Hi, I am confused between the Seltos (ventilated seats) and the Elevate (missing ventilation and some minor features like a front parking sensor) petrol automatic for Chennai city as a first-time car buyer. Please help me decide between the two.

Autocar India

•11h

It is always recommended to stick to the prescribed service intervals, as they are defined after extensive testing and are important for the long-term health of the car, as well as for keeping the warranty intact. That said, real-world situations like travel plans do come up, and manufacturers do account for some buffer while defining service schedules.In your case, driving an additional 500 to 600 km beyond the 38,000 km service interval in your Kia Seltos should not be a problem, especially since you already have a service appointment scheduled in Lucknow. Service intervals are designed with a degree of redundancy, and a small overrun like this is generally acceptable. The sensible thing to do, which you have already planned, is to inform the dealership about the situation and get the service done at the earliest possible point after your journey.

Kia Seltos

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Autocar India

•12h

For your mostly city driving in Bangalore and an easy-to-live-with automatic, the Kia Seltos is a very good choice. It feels familiar but is larger, more spacious and better equipped than your old Creta, with a bigger boot as well.We recommend the 1.5 litre petrol with the IVT automatic. The gearbox is smooth and seamless, and the refined engine makes everyday driving effortless. The Hyundai Creta is also a good option, but the Seltos feels slightly more spacious and is a better value at a similar price. Plus, the Hyundai Creta is expected to be replaced early next year, and since you are willing to wait, this is something you can keep in mind before making a final decision.

Kia Seltos

Hyundai Creta

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Autocar India

•14h

Your confusion is understandable because these cars appeal for very different reasons. Starting with the Tata Sierra, commenting on long term reliability is genuinely difficult because it is an all new product. You are absolutely right about its road presence. It looks bigger on the road because it is taller and wider, and that translates into a wider cabin and excellent seating comfort. Space and the sense of safety are clear strengths, and for someone who values size and presence, the Sierra naturally feels more desirable.The Kia Seltos, however, is a far more rounded and proven package. As you correctly observed, it is priced lower and yet offers more features at the same price point. The 1.5 litre naturally aspirated petrol engine paired with the CVT automatic is extremely smooth, refined and well suited for your Faridabad to Gurgaon commute. This powertrain has been around for a while now, is well understood and is known for being fuss free to own over the long term. For someone planning to keep the car for five to seven years, this matters a lot.If road presence, cabin width and the appeal of something new matter more to you, the Sierra will satisfy emotionally. But if you are looking at this purely from a long term ownership perspective with refinement, reliability and peace of mind as priorities, the Seltos is the easier recommendation.

Kia Seltos

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