Kia Seltos Named ‘SUV of the Year’ at 2026 Times Drive Auto Summit & Awards in India

The all-new Kia Seltos has been named ‘SUV of the Year’ at the 2026 Times Drive Auto Summit & Awards in New Delhi, India, underscoring the model’s continued success in one of the world’s most dynamic and competitive automotive markets.

Organized by Times Drive, a key automotive and mobility platform under Times Group, India’s largest media conglomerate, the awards recognize outstanding vehicles across the industry.

The all-new Kia Seltos was selected by a panel of automotive journalists and media experts, based on comprehensive evaluation criteria including:

•    Design
•    Performance
•    Technology
•    Safety
•    Sustainability

This latest recognition highlights the all-new Seltos’s strong customer appeal in India’s highly competitive B-SUV segment, while reinforcing Kia’s growing brand appeal and leadership in the global SUV market.

What did Kia say about the Seltos being named India’s ‘SUV of the Year’?

“This recognition for the Kia Seltos reflects our continued commitment to delivering vehicles that combine design, technology and practicality in ways that resonate with our customers across diverse markets. As a core model in Kia’s global SUV lineup, Seltos plays a key role in strengthening our presence in strategic regions such as India. Accolades such as the 2026 Times Drive Auto Summit & Awards ‘SUV of the Year’ highlight the importance of delivering design-led, safety-focused, customer-centric mobility solutions that offer both everyday usability and long-term value,” said Ho Sung Song, President and CEO of Kia Corporation.

Why did the Kia Seltos win ‘SUV of the Year’?

The Seltos’s recognition reflects its broad range of capabilities and customer-focused features, combining authentic SUV design, advanced connectivity and practical versatility tailored to a wide range of user needs.

The judges noted the “love and appreciation received in the domestic market” when the Seltos made its debut, commenting that “The Seltos is well acknowledged for its design and feature-rich premium cabin.” The judging panel also highlighted the fact that “the new Seltos boasts revised exterior and interior designs, including a dual display setup, and a suite of premium features, including a panoramic sunroof and advanced safety systems.”

“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,” said Gwanggu Lee, Managing Director and CEO of Kia India

What safety rating has the Kia Seltos achieved?

The new Kia Seltos achieved a 5-star Adult Safety and a 5-star Child Safety rating from the Indian New Car Assessment Program (BNCAP). Further details can be found here.

How does the Seltos fit in to Kia’s global SUV strategy?

As one of Kia’s most important global models, the Seltos continues to play a central role in the brand’s SUV strategy. The all-new model builds on this foundation with:

•    Enhanced interior space and everyday usability
•    Expanded capability across a variety of driving conditions
•    Advanced technology and connectivity features

Together, these attributes deliver a confident and versatile driving experience tailored to diverse customer needs across global markets.

With its combination of bold and distinctive SUV design, intelligent functionality, practicality and strong overall value, the all-new Kia Seltos continues to set a benchmark in the compact SUV segment, supporting Kia’s broader ambition to deliver accessible, customer-centric mobility solutions worldwide.