I am a 38-year-old professional planning to buy a new car. My usage is 60% city, 30% highway, and 10% rural, with a monthly running of 1,200–1,500 km. I am confused about whether to buy the Kia Seltos IVT, DCT, or diesel variant, or consider any other options.

Autocar India

•45m

With 60 percent city, 30 percent highway and a bit of rough-road use, and 1,200-1,500 km a month, the Kia Seltos 1.5 diesel with the 6-speed automatic is the stronger fit for you. It pulls well from low speeds, so city drives and rural patches feel easy without pressing the pedal hard, and on the highway, it sits at speed calmly with enough power for safe passes. This automatic Kia car is a 6-speed torque-converter unit, smooth in traffic. At your monthly distance, it will also use less fuel than the petrol options.

A couple of watch-outs: the diesel costs more to buy and is a bit louder at idle. If most of your city trips are very short in heavy traffic, the diesel’s particulate filter can clog over time, so plan one longer run each week to keep it clear.

If your driving is mostly city and you value a quiet, easy feel, the Seltos 1.5 petrol IVT is the one to pick. The IVT feels smooth and is very relaxed in stop-go traffic. The turbo-petrol DCT offers the most performance, but the gearbox can feel a bit jerky in slow traffic.

For your mix, we’d choose the Seltos diesel automatic.

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from ₹13.01 Lakh

Rahul

•10m

Thank you team autocar

More questions on similar cars

Vedant Nawange

•2d

Hi, I am confused between buying the Kia Seltos diesel, which I love for its interior and power and which gives around 15 km/l mileage, and the Toyota Hyryder, which involves a slight design compromise but offers 22+ km/l mileage. My daily running is around 70 km, including both city traffic and highway cruising. Also, please share if there is even the slightest possibility of a Kia Seltos hybrid coming next year, as I would be happy to wait.

Autocar India

•2h

With a 70 km daily mix of traffic and highway use, we would lean towards the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder strong-hybrid. Your usage is high, and the hybrid will use far less fuel in city traffic while staying calm and smooth. It pulls away on electric power at low speeds, so stop-go driving feels quiet and easy.You like the Seltos for its cabin and stronger shove, and that is fair. The Seltos diesel feels stronger when you press the throttle for quick passes, and its cabin does look and feel richer. If most of your 70 km is open highway and you really value that strong pull and the Kia car interior, the Seltos diesel automatic is still a solid pick.On a Kia Seltos hybrid: Kia does intend to introduce a hybrid, but timing is not yet decided as they are trying to localise components. We estimate it could arrive in 2027, but that could change. For your mix of city and highway, the Hyryder strong-hybrid lines up best with what you need right now.

Kia Seltos

Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder

Sayan Chatterjee

•1d

I am planning to buy a 5-seater compact SUV and am confused between the MG Hector Savvy Pro 1.5-litre turbo CVT and the Kia Seltos GTX (A) 1.5-litre naturally aspirated iVT. My usage will be mostly in the city, with occasional highway travel. Which car would you recommend considering safety, handling, engine performance, and after-sales service?

Autocar India

•19h

Of the two, for your needs, you should definitely go for the Kia Seltos GTX (A) 1.5 iVT. The iVT is a smooth automatic, so it works well in traffic and at lower speeds. The Seltos is the smaller car here, so it is easier to park and thread through tight lanes, and its steering feels lighter at low speeds. Kia also has a wider service network across cities and towns, which helps if you plan to keep the car long-term or travel outside your home city.On safety, both SUVs pack the basics like multiple airbags and stability control, and higher variants can add driver assists. While the MG Hector hasn't been tested by any crash test rating agency, the Kia Seltos has scored a 5-star Bharat NCAP rating. The 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol is not as strong as the 1.5-litre turbo petrol in the Hector, but it is more than sufficient for city use and decent on the highway too. The Kia is also much lighter than the MG, which affects performance, too.The MG Hector, which is not at all a compact SUV, scores higher on space in the back seat and boot, and is the better chauffeur-driven SUV, with a softer ride quality. However, a big drawback is fuel economy, which is considerably lower than what you will get from the Kia Seltos 1.5 petrol iVT.

Kia Seltos

MG Hector

Raj

•2d

I have shortlisted Elevate, Grand Vitara, and Seltos, all with automatic transmission. My budget range is between 15 and 19 lakh. Based on features and in-cabin interiors, the new Seltos stands out, though Elevate’s boot space can't be ignored. The interiors don't look premium. Is there any other SUV in the same segment? My running will be mostly in the city.

Autocar India

•1d

Your observations are correct, and for your budget, the Kia Seltos HTK(O) Petrol CVT is the best fit for you. The IVT or CVT is among the smoother automatic gearboxes that work best at low speeds, so it feels best in traffic. You already like the Seltos for features and the rich cabin, and this trim gives you that premium feel without jumping past your budget. The boot is not the biggest here, but it is shaped well and will take daily bags and a couple of suitcases without fuss, so for city life it works.Keep in mind, a few high-end features sit on pricier trims, so if you chase every extra, you could stretch your budget. From your list, the other strong city choice is the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara. Though the strong hybrid variant would have been ideal, it won't fit in your budget, so you'll have to settle for the mild-hybrid petrol Alpha variant. It's not bad, and uses a torque-converter automatic, which is just as smooth as the Kia's CVT, but it feels down on power, and its rear seat isn't as spacious. And yes, while the Honda Elevate is a good all-rounder, it feels a bit too ordinary in this company.

Kia Seltos

Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara

Honda Elevate

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