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Kia aims to regain lost ground with an influx of premium SUVs next year, including fully electric and hybrid models
South Korean automaker Kia is likely to launch three premium SUVs in India next year, in a new renewed push to strengthen its position in segments priced above 10 lakh rupees (ex-showroom). The company will target both aspirational and affluent customers with the upcoming SUVs.
Sometime in the first quarter of 2026, Kia will roll out its first made-in-India electric SUV – the Syros EV. Derived from the ICE Syros, it will not have extensive design changes. We expect a covered grille with active air flaps to be the key distinguishing element on the design front. The charging port will be on the right front fender.
The Syros EV will likely come with LFP batteries, manufactured locally by Exide Energy, and it should be able to travel up to around 400 km on a full charge. A vehicle-to-load (V2L) bi-directional charging function will likely be available. Kia could launch the Syros EV in the 15-20 lakh (ex-showroom) price range.
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In the second quarter of 2026, Kia will likely launch the second generation of the model that put Kia on the map in India – the Seltos. The next-gen Seltos will have a familiar crossover character, but it will shy away from the conventional looks of the current model. Spy shots have shown it featuring squarish headlamps with funky graphics, EV5-like vertical tail lamps connected via a light band, and new geometric designs for the alloy wheels.
Kia is likely to launch the next-gen Seltos with an array of new comfort and convenience features, including ventilated rear seats, a power tailgate, and Trinity Panoramic Display running ccNC software. Also in the pipeline are a wide range of new and improved advanced driver assistance systems with Level 2 autonomy. We expect the prices of the next-gen Seltos to start at around 11 lakh (ex-showroom).
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As early as the end of 2026, Kia could launch its first hybrid SUV in India, which could be the rumoured Sorento. There’s a new chassis code for the Sorento Kia plans to launch in India – MQ4i, which indicates the company is planning full-fledged manufacturing and some key ground-level changes specific to our market. While the global Sorento Hybrid has a 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine, Kia could be planning a smaller, 1.5-litre turbocharged engine for our market that allows deeper localisation.
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