latest technology, automobile, Gadgets: Kia Seltos vs rivals: Specifications comparison

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

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