Unlocking the Future: A Deep Dive into the All-New 2026 Kia Seltos and EV3 Features

Kia said April 2 that it participated on April 1 (local time) in the 2026 New York International Auto Show held at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York.

At the show, Kia staged the North American debuts of the all-new Seltos — positioned to shake up the region’s SUV market — and the Kia EV3, an electric model aimed at accelerating EV adoption. The launches are part of Kia’s effort to grow market share in North America and strengthen brand competitiveness.

Eric Watson, vice president of sales for Kia North America, said, “Kia sold more than 850,000 vehicles in the U.S. last year, marking a third consecutive annual sales record.”

Watson added that the strong reception for the All-New Telluride has helped further solidify Kia’s position in the U.S. market.

Yoon Seung-kyu, head of Kia North America and president of Kia Motors America, said, “With demand for hybrid vehicles rising sharply in North America, Kia plans to expand hybrid variants across its entire SUV lineup.”

He added, “Beginning in late May, Hyundai Motor Group will start producing the Sportage hybrid model — part of North America’s largest-volume segment — at the Meta Plant America facility to actively meet local demand. We expect this to support Kia’s continued growth and competitiveness in the region.”

Yoon also noted that under the brand message “Inspiration connects us all,” Kia is supporting future generations’ dreams and ambitions through initiatives such as selecting children for the FIFA World Cup 2026™ Official Match Ball Carrier program (OMBC) and hosting the OMBC Cup.

From April 1 through April 12 (local time), Kia is showcasing 21 vehicles — including the K4, K5, EV6, Telluride, Sorento, Sportage and Carnival — across a 1769 m² exhibit (about 535 pyeong).

The Seltos bound for North America is a core model in Kia’s global SUV lineup. It builds on the first-generation Seltos’ refined design and practical strengths while adding advanced features and improved interior versatility to deliver a more compelling mobility experience for North American buyers.

Kia fitted the Seltos with the Kia AI Assistant, which leverages generative AI to enable two-way communication between vehicle and driver. The Seltos also optimizes airflow with a short overhang, a sloping “floating” roofline, aerodynamic wheels, active air flaps and a full underbody cover.

Kia plans to introduce the Seltos with 1.6-liter turbo and 2.0-liter gasoline engines in the U.S. in the second quarter, and to launch the 1.6 hybrid variant at the end of the fourth quarter.

For the EV3, Kia applied i-Pedal 3.0, which enables drivers to accelerate, decelerate and stop using only the accelerator pedal across all regenerative braking stages to improve ride comfort. The EV3 also offers Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) capability to power external devices in a variety of situations.

Kia will bring the EV3 to the U.S. market later this year in five trims — Light, Wind, Land, GT-Line and GT. The EV3 GT uses a dual-motor setup and performance tuning to deliver strong acceleration and a sporty driving feel.