I am buying my first car and am confused between the Hyundai Venue DCT and the Kia Seltos IVT. I have test-driven the Seltos IVT, but I have not been able to drive the Venue DCT as the dealer says a test-drive vehicle is not available. My usage will be around 80% city driving and 20% highway driving. My key requirements are decent mileage and good rear-seat comfort. I am also open to considering other cars that may be better than these two. Kindly suggest.

Autocar India

•6w

Both the Kia Seltos and the Hyundai Venue are good options and safe buys. But since you have the budget for the Kia Seltos IVT, we would suggest going for that. The four-cylinder 1.5-litre naturally aspirated engine is more refined than the three-cylinder 1.0 turbo petrol on the Venue. The CVT (or IVT as Hyundai and Kia call it) is silky smooth and can actually end up giving you better fuel efficiency than the turbo petrol engine.

The Seltos is also more spacious and comfortable, and the interiors of the new Seltos feel premium with top drawer materials, too.

Other options you can explore or wait for include the brand new upcoming Duster, which was recently unveiled and is expected to launch in March 2026.

Explore cars mentioned

Kia

New Seltos

Hyundai

New Venue

Renault

Duster

from ₹12.23 Lakh

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Latest questions people are discussing

•3d

I currently own a Hyundai Grand i10 petrol manual and am planning to upgrade to a mid-size SUV. I am considering the Honda Elevate, Skoda Kushaq, and Kia Seltos. My driving pattern is 80% city and 20% highway (occasional trips). My priorities are safety, driving comfort, co-passenger comfort, rear-seat space, and good mileage. Also, does it make sense to wait for the Honda Elevate Hybrid, which is expected to launch in the second half of this year, or should I go ahead with one of the current options?

Autocar India

•2h

Of the options you've listed, you should consider the Kia Seltos, given that it is the best all-rounder that fits your wide range of requirements. You can pick from one of three engines that suit your needs best. The turbo petrol has the strongest performance, the diesel has the best fuel efficiency, and the naturally aspirated petrol is the best compromise between the two. It's also the most spacious and comfortable of the three, and though it hasn't been awarded a safety rating yet, its new K3 platform is engineered for a high score, and it has all the necessary safety features. Sadly, it is highly unlikely that Honda will launch the Elevate Hybrid, as the company has stated it is moving straight to an EV, which should be here in 2027.

Kia New Seltos

Dinesh Kotwani

•6w

Hello Autocar Team, I currently own a Honda City 4th-gen CVT V (2016) and am planning to upgrade to a new car. My monthly running will be around 500–800 km, and I am looking for a comfortable and solid-built automatic car. I have taken long test drives of the Škoda Kushaq 1.0, Skoda Kushaq 1.5, Kia Sonet 1.0 DCT, Honda Elevate CVT, and Skoda Slavia 1.0 AT. Out of these, I enjoyed driving the Slavia 1.0 AT the most, while I did not like driving the Elevate and Sonet at all. However, I am concerned about the long-term reliability of the Slavia 1.0 AT for city usage, as I plan to keep the car for around 15 years. Do you think I should also test drive the Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos IVT? Also, could my preference for sedans be influencing my bias against SUVs? Please advise whether I should stick with the Slavia AT or seriously consider the Creta/Seltos IVT. My maximum budget is ₹20 lakh on-road in Mumbai.

Autocar India

•4h

SUVs, no matter how well honed and engineered, are unlikely to be as enjoyable to drive as their sedan counterparts, simply because of their higher centre of gravity and relatively greater mass. That said, Skoda and Volkswagen have knocked it out of the park with their India 2.0 cars, whether sedans or SUVs, and all are exceptional to drive. If you enjoyed the Skoda Slavia, go for it. You should have no issues if you drive and maintain it properly, and Skoda's service has improved significantly in recent years, both in quality and cost. You could try the Kia Seltos and Hyundai Creta, which are better all-rounders than the Slavia, but given that you enjoy the Skoda sedan, we think you should go for it.

Jithin

I am looking to buy my first car. I will mainly use it for travel between my hometown Kochi and Bangalore, while the rest of the driving will be frequent city usage. I was initially planning to buy the Kia Sonet diesel GT variant, but I am also very attracted to the Skoda Slavia, mainly for its driving quality. The Sonet would cost around ₹16 lakh, while the Slavia Sportline automatic comes to about ₹17 lakh. Which of these would be the more suitable option for my needs? I previously owned a Ford Figo 1.5 TDCi, which I absolutely loved, so I would prefer something with similar power and performance.

Autocar India

•1h

The Kia Sonet diesel AT is a great car - compact, frugal, smooth and efficient - and feels like a logical compact upgrade to your Figo TDI. However, the fact that you're even considering the drive quality on your long journey to your hometown means you should go for the Skoda Slavia instead. Yes, the fuel efficiency won't be as good as the diesel, and it is a larger vehicle, which you might feel during your use in the city. But other than that, the driving pleasure it offers is on a different level, and will remind you fondly of your Ford, which is also a great handler. Its punchy 1.0 TSI makes a strong 115hp and 178Nm of torque, which are comparable to what you get in the Figo, and comes with a slick 6-speed MT or smooth 6-speed AT. Whichever you choose, you'll get a car that's fun to drive, stable out on the highway and friendly to use around town.

Kia Sonet

Skoda Slavia

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