Kia Seltos vs Hyundai Creta: Spec Comparison

  • Published June 24, 2019
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Can the Kia Seltos better its own cousin, the Hyundai Creta? To find out, we pitch them against each other in our spec comparison

Korean giant Kia has finally made its debut in India with the much anticipated Seltos SUV. The Seltos has entered the hotly contested compact-SUV segment which is currently dominated by its Hyundai cousin, the Creta. While Kia has not revealed the complete specifications and variant-wise features for the Seltos just yet, we do have a fair idea of what to expect from the premium SUV. The Seltos has a lot riding on it shoulders, but does it have what it takes to dethrone its Hyundai cousin? We pitch them against each other to find out.

Styling:

The Seltos retains most of the styling bits we saw on the SP concept when it made its debut at the 2018 Auto Expo. It gets Kia’s trademark tiger-nose grille flanked by sleek LED headlamps. The DRLs run all the way from the corners to the centre, giving it a mean look. A skid plate and slim LED fog lamps complete the look at front. At the side, the 17-inch alloy wheels, clean lines and body cladding give it a tough look. The rear of the Seltos is clean yet premium with all-LED tail lamps that are connected by a thin chrome strip. An aggressive bumper tops up the cake.

While the Seltos screams mean and aggression, the Creta tilts towards elegance. Its front end is dominated by the Audi-esque grille. Flanking the grille are a set of halogen projector headlamps with prominent fog lamps below it. Clean lines and 17-inch wheel dominate the side profile. At the back, the Creta gets a tough-looking bumper and split LED headlamps to spice up an otherwise ordinary rear end.

The Creta is 4270 mm long, 1780 mm wide and 1665 mm tall. While Kia hasn’t released the dimensions of the Seltos, we expect it to be marginally bigger than the Creta.

Features:

 

Kia Seltos

Hyundai Creta SX(O) Executive

LED Headlamps with DRLs

Yes

DRLs only

Cruise Control

Yes

Yes

Climate Control

Yes

Yes

Rear AC Vents

Yes

Yes

Electric Seat Adjustment

Driver’s Side Only

Driver’s Side Only

Ventilated Front Seats

Yes

Yes

Wireless Charger

Yes

Yes

Infotainment

10.25-inch Touchscreen

7-inch Touchscreen

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

Yes

Yes

Connected Features

37 features

No

Keyless Entry

Yes

Yes

Push Button Start

Yes

Yes

Sunroof

Yes

Yes

Auto Headlamps

Yes

No

Rain Sensing Wipers

Yes

No

Heads-up display

Yes

No

Ambient lighting

Yes

No

Reclining rear seats

Yes

No

Rear door sun shades

Yes

No

Both the compact SUVs come well equipped to keep you comfortable. They get a touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, cruise control, sunroof, rear AC vents, electric driver’s seat adjustment, ventilated front seats, wireless charger and more. But when compared to the Creta, the Kia goes a step ahead and offers you a heads-up display, a larger 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system, audio-synced ambient lighting, 8-speaker Bose sound system, auto headlamps, rain-sensing wipers, reclining rear seats and rear door sun shades. It even gets a full LED headlamp setup.

Kia’s UVO Connected Tech:

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The UVO connected tech seen in the Seltos is similar to the one seen in the Hyundai Venue. An embedded SIM in the infotainment unit enables it to stay connected to the internet. Having a total of five categories -- Navigation, Safety & Security, Vehicle Management, Remote Control and Convenience -- the Seltos boasts a total of 37 connected features. Some of the major connected features in the Seltos include stolen vehicle tracking and immobilization, remote engine start and stop, remote air conditioner, voice commands and safety alerts which include speed limit, valet mode etc. The Kia’s UVO connected tech is offered for free for the first three years.

Safety:

 

Kia Seltos

Hyundai Creta SX(O)

Airbags

6

6

ABS with EBD

Yes

Yes

Camera and Sensors

Front and rear sensors with 360-degree camera

Rear sensors with rear camera

ESP

Yes

Yes

Traction Control

Yes

No

Hill Start Assist

Yes

Yes

Blind View Monitor

Yes

No


The Kia has you covered in this department by getting all the safety features one would expect in this segment. While the Creta gets you covered in almost all aspects, it misses out on traction control, the 360-degree camera, blind view monitor and front parking sensors that its cousin offers.   

Engine:

The Hyundai Creta gets a total of three engine options. A 1.4-litre and a 1.6-litre diesel, and a 1.6-litre petrol. The 1.6-litre petrol motor churns out 123PS of power and 151Nm of torque while the 1.6-litre diesel produces 128PS of power and 260Nm of torque. The 1.4-litre diesel on the other hand is the same one found in the Elite i20 and Venue, and puts out 90PS and 220Nm of torque. While the smaller diesel can be had with a 6-speed MT only, the 1.6-litre petrol and diesel can be had with a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed torque converter as well. 

The Seltos on the other hand comes with a total of three engine and four transmission options, a first in this segment. All these options of the Seltos will be BS6-compliant from day one itself.

Kia Seltos

1.4-litre T-GDi Turbocharged Petrol

1.5-litre Diesel (Expected)

1.5-litre Petrol (Expected)

Transmission Options

7-speed DCT

6-speed MT/6-speed AT

6-speed MT/CVT

Although the manufacturer hasn’t mentioned the specs of the engines, we have some information regarding its power outputs. 

Kia had only revealed the 1.4-litre T-GDi engine combo at the unveil. It is the flagship engine for the range and will be available in the top-spec GT trim. Power figures are expected to be around 140PS and 242Nm and it will come mated to a 7-speed DCT.

The rest of the range will be powered by  a 1.5-litre diesel or petrol unit. The diesel is expected to produce 115PS, which is significantly lower than the Creta’s 128PS power output. But the 1.5-litre engine is expected to produce more torque compared to its Hyundai cousin. The 1.5-litre petrol unit is also expected to push out the same figure as its diesel sibling. The Seltos also comes with three driving modes: Eco, Normal and Sport. It gets three terrain modes as well: Wet, Sand and Rock. 

Prices:

 

Kia Seltos

Hyundai Creta

Prices (ex-showroom, Delhi)

Rs 10 lakh to Rs 16 lakh

(Expected Price)

Rs 9.60 lakh to Rs 15.65 lakh

The Creta is the highest selling compact SUV in its segment. But with the Seltos coming in, things could change. On paper, the Seltos looks to overshadow its cousin as it has more features, aggressive looks and more engine and transmission combinations. And if Kia prices it right, we could se a new king of the segment soon enough.

But the Creta has an ace up its sleeve in the form of the Hyundai brand which people swear by. While the new entrant looks promising, it remains to be seen if it could persuade people to opt for Kia, a newcomer in India. If you had to pick one, which one would you consider and why? Let us know in the comments below. 

 

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