Kia dumps petrol-powered cars from its new range for the first time ever - what it means for Aussies

By MATT JONES, SENIOR NEWS REPORTER, AUSTRALIA Published: 03:29, 6 May 2026 | Updated: 03:29, 6 May 2026 Kia has cut petrol-powered models from its new Seltos range due to new vehicle emissions standards. The car manufacturer will adopt a hybrid-only approach as a result of Australia's New Vehicle Efficiency Standards. The legislation, which began on January 1, 2025, set mandatory carbon emission targets for new passenger and light commercial vehicles.  Toyota has already begun phasing out petrol-only options across certain models, and Kia is following in its footsteps. 'Kia Australia is confident the all-new Seltos will meet the evolving needs of Australian new-car buyers, many of whom are now seriously considering the move to a hybrid vehicle for the first time,' Kia Australia chief executive Damien Meredith said. Specifications for the Seltos are still unknown, but overseas models feature a 1.6-litre petrol-electric setup. The Seltos will also have a longer and wider body with an extra 25mm of legroom for passengers. The increased boot space of 483 litres turns the Seltos into more of a larger SUV, despite it still being regarded as a small one.  Kia will not make petrol-powered models of its new Seltos range due to new vehicle standards The 2026 Kia Seltos range in Australia will also feature a 12.3-inch twin-screen interior and will arrive in the fourth quarter of 2026.  The Seltos will also come with a panoramic sunroof, a wider range of seat recline, and USB-C charging ports. Safety technology including Highway Driving Assist, adaptive cruise control, surround-view camera and remote parking will also feature.  The new Seltos is expected to start at around $35,000, plus on-road costs, and includes a seven-year unlimited km warranty and a new regenerative braking system. Kia achieved a million total sales in Australia in late 2025, a rapid increase from the first 500,000 in 2018. In 2024, the brand surpassed 80,000 sales in a single year for the first time.  Under the fuel efficiency standard, manufacturers are encouraged to offer more fuel-efficient and electric vehicles to avoid penalties, reduce emissions, save consumers money at the pump and meet net-zero goals.  Manufacturers have a set average CO2 emissions target for their fleet and if they exceed it, they can face penalties. Those who miss emissions targets must buy credits or pay fines between $50 and $100 per gram/km over the target. The targets will become more stringent each year, encouraging a shift away from high-emission vehicles. Daily Mail contacted Kia and Mr Meredith for further comment. The comments below have not been moderated. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.