I am confused between the Maruti Victoris and the new Kia Seltos. Which one should I buy? I am looking for a petrol automatic option under a budget of ₹16-18 lakh. Both cars have some limitations, like rear space is bad in the Victoris, while the Seltos does not offer as good mileage as the Victoris. There are a few more differences as well. Need advice on which one serves better overall.

Autocar India

•20h

The concern around the dry clutch DCT is valid. In heavy crawling traffic, it can feel a bit jerky and it is not as seamless as a torque converter automatic. But in everyday ownership, it is still a perfectly liveable gearbox if you drive it as intended and do not constantly creep aggressively in bumper to bumper traffic. The upside is that you get strong performance, a punchy engine and an engaging drive.The bigger concern for your usage is actually the diesel. With 800 to 1,000 km a month and 80 percent city use, you are entering the zone where DPF related issues can become a bigger ownership concern, especially if most of those city runs are short stop go commutes. Yes, your highway usage helps, but if peace of mind is what you are after, the DCT is actually the less worrying choice here.That said, if your absolute priority was smoothness and fuss free city comfort, the ideal recommendation would actually be the Seltos IVT, because that gearbox is far better suited to urban use than either of these. But since performance is one of your key requirements, the naturally aspirated IVT loses its edge.So between your two options, we would choose the turbo DCT. It may be slightly less polished at crawling speeds, but it is livable, enjoyable and for your usage pattern, the safer long term bet versus worrying about diesel DPF issues.

Kia Seltos

Autocar India

•1d

The Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos are essentially sister cars, sharing the same platform, 1.5-litre diesel engine and gearboxes. So in terms of outright performance, efficiency and reliability, there’s very little to separate them.Where the difference lies is in execution. The Seltos, being the newer, latest generation model, feels more contemporary. It offers a more spacious cabin, a fresher design inside and out, and a more polished overall feel. Feature packaging is also more up-to-date in the corresponding variants.The Creta, on the other hand, remains a very well-rounded and comfortable SUV, especially in terms of ride quality and ease of driving, but it is closer to the end of its current lifecycle. A full model change is expected in the near future (likely around early 2027), which means a purchase today could feel dated sooner than expected.Given that, the Seltos HTK (O) makes more sense right now as the more current product. Alternatively, if you’re not in a hurry, waiting for the next-generation Creta could be worthwhile, as it should bring a significant leap in design, features and tech.

Hyundai Creta

Kia Seltos

Autocar India

•20h

With about 500 km a month, a strong hybrid is usually not worth the extra price. In your case, pick a well-equipped petrol automatic instead; something like the Kia Seltos 1.5 petrol IVT or 1.5 turbo-petrol DCT, which come with the latest features.At this low monthly use, the fuel you save with a hybrid will take a very long time to cover the higher price. A modern petrol automatic is smooth enough in traffic and still uses a sensible amount of fuel for 500km a month. More importantly for you, the same money can get more features in the petrol version than in a hybrid at the same price, like a 360-degree camera, six airbags, a better sound system, and connected tech that some lower or mid hybrid trims may skip.Know the trade-off: a petrol will use more fuel in heavy traffic and is not as silent as a hybrid at low speed.

Kia Seltos