Skoda Kushaq vs Kia Seltos turbo-petrol AT real-world mileage compared

If you’re in the market for a fuel-efficient turbo-petrol automatic SUV, the Skoda Kushaq and Kia Seltos come across as capable options. While ARAI-claimed mileage figures for the two are 18.72kpl and 17.5kpl, respectively, how do they fare in real-world conditions? We put both the Kushaq and Seltos, in turbo-petrol automatic guise, through our comprehensive real-world mileage tests to determine the more frugal option. 

Explore full specs, features and a price breakdown in our Kushaq vs Seltos comparison.

Skoda Kushaq vs Kia Seltos: Specifications and price 

Seltos delivers more power, but the Kushaq is lighter 

Both the Kushaq and Seltos turbo-petrol variants are powered by 1.5-litre engines mated to a 7-speed DCT. The Kushaq’s mill churns out 150hp and 250Nm, while the Seltos’ unit delivers more power at 160hp and 253Nm of torque. However, the Seltos is 145kg heavier than the Kushaq. The Seltos begins from a more affordable price point over the Kushaq, as the turbo-petrol-automatic configuration is available on its mid-level variants. However, at the top-end, the Skoda is cheaper than the Kia by Rs 1 lakh.

Skoda Kushaq vs Kia Seltos turbo-petrol AT: Real-world fuel-efficiency 

Kushaq nudges ahead of the Seltos by 0.4kpl overall

In our real-world mileage tests, the Kushaq turbo-petrol proved to be the more frugal SUV, albeit slightly. The Kushaq delivered 0.28kpl more in the city, while the gap increased to 0.53kpl on the highway. The 0.4kpl lead in overall mileage also helps it go 40km longer on a full tank, in contrast to the Seltos’ 601km range. The Kushaq’s additional frugality over the Seltos can be credited to its lighter weight, the availability of an automatic engine stop-start system and active cylinder deactivation technology, which the latter does not get.   

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.

All prices are ex-showroom, India.