Autocar India
SU

Sunny

•12w

I am thinking of buying a new Kia Seltos and have decided on the HTK-O model. I am confused between the petrol and diesel variants because the diesel costs around ₹2.30 lakh more, and my driving is around 1,500-1,600 km a month. Which one should I choose?

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•11w

With a monthly running of around 1,500 to 1,600 km, the petrol version of the Kia Seltos HTK(O) makes more sense than the diesel. Earlier, the big fuel efficiency gap between petrol and diesel helped recover the higher diesel purchase cost fairly quickly. 

Today, with tighter emission norms, diesel engines are no longer as efficient as they once were, especially in city conditions. As a result, recovering the roughly ₹2.3 lakh premium you pay for the diesel is likely to take well over five years. This makes it a less logical choice purely from a cost point of view.

If most of your driving is in the city, the petrol engine will also be quieter, smoother and easier to live with daily. The diesel still makes sense only if you have very high highway usage and plan to keep the car for a long time. Otherwise, the petrol Seltos fits your usage better and keeps the initial investment lower.

If fuel efficiency is a key concern and you are open to other powertrains, you could also consider a strong hybrid like the Maruti Suzuki Victoris, which will be significantly more efficient in city driving. It is also worth noting that the next-generation Hyundai Creta and even the current Seltos are expected to get strong hybrid options by early next year.

Kia New Seltos

Kia New Seltos

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Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Maruti Suzuki

Victoris

from ₹12.23 Lakh

RA

Rajesh

•6w

I have booked kia seltos 15 days back for diesel Automatic variant, but now I am confused whether to go for diesel or petrol. What to do i am confused

DN

Dr Narendra

•11w

I would suggest don't go for cheap korean brands like KIA. I owned kia seltos diesel HTK model. Within 3 years it started showing different engine related issues at a frequent intervals and finally I had to dispose it off.

UD

Ujnal das

•11w

M using honda city for a long time. Wish to shift to SUV segment? Plz suggest

MA

Manish

•11w

Buy grand vitara or hyrider

MA

Manish

•11w

But grand vitara hybrid or hyrider hybrid Gives 27 to 30 kmpl in city Most underrated cars Both are same ,so whatever is cheaper You will end up paying same as seltos non hybrid automatic price

SU

Sunny

•11w

My personal favorite is creta but my wife loves seltos

SU

Sunny

•11w

Thank you for your feedback. I didn’t like the interior and cabin feel of the Victoris, so I excluded it from my list. I already own an old Baleno and I’m fed up with the poor build quality of Maruti cars. I don’t want to invest any more money in my old car, so I have decided to buy a new car now.

VG

Vishal Gupta

•11w

I have seltos. I am warning u. Very poor quality with astronomically high spare parts. Buy at your own peril

SU

Sunny

•11w

Can you explain a little more Do you own a petrol or diesel?

AB

Akshay B

•11w

Simply go for petrol. It will be much more cheaper in long term.

SU

Sunny

•11w

Thanks

UY

Uya

•11w

Go for elwvate

BH

BHASKAR

•11w

Go for CRET

SU

Sunny

•11w

I don't want to invest in Honda not sure about their future in India

MM

M M Yousuff

•11w

Which car is better brezza or seltos

GC

Gopal Chaturvedi

•11w

Virtus

AP

Adv P H Haneefa Rawther

•11w

After paid full amount on Jan 9 for a KIA Seltos Diesel top variant, the Vehicle is not yet delivered

More questions on similar cars

AT

Ambuj Tripathi

•4d

Hello, I am planning to buy a new car. My daily running is around 40 km, with 40% city driving and 60% highway use. I am confused between petrol and diesel, and am looking for an SUV. I am considering the Victoris Petrol, Nexon CNG, and Nexon Diesel. You may also suggest any other car that would suit my needs. My priorities are good mileage, long-term reliability, and low maintenance. Also, is the Nexon CNG a good option to own for 10 years?

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•3h

With 40 km a day and mostly highway, from your list, the Tata Nexon diesel fits best. It will use less fuel on long runs, feel more relaxed at 80-100 kph, and give easier overtakes with family and luggage. Your mix has enough highway, so the diesel’s exhaust filter should stay healthy. As a fuel type, CNG is cheap to run, but for 60% highway, it can feel slow, and needs more planning for refills. Better for mostly city use.Maruti Suzuki Victoris petrol will be simpler to own and should be reliable, but on highways with a full load, it will use more fuel than the Nexon diesel. Also consider the Hyundai Venue diesel, which is available with a smooth 6-speed auto. Overall, from your choices, the Nexon diesel lines up best.

VehicleTata Nexon
VehicleMaruti Suzuki Victoris
VehicleHyundai Venue
VS

Vipul Saini

•6d

Hi, thanks in advance. I am looking for a midsize SUV with a budget of Rs 12 lakh on-road in Ludhiana, Punjab. I am confused between the Victoris LXI and the Kia Seltos HTE. My driving will mostly be in the city, with one or two occasional weekend outstation trips. I am confused whether I should prioritise looks and features or reliability and ease of use.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•12h

Given your mostly city use, opt for the Kia Seltos over the Maruti Suzuki Victoris. For a base model, the Seltos HTE is rather well equipped and generally feels more premium than the Victoris LXI.The Seltos might be slightly more expensive, but it feels more modern and comes with more standard features than the Victoris. In terms of ease of use, the Seltos is just as friendly to drive, with light controls and good drivability from the engine. Maruti’s service reach in Punjab is generally wider than Kia’s, but if you have a Kia dealer and service centre nearby, the ownership experience should be comparable.The downside is that the Seltos may cross your Rs 12 lakh budget. If you can stretch a bit, though, the Seltos is a good choice for your needs.

VehicleKia Seltos
VehicleMaruti Suzuki Victoris
VR

VR Reddy

•2d

Dear Ask Autocar Team, I am 62 years old, 5’11” tall, and currently suffering from sciatica/lower back pain. I am looking for a comfortable automatic car, mainly for city driving and occasional highway trips. My priorities are: Easy ingress and egress without bending too much Comfortable seats with good lumbar and thigh support Soft suspension and comfortable ride quality Automatic transmission for relaxed driving Good visibility and driving position Reliable long-term ownership My budget is under ₹20 lakh on-road. I would also prefer modern safety and convenience features such as: 360-degree camera ADAS features, if available in this budget Could you please suggest the most suitable cars for my condition and age?

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•4h

Mostly city use with a sensitive lower back and an under Rs 20 lakh cap points to a taller, easy-to-drive automatic. The Kia Seltos 1.5 petrol IVT HTX (A) fits this brief best. The seat height makes getting in and out simple without bending or climbing. So, the ride is soft at low speeds, thanks in part to this variant's smaller 17-inch wheels, so your back gets less shock from broken roads, and the automatic moves smoothly in traffic. You sit upright with a clear view out, the steering is light, and the 360 camera takes the stress out of parking. What's more, this should just about fit in your budget, and it gets you ADAS features as well. Kia’s wide service network helps with easy, reliable ownership over many years, too. The other good option is a Hyundai Creta, but getting these features will require you to move to a top-spec variant only, which is out of your budget. You could also consider the Maruti Suzuki Victoris 1.5 petrol AT, which offers even lower running costs but is not quite as comfortable as the Hyundai or Kia.

VehicleKia Seltos
VehicleHyundai Creta
VehicleMaruti Suzuki Victoris

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Popular discussions right now

SU

Soumith Uppu

•4d

I am looking for a family car and am currently confused between the Tata Punch Accomplished AMT, Maruti Fronx Delta Plus AMT, and Hyundai Exter HX6 AMT. Could you please help me choose the best option?

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•3d

It's really hard to suggest a car without knowing a bit more about your requirements, like rear space requirements and the distance driven per month. Thus, as a good all-rounder for a small family, the Maruti Suzuki Fronx Delta Plus AMT fits your brief best. Pick this variant because it gives you the most rear-seat space and a bigger, more useful boot than the other two, so adults sit more comfortably, and you pack more for trips. It also feels light and easy to drive in traffic, and the ride is calm over rough roads, which helps passengers, especially elders or kids.Two things to note: this automatic can feel a bit slow to pick up when you press the accelerator hard, and you will miss a few fancy features that sit on higher trims. If you drive with a full load on steep hills often, you may want to try it once to see if the response suits you.If you value tough build and the best ride on broken roads above all else, the Tata Punch Accomplished AMT is the second choice. It also has a smaller footprint for tight parking and a feature-rich cabin at a price like the Hyundai Exter HX6 AMT, too. Overall, for family comfort and everyday ease, go with the Fronx Delta Plus AMT.

VehicleMaruti Suzuki Fronx
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AP

AVINASH PARWANI

•4d

I have booked the Kia Seltos turbo DCT. My monthly running is around 900 km, mostly in Chennai traffic. Should I wait for the hybrid version? Is it expected soon? Also, how much price difference can be expected between the turbo-petrol and the hybrid?

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•2d

The Kia Seltos hybrid, as well as the new-generation Hyundai Creta with the hybrid tech, are both expected to arrive next year. If you can wait until then, it would be better to do so, as the hybrid would be far more fuel-efficient. As for the price difference, it's hard to pinpoint right now, but expect to pay about Rs. 50,000 extra over a turbo-petrol automatic.Thus, if the wait time and the premium are not ok with you, stick with the Kia Seltos. However, given that you are mostly driving in traffic, remember that a turbo petrol would not be very efficient, and for heavy, slow traffic, the DCT can feel a bit hesitant at crawling speeds and can run warm in long jams. The Seltos with the naturally aspirated 1.5-litre petrol with CVT is better suited to your use, as its smoother in the city, would be more fuel-efficient and would potentially be more reliable too.

VehicleKia Seltos
RR

Rahul Rajbhoj

•3d

I need a car that is fun to drive and comfortable for 80% city use and 20% highway driving. My budget is up to ₹15 lakh on-road. Please suggest another option if the budget is extended to ₹17 lakh.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
•3d

Considering your needs, go for the Skoda Kylaq Prestige AT. This Skoda car comes with a punchy 115hp, 1.0-litre turbo petrol engine and when paired with the 6-speed torque converter automatic, it will make for an easy-going and convenient SUV to drive in the city, which is where you'll do majority of your running. The Kylaq is also compact, so parking in tight spots and darting in and out of gaps in traffic will be easy. On the highway at high speeds, it stays composed and comfy and the suspension handles bad patches well. It also stands out for its ride and handling balance and is very enjoyable to drive around some twisty roads. Do note though, the rear seat is best reserved for just two adults and Skoda's service network isn't as widespread as some rivals.

VehicleSkoda Kylaq

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Posted on: 22 Feb 2026