Creta Turbo Petrol DCT: Buy?

Last Updated on: 09 Nov 2026
Tell us about your experience
I've clocked over 2500 km on my 2026 Diesel Seltos. It's very comfortable and adequately powered in the city, returning over 14 kmpl. On highways, it feels underpowered, needing to be floored to exceed 100 km/h.
The Kia Seltos does it for me!
The Kia Seltos HTK(O) Turbo Petrol DCT has impressed me with its sporty performance and smooth 7-speed DCT gearbox. The turbo-petrol engine feels powerful for overtakes and highway cruising, while the cabin is spacious and feature-rich. The ride quality is well balanced, and the steering feels confident at higher speeds.
I would suggest the Seltos. It is the best car in this segment with great cabin, features, and value for money. Even if you have brand bias, consider the Seltos!
The car looks premium with great interiors and exteriors. The 2026 model is well-designed and offers the same features in the base model as the top-end. Maintenance is low, making it a great option.
The interiors of the Seltos are too good. I drove the AT and it's good for everyday use.
Seltos is a multi talented product, offering entertainment, features, and a good engine. The HTK(O) variant is one of the most value for money options. In Mumbai, there are plenty of Kia service centres with some of the best teams.
Considering the Seltos as an option.
I did not choose the Kia Seltos due to its hard suspension.
Below 20 lac, the XUV 700 is a good choice. Offers value for money.
Comfortable ride that absorbs bumps well without compromising high-speed stability
All engine options deliver strong, smooth and refined performance
Spacious cabin with ample legroom for taller rear passengers
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Diesel engine lacks punch and urgency when you need to accelerate quickly
Some expected features are missing, including an air purifier and rear cooled seats
Turbo-petrol DCT can feel hesitant at low speeds



Hear from the
Current car: 2020 Kia Seltos HTX Budget: Rs 35 lakh, but I can stretch it, as I plan to keep the car for more than 13 years. Usage: About 80 percent city driving, and around 5,000 km a year for the first five years. I want a large family SUV that feels special, offers strong value and can be owned confidently for 12-15 years without becoming a maintenance headache. I’ll be driving it myself, not a chauffeur. Ventilated front seats and a 360-degree camera are must-haves. I don’t want a diesel because of Delhi’s 10-year rule, and the idea of an expensive EV still worries me. So I’m looking at a petrol or a petrol-based strong hybrid, in the hope that E30 fuel never arrives. I’m also avoiding German brands, because of their high purchase price and very high maintenance costs. Cars I like that are currently on sale: Mahindra XUV 7XO AX7L: the value king, but almost everyone has one, so it may not feel special. Kia Sorento HTK+ Black Line: a next-generation global model may launch next year, which could make it look dated within a year. Toyota Innova Hycross: its taxi image is a drawback. Upcoming models I might like: I’ll be watching the global launch of the new Toyota Fortuner this December, and I could stretch to Rs 45-50 lakh for it if you strongly recommend it. When will the Hyundai Santa Fe launch? Also, I’ve had an extremely good experience with my Honda Jazz. Is Honda launching any model that matches my requirements?
The Kia Sorento strong-hybrid will be an ideal upgrade from your outgoing Seltos. It is larger in size, feels noticeably more premium, and it also gets a third row of seats, giving you that added flexibility of a seven-seater. The strong hybrid performs well, and the Sorento feels confident to drive from behind the wheel.Like you rightly mentioned, the Mahindra XUV 7XO is great value for money, but the petrol-automatic won't be very efficient, so that is something you might want to take into consideration.You could consider the JSW Combat (plug-in hybrid) for its strong road presence, expansive feature list and powerful powertrain. If you want your car to stand out and feel special, this is certainly worth considering before finalising. It is scheduled to be launched in December this year.Lastly, Honda has the ZR-V, which is a strong hybrid SUV. While it drives well, it feels simply too expensive for what it offers.
With a budget of Rs 23–24 lakh, should I consider the Hyundai Alcazar Turbo Petrol DCT or the Kia Seltos GTX Petrol, comparing both the IVT and DCT options? My annual driving is approximately 6,000–7,000 km, and I would like a detailed comparison focusing on long-term ownership over 10–15 years, reliability, maintenance costs, transmission durability, fuel efficiency and overall value for money. I would also like to understand the practical differences between Hyundai’s K2 and Kia’s K3 platforms, particularly in terms of structural strength, safety, ride comfort, handling and long-term durability. Given my relatively low annual usage and preference for hassle-free ownership, which car and transmission combination would make the most sense within my budget?
Our top recommendation is the Kia Seltos GTX Petrol IVT. It is likely to be the most sensible combination of performance, comfort, running costs and long-term mechanical simplicity for your usage.The Hyundai Alcazar Turbo DCT is tempting because of its larger cabin, more powerful engine and three-row practicality. However, unless you regularly need the third row, I don't think it offers enough additional value to justify choosing it over the Seltos.There is also an important distinction between the Seltos IVT and DCT: for your relatively low annual mileage and long ownership horizon, I'd favour the IVT even though the DCT is considerably more engaging.The Seltos has moved to the new K3 platform in its second generation, while the Alcazar continues on the K2 architecture. Interestingly, the K3 platform's biggest practical advantage might not be structural strength but its overall refinement. It absorbs bumps more effectively than the previous generation while retaining good body control and high-speed stability.All things considered, the Seltos in its IVT guise makes for a better buy.
improve the grammar and write it in a paragraph - Hi Autocar, Iam looking to book a car this week. I have narrowed it down to one of 3 cars. Petrol Automatic IVTs. My running is mostly going to be 95% city (office to work in Mumbai traffic). Daily commute is around 15km, so I don't want a turbo in traffic. That's roughly 5k annual running. I am 6ft tall so wouldn't want something that is cramped 1. New Seltos HTK(O) 2. New elevate VX 3. Bayon HX 8 All of these are close to the 16L ex showroom price. I've driven the Seltos and Elevate. I really liked both of them. The Seltos feels more premium from the inside and I feel like that is something worth having in a daily car. The elevate is brilliant, but it seems cheap on the inside. No pani sunroof too, although I would maybe use it 1 day in year, it's priced the same as the Seltos, so that felt a miss. I know Honda engines are top, but at my running and limited enthusiast journey, I'm not sure if that does justice to need. Now comes the bayon. I have not done a test drive yet as its not available, but the bayon pricing at Hx6 and hx8 seems very close to the Creta currently.. I am tempted to go for the hx8 as it as a 360 camera,( I think that might be usefull for parking etc as I am coming from a hatchback ) but I am getting a "lesser car" vs the Seltos here I wonder.. Which one would you recommend? I am keen on booking before diwali, will see if there are any discounts on the Seltos (unlikey though)
All things considered, the Kia Seltos is the better fit for your needs. Since you are on the taller side, you will appreciate the extra room it has to offer compared to the Hyundai Bayon. Opting for the Bayon does get you a higher variant with a 360-degree camera, which can be helpful in tight spots. However, once you get used to the size of the vehicle, you might find yourself using the camera less often.As for the Honda Elevate, as you rightly mentioned, the Seltos feels more premium inside and costs about the same. The Elevate does offer a bit more performance from its 1.5L naturally aspirated engine, but since 95% of your driving is in slow-moving Mumbai traffic, the added performance won't really make much of a difference.Overall, the Seltos is the right fit for your needs.
Hi, I am planning to buy a new car for my family in India. Please suggest an SUV within a maximum budget of Rs 15 lakh (on-road). My options are the Kia Seltos HTE (O) and Maruti Victoris VXi. I had previously decided on the Mahindra XUV 3XO AX7, but my preferences have changed slightly.
Between your two picks, the Kia Seltos HTE (O) would be our recommendation. It is a larger car than the Maruti Suzuki Victoris and has a more spacious interior. The Seltos HTE (O) is also better equipped than the Victoris VXi, offering features like LED headlights and a larger infotainment screen. Despite being one of the lower-end trims, it also feels more premium inside than the Victoris VXi.Both cars offer similar 1.5-litre naturally aspirated engines, but the Kia Seltos has a bit more power. The Seltos does cost a little more than the Victoris, but we feel it is well worth the premium.















