Autocar India
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Sayan Chatterjee

•6w

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 team

Autocar India

Verified
•6w

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

Kia Seltos

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YA

Yogesh Antad

•6w

KIA delivery lead times are min 14 weeks .I have been waiting for my delivery since 8weeks.Was promised 4 to 6 weeks . They just changed it to 14 weeks.Customer Response is extremely poor.Please consider these negatives..

KA

Kapil

•6w

Hi i am confused between Škoda kylaq, Toyota taisor and mahindra 3xo and which version , also manual or automatic. Currently running Etios Liva. Daily run Around 10 km and one monthly long trip 250 km above.

CH

Chirag

•6w

I'm planning to buy my first car in Bengaluru. My budget is max 13L onroad. My usage is 60-40 city-highway. I'm considering seltos, elevate base models along with brezza zxi and 3xo ax5. I'm planning to keep car for 10yrs. Which would be best overall with good mileage and less service?

CV

Capt Vivek C Gupta

•6w

Go for the new duster all terrain diesal solid vehicle zabardasti torque 5 star ncap safety rating not indian zero bharat safety like kia or mg which are paper thin bodies

SR

SRajasekaran

•6w

Is Duster diesel variant available?

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More questions on similar cars

AY

Ayush

•1d

I am planning to buy a new Kia Seltos around October. Should I go ahead with the Seltos, or would it be better to wait for the new Hyundai Creta?

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•9h

Go ahead with the Seltos in October; it already offers the same core package the new-gen Creta is likely to bring, without waiting on launch dates or risking a price jump. Both share engines and most features, and the Seltos’ facelift brought all the modern, feel-good bits, so you are not missing anything major. October also tends to bring festival deals, and quicker delivery on the Seltos, which you can actually use.The next-gen Creta is likely to hit showrooms in the first half of 2027. And even post launch, deliveries could take a few weeks. Hence, your wait is likely to get even longer.

VehicleKia Seltos
VehicleHyundai Creta
VI

Vimlesh

•15h

I am confused between the Honda Elevate V MT and the Kia Seltos HTE MT. I live in a Tier-5 city that also has some hilly terrain. My usage is around 40% city driving and 60% highway driving, and my annual running is moderate. I like the Honda Elevate for its engine response, strong initial pickup, mid-range performance, long-term reliability, and generous rear-seat legroom. However, I am not entirely comfortable with the driver's seating position and legroom, and I feel it may not be as comfortable on long drives. Another concern is that the nearest Honda service centre is about 100 km away from my location. On the other hand, the Kia Seltos offers a much better interior, more features, excellent driving comfort, and ample legroom. While the rear-seat space is not as generous as the Elevate, it is still comfortable and sufficient for my needs. It also has a service centre close to my location, a good service record, and better parts availability. However, I find the initial pickup to be less impressive, and I am slightly concerned about the engine's long-term reliability. Considering all these factors, which one would you recommend as a family car?

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•10h

You seem to have answered your own question. The Kia Seltos seems to be the better pick for you on account of its comfier seats, and proximity of its service centre. Sure you might miss the Elevate's energetic performance, at least initially. However, the Seltos' 1.5-litre petrol engine is smooth and has adequate pep for most scenarios. Also, this engine has been doing duty in many Hyundai and Kia models for many years now, and it has proven to be quite reliable so far.

VehicleKia Seltos
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Adarsh Dodiya

•2d

I already own the MG Astor manual, but now it is giving too low mileage. I want to buy a new car, please suggest to me a car which is automatic and provides good mileage.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•3h

Go for the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder strong-hybrid automatic - it will cut your fuel use sharply, often doing 20-plus kpl in city traffic where the Astor struggles. The automatic is smooth and stress-free, and because the hybrid runs on electric power a lot in stop-and-go, you get far better mileage without changing your driving style. Size, space and comfort are close to your Astor, so the switch is easy.Two things to keep in mind: the hybrid costs more upfront than a regular petrol automatic, and the boot is smaller. Also, when you press hard, the engine sounds a bit loud, but in daily driving, it stays quiet and efficient. Toyota backs the hybrid battery well, which helps long-term peace of mind.If most of your running is highway, look at the Kia Seltos diesel automatic instead - it returns strong highway mileage and feels relaxed at speed.

VehicleToyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder
VehicleMG Astor
VehicleKia Seltos

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Popular discussions right now

JD

Jayvir Deol

•6d

I want to buy an SUV, and my budget is around 20 lakh. I have seen the MG Hector, the Mahindra XUV and the Tharr Rox. Which car should I buy, and given the current scenarios on the govt policies, should I go for petrol or diesel?

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•5d

Pick the Mahindra XUV 7XO. At around Rs. 20 lakh, it gives you the best mix of space, strong performance and safety, and it is far easier to live with every day than the Thar Roxx while being a better value than a low or mid Hector variant. You also get both petrol and diesel choices, so you can match it to your running.Fuel choice is simple. Go petrol if most of your use is in the city or your running is under about 1,200 km a month. It is quieter, has fewer policy worries, and resale stays safe even if some cities tighten diesel rules. Pick diesel only if you drive long highway distances often, want a longer tank range, or haul a full family with luggage regularly.The only real downside with the XUV 7XO is that the fanciest features push you beyond Rs. 20 lakh, and there may be a wait period. If you mainly want a rugged toy, the Thar Roxx is great, but for family life, the XUV 7XO fits better.

VehicleMahindra XUV 7XO
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VehicleMG Hector
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Abhishek Das

•1w

I am planning to purchase a new automatic car and am confused between the Honda Amaze ZX CVT and the Skoda Kylaq Signature Plus AT. My usage will be around 90% city driving, primarily for office commuting between Dwarka, Delhi and my office near IFFCO Chowk, Gurugram (approximately 25 km one way). However, I will not be driving daily, as I often use the Metro as well. The car will also be driven by my 69-year-old father, so ease of driving, comfort, visibility, ingress/egress, and reliability are important considerations. Our previous car was an Alto K10 Manual, so this will be our first automatic car and a significant upgrade. Considering my usage pattern, family profile and the fact that we intend to keep the car for a long period for around 10 years, which of these two would you recommend?

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•6d

Based on your requirement, we would recommend the Honda Amaze ZX CVT over the Skoda Kylaq Signature+ AT. The reason is that your priorities are not outright performance or driving excitement. You are looking for a car that will spend 90% of its life in city traffic, will also be driven by your 69-year-old father, and is expected to stay with the family for around 10 years. In that context, Amaze's strengths line up perfectly with your requirements. The CVT is smoother than the Kylaq's torque converter automatic in stop-and-go traffic, visibility is excellent, the car is easy to place on the road, ingress and egress are straightforward, and Honda's long-term reliability record is hard to fault. Coming from an Alto K10, it will already feel like a substantial upgrade in comfort, refinement and features.The Kylaq Signature Plus AT is the more desirable car from an enthusiast's perspective. The 1.0 TSI turbo petrol has more punch, the higher seating position is nice, and the overall package feels more substantial. However, it is also a larger vehicle to manoeuvre, and while the automatic is good, it is not quite as seamless in everyday traffic as Honda's CVT.Another point in Amaze's favour is that the ZX variant gets Honda Sensing ADAS, which adds useful safety features without making the car complicated to operate. Since your father will also be driving it, that extra layer of safety is a nice bonus.

VehicleHonda Amaze
VehicleSkoda Kylaq
AS

AS

•2d

I am confused between buying Skoda Kylaq and Kia Seltos. Please suggest.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•2d

Buy the Kia Seltos. It is simply easier to live with for most buyers, thanks to a much wider service network and many more variant and powertrain choices, including good automatics across a wider price range. For daily city runs with the odd highway trip, the Seltos will feel like the more complete package and it has a more spacious and premium cabin. The Skoda Kylaq will suit you only if you really enjoy driving. It feels tighter and more confidence inspiring on the move, and the steering has more feel. If you plan long, frequent road trips and care more about how it drives than gadgets, that’s where the Kylaq shines. The flip side is fewer dealers and fewer variant choices.

VehicleKia Seltos
VehicleSkoda Kylaq

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Posted on: 28 Apr 2026