Kia India has received the ‘SUV of the Year’ award for the Kia Seltos at the Times Drive Auto Summit & Awards 2026, recognising the model’s strong impact on India’s mid-size SUV segment.
The award highlights the success of the all-new Kia Seltos, which was developed with a strong focus on meeting the changing preferences and expectations of Indian customers. Since its introduction, the SUV has played a key role in reshaping the mid-SUV category by introducing a combination of advanced features, distinctive design, and premium driving experience.
Kia stated that the Seltos was conceptualised with the aim of understanding Indian consumer needs while challenging existing benchmarks in the segment. Over the years, the model has established itself as a major player in the market, contributing significantly to the growth of the SUV category and becoming a preferred choice among Indian families.
The company added that the Seltos has consistently strengthened its market presence through continuous improvements in styling, technology, comfort, and overall ownership experience, helping reinforce Kia’s position in India’s highly competitive SUV market.
With the new Seltos, Kia takes that philosophy forward with a clear focus on delivering a more evolved and well-rounded SUV. The introduction of the K3 platform strengthens overall safety while improving ride quality, suspension performance, and overall NVH levels, delivering a smoother and more refined driving experience. Combined with a more commanding stance and segment-benchmarking length of 4,460 mm, it enhances both road presence and interior space, making it well suited to the needs of Indian families.
The All-New Seltos has also raised the bar on safety, securing a 5-star rating under Bharat NCAP—one of the highest scores recorded by an ICE SUV in India. It achieved 31.70 out of 32.00 for Adult Occupant Protection and 45.00 out of 49.00 for Child Occupant Protection. The model continues to see strong market acceptance, with monthly sales averaging over 10,000 units and cumulative sales of 42,554 units since its launch in January 2026, reflecting sustained customer preference.
Sharing his thoughts on this recognition, Mr. Gwanggu Lee, Managing Director & CEO, Kia India, said, “The Seltos was developed with a clear intent from the very beginning – to understand Indian customers and build around their needs. With this new generation, we have taken that forward by making it more spacious, more confident in its design, stronger in safety and technology, and more aligned with how families use their vehicles. This recognition reflects the strength of that approach and the strong connect the Seltos continues to build with our customers.
The Times Drive Auto Summit & Awards 2026, hosted by The Times of India Group’s automotive platform Times Drive, brings together industry experts, jurors, and automotive enthusiasts to recognize excellence across categories. The awards evaluate vehicles on parameters such as design, performance, innovation, safety, and overall value, making them a credible benchmark within the Indian automotive industry.
