Autocar India
•15w

New Seltos or Carens Clavis? I'm pretty confused. The Seltos was always my first choice, but if the Carens has the same engine, why not go for a 6/7-seater with almost the same dimensions and for a little extra cost? I'm considering this because we're a family of 5, and occasionally our extended family joins us on drives.

Verified
•15w
If you need the added space and practicality, go for the Carens Clavis. With a family of 5 and extra folks joining at times, the third row and the longer wheelbase make everyday life easier. You get the same engines and gearboxes as the Seltos, so the driving experience and mileage will be similar, but the Carens gives you far more cabin flexibility - slide and recline second row, a usable third row for kids or shorter adults, and vents for everyone.
Bear in mind that with all three rows up, boot space is limited, so on full-house trips you will have to pack light or fold a seat. It's also worth noting that the 2026 Seltos is now a generation ahead of the Clavis, which means a wider body, softer suspension and new-age electronics and features.
However, for your use case and priorities, the Carens Clavis gets you some much-needed extra space and flexibility.
Kia Carens Clavis

Kia Carens Clavis

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•2d

I’m confused between the Kia Seltos HTX G1.5 NA petrol IVT and the G1.5 T-GDi turbo-petrol 7DCT. My usage will be primarily in the city, with occasional family road trips, probably once every three months. I plan to keep the car for more than 10 years. Is the G1.5 NA IVT sufficiently powerful and safe for driving hill stations like Munnar and Ooty with family on board when cruising through steep climbs & ghat roads ? Will it struggle with five people and luggage?

Verified
•2d

Go for the Kia Seltos HTX 1.5 NA petrol IVT. For your usage pattern, predominantly city driving with occasional family road trips and a planned ownership period of over 10 years, the naturally aspirated petrol paired with the CVT automatic is the more sensible choice. It is smooth, reliable and well-suited to stop-and-go traffic, and the CVT gearbox is seamless in the city and easy to live with over the long term.On hill station drives, the 1.5 NA engine will not struggle as long as you drive sensibly. It may not feel as effortless as the turbo, especially with five people and luggage on steep climbs, but it will get the job done without drama. You may need to plan overtakes and use the manual mode on the CVT on steep sections, but it is perfectly capable for family touring.The turbo-petrol DCT is the more powerful and exciting option, but the DCT gearbox is not as well-suited to predominantly city usage. The naturally aspirated Seltos IVT is the safer, more reliable and more stress-free choice.

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•1d

I am looking for car suggestions around the Rs 20 lakh price bracket, but I am happy to increase my budget. I want a comfortable family car that is also fun to drive while offering good mileage. I had booked the Seltos Turbo DCT, but I am now worried about its mileage and future running costs if my running increases. My current running is around 1,000 km a month in the city, but with the car, I plan to do long-distance trips of around 600-700 km every three to four months. Should I consider an EV or wait for the Seltos Hybrid? I dropped the Hyryder from my list because I did not like its interior.

Verified
•1d

For your current 1,000 km monthly running, occasional 600-700 km trips and preference for a comfortable family car that still feels enjoyable to drive, the Kia Seltos 1.5 NA IVT is the better choice than the Turbo DCT. It is smoother in city traffic, more relaxed to drive and should have lower running costs over the long term. You give up some outright performance, but for predominantly city use, the NA engine is the more sensible match.The Seltos Turbo DCT is certainly more fun, but its real-world city efficiency is around 9-10kpl. If running increases substantially in the future, the fuel bill will become a bigger consideration. An electric car would bring much lower running costs, but with your relatively modest daily usage and occasional long trips, there is no compelling need to switch to an EV unless home charging is convenient and you are comfortable planning longer journeys around charging.The Seltos hybrid is worth waiting for only if there is no urgency to buy, since the hybrid is expected in 2027 and pricing and specifications are not yet confirmed.

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•6d

Hi, I want to buy my last car as I am 66 years old. I have been driving a Honda City for the last 12 years without any major hiccup. The Honda City engine and its reliability is excellent although its ground clearance is an issue. I have looked at Elevate and given its ground clearance as an SUV, I am impressed although the issues on E20 and abrupt blending issues are surely technical issues. Windsor EV was a great test drive but all controls on screen could be a bottleneck for me at my age and am planning to move to an automatic. Please recommend as experts. My monthly running will not be more than 500 km. Should I also look at Seltos. I will appreciate a feedback from experts. I want a reliable, easy to drive car with low maintenance cost and good family value with. There won't be any great pick ups or many highway drives will not be there.

Verified
•5d

Given your 12 years of trouble free City ownership, the Elevate is the most natural replacement. It retains Honda’s simple 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine, adds substantially better ground clearance and gives you the easier ingress and SUV driving position you liked. The CVT is also very well suited to your low speed, low running usage and should make the transition to an automatic easy.On your E20 concern, we would not treat it as a reason to avoid the Elevate. Honda says all its cars manufactured in India since January 2009 are E20 material compatible, and the current Elevate is officially certified for E20. Honda also says E20 should not cause durability concerns or require any component changes. There can be a marginal reduction in fuel economy because ethanol contains less energy than petrol, but with your 500km monthly running, that is unlikely to be significant.The Seltos is worth a look, particularly if you want a more feature rich and premium cabin, but given your priorities of reliability, easy driving, low maintenance and long term ownership, the Elevate fits your requirements more naturally. The Windsor EV is also an interesting option, but at just 500km a month, there is little financial reason to move to an EV, especially when you have concerns about its touchscreen heavy interface.

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Posted on: 16 Jun 2026