Mumbai

•1w

I have a pre-owned 2020 Kia Seltos GTX+ AT 1.4 Turbo as my 2nd car. One issue I see with this is poor low-end torque, and I end up revving too hard when moving uphill in back-to-back traffic. The car has about 48K on the Odo. Any advice? I had it checked at Spinny (where I bought it), and they told me the DCT is ok. Can you confirm if the low-end torque on this engine/ model is a common issue?

•13m

Yes, what you are experiencing is a known characteristic of the 1.4 turbo petrol DCT combination in the Seltos. Being a turbo-petrol engine, you need to rev the engine a bit for the turbos to spool, and that combined with a DCT that's tuned for efficiency rather than aggressive low-speed response, can make it feel a bit laggy at low revs. In stop-start traffic on inclines, the gearbox could feel slow to engage and hesitant. This is not a sign of a faulty gearbox, but rather a limitation of the DCT calibration in this application.

The best way to manage this is to use the manual mode on the gearbox when you are in slow-moving traffic on an incline. By holding the car in a lower gear, you can keep the engine in its torque band and avoid the hesitation you are experiencing. You can also use the hill hold function and the brakes to control the car rather than relying on the throttle alone.

If this is a major concern for you, the only real solution is to switch to a car with a torque converter or CVT gearbox, which are much smoother at low speeds. But if you are otherwise happy with the car, this is something you can manage with driving technique.

Explore cars mentioned

Kia

Seltos

from ₹12.98 Lakh

Want to sell your car?

Sell your car at the right price, without the stress.

Sell your Car

More posts on similar cars

•1d

I am a bit confused between the Kia Seltos (Petrol) and Mahindra XUV 7XO (Diesel base model) for a family of five. My priorities are good boot space and fuel efficiency. Which one would be the better choice for my requirements?

•15h

In our real-world standard test cycles, we achieved an efficiency of 12.26 kpl for the 1.5 AT Kia Seltos and 13.10 kpl for the diesel AT Mahindra 7XO. So, going purely by numbers, the Mahindra would be better; it would also provide more boot space with the third row folded. However, an important point to note is to opt for the diesel Mahindra only if your driving includes a long drive at least once every 8 to 10 days, as this is important to prevent the diesel particulate filter from clogging up. A drive of about 20 minutes at speeds above 50 to 60kph is what is required to heat the filter enough to burn away soot. If, however, your driving is entirely within the city, you would be better off with the petrol Seltos.

Kia Seltos

Mahindra XUV 7XO

•1d

I want to upgrade from my 12-year-old VW Vento to a comfortable SUV. My driving is not much, around 300-400 km per month. My budget is Rs 18-20 lakh, and I intend to keep the car for a long time. Which one should I go for?

•1d

Since you own a VW Vento, you are already familiar with VW's sales and service experience; hence, you could consider getting the Volkswagen Taigun 1.0 8AT. It is a solid mid-size SUV that is likely to feel very similar to your outgoing vehicle in terms of driving manners, but at the same time it packs in all the niceties, as well as a more powerful turbo-petrol engine with a modern 8-speed automatic. The Skoda Kushaq is also an option you could consider, which is the Taigun's mechanically identical Skoda counterpart.Alternatively, you could consider a Kia Seltos 1.5 IVT too. It is a bit larger, more spacious, comfier and better equipped than the two VW-Skoda SUVs From a long-term perspective, the Kia car mentioned above deserves serious consideration.

I want to buy a new car for a family of five, and I am confused between the Skoda Kushaq 1.0 TSI Signature and the Kia New Seltos HTK naturally aspirated petrol.

•1d

Go for the Seltos HTK NA petrol. With a family of five, the Kia Seltos is the more sensible choice because it is simply the bigger and more comfortable car. The rear seat is wider, the cabin feels more spacious, and the boot is larger, which makes a difference on family trips. The naturally aspirated petrol engine of this Kia car is smooth and reliable, and the overall ownership experience is easy and stress-free.The Skoda Kushaq 1.0 TSI Signature is the better driver's car with a more engaging turbocharged engine, but it is a smaller SUV, and the rear seat is not as accommodating for three adults. For a family of five, comfort and space matter more than driving dynamics, and that is where the Seltos has a clear advantage.

Kia Seltos

Skoda Kushaq

View all Posts

Expert reviews worth reading

KiaSeltos

Read expert review

Popular discussions right now

•2d

I am a lady driver and drive around 65 km every day on the expressway. Twice a month, I also drive in the city and traffic. I am currently driving a Celerio, but it is 9 years old, so I am looking for a change. My budget is Rs. 10-12 lakh.

•1d

For your usage, the Skoda Kylaq is a good upgrade. Your 65 km daily expressway run means you need a car that is stable at speed and comfortable over long distances. The Kylaq delivers that very well. At your budget, you could get a lower-spec automatic, which would make it easy to drive in city traffic, which matters for your twice-a-month urban runs. The automatic gearbox is a torque converter, so its shifts are very smooth and it is very reliable too. The only possible downside is that fuel efficiency is not going to be very high, and given your high daily running, this is something that might bother you. If so, opt for the Maruti Suzuki Fronx 1.2L, which is also good at higher speeds and would be more fuel efficient. The auto box in this case is an AMT, which would not be as smooth, but this would only be a bit of a bother in city traffic and not on steady highway cruising.

Skoda Kylaq

Maruti Suzuki Fronx

•4d

I have been using Honda City manual for the last 21 years. Now, I want a car with automatic transmission for city running mostly. My average running is around 1000km a month. Can you suggest whether I should buy Seltos, Creta, Kushaq or Elevate?

•1d

Given your usage of around 1,000 km a month, mostly in the city, the priority should be a smooth and reliable automatic transmission, good ride comfort and ease of ownership. The Kia Seltos IVT is the most natural recommendation here. The IVT gearbox is also very smooth, and the Seltos feels more premium and feature-rich than the competition. Alternatively, consider the Honda Elevate. The CVT is exceptionally smooth in stop-start traffic, Honda’s ownership experience is proven, and the car is simple, reliable and easy to live with.The Skoda Kushaq is the driver’s choice, with a more engaging driving experience, but in city running, that doesn't matter much. The Hyundai Creta is a good all-rounder, but it is due for a full model change in 2027, which makes the Seltos and Elevate stronger recommendations at this point.

Hey, We are planning to buy a sub-4-metre SUV, and our main requirement is good suspension for Bengaluru’s pothole-filled roads, especially as my wife is pregnant. We have shortlisted the Maruti Suzuki Brezza, Mahindra XUV 3XO, and Tata Nexon. Which one would you recommend for our requirements? I was also considering a larger SUV like the Honda Elevate, but a well-equipped variant costs around Rs. 18 lakh on-road, which is beyond my budget. Could you suggest some good options in both categories? I can stretch my budget up to around Rs. 15 lakh on-road if required.

•2d

Given your priorities, the Mahindra XUV 3XO is the best fit. It has the most comfortable ride in the segment, with a suspension that deals with broken roads and potholes better than the Brezza or Nexon. The wide rear seat and good cabin space will also make a difference for your wife and family. The Brezza is the more reliable long-term ownership proposition, but its ride is not as plush as the 3XO. The Nexon is a good all-rounder, but the 3XO has the edge on ride comfort and rear seat space.On the Honda Elevate, it is a solid, reliable SUV with a comfortable ride, but at Rs 18 lakh on-road for the well-equipped variants, it is not worth stretching your budget for. The 3XO gives you a better ride and more features for less money.Overall, the 3XO is the best balance of ride comfort, space and value for your requirements. Go for the petrol automatic variant for the smoothest city driving experience.

View all Posts

New car launches to explore