2027 Kia Small SUV Guide
Kia's small SUV lineup now covers three very different kinds of driver. The redesigned Seltos, the roomy Sportage, and the all-electric EV3 all have 2027 details confirmed by Kia.
This guide from Habberstad Kia compares them side by side and matches each one to the drives Huntington-area shoppers make every day.
Quick Answer
It depends on how you drive. The Seltos gives you the most powertrain choices, the Sportage has the most cargo room, and the EV3 skips gas altogether. The sections below show how each one fits.
Find Your Match
Start with the card that sounds most like you, then check the full comparison below.
Best for: Keeping Your Options Open
The Seltos is fully redesigned and larger than before, and you can choose a 2.0-liter engine or a turbocharged 1.6-liter. A hybrid is coming later. X-Line trims add a rugged look and up to 8.1 inches of ground clearance.
Shop 2027 SeltosBest for: Hauling the Whole Crew's Gear
Of these three, the Sportage is the longest and has the most cargo space: 74.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The gas model uses a 2.5-liter engine, and Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid versions are also available.
Shop 2027 SportageBest for: Going Fully Electric
Kia calls the EV3 the most affordable EV in its lineup, and it's new to the U.S. for 2027. Single-motor models make 201 hp, and the dual-motor GT makes 288 hp. A built-in NACS charge port is standard.
Shop 2027 EV3By the Numbers
Here's how the three compare on powertrain, size, space, and trims, using Kia's published 2027 specifications.
Model Year Updates
The size of the update varies a lot. One model is a full redesign, one adds a couple of features, and one is brand new.
Full Redesign
The second-generation Seltos is longer and wider, with a wheelbase 2.4 inches longer than before, and its styling takes cues from the Telluride. Rear legroom grows by an inch. Surround View Monitor and Blind-Spot View Monitor are newly available. Kia expects the Seltos Hybrid, with an available electric AWD system, to arrive in late 2026.
Feature Upgrade
Most of the gas-powered Sportage lineup carries over. The X-Line now comes with a panoramic sunroof and Smart Power Liftgate, both part of a 2026 option package, and a new Road Rider Brown color with an available two-tone roof joins the palette.
New Arrival
The EV3 brings EV9-inspired styling to a small SUV. Cold-weather equipment includes a standard battery heater, an available heat pump on AWD models, and available heated front seats and steering wheel. An available Nightfall Package adds black exterior accents and 19-inch black wheels.
2027 Kia Seltos
2027 Kia Seltos interior
Image shown is a 2026 Kia Sportage.
Driving Around Huntington
Our showroom on Jericho Turnpike sits between two very different kinds of driving. To the south are the Northern State Parkway and the Long Island Expressway, where commutes into Nassau County and the city can slow to a crawl. To the north, Route 25A winds through Huntington village and the North Shore harbors, where parking spots are tight.
Most drivers here deal with both, plus winter nor'easters and summer beach traffic. That mix is why picking the right small SUV comes down to your own routine.
If most of your week is spent in expressway traffic, the EV3 makes those crawls quiet and smooth, with no gas at all. Want a middle ground? Ask about the Sportage Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid, or the Seltos Hybrid that's arriving later.
At 169.3 inches, the EV3 is the shortest SUV in this group, with the Seltos about five inches longer. Either one is easier to fit into street spots near Main Street and New York Avenue.
Packing chairs, coolers, and bikes for a trip east? The Sportage has the most room of the three, with up to 74.1 cubic feet when the rear seats are folded.
Winter tip for North Shore drivers
Hilly side roads near the harbors can stay slick well after a snowstorm. All three models offer all-wheel drive, so it's worth choosing an AWD configuration if you often drive those roads in winter.
Common Questions
Answers reflect Kia America announcements available as of September 2026.
The Sportage is the bigger of the two. It's about 10 inches longer and has more cargo space, with 39.6 cubic feet behind the second row compared with 27.8 in the Seltos. The Seltos offers more powertrain choices, including a turbocharged engine and a hybrid that's coming later.
Yes. Kia offers the Sportage Hybrid and Sportage Plug-in Hybrid alongside the gas model. For 2027, the gas X-Line gains a standard panoramic sunroof and Smart Power Liftgate, which lines its standard equipment up with the Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid models.
Kia expects the Seltos Hybrid to arrive in late 2026. It will offer front-wheel drive or an available electric AWD system, which is a first for a Kia hybrid SUV. Kia will share more details closer to launch.
AWD is available on the Seltos, Sportage, and EV3. Seltos models with the 1.6-liter turbo come with AWD as standard, and the EV3 uses a dual-motor setup for its AWD versions.
The EV3 has a built-in NACS charge port, so no adapter is needed at NACS chargers. It also supports DC fast charging.
All three offer AWD, so choose based on space and powertrain. The EV3 also has a standard battery heater, an available heat pump on AWD models, and available heated front seats and steering wheel for cold mornings.
Habberstad Kia • Huntington, NY
The fastest way to choose is to drive them. Stop by our Jericho Turnpike showroom or call 631-817-4952 to set up test drives in the models on your shortlist.