Chintamani

•3h

I am planning to buy a new car under 20-25 lakh for the next ten years. I have considered two cars Seltos DCT GTX(A) and Kushaq 1.5 Monte Carlo DSG but am afraid of the mileage and if I go with an EV, I am afraid that infrastructure will not be that good. I drive daily for 10-15 km and take 2-3 trips in a year on highway. Should I buy the car now or wait for Seltos Hybrid? Will it cost an additional 2-3 lakh or will it be value for money for my driving. Should I consider another car?

•3m

With a daily running of just 10-15 km and only a few highway trips a year, fuel efficiency and long-term reliability should be your top priorities. The Seltos DCT GTX+ and Kushaq 1.5 DSG Monte Carlo are both excellent cars, but their turbo-petrol engines and dual-clutch gearboxes are not the most efficient or the most stress-free choices for predominantly short city runs. The DCT/DSG gearboxes are at their best on open roads, and in stop-start city traffic they can feel a bit jerky and are not as smooth or as durable as a torque converter automatic over the long term.

The Seltos hybrid is worth waiting for if you are not in a hurry. It is expected to be priced roughly Rs. 2-3 lakh above the equivalent petrol variant, and for your usage pattern it will make more sense than the turbo-petrol DCT. Hybrids deliver their biggest efficiency gains in city driving, and over a 10-year ownership period the fuel savings and smoother driving experience will more than justify the premium.

If you want to buy now, the Kia Seltos IVT (naturally aspirated petrol with CVT) is the better choice for your usage. It is smooth, reliable and well suited to city driving, and you will not be paying a premium for performance you will rarely use. The Skoda Kushaq 1.0 TSI with the torque converter automatic is another good option if you prefer a more engaging driving experience, but the Seltos IVT is the more refined and hassle-free choice.

EVs are not the right fit for you at the moment given your concerns about charging infrastructure and your low daily running. The savings are not significant enough to justify the compromises.

Explore cars mentioned

Kia

Seltos

from ₹13.53 Lakh

Skoda

Kushaq

from ₹13.15 Lakh

Help Girish with similar question

Girish

688 Views

Comparing Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos for Comfort and Easy Access Under 16 Lakh

Answer Now

More posts on similar cars

•3d

Hello, I currently own a 2016 Maruti Suzuki Baleno and am planning to buy an SUV-type car. My annual running is around 8,000-10,000 km, mostly on highways. My budget is up to Rs 15 lakh, although I can increase it if there is a significantly better option available. I can also wait for a few months if more suitable options are expected. I would preferably like to buy from traditional Indian car manufacturers. Which SUV would you recommend?

•2h

With 8,000-10,000 km a year and mostly highway driving, a diesel SUV makes the most sense. The Mahindra XUV 3XO diesel is the best fit here. It is a genuinely good highway car with strong performance, good stability and a comfortable ride. The diesel engine is fairly efficient and well suited to long-distance driving, and Mahindra’s service reach is strong. The 3XO is also one of the most spacious compact SUVs, with a wide rear seat that makes it a comfortable five-seater.If you are willing to stretch your budget, the Kia Seltos diesel is worth considering. It is a larger SUV with a more premium cabin and better long-distance comfort. It is the better car overall, but it comes at a slightly higher price.

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Kia Seltos

•2d

Hi all, Myself Girish from Kochi, looking to buy a new car, especially for my parents; who are both 70+ and have knee issues. I like the Creta and Seltos. My priorities are comfort and easy entry and exit. I’m specifically looking for a diesel variant with a manual transmission. I’d love to hear your suggestions or recommendations. My budget is around Rs. 16 lakh.

•1d

For your requirement, the Hyundai Creta diesel manual would be our first recommendation. The Creta has a slightly softer suspension setup than the Kia Seltos, which translates to a more comfortable ride over broken roads and speed breakers – something your parents will appreciate. The seat height is also well-judged, making entry and exit relatively easy without being too high off the ground. The diesel car is refined, fuel-efficient and well-suited to highway runs, while the manual gearbox is light and easy to operate.The Kia Seltos diesel manual is also a strong contender, offering a slightly more premium cabin feel and a marginally roomier rear seat. However, the ride is a touch firmer than this Hyundai car, which may not be ideal given your parents' knee issues.If your budget is strictly around Rs 16 lakh, you will be looking at the lower to mid variants of both cars. In that case, the Creta's focus on comfort makes it the better fit for your needs. If you are open to stretching the budget slightly, the Kia Seltos HTK+ diesel manual is worth considering for its additional features and more premium cabin.Overall, the Creta diesel manual strikes the best balance between comfort, ease of entry/exit, and long-term ownership experience.

Hyundai Creta

Kia Seltos

•2d

Please advise which automatic transmission SUV is best for transmission reliability and mileage.

•1d

In general a torque convertor automatic gearbox offers the smoothest shifts and it is very reliable too, especially so in slow moving - constant gearshift requiring traffic. Fuel efficiency takes a hit though modern units have minimized this and brands like Maruti Suzuki manage fuel efficiency very well. The Maruti Suzuki Brezza with the 1.5 litre engine is a good example and one that you can consider if you can looking for a petrol compact SUV. If its a diesel consider the Hyundai Venue and if its a larger SUV you would like the Kia Seltos diesel would be a good choice.

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Hyundai Venue

Kia Seltos

View all Posts

Compare suggested cars

Kia

Seltos

from ₹13.53 lakhs

Skoda

Kushaq

from ₹13.15 lakhs

Compare Now

Kia

Seltos

from ₹13.53 lakhs

Hyundai

Creta

from ₹13.42 lakhs

Compare Now

Kia

Seltos

from ₹13.53 lakhs

Volkswagen

Taigun

from ₹13.53 lakhs

Compare Now

Kia

Seltos

from ₹13.53 lakhs

Maruti Suzuki

Grand Vitara

from ₹13.25 lakhs

Compare Now

Kia

Seltos

from ₹13.53 lakhs

Astor

from ₹11.61 lakhs

Compare Now

Popular discussions right now

•1w

I am getting the Venue HX8 Turbo automatic for Rs. 15.40 lakh on-road, the Creta SX(O) automatic for Rs. 18.14 lakh on-road, with a discount of more than Rs. 1 lakh, and the Seltos HTK(O) IVT for Rs. 18.50 lakh on-road. My budget is Rs. 19 lakh. Which one should I buy for driving in Bangalore and occasional trips?

•6d

Go for the Kia Seltos HTK (O) IVT at Rs 18.14 lakh on-road. Your budget of Rs 19 lakh gives you enough room to get a large, spacious and well-equipped midsize SUV, and the Seltos is the sweet spot. The IVT gearbox is smooth and well-suited to Bangalore traffic, while the 1.5 petrol is refined and reliable. The HTK (O) trim is feature-rich, so you are not compromising on equipment. The Seltos also offers better rear seat space and comfort than the others, making it a better choice for occasional family trips. The Creta SX (O) might sound like better value with a few more features, but the Seltos's larger size, better quality and new-age tech push it ahead overall. The Venue HX8 turbo automatic at Rs 15.4 lakh is a good deal, but it is a segment below, and you would be compromising on space and comfort.

I am a driving enthusiast and am looking to buy my first car. I am confused between the Skoda Kushaq 1.0 TSI MT Signature and the Volkswagen Taigun 1.0 TSI MT Highline Plus. Which one should I choose?

•6d

Both the Kushaq and Taigun are mechanically identical and offer the same 1.0 TSI engine paired with a manual gearbox, so the driving experience is essentially the same. The two are also similar in price, and the main features offered are the same too. Thus, base your decision on your personal preference in terms of the styling - outside and inside - and on the deal that you are getting from the respective dealerships. Also look into the dealer reputation in your area and factor this into your purchase decision too. From a driving pleasure point of view, the two cars are essentially the same. If you are looking for an alternative, consider the Renault Duster, which also offers an entertaining driving experience.

Hello, given the DPF concerns and upcoming CAFE III regulations, with my driving pattern being 60% highway and 40% city and covering around 15,000 km annually, would a 1.5L diesel (automatic or manual) still be a worthwhile choice?

•4d

Yes, a 1.5-litre diesel is still a worthwhile choice for your usage. At 15,000 km a year with 60% highway driving, you are well within the sweet spot for diesel ownership. The DPF concerns are often overstated - modern diesels are designed to regenerate the filter during sustained highway runs, and your usage pattern is ideal for that. CAFE III regulations are pushing manufacturers towards cleaner engines, but they are not making diesels obsolete; they are simply making them more efficient and cleaner. The bigger question is whether diesel still makes financial sense. With the narrowing price gap between petrol and diesel, the payback period is longer than it used to be, but at your mileage and highway bias, it still adds up. If you are keeping the car for 5-7 years, you will see the benefit. As for automatic versus manual, go automatic if you want ease of use in city traffic; modern torque converter automatics on diesels are smooth and reliable in cars like the Kia Seltos and the Hyundai Creta. Overall, diesel is still the right choice for your usage.

Kia Seltos

Hyundai Creta

View all Posts