Kia Seltos
What you'll like:
A superbly engineered all-rounder that delivers a premium experience
Handsome, contemporary styling. Looks very sharp
We find the Seltos to be well-priced for what it offers
Nice, user-friendly interiors with sufficient space & good quality
Loved the 1.4L turbo-petrol & 1.5L diesel. They are BS6 compliant too
Both the automatics - Diesel AT & Petrol DCT - are simply fantastic!
Mature on-road behavior, including at highway speeds. A+ brakes as well
Unusually wide variant offering. Seems there is something for everyone
Top safety package includes 6 airbags, ESP, all-wheel disc brakes, blind spot monitor, TPMS etc.
Impressive kit (360 degree camera, HUD, front parking sensors, Bose sound system, cooled seats, cabin air purifier & loads more)
What you won't:
Firm suspension. Liveable, but bad roads will bother you (
especially on 17" wheel variants)
Back seat's width makes it better for 2 adults and a kid, rather than 3 adults
Niggles are being reported by owners (
details here)
Some misses (
no paddle shifters or illuminated window buttons, thinner spare tyre on top trims, no dual-tone option on GTX+ / HTX+)
Dual-clutch ATs (like the Petrol DCT) have a history of poor reliability in India
Diesels 113 BHP & 250 Nm
although adequate are the lowest in the segment. Creta 1.6L is faster
Extremely confusing & complicated variant spread. We still havent gotten the hang of it!
Kia's after-sales service quality is an unknown. We await details in our ownership reports
Waiting periods are already a couple of months long for some trims
You get bigger SUVs & Crossovers for the same money (e.g. Hector, Harrier, XUV500)
Review Link Hyundai Creta
What youll like:
A smart-looking urban SUV. The same successful formula, now improved in the 2018 avatar
Well packaged interiors offer sufficient legroom & headroom
New goodies: Sunroof, electric driver's seat, smartkey cum fitness band, cruise control, Auto Link & wireless charging
1.6L petrol & diesel engines are top class. Refined 6-speed AT available with both
Butter-smooth nature! NVH levels are
simply outstanding
Balanced suspension offers comfortable ride quality with neutral handling
Safety kit includes 6 airbags, ESP, hill-start assist & more
Hyundai's reliability, competent after-sales & 3 year unlimited km warranty
What you wont:
Premium pricing strategy continues! The pricey Creta has only gotten more expensive with time
Many missing essentials (telescopic steering, auto-folding mirrors, auto-headlamps & wipers...)
Weirdly, the ATs are still unavailable in the top SX(O) variant! You can't have an automatic with 6 airbags
The Automatics need stronger brakes. Their stopping ability isn't confidence inspiring
Rear seat is more suitable for 2 adults, not 3
Variant planning has several errors (e.g. split seats & ISOFIX unavailable on the MTs)
No AWD capability like the Duster, XUV500 & Hexa. Adventure tourers, look elsewhere
Some competitors offer you 7 seats for the same money
Review link MG Hector
What you'll like:
Big size & lots of bling for the money! We find the Hector to be well-priced
A spacious cabin that can easily seat 5 adults. Massive 587 litre boot too
Fiat-sourced 2.0L diesel is simply fantastic
Compliant ride quality. Suspension is tuned for comfort
Lots of kit (
panoramic sunroof, 360-degree camera, electric seats & tailgate etc.)
Connected Tablet ICE with an embedded SIM & lovely sound quality
5-year / unlimited km warranty with roadside assistance
Top safety equipment includes 6 airbags, ESP, HSA, all-wheel disc brakes, TPMS & more
What you won't:
Awkward styling on the side & rear profiles. Looks weird from some angles
Sloppy high-speed handling, noticeable body roll & easy understeer
The petrol engine is adequate at best. Its guzzling Automatic variant is unimpressive
No Diesel AT (
Creta, Seltos, XUV500, Hexa offer this combination, which we love)
Some annoyances like the ~6 meter turning radius, no auto-dimming IRVM, strange rpm meter
Small after-sales network. Service quality & long-term reliability are big unknowns
Waiting period runs into a couple of months
Dont get blinded by the British branding. This is a Chinese car
Review Link Tata Harrier
What you'll like:
Stunning looks & strong road presence. Solid build too
Well-priced for the package on offer
Classy, spacious cabin with comfortable seats & a chilling air-con
Fantastic 9-speaker audio system. Sound quality & bass are enjoyable
2.0L diesel offers good driveability and a punchy mid-range
205 mm of ground clearance + terrain response system. Latter will make monsoon driving safer
Topnotch safety kit includes 6 airbags, ESP, break reminder, hill hold, brake disc wiping & more
Features such as Eco & Sport modes, xenon projectors, auto headlamps & wipers, cruise control
What you won't:
Feels like a work-in-process
beta version. Several rough areas are yet to be sorted out
Concerns over niggles & long-term reliability. Our test cars had many problems
Nervous steering at 100+ km/h
too light, too sensitive. Needs tuning
Service visit every 6 months / 7500 km (
12-months is the norm today)
No automatic option in a market that loves ATs. No all-wheel drive for enthusiasts either
Annoyances such as the massive ORVM blind spot, loud diesel >3000 rpm & some ergonomic flaws
Tata's after-sales service quality is a hit or miss. Remains a gamble
Missing kit (
auto-dimming IRVM, sunroof, usable center armrest & dead pedal, TPMS)
Review link Mahindra XUV500
What youll like:
A well-engineered, contemporary SUV with a
value-for-money price tag
More mature styling. Front end no longer looks garish
Acres of space on the 1st & 2nd seat rows
Competent engine delivers fantastic urban driveability, as well as fast highway performance
Balanced ride & handling package
Safety kit includes 6 airbags, ESP with rollover mitigation, ABS + EBD and all-wheel disc brakes
Expansive feature list (sunroof, touchscreen ICE, powered driver's seat, cruise control etc.)
What you wont:
Absolutely no luggage capacity with all the seats in place
Cramped 3rd seat row is best suited to children only. A sliding middle row is sorely missed
Interior quality, although better, still has a lot of scope for improvement
Clutch is lighter now, but has a long travel range & high resting point. Gets cumbersome in traffic
Niggles & issues, as reported by existing XUV500 owners
Mahindra's inconsistent sales & service experiences
Review Link Review Link - Diesel AT