The facelifted Kia Seltos has finally been launched in India, with significant design changes as well as new features and a mighty turbocharged petrol engine, making a strong case for the SUV against the likes of Hyundai Creta, Skoda Kushaq, Toyota Hyryder, Grand Vitara, Mg Astorr, Volkswagen Taigun and the upcoming Honda Elevate.
Here is a comprehensive comparison to help you make an informed decision.
Dimensions
| Kia Seltos | Honda Elevate | Maruti Grand Vitara / Toyota Hyryder | Hyundai Creta | Skoda Kushaq / VW Taigun | MG Astor | |
| Length (In mm) | 4365 | 4312 | 4365 (Grand Vitara measures 4345mm) | 4,300 | 4225 | 4323 |
| Width (In mm) | 1800 | 1790 | 1795 | 1790 | 1760 | 1809 |
| Height (In mm) | 1645 | 1650 | 1645 (Hyryder measures 1635mm) | 1635 | 1612 | 1650 |
| Wheelbase (In mm) | 2610 | 2650 | 2600 | 2610 | 2651 | 2585 |
| Ground Clearance (In mm) | – | 220 | 210 | 190 | 188 | 180 |
| Boot Space (In litres) | 433 | 458 | 355 | 433 | 385 | 448 |
| Wheels (In inch) | 18 (X Line) / 17 (others) | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 |
- Longest: 2023 Kia Seltos facelift
- Widest: MG Astor (+9mm from Seltos)
- Tallest: Honda Elevate and MG Astor (+5mm from Seltos)
- Longest Wheelbase: Skoda Kushaq, Volkswagen Taigun and Honda Elevate (up to +40mm from Seltos)
- Biggest Boot: Honda Elevate (25L more from Seltos)
Engine Specifications
Petrol
| Kia Seltos | Honda Elevate | Maruti Grand Vitara / Toyota Hyryder | Hyundai Creta | Skoda Kushaq / VW Taigun | MG Astor | |
| Engine | 1.5-litre N.A. 1.5-litre turbo | 1.5-litre N.A. | 1.5L NA mild-hybrid 1.5L strong-hybrid | 1.5L NA | 1L turbo 1.5L turbo | 1.5L N.A. 1.3L turbo |
| Max Power | NA: 115PS Turbo: 160PS | 121PS | Mild hybrid: 103PS Strong hybrid: 116PS (Combined) | 115PS | 1-litre: 115PS 1.5-litre: 150PS | NA: 110PS Turbo: 140PS |
| Max Torque | NA: 144Nm Turbo: 253Nm | 145Nm | Mild hybrid: 135Nm Strong hybrid: 141Nm | 144Nm | 1-litre: 178Nm 1.5-litre: 250Nm | NA: 144Nm Turbo: 220Nm |
| Gearbox | NA: 6-speed manual / CVT Turbo: 6-speed iMT / 7-speed DCT | 6-speed MT/7-speed CVT | Mild hybrid: 5-speed MT or 6-speed AT Strong hybrid: e-CVT | 6-speed MT or CVT | 1-litre: 6-speed MT / AT 1.5-litre: 6-speed MT / 7-speed DSG | NA: 5-speed MT / CVT Turbo: 6-speed AT |
| Drivetrain | FWD | FWD | Mild hybrid: FWD / AWD optional with manual Strong hybrid: FWD | FWD | FWD | FWD |
| Claimed Mileage | 1.5L NA: 17 kmpl (MT), 17.70 kmpl (CVT) 1.5L Turbo: 17.7 kmpl (iMT), 17.90 kmpl (DCT) | 15.31 kmpl (MT), 16.92 kmpl (CVT) | Mild hybrid: 21.11kmpl (MT), 20.58kmpl (AT), 19.38kmpl (AWD) CNG: 26.6 km/kg Strong hybrid: 27.97kmpl | 16.8kmpl (MT), 16.9kmpl (CVT) | 1-litre: up to 19.76 kmpl (MT), 18.09 kmpl (AT) 1.5-litre: up to 18.60 kmpl (MT), 18.86 (DSG) | NA: – 15.43 kmpl (MT), 14.85 kmpl (CVT) Turbo: – 14.34 kmpl |
*N.A.: Naturally aspirated engine (which doesn’t require any forced induction system for air intake like a turbocharger)
- Most Powerful: Kia Seltos Turbo
- Most Torquiest: Kia Seltos Turbo, followed by Skoda Kushaq and Volkswagen Taigun 1.5 TSI
- Most Fuel Efficient: Maruti Grand Vitara and Toyota Hyryder
- Among the mentioned vehicles, Honda Elevate and Hyundai Creta are equipped with a single petrol engine, while the others offer two engine options.
- The Germans only come with turbocharged petrol engine options.
- Only Maruti Grand Vitara and Toyota Hyryder are available as strong hybrid options. They also come with the segment’s first all-wheel-drive (AWD) system and a factory-fitted CNG powertrain option.
- MG Astor and the Grand Vitara-Hyryder duo are equipped with a 5-speed manual gearbox for their petrol engine, while other SUVs feature a 6-speed manual gearbox.
- Hyundai Creta is expected to get Seltos’ 1.5L turbocharged petrol engine in the near future.
Diesel
- As of now, only the Kia Seltos and Hyundai Creta come with a diesel engine option.
- Both SUVs get an identical 1.5-litre, 4-cylinder CRDi unit. Here’s a look at its specifications
| Engine | 1.5-litre CRDi diesel |
| No of Cylinders | 4 |
| Max Power | 116PS |
| Peak Torque | 250Nm |
| Gearbox options | 6-speed Manual/AT |
| Claimed Mileage | Seltos: 20.70 kmpl (iMT), 19.21 kmpl (AT) Creta: 21.4 kmpl (Manual), 18.5 kmpl (AT) |
Also Read: Honda Elevate Variant-Wise Features Revealed
Features Comparison
| Kia Seltos | Honda Elevate | Maruti Grand Vitara / Toyota Hyryder | Hyundai Creta | Skoda Kushaq / VW Taigun | MG Astor | |
| LED Headlamps with DRLs |  | | | | | |
| Auto Headlamps | | | | | | |
| Rain Sensing Wipers | | – |  | | | |
| Cruise Control | (Adaptive in X-Line) | (Adaptive) | | | | (Adaptive) |
| Auto AC | Dual-Zone | | | | | |
| Rear AC Vents | | | | | | |
| Wireless Charger | | | | | | |
| Powered Driver’s Seat | | (manual adjustment) | (manual adjustment) | | (manual adjustment) | |
| Ventilated Front Seats | | | | | | |
| 360-degree Camera | | Only lane watch camera | | | (rear camera only) | |
| Heads-up display | | | | | | |
| Digital Driver’s Display | | Semi-digital | | Semi-digital | | |
| Touchscreen Infotainment | 10.25-inch | 10.25-inch | 9-inch | 10.25-inch | 10-inch | 10.1-inch |
| Apple CarPlay and Android Auto | | (Wireless) | (Wireless) | | (Wireless) | |
| Connected Car Tech | | | | | | |
| Premium Sound System | BOSE | – | ARKAMYS tuned | BOSE | – | – |
| Keyless Entry with Puch Button Start | | | | | | |
| Sunroof | Panoramic | Single-Pane | Panoramic | Panoramic | Single-Pane | Panoramic |
| Ambient lighting | | – | | | | |
| Reclining rear seats | | – | | | | |
| No of airbags | 6 (standard) | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Parking Sensors | Front + Rear | Rear | Rear | Rear | Rear | Rear |
| ESP | | | | | | |
| Traction Control | | | | | | |
| Hill Assist | | | | | | |
| ADAS | | | | | | Level-2 |
Also Read: 2023 Kia Seltos Facelift Variants and Features Explained
In terms of features, all the SUVs are impressively equipped. Nevertheless, the facelifted Kia Seltos gains an advantage over its competitors with its dual-zone climate control, branded sound system, standard 6 airbags, heads-up display, front & rear parking sensors, and Level-2 ADAS system.
New Kia Seltos Facelift Walkaround | Gagan Choudhary
Price
| Model | Price Range |
| 2023 Kia Seltos Facelift | N.A. Petrol: Rs 10.89 – 16.59 lakh Diesel: Rs 11.99 – 19.99 lakh Turbo Petrol: Rs 14.99 – 19.99 lakh |
| Maruti Grand Vitara | Non-Hybrid: Rs 10.70 – 16.91 lakh CNG: Rs 13.05 – 14.86 lakh Hybrid: Rs 18.15 – 19.79 lakh |
| Toyota Hyryder | Non-Hybrid: Rs 10.73 – 17.21 lakh CNG: Rs 13.43 – 15.31 lakh Hybrid: Rs 16.21 – 19.74 lakh |
| Hyundai Creta | Petrol: Rs 10.87 – 18.34 lakh Diesel: Rs 11.96 – 19.20 lakh |
| Volkswagen Taigun | 1.0 TSI: Rs 11.62 – 17.35 lakh 1.5 TSI: Rs 16.26 – 19.06 lakh |
| Skoda Kushaq | 1.0 TSI: Rs 11.59 – 18.09 lakh 1.5 TSI: Rs 14.99 – 19.69 lakh |
| MG Astor | 1.5 NA: Rs 10.82 – 17.10 lakh 1.3 Turbo: Rs 17.11 – 18.69 lakh |
| Honda Elevate | Yet-to-be-launched (Bookings are underway) |
- The 2023 Kia Seltos is competitively priced, aligning with most of its competitors, save for the Maruti Grand Vitara and Toyota Hyryder, which have significantly lower starting prices, undercutting the new Seltos by a decent margin.
- The turbocharged petrol and diesel variants of the Kia Seltos make it the most expensive SUV in its class, touching almost Rs 20 mark. Nonetheless, it is worth noting that Seltos’s top-of-the-line X-Line variant is packed with tons of additional features over its rivals, including Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), which is otherwise only available with the MG Astor’s Savvy variants, that are more budget-friendly than the Seltos.
