With the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) predicting a weak monsoon season due to the onset of El Nino conditions, high temperatures and prolonged dry spells are forecasted. Thanks to the climate control units in the cars, the effect of these temperatures is lessened, but there is still a difference in the AC performance between two cars. In the hotly contested midsize SUV segment, the Kia Seltos and Renault Duster are two new and popular SUVs. So, on a day when the ambient temperature was 42.2deg C, we tested the climate controls of both models' AC to find which SUV can withstand real-world torture in a better fashion.
Explore full specs, features and a price breakdown in our Seltos vs Duster comparison.
Autocar India’s testing methodology
In preparation for the test, each car is parked under direct sunlight for two hours with its engine switched off and windows rolled up. Sunroof shades are kept closed, but rear window shades are rolled away. Once a car is ‘soaked’, a two-member team enters the vehicle quickly to minimise loss of heat – our job is to simulate a worst-case scenario. Each car is rigged with sophisticated test gear provided by Zen Microsystems. Five thermocouple sensors read ambient temperature, cabin temperature, vent temperature (capturing how cold the air is), front-seat temperature (measured near the driver’s ear) and rear-seat temperature (measured at the rear centre armrest).
Front vents are directed at the driver’s face, while rear vents are aimed at the rear-seat centre occupant. As the car is switched on, climate control is set to recirculation mode, maximum blower speed and the lowest possible temperature. Temperature readings are recorded after one minute of idling, and then after an interval of every five minutes (up to 15 minutes) of driving over a fixed route at 50-60kph. A final reading is taken after another minute of idling.
A key disclaimer: Ambient temperatures and humidity have a big bearing on cooling performance. Hence, our results are from vehicles tested on the same day, and these may vary for you based on your location and ambient conditions.
Kia Seltos vs Renault Duster: AC test
Kia Seltos front and rear AC performance
Kia Seltos temperatures during AC tests (in degrees Celcius) | ||
Front seat temperature | Rear seat temperature | |
Start | 50 | 47.7 |
End of 1 min idle | 40.7 | 39.7 |
5 min driving | 31.5 | 29.7 |
10 min driving | 31 | 28.7 |
15 min driving | 29.7 | 29 |
End of 1 min idle | 31.5 | 33 |
At the start of the test, the temperature around the rear seats was 2.3deg C less than that around the front seats. However, after a minute of idling, the temperature around the front seats fell by 9.3deg C, while the temperature around the rear seats dropped by 8 degrees. The difference shrank further when driving, and at the end of 15 minutes of driving, the difference in temperatures around the front and rear seats was just 0.7deg C. While the temperature around the front seats was higher for the entirety of the test, it was lower than the temperature around the rear seats after a minute of idling, post 15 minutes of driving. In fact, after the minute-long idling, the temperature around the front seats increased by 1.8deg, while the temperature around the rear seats increased by 4deg.
Renault Duster front and rear AC performance
Renault Duster temperatures during AC tests (in degrees Celcius) | ||
Front seat temperature | Rear seat temperature | |
Start | 51.2 | 50 |
End of 1 min idle | 45.5 | 44.5 |
5 min driving | 33.2 | 33.2 |
10 min driving | 32.5 | 31.7 |
15 min driving | 30.5 | 31 |
End of 1 min idle | 34.5 | 33.5 |
About 50deg C in-cabin temperature was measured around the front and rear seats of the Renault Duster at the start, with the front seats 1.2deg C hotter than the rear seats. We noticed that in the first minute of idling, the Duster's temperature drop was less than that of the Seltos. During our time with the Duster, we noticed that the cooling performance picks up on the move. Driving speeds influence the temperatures, as the temperature around the AC vents rises as the vehicle slows down. So, after 15 minutes of driving, the temperature around the front seats was lower. But after a minute of idling, the temperature around the front seats was higher again. However, the temperature difference was always around a degree, meaning the cabin was cooled uniformly on all occasions.