Coming soon! Kia's model launch calendar for the next 18 months revealed, with Seltos update, EV6 GT, EV9 and more on the horizon

Kia has had a cracking few years in Australia, rising from Hyundai’s budget-centric little sibling to being the number four automotive brand in the country by sales.

A few years ago no one would have thought that Kia would outsell Hyundai, but that’s exactly where we are in 2022.

To the end of September, Kia has sold 60,200 vehicles in Australia, which is a 41.4 per cent increase over the same period in 2021. Not bad for a brand that, like other manufacturers, has been badly impacted by serious supply issues.

Kia’s year-to-date tally is ahead of Hyundai’s by a little over 2000 units, so it will be a race to the finish to see which brand ends the year ahead. Kia is also only about 300 sales units behind Mitsubishi so it’s a three-horse race.

Already this year, Kia has launched a number of new models and variants in Australia, although the most significant has to be the EV6. Kia’s first standalone electric model based on a dedicated EV platform, the EV6 was an instant hit with buyers and there is a lengthy wait list to get into one.

Another eco model, the Niro SUV, also arrived in second-generation guise in 2022, offering hybrid and fully electric grades.

Late last year Kia lobbed the plug-in hybrid version of its Sorento seven-seat SUV and this year came the series hybrid version.

But rather than rest on its laurels, the next year and a bit will be another busy period for the South Korean carmaker. So exactly what models are coming in the next 12 to 18 months?

The Seltos facelift ushers in sharper styling.

Seltos facelift - October 2023

The Seltos small SUV was another instant sales hit for Kia, and it is now the brand’s third best seller. Following its launch in late 2019, this is the first facelift for the Mazda CX-30 and Toyota Corolla Cross rival.

It gets a sharper design that brings it more into line with its larger Sportage and Sorento SUV stablemates. Inside it gets a big tech upgrade and the traditional gear shifter is replaced by a shift-by-wire dial.

There’s no word from Kia Australia on a hybrid version that’s offered elsewhere, but the company has confirmed it will carry over the 110kW/180Nm 2.0-litre naturally aspirated and 130kW/265Nm 1.6-litre turbo engines.

Pricing and full spec are expected imminently.

The EV6 will be Kia's performance flagship.

EV6 GT - late 2022/early 2023

The hit of the Kia line-up this year, the EV6 shares a lot with its Hyundai Ioniq 5 cousin, but it has a not-so-secret weapon on the way.

The flagship GT variant comes with a 430kW/740Nm dual-motor powertrain that can cover the 0-100km/h sprint in just 3.5 seconds flat, before hitting a top speed of 260km/h.

Kia has not yet confirmed pricing, but given the current range topper - the GT-Line AWD - costs $82,990, you can bet this one will creep much closer to $100,000.

It will be packed with standard gear and it hits showrooms either in December this year, or January 2023, depending on shipments.

The EV9 will be an electric off-roader.

EV9 - second half 2023

If the EV6 is too sporty and you want an EV that can go off-road, then Kia has something for you. The EV9 is set to be the electric rival to the Toyota LandCruiser Prado.

Kia revealed a concept version of the EV9 already, but we are yet to see the production version. That should get an unveiling in early 2023.

Tech specs and standard equipment will therefore remain a mystery for a while yet, but don’t expect the EV9 to come cheap. Kia has indicated it could be priced from about $100,000.

With the EV9 and Jeep EVs on the way, it looks like off-roaders are finally joining the electric age.

The Sportage Hybrid will compete with the Toyota RAV4.

Sportage Hybrid - late 2023/early 2024

Kia has taken a while to enter the hybrid race, but following the Sorento hybrid will be a petrol-electric version of the super popular Sportage medium family SUV.

Kia Australia is yet to officially confirm that it’s coming here, but CarsGuide understands it will get the green light and hit showrooms either in late 2023 or early 2024.

The Sportage Hybrid combines a 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine with a 44.2kW electric motor mounted in front of the transmission, not dissimilar to the setup in the Niro HEV. It sips 5.9L/100km of petrol, which is not quite as frugal as its main rival, the Toyota RAV4’s 4.7L claim.

It’s unclear how Kia will position the Sportage Hybrid, but it’s unlikely to be the cheapest model in the range.

Sorento facelift - late 2023

The Sorento has been another hugely popular model for Kia, particularly in fourth-generation guise that went on sale in 2020.

The seven-seat large SUV will be updated in late 2023, likely the model’s mid-life facelift. Kia has not revealed any images or details, but expect a refreshed design and tech upgrades, but few changes under the skin.

Watch this space for more on all of the above models.