I am looking to buy a proper 5-seater SUV that offers a premium feel similar to the Mahindra XUV 7XO. My key requirements are excellent ride quality, strong reliability, and good fuel efficiency.

Autocar India

•16m

Go for the Kia Seltos, it matches very well with your requirements. With the new Seltos, Kia has tweaked the suspension setup, and you now have a ride quality that is comfort-oriented without sacrificing handling balance. Bumps are absorbed well without harshness, yet body control remains tidy.

High-speed stability is also good, and the car feels composed on uneven surfaces. Kia is also known for delivering cars that are reliable, and the dealer network is widespread and delivers good service.

As for mileage, the Seltos has a wide powertrain choice with a 115hp 1.5 naturally aspirated (NA) petrol, a 160hp 1.5 TGDi petrol, and a 115hp 1.5 diesel. So you can choose one ideal for your usage, since mileage is your priority, we would recommend you pick between the NA petrol or the diesel, the latter though only if your overall running is high, and once about every two to three weeks, you have a long drive of about 30 mins at speeds above 50kph.

This keeps the diesel particulate filter in good health.

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Kia

Seltos

from ₹13.01 Lakh

More questions on similar cars

Balakrishna

•3d

I am planning to buy an automatic SUV with a budget of around ₹16-18 lakh. My usage will be mostly in the city, with occasional highway driving.

Autocar India

•1d

Go for the Kia Seltos HTK (O) IVT for primarily city use with some highway trips; it is the smoothest and easiest automatic in this budget right now. The CVT is jerk-free and seamless in stop-go traffic, and the light steering and good all-around make driving easy. For your occasional highway runs, it feels steady at usual cruising speeds, though overtakes do require a bit of planning.One thing to be aware of: it isn't the most spirited performer, tuned more for relaxed driving. If you want a bit more performance from an NA CVT powertrain, then the Honda Elevate is a good choice too.Overall, the Kia Seltos fits your brief best and will keep daily city driving stress-free while still being comfortable on the highway.

Honda Elevate

Kia Seltos

Yash Chandravanshi

•4d

I’m considering the Kia Seltos GTX automatic and need advice on choosing between petrol and diesel. My annual running is 15-18k km, with the majority of highway usage (50-60%). Looking for insights on real-world mileage, maintenance, long-term cost of ownership, and highway drivability

Autocar India

•1d

Pick the Kia Seltos GTX diesel automatic with 15-18k km a year and lots of highway use, it will cost you less to run, and it feels stronger and more relaxed on the open road. The 6‑speed automatic is smooth and friendly in traffic, and on the highway, it settles into a calm, easy drive that suits long trips. On mileage, the diesel will give you clearly better real-world numbers than the turbo petrol DCT, especially on the highway, think roughly 3-4 kpl more on long runs, and a bit more in the city too. Service for the diesel can be slightly costlier per visit than petrol, but even with that, total ownership cost usually works out lower for your usage. Resale for diesel automatics in this class is strong today, which also helps long-term cost.One thing to be aware of: the diesel is a little noisier at idle than the turbo petrol, and like all new diesels, it has an exhaust filter that prefers some highway time now, and then your driving mix suits it well.If you mainly want a quieter cabin in town and more outright performance, then the Seltos GTX turbo petrol DCT is the better choice. But expect higher fuel use and an automatic that can feel a bit jerky at very low speeds.For your pattern, the diesel automatic fits best. On your test drive, do a steady 90-100 kph cruise and a few quick overtakes from 60-80 to feel how little effort the diesel needs. Then check if you are comfortable with the engine sound at idle.

Kia Seltos

Vicky Purohit

•4d

Hi Team, I am planning to buy a new car as I currently own a 2012 Hyundai i10. My budget is strictly ₹13.5 lakh, and my daily running is around 30 km, mostly on highways. I am considering the Kia Seltos, as it seems to offer good value even in the base variant. Could you please suggest whether this is the right choice or recommend better alternatives within my budget?

Autocar India

•1d

Go for the Kia Seltos HTE 1.5 petrol manual, which has an on-road price of about Rs 13.1 lakh. For your daily 30 km highway run and as an upgrade from your 2012 i10, it fits best. You will feel a clear step up in space, seat comfort and high-speed stability on the highway, and the taller driving position gives you a better view out. The 1.5 petrol is smooth and easy to live with, the clutch and gearshift are light, and Kia’s service reach is strong in most cities, so ownership should be simple.One thing to be aware of: the Seltos 1.5-litre NA engine is very refined, but not the most enthusiastic performer. If you find performance lacking, then try the Honda Elevate instead. However, you will be giving up a few features.Overall, the Seltos HTE suits your use and will feel like a big, easy step up from your i10.

Kia Seltos

Honda Elevate

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