Kia Motors will begin its India chapter with the launch of the Seltos on August 21, 2019. The upcoming SUV has its work cut out, seeing as it will compete in the midsize SUV segment against rivals like the Hyundai Creta, Nissan Kicks and Renault Captur, and there will also be some price overlap with the new MG Hector and Tata Harrier. Let’s see how the Seltos weights up against its rivals.
Dimensions
You can club the SUVs in consideration in two groups, with the Seltos, Creta, Kicks and Captur on one side, and the significantly larger Hector and Harrier on the other. Of the former group, the Seltos is a bit longer and wider than the Creta, and the Kia has the largest boot too; though the Kicks and Captur are marginally larger in length, width and wheelbase. Interestingly, the Nissan and Renault SUVs also have the most ground clearance of all models here. Still, a single look will tell you that the Hector and Harrier are the larger ones. The Harrier is the widest SUV in this group but the Hector is longest, tallest, has the largest wheelbase and also the biggest boot.
| Dimensions |
| Seltos | Hector | Harrier | Creta | Kicks | Captur |
| Length | 4315mm | 4655mm | 4598mm | 4270mm | 4384mm | 4329mm |
| Width | 1800mm | 1835mm | 1894mm | 1780mm | 1813mm | 1813mm |
| Height | 1620mm | 1760mm | 1706mm | 1665mm | 1656mm | 1619mm |
| Wheelbase | 2610mm | 2750mm | 2741mm | 2590mm | 2673mm | 2673mm |
| Ground Clearance | 190mm | 192mm | 205mm | 190mm | 210mm | 210mm |
| Boot Capacity | 433 litres | 587 litres | 425 litres | 405 litres | 400 litres | 392 litres |
Engines and gearboxes
Before we get into the finer points of this section of the comparison, it’s important to note that the Seltos’ engines will be BS6 emission norms-compliant at launch. Rival SUV engines will be upgraded to BS6-spec in the months to come and there is the possibility of change in power and torque figures too.
Starting with the diesels, all SUVs here feature four-cylinder, turbo-charged engines, though the Creta is the only one to offer the choice of two units – a 90hp, 1.4-litre and a 128hp, 1.6-litre one. The Seltos’ 115hp/250Nm, 1.5 unit slots in between the two Creta diesel engines but has a mild power and torque advantage over the Kicks’ and Captur’s shared 1.5 unit that makes 110hp and 240Nm of torque. The Harrier and Hector also share their Fiat-sourced engine, a 2.0 diesel unit, though the Tata and MG use the engine in different states of tune. Where the engine makes 140hp and 350Nm on the Harrier, it makes 170hp (but the same 350Nm) on the Hector, giving the MG bragging rights in terms of power.
Six-speed manual gearboxes are standard across the board, though the Seltos and Creta 1.6 also offer the convenience of a 6-speed torque converter automatic transmission with the diesel engines.
Engines and gearboxes
Before we get into the finer points of this section of the comparison, it’s important to note that the Seltos’ engines will be BS6 emission norms-compliant at launch. Rival SUV engines will be upgraded to BS6-spec in the months to come and there is the possibility of change in power and torque figures too.
Starting with the diesels, all SUVs here feature four-cylinder, turbo-charged engines, though the Creta is the only one to offer the choice of two units – a 90hp, 1.4-litre and a 128hp, 1.6-litre one. The Seltos’ 115hp/250Nm, 1.5 unit slots in between the two Creta diesel engines but has a mild power and torque advantage over the Kicks’ and Captur’s shared 1.5 unit that makes 110hp and 240Nm of torque. The Harrier and Hector also share their Fiat-sourced engine, a 2.0 diesel unit, though the Tata and MG use the engine in different states of tune. Where the engine makes 140hp and 350Nm on the Harrier, it makes 170hp (but the same 350Nm) on the Hector, giving the MG bragging rights in terms of power.
Six-speed manual gearboxes are standard across the board, though the Seltos and Creta 1.6 also offer the convenience of a 6-speed torque converter automatic transmission with the diesel engines.
| Diesel engines |
| Seltos | Hector | Harrier | Creta | Kicks | Captur |
| Displacement | 1.5-litre | 2.0-litre | 2.0-litre | 1.6-litre/1.4-litre | 1.5-litre | 1.5-litre |
| Type | 4 cyls, Turbocharged | 4 cyls, Turbocharged | 4 cyls, Turbocharged | 4 cyls, Turbocharged | 4 cyls, Turbocharged | 4 cyls, Turbocharged |
| Power | 115hp | 170hp | 140hp | 128hp/90hp | 110hp | 110hp |
| Torque | 250Nm | 350Nm | 350Nm | 260Nm/220Nm | 240Nm | 240Nm |
| Gearbox | 6-speed MT/AT | 6-speed MT | 6-speed MT | 6-speed MT/AT (1.6 only) | 6-speed MT | 6-speed MT |
| Fuel economy | 20.8/17.8kpl* | 17.41kpl | 16.7kpl | 19.67/17.01kpl (1.6 MT and AT) | 19.39kpl | 20.37kpl |
As for the petrol engines, the Seltos gets two options – a 115hp, 1.5-litre naturally-aspirated unit and a sportier 140hp, 1.4-litre turbocharged mill. The standard 1.5 engine goes one up on the Kicks’ and Captur’s shared 1.5 engine’s 106hp, though the Kia’s figures are still some way off those of the Creta 1.6 petrol unit’s 123hp. Buyers looking for more performance do have the option of the turbo-petrol version though. The 1.4-turbo-petrol’s 140hp and 242Nm are just shy of the stock Hector 1.5 unit’s 143hp and 250Nm figures. However, the 48V mild hybrid version of the MG engine provides 20Nm of additional torque at low-speeds. Still, it’s the Kia 1.4 that should be quickest given its estimated lighter kerb weight.
Both petrol engine versions of the Seltos get 6-speed manual gearbox as standard. The 1.5 is additionally available with a CVT auto and the 1.4 also has the option of a 7-speed dual-clutch auto. The standard Hector petrol also gets the choice of 6-speed manual and a 6-speed dual-clutch auto, though the hybrid version only gets a manual transmission. Hyundai Creta petrol buyers also have the choice of 6-speed manual and torque converter auto gearboxes. Nissan and Renault don’t offer automatic gearboxes with petrol versions of their SUVs while Tata doesn’t build a petrol Harrier altogether.
| Petrol engines |
| Seltos | Hector | Creta | Kicks | Captur |
| Displacement | 1.5-litre/1.4-litre | 1.5-litre | 1.6-litre | 1.5-litre | 1.5-litre |
| Type | 4 cyls, NA/4 cyls, Turbocharged | 4 cyls, Turbocharged | 4 cyls, NA | 4 cyls, NA | 4 cyls, NA |
| Power | 115hp/140hp | 143hp | 123hp | 106hp | 106hp |
| Torque | 144Nm/242Nm | 250Nm(+20 for hybrid) | 151Nm | 142Nm | 142Nm |
| Manual Gearbox | 6-speed MT | 6-speed MT | 6-speed MT | 5-speed MT | 5-speed MT |
| Automatic Gearbox | CVT(1.5)/7-speed DCT(1.4) | 6-speed DCT | 6-speed AT | - | - |
| Fuel economy | 16.4(1.5 MT)/16.3(CVT)/16.1(1.4)/16.2kpl(DCT)* | 14.16(MT)/13.96(DCT)/15.86kpl est. (hybrid) | 15.29kpl (MT) | 14.23kpl | 13.87kpl |
* Figures may differ from ARAI-certified fuel-efficiency numbers that are yet to be officially revealed.
Price
Kia has made public its plans of an aggressive price tag and we expect the model to start at Rs 10 lakh (estimated, ex-showroom). The petrols could be on offer in the Rs 10-17 lakh bracket while the diesels may range from Rs 11-17 lakh, which would position the Seltos right in the thick of the SUV segment. You now know where the Seltos fits in price and size, but could it be the best SUV? For the answer, you’ll have to wait till we can pit the final product with its rivals.
| Prices |
| Seltos | Hector* | Harrier | Creta | Kicks* | Captur |
| Petrol | Rs 11 – 17 lakh est. | Rs 12.18 – 16.78 lakh | NA | Rs 10.00 – 14.16 lakh | Rs 9.55 – 10.55 lakh | Rs 9.50 – 12.00 lakh |
| Diesel | Rs 11.7 – 17.7 lakh est | Rs 13.18 – 16.88 lakh | Rs 13.00 – 16.75 lakh | Rs 10.00 – 15.65 lakh | Rs 10.85 – 14.65 lakh | Rs 10.50 – 13.00 lakh |
All prices are ex-showroom, Delhi.
*Prices are ex-showroom, Pan-India.
Also see:
Click here for Kia Seltos, est. prices, reviews, images and more
Click here for MG Hector , prices, reviews, images, videos and more
Click here for Hyundai Creta, prices, reviews, images, videos and more
Click here for Tata Harrier, prices, reviews, images, videos and more
Click here for Nissan Kicks, prices, reviews, images, videos and more
Click here for Renault Captur, prices, reviews, images, videos and more