Kia sold 27,159 units of the Seltos during the first quarter of 2023.

Kia India has achieved a new sales milestone as Seltos sales cross the 5 lakh unit mark in just 46 months of its launch.

Kia made its India foray in August 2019 with the launch of the Seltos mid-size SUV. Since then, the model has contributed to 55% of the brand's net sales, including exports and domestic sales. During the first quarter of 2023, Kia sold 27,159 units of the Seltos. The company sells an average of over 9,000 units per month.

According to the company, 1,35,885 units of the Seltos manufactured in India, have been exported to nearly 100 overseas markets. These include markets in the Middle East, Africa, Central and South America, Mexico and the Asia Pacific region.

Kia is now gearing up to launch the Seltos facelift in the Indian market. The updated model will get several changes both inside and out. The SUV is also expected to get safety features like a 360-degree camera with blind spot assistance as well as ADAS.

The Seltos facelift will receive several exterior as well as interior updates based on the global version.

Kia is gearing up to launch the Seltos facelift in India in a couple of months. The SUV will receive several exterior as well as interior updates based on the global version. The latest spy images suggest that the Seltos facelift will also come in X-Line trim.

Like the current Seltos X-Line, the updated version will also feature a matte black exterior with black ORVMs and a black roof. The SUV is expected to get a piano black grille and newly designed dual-tone alloy wheels.

Speaking of the updates, the Seltos facelift will feature a redesigned front fascia with a split headlamp setup and a new grille. The rear end will be spruced up via new tail lamp clusters with an LED light bar in between.

The Seltos facelift will be offered with a new 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine, producing 158 BHP and 253 Nm. It replaces the current 1.4-litre turbo-petrol motor. Kia will carry forward the 1.5-litre petrol and diesel engine options.

Source: Motorbeam

There are also rumours that the soon-to-be-launched Seltos facelift 2023 will have a better safety rating than the current model.

BHPian dcoolnik recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

I have been looking to buy a new mid-size SUV for quite some time now, and have made a booking (2 weeks back) for Skoda Kushaq 1.5 ltr MT Monte Carlo given the safety, engine performance and ride handling being best in the segment. However, with the launch of the new Hyundai/Kia 1.5ltr T-GDi engine, looks like Hyundai/Kia has closed that gap with Kushaq 1.5 at least on the engine performance front. The reviews of the new 1.5 T-GDi engine on Verna are also good. A few YouTubers also tested the new Verna 1.5 and Slavia 1.5 (same engine as Kushaq) with Verna winning quite comfortably in drag races. There are also rumours that the soon-to-be-launched Seltos facelift 2023 will have a better safety rating than the current model.

My priorities are in the following order:

• Safety (at least 4 star)
• Engine performance
• Ride handling

Given this, shall I wait for the Kia Seltos facelift launch or go ahead with the Kushaq?

Here's what GTO had to say on the matter:

If looking at performance, I'd agree with bijims. Best to wait as the Seltos 1.5L launch isn't too far away. Both the crossovers you are looking at are a load of fun-to-drive. As much fun as the Kushaq is, even the Seltos is dynamically sorted and a blast on the open road.

In the area of safety though, I'd trust Skoda over Kia. The Kushaq has scored 5-stars in the GNCAP & we have seen several customer attestments to the safety of VAG cars ever since the Polo's launch in India. On the other hand, even if Kia improves the safety rating of the Seltos, I doubt they'll get it retested by the GNCAP. It will lead to a lot of remorse from current Seltos owners. From the PR point of view, Kia would upset lakhs of existing Seltos owners.

Here's what BHPian bijims had to say on the matter:

Given your priorities, I am not so sure whether the new Seltos facelift would get higher than the 3 stars it scored previously in the GNCAP crash tests, however, engine performance would be much better in the 1.5 T-GDI and is worth looking out for.

Moreover, the Seltos and Creta are the most well-rounded cars in their budget as regards almost everything except the mediocre 3-star safety rating, so the facelift should ideally improve on the features front as well.

In my opinion, considering the launch is just a couple of months away, and with Skoda not in much demand, I think waiting for the Seltos would be a good option.

Here's what BHPian Shreyans_Jain had to say on the matter:

The Verna 1.5 DCT is a genuinely quick car, no doubt. Seltos 1.5 will be just as quick as Kushaq. Kia’s cabin has always been far nicer and better equipped. But two things still remain to be seen.

1. Suspension tune. Kushaq suspension is best in class, while present Seltos is just too stiff. Kia might soften it a touch, make it similar to Creta. Still, Kushaq is better than Creta. Rides better, handles better, remains FLAT at speed.

2. Safety. Kushaq is best in class, again. Full 5 stars, backed by 6 years anti corrosion warranty and from a company which has a good record on safety. Do not expect any major changes in Seltos in this regard, for they are only launching a facelift. Structural changes are not expected.

If safety is an important agenda and you do a lot of highway running, I suggest you pick the Kushaq 1.5 DSG. From the priorities you listed, safety and suspension go to Skoda, while performance is more or less a draw.

Read BHPian comments for more insights and information.

It has been only a few km since the parts have been replaced but I can feel a big difference while driving the car.

BHPian ashis89 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Clutch and Brakes Overhaul

I had been experiencing clutch chattering at times. During the last two services, the service advisor had confirmed that the clutch would need replacement but I should use it some more. During the last trip, I felt the clutch slipping at times and decided to replace it.

During long, high-speed runs, I noticed that the brakes vibrated under hard braking because of disc warping. While the braking was still very good, the vibration was irritating. So I decided to replace the front discs as well. The pads had a lot of life left but had to replace them as well.

All that ended up costing a neat sum of Rs 56,876 - the highest I have spent on the Coyote so far. That's almost Re.1/km on brakes and clutch.

That's 50k worth of parts and 7k worth of labor costs

I called up my SA Prashanth at Epitome KIA and asked him for an inventory check of the parts. He confirmed the next day that they have stock but suggested I give the car on May 2 so it doesn't get held due to the holidays. Booked an appointment for May 2 including a pick up and drop. The logistics were smooth and they sent the drivers only when I was available at home. I got regular updates and photos from Prashanth. He also got the evaporator coil cleaned to address the recurring musty smell that I get. The car was ready by the 3rd evening but I asked them to send it on the 4th.

At the time of pick-up

The old parts packed in the boxes, placed in the boot and returned to me

Clutch plate

Pressure plate

Release bearing

Flywheel

Front disc

Brake pads had a lot of life left

Looking at the condition of the discs, pads and flywheel, I could have opted to skim the former and not replace the latter. But they would need attention at a later point. With this replacement, the brakes and clutch shouldn't need any attention for another 50-60k km.

I had been driving regularly and got used to the heavy pedal, the stiff gear lever and jerky shifts. I have driven only a few kms post the replacement but the difference is stark - the pedal is super light now, shifts are seamless and the reverse gear falls into place smoothly.

Kia spares are expensive - 15.5k for the flywheel, 8k for the release bearing and 9.5k for the clutch kit. Add labor and one ends up spending ~45k on the overhaul. If one replaces the clutch set 3 times in the car's lifetime, they could pay equal money upfront ~1.4L to upgrade to the TC AT variant.

PS: I would have spent less than 7k (labor cost in the above KIA bill) on the full clutch overhaul of my WagonR. It is running on OE clutch till date.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

The bike must have fallen on the car and someone just picked it up and ran away.

BHPian bluevolt recently shred this with other enthusiasts.

I want to share an incident that happened with my car and seek advice for the next steps.

My car (Kia Seltos), parked in my allotted parking, has been severely damaged by a bike parked adjacent to it. I notice the damage during my night walk (at 11.10 pm) today.

The bike must have fallen on the car and someone just picked it up and ran away. Please find photos of the damage attached.

Upon finding this, I called the guard at the tower and asked him to bring the owner of the bike along. But as per the guard, no one opened the gate of the flat even after 5-7 rings of the bell. After this, the main gate security was called. The supervisor came to the parking to see the damage. He checked the bike and it was found that the bike was on the side stand, with a punctured tyre, totally imbalanced and someone just made it fall on my car. As per the supervisor, the owner did not answer the phone.

Please advise me on the next steps to take. Should I call the police in the morning if the owner is still not reachable or does not accept his fault? How should I manage this damage? Get it done through insurance or at an outside workshop. My car is 3 years old and I haven't claimed insurance yet.

I have written an e-mail to the society maintenance office for action highlighting the below points:

• The parking next to mine is an empty space and besides that, it belongs to another flat. Hence, this bike is wrongly parked next to my parking spot. This has damaged my car badly due to the negligence of the owner in the first place.
• I have asked the security to scan the CCTV footage in the parking area to identify who caused the damage. If it is some other person who made the bike fall, he/she should be identified at the earliest and action should be taken against them. I parked my car at 2 pm in the slot in perfect condition and I saw it damaged at 11.10 pm during my night walk.
• The guard on duty at the tower prior to 8 pm must be called and interrogated - why he did not check the parking? When the bike would have fallen, it must have caused a loud noise and the guard must be attentive enough to check the incident in the first place. The car itself is parked close to the lift lobby.
• Even If the bike had fallen due to some other person, the owner of the bike will still be held liable for damage as it is his responsibility that the vehicle is in a stable condition when parked so that it doesn't fall on another vehicle.
• This is a clear case of unorganised bike parking near the designated parking slots of the owner. I have asked for immediate action to be taken to remove wrongly parked bikes near the designated parking spaces of others. Bike/scooter owners must be directed to park in their assigned slots, where they park their own cars so that their two-wheelers cause damage to their cars in case of a fall and not to others' property.

Here's what BHPian self_driven had to say on the matter:

I know it's heartbreaking for a car owner but police action for such trivial issues is really not worth it. Rather what you can do is make enough noise so that RWA members and security take a note of it and such accidents can be prevented in the future.

Check the CCTV footage. If the bike fell down on its own (which is owner's negligence), get your car repaired under insurance or otherwise and ask the bike owner to pay for damages.

If some kiddos or a third person did it, which is more likely to be the case, I doubt there's much you can do. Get it repaired and move on with life.

Here's what BHPian bblost had to say on the matter:

It will be impossible to pin the liability on the RWA. They will have some board or notice that will say parking at owners risk.

Your best bet is to hope that there is a CCTV that captured this and the person is a resident.

Additionally that that resident is a decent person who accepts his mistake.

Here's what BHPian am1m had to say on the matter:

Don't even think about involving the cops for this small damage. I understand how this feels to a car owner who loves his vehicle, but getting the cops involved will make things far worse. If you're lucky, they will refuse to get involved seeing the minor damage. If you are unlucky, they will use it as an excuse to extract money from both you and the person you are making the complaint about!]

Even about the other person accepting blame, it's going to be a matter of luck. If you are lucky, they will do the decent thing. But mentally prepare yourself that they won't. Get it repaired, move on. Certainly lodge it as an issue with the RWA. Whatever you do, don't continuously try and seek out the other party. Offense is the best form of defense and people who are wrong often get aggressive to cover their mistake. They might file a harassment complaint against you and that is certainly something the cops are more likely to act on!

Here's what BHPian TwentyDeewar had to say on the matter:

Agree with the opinion of folks on this thread.

I had a similar experience a couple of years ago when an overhead pipe came apart and fell on my car's roof and bonnet in the designated parking slot. I initially tried to take the path you want to go down on -> Managed to get CCTV evidence and tried to pin the fault on poor maintenance. Realised that the amount of time I was spending on this vs the benefit was just not worth it. I got the car repaired and moved on (that's what insurance is for). I just ensured that the pipe repair work was done properly so that it doesn't happen again.

I understand how you must be feeling, but its probably best to repair the car and move on. I think you have already brought it to the notice of the right folks, and a good win for you would be if the bike's owner is more careful in the future about how he parks and/or moves the bike away to a different slot.

Here's what BHPian  sumeethaldankar had to say on the matter:

Kindly claim insurance and get it fixed. The whole purpose of the insurance is for such things. Since no damage to life was done involving police is of no use, they will probably make you sit at the station for hours waiting till you change your mind of filing a complaint. A common tactic used by cops to have minimum people file reports etc.

The society could co-operate and provide you CCTV footage, hopefully the owner will come forward. Since you have already sent an email you could request the society to take positive action and desist wrong parking in designated areas and fine fellow society members for such violations.

In a society I visit vehicles parked wrong are clamped and the owner fined for such acts.

Here's what BHPian Hayek had to sy on the matter:

Don’t think you can prove who caused the damage to your car. Even if the bike fell, it’s an accident. Except if it was deliberate and malicious damage, you need to bear this cost your self - whether through your insurance or out of pocket is your call. Such things happen everywhere in the world - which is why you have insurance.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

While the Toyota is a great-looking vehicle, the Kia has the right dimensions for the urban environment. And the Skoda is the most compact of the 3.

BHPian karan561 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

This is an Ownership Review of my 3 cars from the same segment: Skoda Kushaq 1L Torque Converter A/T v/s Toyota HyRyder Hybrid 1.5L eCVT v/s Kia Seltos 1.4 GT Line DCT.

The above video is divided into the following chapters as below:

• 0:01 - Intro
• 0:36 - Exterior Walkaround
• 3:47 - Driving Experience
• 13:23 - Interiors
• 19:49 - Final Showdown

This thread will discuss how these cars compare with each other, but if you are looking for a much more detailed & technical analysis then you can also view the individual ownership review threads of each of these cars.

• Kia Seltos Thread
• Skoda Kushaq Thread
• Toyota HyRyder Thread

Exterior

^ Let's start with the Toyota HyRyder Hybrid as this is the latest of all the 3 I own. In the flesh, this looks the longest out of all the 3 cars here and has a very respectful street cred thanks to the TOYOTA badge. I personally feel the HyRyder is a great-looking vehicle, especially in the white monotone shade making the car look taller than it actually is & highlighting the panoramic sunroof prominently. I also like the alloy wheels which are pretty (not the prettiest which IMO are of the Kia's).

^ The Kia is the oldest car of the lot but in my opinion, it looks the most modern, especially the front which is absolutely beautiful, right from the way the LED headlamps are designed to the implementation of the GT Line elements everything looks spot on and made to measure. The side profile too is just perfect and though the Kushaq's alloys are great looking I feel the Kia's alloys are the most well designed. Overall the dimensions are just right with the right amount of presence and size to fit in the urban environment.

^ Coming to the Skoda the design has typical European influence with clean lines and a great paint job. Front is a combination of being rugged and athletic whereas the rear is in line with the typical Skoda SUV design language. The highlight for me in the side profile of the Kushaq is the 17" Atlas alloy wheels which really enhance the looks. However, the Kushaq is the only car here which doesn't get rear disc brakes and makes do with a drum setup. The overall exterior design of the Skoda Kushaq is the most compact out of all the three.

Interior

^ I really like how the dashboard layout is in this Suzuki - Toyota partnership product. The leather treatment on the dash works really well and the seats too provide that continuity. Cabin is feature loaded and has a good amount of buttons to play around with, I particularly love the A/C controls. The HyRyder gets the best A/C cooling / performance out of all the 3 cars in the discussion here. The rear legroom is the most in the Hyryder, however, the headroom and the boot space are the least.

^ The cabin is in line with modern Skoda designs, however, it feels most dated to me. Be it the touchscreen operation and software or the cluster knobs which though clear and simple but look dated. This is the only car that doesn't have a HUD whereas the rest of the two have it.

I know there have been reports about A/C Performance issues, however, my car doesn't face any such issues, but the performance in comparison to the Toyota's is average.

Kushaq having the most compact dimensions on the exterior really surprises with the interior space & space management, particularly in the rear seat which gets great headroom, knee room and legroom too is adequate.

Missing features like No 360 Deg. Camera, No Powered Seats, No TPMS, no HUD, No Blind Spot Monitoring System / Camera etc are all missed and present in the Kia Seltos, which we discuss next.

The Kia gets the most modern interior IMO and I personally find it the best out of the 3. The GT Line treatment/spec helps in the overall vibe of the cabin. My car being the 1st lot (Oct. 2019) GTX+ I have no complaints with the interior quality, fit & finish. Feature list too tops in the Kia as this is the most equipped of the 3. The wireless charger is also the best performing (worst performing is of the Toyota). HyRyder won the A/C Cooling contest, but interestingly the Seltos' seat cooling performance feels better. The Kia also gets the best music system (BOSE Audio). Rear Seat & Boot space is well managed too in the modified K2 platform product.

Driving Experience

Starting off with the Kia Seltos as this is the most exciting car to drive of the lot.

^ This variant is the 1.4 GT Line GTX+ variant; it gets the 1.4 L Turbo petrol motor and a 7 spd DCT gearbox. This is the most engaging car to drive from the lot, thanks to this engine + gearbox combo. Also when it comes to the handling and suspension tuning the Seltos is the best as its the most stiffly sprung and that aids the best handling, it also gets driving modes & specially in sport mode the car feels the best thanks to the weight being added on to the steering.

However, the ride quality is the not best for the lot but definitely is good enough particularly as you are gaining good handling from this stiff suspension. I have done 1 mod which is wide tyres 235/55/ R17 (Michelin Primacy 4ST), this has properly transformed the driving experience of the Seltos. Speaking of a few negatives about the Seltos in this combination is that this gearbox is best suited for driving on open highways, within the city, it gets jerky (like any dual-clutch would).

Coming to the Skoda Kushaq, the variant I bought is the 1L Torque converter A/T, I picked the Tq converter as this is going to be used in the city 99% of the time & did not want the DCT as that would have been torture for the drivetrain for the conditions it's going to be driven in.

Let's get one thing straight as we discuss the Kushaq, this gets the best-sounding engine of the lot. I am aware that this is a 3cyl 1L engine but still, it has the most sporty engine sound. The power delivery too is good, especially in the mid-range but there are 2 problems with the engine. Also note that Skoda is the only one from this lot which gets Paddle Shifters (Seltos started offering them later, not in the 1st few lots).

• Being a small engine with a full capacity of passengers and a boot load it feels underpowered.
• Because of being a small 3 cyl big boost turbo engine this suffers from a turbo lag under 2000 rpm.

How does this compare to the Seltos when it comes to the ride quality, in one word Better. Yes, this Skoda suspension is tuned for more comfort than handling. However, the handling is not only about the suspension but also about the platform, the chassis, which IMO out of the 3, has the best chassis tuning making this car feel the best from a driver's perspective. Very Chuckable indeed.

Right, the Toyota HyRyder

The Hybrid HyRyder gets the largest engine of all the 3 cars I own being a 1.5L but it's the slowest of the lot and the least engaging to drive enthusiastically. However, once you know how to modulate the throttle response so as to extract maximum EV range before draining the battery out it's actually fun. Even if you keep repeating the cycle of trying to drive on EV mode draining the battery out then letting the battery recharge & having a driving style conducive to letting the battery pack recharge again is challengingly fun. All of this is fun within the city limits because as soon as you are on the highway this is a boring car to drive, especially after you cross 120 km/h which is the legal speed limit on our expressways.

Coming to the handling, this was a surprise as this is a very mature chassis & the suspension tuning too is very suitable for high-speed driving. One of the cars has a well-tuned sporty suspension but doesn't have that kinda power to exploit the same. Also if you were wondering which of the 3 cars has the best ride quality then the easiest answer to that question is the HyRyder. Hands down this is the most comfortable car to be in, be it in the city or on the highways, this always makes the driver as well as the passenger feel very good with the way this car drives and behaves on our Indian roads.

To give all these 3 cars a fair chance I devised a Points based rating system to grade them on multiple parameters.

If a car is GREAT at something then that car would get 3 points, if it's a GOOD performer then 2 points & if it's just OK then a single point will be rewarded;

• 3 = Great
• 2 = Good
• 1 = Ok

Based on the above the Toyota Hyryder Hybrid wins this contest, with the Kia coming in a close 2nd & the Skoda coming in last. I have not included Safety as a parameter because the Toyota HyRyder is still unrated. However, as an owner if I still had to pick 1 car out of all the 3 I own then that car would be the Kia Seltos as IMO it does everything really well, because it looks the best (from my eyes), tops the feature list (being the oldest of the lot), good on interior space (both front & rear), ride-handling balance (mature suspension), fun to drive (engine gearbox combo) and great balance of reliability (Yes), Economy (Respectable) & VFM (Sale numbers are a good Indicator) which is what the segment demands.

Hope this thread will help the prospective buyers of the segment in their decision-making process.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

The updated Seltos will also be equipped with Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS).

Images of another Kia Seltos facelift test mule have surfaced online. This time the images reveal a panoramic sunroof, which is expected to be offered on select variants.

The updated Kia Seltos will come with several changes both inside and out. The SUV will get a redesigned front grille with new LED headlamps, new design dual-tone alloy wheels, twin exhausts and sequential turn indicators.

The Seltos will also pack a host of safety features, including a 360-degree camera with blind spot assistance. But more importantly, the popular SUV will get Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS).

The Seltos facelift will also come with a new 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine, producing 158 BHP and 253 Nm. It replaces the current 1.4-litre turbo-petrol motor. Kia will carry forward the 1.5-litre petrol and diesel engine options.

Source: Rushlane

If I do go ahead, should I anticipate any hurdles in car registration since the vehicle is manufactured before the BS6 Phase 2 kicked in but registered later?

BHPian deshmumn recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

I am currently on the hunt to upgrade from my 10-year-old Hyundai i10 and focusing only on Petrol Automatic variants.

I recently visited a KIA showroom near me and was also offered the Seltos GTX 1.4 Turbo DCT. Although KIA is not offering this variant officially, when I enquired, the SA said, they have one manufactured in 2023 and are ready to offer it.

Would it be prudent to go ahead with this variant? If I do go ahead, should I anticipate any hurdles in registration since the vehicle is manufactured before the BS6 Ph-2 kicked in, but registered later?

Under other circumstances, I would not have considered this variant, but I could get a short TD of both the 1.4T DCT and 1.5 NA IVT variants. And compared to the 1.5 NA engine, the 1.4 was amazing!

Here's what BHPian wheelnpaddock had to say about the matter:

The Kia Seltos GTX 1.4 is a discontinued engine. Additionally, it is neither E20 nor RDE compliant. You may even get a discount as it’s discontinued. However, as it's not E20 compliant, the new E20 diet will do harm to the engine internals.

My suggestion would be to give it a pass and wait for the 1.5 turbo that should be launched shortly.

Here's what BHPian fhdowntheline had to say about the matter:

From what I understand, the Apr-23 timeline is for new cars off the assembly line effective 1st April, not a deadline for selling existing stock. So registration-wise, you would be fine.

Here's what BHPian ashis89 had to say about the matter:

Registration is not an issue for BS6 phase 2. But note that the Seltos facelift is undergoing road tests extensively and should be launched any time soon. If I were in your position, I would take the current gen IF I needed the car ASAP or I am getting a good discount. Else I would pre-book and wait for the facelift at the risk of a price hike.

Here's what BHPian Benoit had to say about the matter:

I would say, if you like it, you can go ahead with the 1.4L turbo. DCT is altogether a different problem, but the focus here seems to be on the engine front.

This is not RDE compliant/E20 compliant. But so are millions of cars in the country. Not like these cars are going to be scrapped. E20 fuel will be available as an option, like the higher octane/cetane fuels.

Do remember that the 1.4L turbo is an international engine as opposed to the newer locally made 1.5L turbo. Meaning, it has been tested so much across models, across countries. The newer 1.5L, being new, doesn't have testimonies on the reliability front. Also, if at all, a 1.5L turbo is available internationally, this locally-made one may not be an exact replica. So, I recommend you go with the proven 1.4L.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Honda plans to build 8,000 units of the Elevate SUV per month. A strong-hybrid version could be introduced at a later date.

Honda is all set to enter the mid-size SUV space with an all-new model that will compete with the likes of the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Volkswagen Taigun and Skoda Kushaq. If the latest reports are true, then it might debut on June 6, 2023.

Reports suggest that Honda's new mid-size SUV (codenamed: 3US) will make its global debut in Delhi next month. It could be called the Honda Elevate.

Honda’s new SUV will share its underpinnings with the 5th-gen City. In terms of design, the car is likely to borrow cues from Honda’s other global models. Spy images suggest that the car will have a decent road presence and will feature an upright front fascia with LED daytime running on either side, flared wheel arches and a set of roof rails. It is expected to measure anywhere between 4.2-4.3 meters in length. Inside, the SUV will reportedly come equipped with a 10.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system, among other features.

The mid-size SUV will be powered by the 1.5-litre petrol engine from the City, albeit in a higher state of tune. A strong-hybrid version is likely to arrive later, but it won't get a diesel engine option. Transmission options will include a 6-speed manual and CVT.

Source: Autocar India

I wanted to go for either Kushaq or VW Virtus but the Skoda is beyond my budget and I am concerned about getting in and out of the latter.

BHPian Sricar recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hyryder or Seltos

Looking to upgrade from a Grand i10. Budget is around 16 lakhs OTR.

Went to the Lanson Toyota showroom on ECR today to enquire about the S AT Neodrive variant. Being a Sunday only one salesperson was available. No crowd. But the S variant was not there. Only a G variant was available in cave black colour.

Me and wife liked the vehicle. Being on the wrong side of 60, the automatic being a torque converter appealed to me the most. The next thing I wanted to check was the back seat comfort. One major complaint in this vehicle I often hear on social media and TeamBHP is the back seat headroom.

I am a tad above 5'10" and in shoes, I stand nearly 6 feet. But I found the headroom very adequate. The back seat did not give us any claustrophobic effect. The interior in the front was passable. Not able to avoid the feeling that we were inside a Maruti. Driver-side switches could have been really improved. Bonnet was clearly visible from the driver's seat. Boot space was decent. It was obvious that the front doors were stronger than the back ones. A few taps on both doors will make you aware of this. Really don't know why these sorts of compromises are being made by the manufacturers.

I asked about adding alloys, changing the halogen to LED, fixing a 360-degree camera and changing to a bigger display. He advised me not to go for a bigger display and that the OEM one is adequate. Other things he readily agreed and quoted the below prices.

• Alloys-16k/per wheel (I felt this was on the higher side)
• Changing to LED headlights-10k
• 360-degree camera-20 to 25k (Does this cost this much in the aftermarket too?)
• Bigger display-25 to 35k (whew!)

The waiting period quoted was 3 to 5 months. May test drive it in a few days.

Then we visited Capital Kia in Adyar. Wanted to have a look at the HTK Plus IMT variant.

In this vehicle, I felt the roof being nearer to my head from the driving position. This is the second time I am having a look at the Seltos. We felt the room for 3 persons was slightly more than the Hyryder. But here the salesperson said they won't change the halogen to LED and said the OEM headlights are enough. But in the market report, the biggest complaint is the inadequate light throw in the HTK variant. The vehicle already has alloy wheels.

Both vehicles will have a good road presence.

When comparing the above vehicles in these particular variants these are the points to be noted.

Hyryder

• 17-inch wheels (But no alloys)
• Safety rating is expected to be at least 4 stars
• Torque Converter Auto
• Being a hybrid, will give more mileage than Seltos
• GC is 210mm
• All disc brakes
• Dealer says a few accessories can be upgraded at the showroom itself
• Wearing a Toyota badge (Though its a Maruti in disguise)
• Default warranty for 3 years or one lakh km
• Extended Warranty for 31k-5 years or 2 lakh km
• From the third service, we have to shell out 4 to 5k

Seltos HTK Plus IMT

• Alloy wheels (R16 compared to R17in UC)
• 6 airbags (Only two in UC)
• SunRoof (Not in UC)
• All disc brakes
• Bigger display
• Being an IMT, more control?
• Can wait for the arrival of the facelift this year
• Default warranty-3 years with unlimited km

I read a lot that this has an unstable shell. (Told by GNCAP?). That's a concern.

Having said that, I am a sedate driver and most of my driving will be within Chennai. Even on the highways, I may not reach more than 90.

I am leaving India in April and will be back only in September. I want to part with my much loved Grand i10 before leaving. So when I come back I can't afford to wait to get a car home. Given up two-wheeler riding and a vehicle is a must in the household. So before leaving, I want to book a car so that I can take delivery once I come back.

It is going to be a toss-up between the above two. Will be immensely great full for any suggestions between the above two or any other car. Mostly this may be the last car I may be buying.

Wanted to go for either Kushaq or VW Virtus. (Seeing great reviews for Virtus). Kushaq AT is beyond my budget. As far as Virtus is concerned ingress and egress is a major concern for a person like me, who isn't getting any younger.

Here's what BHPian drsachin had to say about the matter:

Alloys are definitely expensive, should not be more than 10-12k outside. Being a Maruti base, alloys should be easily available in the market.

360 camera is a tricky part. I did my market research before buying my Hyryder. Blockbuster bbt601 6GB, 128GB storage 9inch display with 360 camera is available in Delhi Karol bagh for around 30K+ Additional 2.5K for fitment.

I am a little surprised that the dealer offered a 360 camera which is not available as an official accessory with Hyryder/GV , so in all possibilities, he is offering an aftermarket camera only. In the aftermarket 360 camera alone is also available at some places(12-15k) but it's more of a Jugaad thing. Integrating this 360 camera with the OEM system is difficult and controlling various camera angles is also tricky.

Toyota/Maruti are also not providing the OEM 9-inch display (Used in G/V variant) as a separate accessory so if you upgrade to 9-inch, in most probability the dealer is offering an aftermarket display only.

Now regarding Seltos vs Grand Vitara/Hyryder

The only area where I feel Seltos is ahead is a slightly more powerful engine and better build quality.

TC gearbox from Aisin is way ahead of iMT which is not a proper automatic. Manual control is present even in TC using paddle shifters.

Regarding safety, I always consider the crash testing rating and structural stability ahead of Airbags. Kia is providing 6 Airbags in almost all cars since it knows all its cars have failed crash worthiness so using a psychological fix, its cars now come with 6 Airbags.

Hyryder suspension is way ahead of Seltos.

Sunroof only has a novelty factor, especially in India.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.