Autocar India
•3h

Hi, I'm planning to buy the 2026 Kia Seltos. My usage will be around 80% city driving in Pune, with only 3-4 long trips a year and occasional weekend drives. Which variant would you recommend for my usage? Which engine and transmission are best for low annual running? Which variant offers the best value for money and has all the important ADAS as well as safety features? What future-proof features does the 2026 model offer and what real-world mileage can I expect during city and highway driving? What are the annual maintenance costs and warranty options? Are there any common issues or concerns I should know about?

Verified
•4m

We'd recommend the Kia Seltos HTX Petrol IVT. With 80 percent city driving in Pune, low annual running and only a handful of highway trips each year, the naturally aspirated petrol engine paired with the IVT automatic is the best fit. It is smooth in stop-start traffic, refined on the highway and there's little financial benefit in opting for the diesel at your usage. We'd also avoid the turbo-petrol DCT unless performance is a priority, as the IVT is the more relaxed transmission for everyday city driving.

The HTX is the sweet spot in the range and offers the best value for money. It gets the features most buyers want without stretching into the considerably more expensive top variants. If ADAS is a priority, however, we'd recommend stretching to the HTX+, as it brings the full suite of active safety features including adaptive cruise control and lane keeping assist. The GTX+ adds more luxury features but doesn't significantly improve the ownership experience for your usage.

In real-world conditions, expect around 10-12kpl in the city and 15-17kpl on the highway, depending on traffic and driving style. Kia's maintenance costs are competitive for the segment, and we'd recommend opting for the extended warranty if you plan to keep the car beyond the standard warranty period for added peace of mind.

We wouldn't worry too much about future-proofing. The current Seltos already offers the connectivity, safety and driver assistance features most buyers will realistically use over the next several years. More importantly, it has a proven petrol engine, a reliable IVT gearbox and one of the strongest ownership experiences in the segment, which is why it continues to be one of our default recommendations for buyers with usage similar to yours.

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More questions on similar cars

•3h

I am planning to buy a new car under 20 lakh. My daily drive is 50 kms on highways and a 700 km highway monthly trip to my hometown but city usage would be negligible. I have finalized the Kia Seltos HTX varient. I am confused between buying a petrol or diesel varient. While petrol version has low initial and maintenance cost, daily fuel cost is more. On the other hand, diesel would give me better mileage with less fuel cost but it will have expensive maintenance and initial cost. Or should I consider some other car. I am not interested to buy an EV. Please suggest.

Verified
•32m

We'd recommend the Kia Seltos Diesel Automatic. Your usage is almost ideal for a diesel. A 50km daily highway commute combined with a 700km highway trip every month means the engine will spend most of its time at operating temperature, making it well suited to a modern diesel. You also shouldn't have to worry about DPF-related issues, as regular long-distance driving allows the system to regenerate properly.While the diesel does have a higher purchase price and slightly higher maintenance costs, you'll benefit from significantly better fuel efficiency, and with your usage, the savings at the fuel pump should more than offset the initial premium over time. The Seltos' 1.5-litre diesel paired with the torque-converter automatic is also one of the smoothest and most refined diesel-automatic combinations in this segment, making it an excellent highway cruiser.

VehicleKia Seltos
•1d

Hi, I have shortlisted the Kia Seltos. My usage is primarily in the city, with perhaps one highway trip a year. Does it make sense to spend extra on ADAS for Delhi roads, or will I end up switching it off as I do in my other car? I also like that the Seltos offers most variants without ADAS. My second point is more of an observation. Kia should have offered the GTX with the HTX's beige interior, or at least the GTX headlamps on the HTX. I feel I have to choose between a less appealing interior and an average-looking exterior. I prefer the cabin feel and the lower price, so I'm leaning towards the HTX IVT. Should I spend the extra money on the HTX A IVT, or will I end up keeping the ADAS switched off in the city?

Verified
•6h

Stick with the Kia Seltos HTX IVT and skip the HTX A. With mostly Delhi city use, the lane-keep and distance warnings will be firing overtime in traffic and on flyovers, so you’ll end up switching them off and paying extra for little day-to-day benefit. You already prefer the HTX’s beige cabin, and you aren’t chasing the sportier look, so the version you’ve picked matches your taste and saves money. The headlamp throw and spread aren't too different between the HTX and GTX headlamps, so it's more of an aesthetic difference.Where ADAS helps in the city is with blind-spot and rear cross-traffic alerts while backing out of basements or squeezing out of lanes. If that exact use case has been common in your other car equipped with ADAS, then the HTX A might be worthwhile. For your one highway trip a year, adaptive cruise and lane centring are nice to have at night on wide expressways, but not must-haves. Overall, we don't think it's worth spending extra on the ADAS pack for your use case.

VehicleKia Seltos
•21h

Hi all, I’m planning to upgrade my 2013 Hyundai i10 to a stronger and safer vehicle. I live in Pune and plan to take monthly long-distance trips. My initial choices were the Kia Seltos and Renault Duster, but concerns about E20 or higher petrol blends have made me reconsider buying a pure petrol car. As a result, I’m now considering EVs. The Tata Punch.ev top model seems like an excellent value proposition, but is it a sensible choice for long-distance highway trips, such as Pune to Hyderabad or Goa? I would appreciate your insights and recommendations. I usually travel with my wife and occasionally with a full load.

Verified
•32m

For long drives from Pune to Goa or Hyderabad in any EV, you will be required to quickly charge once along the way, to reach your destination comfortably, without any range anxiety. The Punch EV is an excellent choice - it is compact, value-for-money, and its real-world range of over 300km is rather good. Kia will be launching the Syros EV in the coming weeks. The Syros is surprisingly spacious, interior quality is top-notch, and going by the Clavis EV's efficient and smooth powertrain, the EV version of the Syros will certainly be worth considering. Go for the EVs only if you can arrange for home charging. If not, then the Kia Seltos will be our pick. It is comfortable, spacious, feature-rich, and the petrol is smooth, refined and more efficient than the Renault Duster. The Duster's ride-handling balance is outstanding and its boot is larger than the Seltos too, however the Kia comes across as the more rounded option.

VehicleTata Punch EV
VehicleKia Seltos
VehicleRenault Duster

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Popular discussions right now

•1w

I am planning to buy an SUV and prefer the German twins Škoda and Volkswagen. Which one is better? Also, how significant is the DSG issue in bumper-to-bumper traffic in the NCR region? This will be my fourth car, so I want to try a German brand.

Verified
•6d

Between the German twins, the choice largely comes down to personal preference, as they share the same engines, gearboxes and underpinnings. We slightly prefer the Kushaq for its cleaner design, excellent ride and handling balance and overall value proposition.As for the DSG, it isn't as big a concern as it once was. The current DSGs are far more robust than the earlier units, but if your driving is predominantly in bumper-to-bumper NCR traffic, a torque-converter automatic is still the smoother and more relaxed option over the long term. If you want to stay with a German SUV but avoid the DSG altogether, the 1.0 TSI automatic in the Kushaq and Taigun now comes with an 8-speed Aisin torque-converter, which is smooth, refined and better suited to heavy city traffic.Coming from the S-Cross Petrol, you'll notice a significant step up in performance, cabin quality, safety and driving dynamics with either car.

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•6d

Hi, I own a Wagon R 1.0 liter engine. I bought it in November 2025. I had done 2 free services of it. My car gives me about 13-15 kmpl in city driving when the AC is on. I drive at a speed of about 60 km in the city. Is this average ok? If not, then what should I do? My daily ride is about 20 km.

Verified
•3d

A city fuel efficiency of 13-15kpl with the air conditioning on is slightly on the lower side for a Wagon R 1.0, but it isn't necessarily a cause for concern, especially if you're driving in Lucknow's city traffic with frequent stops and the AC running throughout your journey.Your 20km daily commute should be enough for the engine to reach its normal operating temperature, but fuel efficiency can still vary depending on traffic conditions, idling time and driving style. We'd recommend checking that your tyre pressures are maintained at the manufacturer's recommended levels, avoiding hard acceleration and excessive idling, and using good-quality fuel from reputed fuel stations.

VehicleMaruti Suzuki Wagon R
•2w

I am planning to buy a family car. Should I choose the Toyota HyCross or the Hyundai Alcazar? Please suggest.

Verified
•4d

Go for the Toyota Innova HyCross. For a family, it simply works better as the cabin is roomier, the third row is actually usable for adults, the ride is smoother, and the hybrid saves a lot of fuel in city traffic where most family cars spend their time. Long trips feel easier too, and Toyota’s hassle-free ownership and resale help over years.Pick the Hyundai Alcazar only if you’re on a tighter budget or you want a slightly smaller, easier-to-park 3-row. It’s great for four or five with the third row used occasionally, and the diesel suits heavy highway use. But the last row and boot are tighter, and it doesn’t feel as plush or relaxed on bad roads.One honest trade-off with the Innova HyCross is the higher price and possible waiting period, and the boot with all three rows up isn’t huge. If that stretch and wait are okay, it’s the better family car overall.

VehicleToyota Innova HyCross
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Posted on: 9 Jul 2026