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Swapneel Sharma

•7w

I am planning to buy the Kia Seltos 2026 IMT, but I have never driven an IMT before. Is it a good option considering traffic driving and my budget constraints, or should I increase my budget and go for an automatic (AT) instead? Please advise.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•6w

Kia's iMT - Intelligent Manual Transmission - is interesting from the point of view that it takes care of the biggest chore of gear changes: clutch work. Your left leg will thank you for this. However, you still have to manually shift gears, and so your left hand is still working. You do have to get used to it, and you will soon, but you have to move the lever at a slower pace, which matches the actuator's speed of disengaging and engaging the clutch.

At regular speeds, this is fine, but it's not great for quick gear changes. Another point to remember is that not everyone will want an iMT, and this can be a factor limiting your resale value potential. Thus, we would recommend you go with the iMT only if you are on a strict budget. If you can stretch to a full auto, you should go ahead and do so.     

Kia New Seltos

Kia New Seltos

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Kia New Seltos

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New Seltos

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TK

Tarun Kumar

•5d

I am planning to buy a new mid-range SUV and have shortlisted the Kia Seltos HTX(A) and the Hyundai Creta Knight, both with petrol IVT transmissions. I am getting both cars for almost the same price (around ₹21.5 lakh). I have a few questions before making the final decision: One of the main reasons I am considering these higher variants is the 360-degree camera, as I am upgrading from a hatchback and feel it may help with the larger dimensions of an SUV. In real-world usage, does the 360 camera actually help, or is it just a matter of getting used to the car’s size? I don’t see much use for ADAS in Mumbai’s bumper-to-bumper traffic. I am eligible for a BH registration, but I am also considering a MH registration. Since I plan to keep the car for around 8 years, could selling a BH-registered car later become an issue? My budget is around ₹20–21 lakh, and at that price I would like to get maximum features. I have driven both cars and liked them, but which one would you say is more feature-rich overall? For example, the ambient lighting in the Creta seems limited to red, while the instrument cluster in the Seltos looks more modern. Are there any other SUVs in this segment that I should consider? I found the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder and Skoda Kushaq to be quite basic and didn’t like them much. From what I have seen so far, the Seltos and Creta seem to offer the best combination of reliability and features, so I ruled out other options without test driving them. Thanks, Team.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•2d

For you, we think the Kia Seltos would be a better option. The Seltos is a much newer car compared to the Hyundai Creta. Since you intend to sell your car about 8 years from now, the Seltos should be able to get you a better price. As for your other queries, yes, you would get used to the dimensions of your car. If you can easily manage the budget for the versions with a 360 deg camera, it's a nice-to-have feature as seeing the immediate surroundings comes in handy in some odd parking situations like placing a car over a pothole, or lining it up against a kerb.As for ADAS, yes, in Mumbai city traffic, it can often be an issue; thus, it's best to keep it only on highway drives. Coming to the BH plate, it makes sense if you are likely to be transferred and would live in another state, plus you do not have to pay the entire road tax upfront. However, you do have to make the effort to pay it every two years online and selling to non-eligible buyers does involve a bit more paperwork.

VehicleKia New Seltos
VehicleHyundai Creta
RN

Rojit Naorem

•4d

I am planning to buy a new car, preferably a mid-size SUV with a manual transmission, with a budget of ₹16-18 lakh. Currently, my monthly running is around 900 km, but it is expected to increase to about 2,000 km per month after 1.5 years. I have a family of five, so I am looking for a comfortable and spacious car that can serve us well for the next 6-7 years. At present, I drive a 2020 Maruti Suzuki Baleno Zeta and really appreciate its mileage and cabin space. However, mileage is not a major concern for my next car.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•1d

Given your requirements, we'd recommend the new Kia Seltos. It's got plenty of space for five and their luggage, it's very modern, and it's comfortable too. At your budget you can get a reasonably high variant, which means you will get lots of features too. Moreover, like its sister brand Hyundai, Kia has a good reputation for reliability, and so you can safely hold on to the car for six to seven years. The best bit is you have the choice of three engines - the naturally aspirated petrol, turbocharged petrol and diesel. The turbo petrol is not available with a traditional manual and gets a clutchless manual or iMT instead. It's a good option that mixes convenience with control, but frankly given your usage, we would recommend the naturally aspirated petrol with the 6-speed manual. It's a great combination of efficiency, smoothness and value for money.

VehicleKia New Seltos
RI

Ritz

•2d

I am confused between Windsor EV (VFM) and XEV 9s (amazing driveability, feature-rich, and future-proof). My daily driving usage is low, around 300km per month, with occasional outstation trips (600kms once in every 3 to 4 months). I enjoy a good torque (acceleration) coming from a diesel world. When I did a test drive of Windsor, the acceleration was okay, but even in the lowest regen level setting, I felt a slight jerk. It makes sense from a VFM standpoint, but it felt like a compromise compared to XEV 9s.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•3m

If you don't mind stretching your budget, the Mahindra XEV 9S is the one to buy. It's larger than the Windsor EV and offers the flexibility of a third row of seats. The XEV 9S is also packed with equipment. We aren't fans of the user interface, but it's still better than the MG Windsor.For someone switching from a diesel, the XEV 9S' biggest pull is its power. It's significantly more powerful than the Windsor EV, and acceleration is brisk in its sportiest driving mode.

VehicleMahindra XEV 9S

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Posted on: 26 Jan 2026