The Kia Seltos and Hyundai Creta are both available with the same turbo-petrol engine and DCT gearbox combination. Buyers of the Seltos turbo-petrol DCT get to choose from nine different options, but those going for the Creta only get one trim level to pick from. Let's find out how these differing factors affect the fuel efficiency of these SUVs in the real world?
Explore full specs, features and a price breakdown in our Seltos vs Creta comparison.
Kia Seltos vs Hyundai Creta turbo-petrol DCT: Technical specifications
Both SUVs have the same powertrain and also offer identical outputs
Under the bonnet, the Kia Seltos and Hyundai Creta are powered by the same 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine equipped with direct injection. Not only does this T-GDi (turbocharged gasoline direct injection) mill provide identical horsepower and torque figures in both SUVs, but its output is also spread across the exact same engine speeds. This 1.5 T-GDi engine was first introduced with the Seltos in July 2023, followed by the Creta in January 2024. The second-gen Seltos is also based on the Hyundai Motor Group’s newer K3 platform – the next-gen Creta on the same platform is yet to arrive.
Kia Seltos vs Hyundai Creta turbo-petrol DCT: Real-world mileage
Neither SUV gets auto engine stop-start but both have an ‘Eco’ drive mode
The Kia Seltos with the turbo-petrol engine and DCT gearbox returned 9.27kpl in the city during our fuel-efficiency test, which is well below that achieved by its Hyundai Creta counterpart. One of the factors for this 2.35kpl difference in the city was the high ambient temperature when we were testing the Kia SUV. The other reason for this marked drop in mileage in the city could be attributed to the larger size and higher kerb weight of the second-gen Seltos over the Creta.
For reference, the second-gen Kia Seltos is 130mm longer, 40mm wider and has a wheelbase that’s larger by 80mm when compared to the Hyundai Creta. Despite its larger size, the Seltos was 0.26kpl more efficient out on the highway. Overall though, the Creta turbo-petrol DCT has a real-world mileage advantage of 1.04kpl. Both SUVs come with ‘Eco’ drive mode (along with Normal and Sport modes), but neither is equipped with an automatic engine stop-start feature.
Kia Seltos vs Hyundai Creta turbo-petrol DCT: Prices
The Hyundai Creta with the turbo-petrol engine and DCT gearbox is only offered in the top-spec King trim. On the other hand, the Kia Seltos with the same engine & gearbox combination is made available right from the mid-spec HTK (O) trim – six levels below the model’s range-topping offerings. The fully loaded trim of the second-gen Seltos turbo-petrol DCT commands a premium of Rs 1.66 lakh over the Creta King turbo-petrol DCT.
Autocar India’s fuel efficiency testing
Before our real-world fuel efficiency tests, we fill our test cars’ tanks to the brim and maintain tyre pressures based on the manufacturer’s recommendations. These cars are driven in fixed city and highway loops in and around Navi Mumbai, and we maintain certain average speeds. Throughout the tests, there is only one person in each car, running the air conditioner and other electricals, such as the audio system, indicators and wipers, when required, just like a regular user would. Periodic driver swaps further neutralise variations in driver patterns. At the end of each cycle, we calculate efficiency by filling the tanks to full again.
Prices are ex-showroom, India.
Uday Singh
Glenn Noronha
Dipan Sur
