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Delhi
SU

Sunny

2w

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
2w

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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DN

Dr Narendra

2w

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

2w

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

MA

Manish

2w

Buy grand vitara or hyrider

MA

Manish

2w

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

2w

My personal favorite is creta but my wife loves seltos

SU

Sunny

2w

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

2w

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

SU

Sunny

2w

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

AB

Akshay B

2w

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

SU

Sunny

2w

Thanks

UY

Uya

2w

Go for elwvate

BH

BHASKAR

2w

Go for CRET

SU

Sunny

2w

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

MM

M M Yousuff

2w

Which car is better brezza or seltos

GC

Gopal Chaturvedi

2w

Virtus

AP

Adv P H Haneefa Rawther

2w

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

TK

Tarun Kumar

5d

I am planning to buy a new mid-range SUV and have shortlisted the Kia Seltos HTX(A) and the Hyundai Creta Knight, both with petrol IVT transmissions. I am getting both cars for almost the same price (around ₹21.5 lakh). I have a few questions before making the final decision: One of the main reasons I am considering these higher variants is the 360-degree camera, as I am upgrading from a hatchback and feel it may help with the larger dimensions of an SUV. In real-world usage, does the 360 camera actually help, or is it just a matter of getting used to the car’s size? I don’t see much use for ADAS in Mumbai’s bumper-to-bumper traffic. I am eligible for a BH registration, but I am also considering a MH registration. Since I plan to keep the car for around 8 years, could selling a BH-registered car later become an issue? My budget is around ₹20–21 lakh, and at that price I would like to get maximum features. I have driven both cars and liked them, but which one would you say is more feature-rich overall? For example, the ambient lighting in the Creta seems limited to red, while the instrument cluster in the Seltos looks more modern. Are there any other SUVs in this segment that I should consider? I found the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder and Skoda Kushaq to be quite basic and didn’t like them much. From what I have seen so far, the Seltos and Creta seem to offer the best combination of reliability and features, so I ruled out other options without test driving them. Thanks, Team.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
2d

For you, we think the Kia Seltos would be a better option. The Seltos is a much newer car compared to the Hyundai Creta. Since you intend to sell your car about 8 years from now, the Seltos should be able to get you a better price. As for your other queries, yes, you would get used to the dimensions of your car. If you can easily manage the budget for the versions with a 360 deg camera, it's a nice-to-have feature as seeing the immediate surroundings comes in handy in some odd parking situations like placing a car over a pothole, or lining it up against a kerb.As for ADAS, yes, in Mumbai city traffic, it can often be an issue; thus, it's best to keep it only on highway drives. Coming to the BH plate, it makes sense if you are likely to be transferred and would live in another state, plus you do not have to pay the entire road tax upfront. However, you do have to make the effort to pay it every two years online and selling to non-eligible buyers does involve a bit more paperwork.

VehicleKia New Seltos
VehicleHyundai Creta
RN

Rojit Naorem

4d

I am planning to buy a new car, preferably a mid-size SUV with a manual transmission, with a budget of ₹16-18 lakh. Currently, my monthly running is around 900 km, but it is expected to increase to about 2,000 km per month after 1.5 years. I have a family of five, so I am looking for a comfortable and spacious car that can serve us well for the next 6-7 years. At present, I drive a 2020 Maruti Suzuki Baleno Zeta and really appreciate its mileage and cabin space. However, mileage is not a major concern for my next car.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
1d

Given your requirements, we'd recommend the new Kia Seltos. It's got plenty of space for five and their luggage, it's very modern, and it's comfortable too. At your budget you can get a reasonably high variant, which means you will get lots of features too. Moreover, like its sister brand Hyundai, Kia has a good reputation for reliability, and so you can safely hold on to the car for six to seven years. The best bit is you have the choice of three engines - the naturally aspirated petrol, turbocharged petrol and diesel. The turbo petrol is not available with a traditional manual and gets a clutchless manual or iMT instead. It's a good option that mixes convenience with control, but frankly given your usage, we would recommend the naturally aspirated petrol with the 6-speed manual. It's a great combination of efficiency, smoothness and value for money.

VehicleKia New Seltos
TP

Tarangkumar Patel

1d

Hi, I currently own a Honda Amaze diesel 2014 model. Now, after using it for so long, I want to upgrade to a 7-seater. I shortlisted the Hyundai Alcazar and Kia Carens Clavis and have done test drives for both vehicles. My daily usage in the city is 25 km, and I occasionally do long family trips. Now I am super confused between both cars, as one has premiumness and the other has space. Please suggest the best vehicle for me. Is the turbo petrol good? Now I am super confused.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
57m

Both cars are quite closely matched on premium feel, though one aesthetic seems to have worked better for you than the other. It's more a contest of road presence versus space, as the tall, SUV body style of the Hyundai Alcazar makes a strong impression on the road. It is boxy and upright and has the edge on ground clearance, as well as larger wheels.The price you pay is in the third row, where the Kia Carens Clavis' practical MPV shape liberates more space, and there's better ease of access too. Both cars have the same powertrain options, except that the Carens Clavis offers an additional engine option - the 1.5 naturally aspirated petrol. It also gets an iMT automated manual gearbox with the Turbo Petrol engine instead of a conventional manual, which the Alcazar gets.Yes, the Turbo Petrol is a good option, as given your relatively low usage, a diesel doesn't feel necessary. The 160hp, 1.5-litre turbo feels strong enough to haul 7 people and is quite enjoyable to drive too.As for which of the two you wish to buy, if you simply must have an SUV for its visual appeal and ground clearance, that is the only reason to choose the Alcazar. If that is not a bother, then the lighter, more spacious, more practical Kia Carens Clavis is the one we recommend.

VehicleKia Carens Clavis
VehicleHyundai Alcazar

Posted on: 22 Feb 2026