Mumbai

•12h

I’m getting a Seltos DCT delivered soon. If the turbo-petrol engine were available with a manual transmission, I would have bought that. I’ve heard all the stories and do’s and don’ts regarding dry-clutch DCTs. Living in India, however, one cannot completely avoid city traffic. My question is a bit technical. From a standstill, with the gear in D mode and Auto Hold off, on a flat surface, if I take my foot off the brake completely without giving any throttle input, the car rolls at 6-7 kmph. In this scenario, will the clutch keep slipping continuously, similar to half-clutching in a manual, or will it fully engage after a couple of seconds?

•3m

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.

Explore cars mentioned

Kia

Seltos

from ₹12.98 Lakh

Was this helpful? Ask a follow-up

Help rahul with similar question

rahul

269 Views

Comparing Tata Sierra EV, Petrol, Kia Seltos, and Next-Gen Creta Under ₹24 Lakh

Answer Now

More posts on similar cars

•1d

I'm getting a Seltos DCT delivered soon. If the turbo petrol were available with MT I would have bought that. I've heard all the stories and the do's and don'ts for dry clutch DCT. While living in India, one cannot fully avoid city traffic. My question is a bit technical. From a standstill, with the gear in D mode and autohold off, if I take my foot off the brake completely without giving any throttle input, the car rolls at 6-7kmph. In this scenario, will the clutch be slipping continuously like half clutching a manual or will it engage fully after a couple of seconds?

•7h

The Seltos DCT is a dry clutch DCT, so it does behave differently from a torque converter automatic. When you take your foot off the brake in D with auto hold off, Seltos will creep forward at low speed, but this is not the same as a torque converter automatic. At very low speeds, the clutch is partially engaged and there is some slip, similar to a manual car being feathered at low speed. Once you build a little speed and the ECU senses steady movement, the clutch will fully engage and slip will stop. So the clutch is not slipping continuously at 6-7 km/h, but it is slipping at the initial creep phase until the car is moving steadily. This is why DCTs do not like prolonged crawling in bumper-to-bumper traffic, because repeated clutch slip and heat build-up can eventually cause wear. The key is to avoid feathering the throttle at very low speeds and to let the car move in short bursts rather than holding it on the clutch. In normal city driving with sensible use, the clutch will engage fully and you will not be slipping continuously. The Seltos DCT is a good gearbox but a touch snappy from a start, but it does require a slightly different driving style compared to a torque converter automatic.

Kia Seltos

•4h

Should safety rating a major consideration for buying a car? I drive a 5 star rated car and I feel safe knowing the car I drive is sturdy and well built. Is it really safe or 5 star rating keeps my mind at peace. I feel it is not emphasized enough. Let's take Creta for example. It is the single most dominant mid size SUVs for a decade now but safety is not there as compared to seltos, Victoris, Elevate, Kushaq or Taigun. Creta still dominates. I understand it is going through a major facelift next year but why wait a decade and still do not have a 5 star rating, not even 4. Low safety rating is then but never tested is not an option. Shouldnt it be made mandatory? What are your thoughts? Thanks in advance.

•8h

I’m planning to buy a new car in a budget of Rs. 22-24 lakh. I currently own a Ciaz petrol that I am planning to retain. My shortlisted cars include Tata Sierra (EV/petrol), Kia Seltos, and am also considering whether I should wait for the next-gen Creta. My daily running is around 18-30 km, mostly within the city, with occasional long trips. Since I’ll be keeping the Ciaz, I’m also considering an EV. What would make more sense in my situation amongst Sierra EV, Sierra petrol, Seltos, or waiting for the new Creta?

•4h

Given your usage and the fact that you are retaining the Ciaz, the Tata Sierra EV is a sensible choice. Your daily running is well within the comfort zone of an EV and the Sierra EV offers a genuinely premium cabin, excellent ride comfort and a spacious, lounge-like rear seat, making it a very different ownership proposition from the Ciaz.The Seltos is a strong all-rounder, but it does not offer a fundamentally different experience from the Ciaz, and you are essentially buying another petrol car for city use. Waiting for the next-generation Creta is a valid option, and if you can comfortably wait, go ahead and do so as the Creta is also expected to offer a hybrid, but it is still some time away. The Sierra EV, on the other hand, gives you a clear use-case advantage today. The only caveat with the Sierra EV is Tata's long-term reliability track record, which is still evolving. If that is a concern, the Seltos remains the safer ownership bet. But given your usage pattern and the fact that you are keeping the Ciaz, the Sierra EV is a logical and differentiated choice.

Tata Sierra EV

Kia Seltos

Hyundai Creta

View all Posts

Popular discussions right now

•1w

I want to purchase a 7-seater SUV. My options are the Tata Safari, Mahindra XUV 7XO, and Scorpio N, and I am considering installing an aftermarket CNG kit for better fuel economy. Could you please suggest which one would be better suited for CNG?

•6d

We would strongly advise against installing aftermarket CNG on any of these SUVs. All three – the Tata Safari, Mahindra XUV 7XO and Scorpio N - are large, heavy vehicles with powerful turbocharged petrol engines. Fitting CNG to such engines is not recommended, as it can lead to drivability issues, increased wear and potential reliability concerns over time. More importantly, these SUVs are not designed with CNG in mind, and the installation can compromise safety and performance.If fuel economy is a top priority, opt for their diesel versions instead. The Mahindra and Tata offer strong torque, excellent highway efficiency and are well-suited to long-distance touring. If you are set on CNG, it is better to look at smaller, naturally aspirated petrol cars that are either factory-fitted or specifically designed for CNG use.Between the three, the XUV 7XO diesel would be our recommendation. It offers a more modern package, better ride comfort and a more premium cabin than the Scorpio N, while the Safari diesel is also a strong contender if you prefer Tata's design and feature set. But CNG should not be the deciding factor here.

I currently use a Skoda Slavia Ambition 1.0 automatic since last 4 years. Now, I am thinking of switching the car but I am confused between Honda Elevate V CVT petrol and Kia Seltos HTK iVT petrol.

•3d

Given that you are coming from a Skoda Slavia 1.0 TSI automatic, the Kia Seltos HTK IVT petrol is the more natural upgrade. The Seltos offers a noticeably larger and more premium cabin, better rear seat space and a more substantial feel overall. The IVT gearbox is smooth and well-suited to city driving, and the car feels like a genuine step up from the Slavia in terms of comfort and overall ownership experience.The Honda Elevate V CVT petrol is a solid and reliable choice, but it does not feel like as much of an upgrade from the Slavia. The cabin is not as spacious or as premium as the Seltos, and the overall ownership experience is more about simplicity and reliability than about feeling like a significant step up.The only caveat with the Seltos HTK is that it is not the most feature-rich variant in the lineup. If you can stretch to a higher variant, the Seltos becomes an even stronger recommendation. If not, it is still the better choice over the Elevate because it offers a more substantial upgrade from your current car.

I have a 2013 Honda City automatic, which is now 13 years old. I wish to change my car and buy the Tata Punch EV 40kWh for my use. My monthly running is low, at around 500 km. Would you suggest this car for my usage?

•4d

With a monthly running of around 500km, the financial case for an EV is not particularly strong, but the Tata Punch EV 40kWh can still make sense if you are looking for a modern, low-maintenance city car. This Tata electric car is compact, easy to drive and well-suited to urban use, and the 40kWh battery offers a healthy real-world range that should comfortably cover your monthly usage with minimal charging stops. However, at this level of running, the fuel savings over a petrol car will take a long time to offset the higher upfront cost of the EV. If you have reliable home charging and are keen on the EV ownership experience, the Punch EV is a sensible upgrade from your ageing City. If your priority is purely financial efficiency, a small petrol automatic like the Honda Amaze or Maruti Suzuki Baleno would be the more cost-effective choice.

Tata Punch EV

Honda Amaze

Maruti Suzuki Baleno

View all Posts

Want to sell your car?

Sell your car at the right price, without the stress.

Sell your Car

Posted on: 25 Aug 2026

Need expert advice?

Ask the Autocar community and experts.

Help rahul with similar question

Found this useful? Your experience matters to others

Still have questions?