaps, the Seltos could very well be standing as the most complete midsize SUV in India. Until then, these omissions remain areas where competitors manage to outshine an otherwise impressive package.
