I currently own a Skoda Rapid 1.5-litre turbo diesel and am planning to buy a new car with a budget of up to Rs 20 lakh. Will cars like the Hyundai Creta or Kia Seltos offer the same engine quality, refinement and driving experience as my Rapid? My priority is engine smoothness and efficiency rather than features. Which car or brand would you recommend based purely on engine performance?

Autocar India

•4d

The Skoda Rapid 1.5 TDI you are driving uses VW’s EA189 1.5-litre diesel, which is known more for its strong mid-range punch and excellent efficiency than for outright refinement. It has a slightly gruff note and a typical diesel clatter, especially at idle and under hard acceleration.

The 1.5 diesel in the Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos (Hyundai’s U2 CRDi engine) feels smoother and quieter. That’s largely down to newer-generation injection systems that use multiple injection pulses per combustion cycle, better insulation, and tighter control of combustion noise. The power delivery is also more linear and less “peaky” than the old VW unit, so it feels more refined in everyday driving.

On efficiency, your older BS4 Rapid has an inherent advantage. BS6 engines must meet stricter emission controls (higher EGR rates, DPF systems, different injection strategies), which affect outright fuel economy in real-world use. That said, the latest 1.5 diesels in the Creta and Seltos are still very efficient and won’t feel like a major step down.

If engine smoothness and quietness are your top priorities, the Creta/Seltos 1.5 diesel will feel more polished than your Rapid. If you love that strong, slightly raw mid-range surge and bulletproof efficiency, the old Volkswagen diesel still has a character that’s hard to replicate today.

Explore cars mentioned

Hyundai

Creta

from ₹12.56 Lakh

Kia

New Seltos

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Latest questions people are discussing

Aditya

•2d

My monthly running is 900 Km. I have shortlisted the Hyundai Creta petrol (on-road price of ₹20 lakh) and the Windsor Pro (on-road price of ₹20 lakh). Which one should I opt for?

Autocar India

•1d

Without knowing more about your usage and requirements, it is hard to give you the ideal pick. Broadly speaking, the Hyundai Creta petrol is the more rounded package. It's a proven product with a user-friendly and spacious interior and a pleasant driving experience. If you are open to the Creta petrol, it's worth your while to check the new Kia Seltos, which is newer, roomier and more feature-packed.The MG Windsor Pro entices with keen pricing, an airy cabin and a sofa-like rear seat. However, there is a learning curve to the Windsor experience because many of the key controls are via the touchscreen. Also, while your usage doesn't suggest you'll have an issue, EVs work best if you have the option to install a charger at home.

Ashish

My 80% running is in the city, approximately 60 km daily. I want a smooth gearbox, a smooth engine and reliability. I am confused between the Maruti Brezza petrol manual and the Hyundai Creta petrol manual.

Autocar India

•1d

The Maruti Brezza and the Hyundai Creta are both quite good in terms of refinement. The Hyundai Creta is more spacious, has a better-quality interior, and is more comfortable, and since you travel mostly in the city, the CVT automatic gearbox will be a better fit for you. It is responsive, smooth and well-suited to traffic, making it effortless in the city.The Maruti Suzuki Brezza is a bit smaller in size, especially on the inside, does not have the build and interior quality that the Creta gets, and the automatic gearbox isn't as smooth as the Creta's CVT. If you most definitely want a manual gearbox, the Creta is still the better choice as you get a more powerful engine and a better package overall.

Hyundai Creta

Maruti Suzuki Brezza

Tarun Kumar

•4d

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

•1d

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.

Kia New Seltos

Hyundai Creta

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