Is the New Seltos safe as per Global NCAP?

autocar.india

•2h

Based on your requirements, the Honda Elevate is the most sensible recommendation. Your usage is predominantly bumper-to-bumper Mumbai traffic with occasional Mumbai-Pune runs, so you need a car that is easy to drive, reliable and comfortable over the long term.The Elevate's naturally aspirated petrol engine paired with the CVT is smooth, predictable and well-suited to city driving, while Honda's reputation for reliability and low maintenance makes ownership straightforward. The cabin is quiet enough for daily commutes, and the car feels solid and well-built, which aligns with your preference for a rugged, dependable feel. Safety is also well addressed, with a strong crash test rating and a good suite of safety features. For your occasional highway runs, the Elevate is stable and comfortable, though it is not the most powerful car in the segment.If you want a more premium cabin experience, the Kia Seltos 1.5 IVT is worth considering, but the Honda car mentioned above strikes the best balance between reliability, ease of maintenance and overall ownership experience for a first-time buyer.

Honda Elevate

Kia Seltos

autocar.india

•20h

Go for the Kia Seltos petrol automatic. It is the best fit for your priorities. The Seltos offers one of the more comfortable cabins in the segment, with well-cushioned seats, good ride quality and a premium interior feel. It is also one of the more feature-rich cars in this price bracket, with a modern infotainment system, connected car tech and a generally upmarket feel. The petrol engine is smooth and refined, and the automatic gearbox is well suited to both city and highway driving. It is also a car that is easy to live with over the long term, with good service reach and reasonable running costs.

Kia Seltos

autocar.india

•15h

No, you should not assume that the clutch fully locks after a couple of seconds. In the Seltos 7-speed dry-clutch DCT, when you release the brake in D on a flat road without applying the accelerator, the car’s creep function can involve some clutch slip to allow the engine to idle while moving the car at a very low road speed. However, it is not accurate to describe this as the equivalent of continuously holding a manual car at half-clutch. The transmission control unit constantly varies clutch pressure and engine torque, so the amount of slip changes with speed and conditions. The important point is that 6-7kmph does not necessarily mean the clutch is fully locked, and there is no documented Kia threshold, such as 10kmph at which it definitely locks. This normal idle creep is something the DCT is designed to handle and is not something you need to worry about during ordinary driving. What you should avoid is prolonged bumper-to-bumper crawling, repeatedly inching forward on the clutch, or using the accelerator to hold the car on an incline, as these conditions increase clutch slip and heat. In slow traffic, it is better to leave a little more gap, allow the car to move when there is sufficient space, accelerate smoothly when required, and come to a proper stop when traffic stops. The bigger enemy of a dry DCT is sustained low-speed clutch slipping and heat, not the occasional creep that occurs automatically when you release the brake.

Kia Seltos