Hi AutoCar team, I live in Bangalore in a family of three with 2 adults and a 5 year old. My commute will be 3 days in a week with 16-16 km on the Outer Ring Road and am planning to go on weekend trips near Bangalore on highways with family luggage. I may sometimes go on hills like Ooty and Munnar but the car is not primarily for hill drives. Will a new Seltos NA IVT feel underpowered with these requirements and load conditions? Is CVT drone too much and at what speed and RPM does it become unpleasant. Also, how is it compared to Honda City CVT drone and insulation? What are the other alternatives?

autocar.india

•10h

Go for the Kia Seltos IVT. With your monthly running of 700-1,000 km and mostly suburban roads with minimal traffic, the IVT is the better fit. It is a smooth, reliable automatic that is well-suited to your usage and will make daily driving effortless. The iMT is a good technology, but it is still a relatively newer system, and there have been occasional reports of actuator issues. The IVT, on the other hand, is a proven and robust gearbox with a strong reliability track record. In terms of fuel efficiency, you can expect over 10 kpl in your conditions, with the IVT and iMT being broadly similar. Overall, the IVT is the safer long-term ownership choice and the one we would recommend for your usage.

Kia Seltos

autocar.india

•1d

Go for the Kia Seltos 1.5 T-GDi DCT. It is the best fit for your requirements. The Seltos turbo is genuinely fun to drive, with strong performance and a well-sorted chassis that makes it enjoyable on both city roads and highways. The 1.5 T-GDi engine paired with the DCT automatic is a highlight, offering quick shifts and a responsive driving experience. At the same time, this Kia car is comfortable over broken roads and potholes, with a suspension setup that strikes a good balance between ride comfort and handling. It also feels premium inside, with a well-built cabin and a solid feature set that includes ADAS, cruise control and hill assist. The only thing to be aware of is that the DCT gearbox can feel a bit clunky in stop-and-go traffic, but overall it is a well-rounded package that delivers exactly what you are looking for. If you want something a bit larger, the Mahindra XUV 7XO turbo-petrol is a good alternative, but it will feel large and cumbersome in Bangalore city traffic, and its fuel economy is very poor.

Kia Seltos

Mahindra XUV 7XO

autocar.india

•1d

Yes, a 1.5-litre diesel is still a worthwhile choice for your usage. At 15,000 km a year with 60% highway driving, you are well within the sweet spot for diesel ownership. The DPF concerns are often overstated - modern diesels are designed to regenerate the filter during sustained highway runs, and your usage pattern is ideal for that. CAFE III regulations are pushing manufacturers towards cleaner engines, but they are not making diesels obsolete; they are simply making them more efficient and cleaner. The bigger question is whether diesel still makes financial sense. With the narrowing price gap between petrol and diesel, the payback period is longer than it used to be, but at your mileage and highway bias, it still adds up. If you are keeping the car for 5-7 years, you will see the benefit. As for automatic versus manual, go automatic if you want ease of use in city traffic; modern torque converter automatics on diesels are smooth and reliable in cars like the Kia Seltos and the Hyundai Creta. Overall, diesel is still the right choice for your usage.

Kia Seltos

Hyundai Creta