The second-generation Kia Seltos has launched with a thoroughly revised exterior and interior, along with a host of new features. Among its many rivals is another new entrant, the Tata Sierra, which revived an iconic nameplate. Both midsize SUVs are loaded with features, but which one’s top trim offers more? Let’s find out.
New Kia Seltos vs Tata Sierra: Exterior
Both midsize SUVs get an all-LED lighting setup, but the Sierra offers rear fog lamps and puddle lamps on all doors, which the next-generation Seltos lacks. Also, the latter has smaller 18-inch rims, compared to the 19-inch units on its rival. However, in the Kia, the outside rearview mirror (ORVM) adjustment is synchronised with the driver’s seat memory function. As for the Sierra, the memory function is only available for the driver’s seat.
New Kia Seltos vs Tata Sierra: Interior and features
Both models feature a triple-screen setup with 12.3-inch infotainment systems. However, the Sierra gets a 12.3-inch passenger display, while the Seltos, like the Kia Syros and EV9, gets a 5-inch climate control screen between the infotainment screen and 12.3-inch driver’s display. The Sierra’s instrumentation panel is a smaller 10.25-inch unit.
The new Seltos also packs a head-up display (HUD), which the Sierra offers only on its lower trims. The Kia even offers more adjustment settings for the driver’s seat, but it lacks an air purifier and a cooled glove box. As for the audio system, the Sierra’s is better, at least on paper, with more speakers.
New Kia Seltos vs Tata Sierra: Driving tech
While both get drive and terrain modes, the next-generation Kia Seltos offers more drive modes. Common features include paddle shifters, adaptive cruise control and idle start/stop.
New Kia Seltos vs Tata Sierra: Safety features
Both models get a similar safety suite with 6 airbags, a 360-degree camera, front and rear parking sensors and an electronic parking brake.
New Kia Seltos vs Tata Sierra: Top trim prices
A naturally aspirated engine option makes the Seltos’s top trim up to Rs 1.50 lakh more affordable than the Sierra Accomplished+. Their top trims are also available with a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine option, with the Seltos being Rs 1 lakh more affordable.
However, the Sierra offers the choice of a manual transmission with the diesel engine in its top-spec trim, while the Seltos doesn’t. That said, the Seltos’s diesel-automatic transmission (AT) option is still Rs 30,000 more affordable than the Sierra’s diesel manual variant. Also, the Sierra diesel-AT costs Rs 1.30 lakh more than the Seltos diesel-AT.
New Kia Seltos vs Tata Sierra: Which midsize SUV should you choose?
Although the top-end Seltos misses out on a dedicated passenger display and a powered tailgate and gets fewer speakers than the Sierra, it comes at a much lower price point across its powertrain configurations. Despite lower prices, the Seltos is loaded with features that make it a better overall deal. Moreover, for customers not interested in the ADAS suite, the Seltos becomes an even better value-for-money package with the one-below-top GTX and X-Line trims that do not compromise on other convenience or safety features.
Prices are ex-showroom, India. Prices for the Sierra are introductory.
Uday Singh
Viraaj Bhatnagar
Rivan RS 
Saumil Shah
Saptarshi Mondal
