We put the specs of the Kia Seltos vs Next-Gen Hyundai Creta to see how these sibling SUVs from the sibling brands compare against each other on paper.
Kia Motors just launched the Seltos here in India today. The Seltos is Kia Motor’s first product in India and it has been much anticipated for. The Kia Seltos sits in the highly competitive mid-size SUV segment that includes the likes of the Hyundai Creta, the MG Hector, the Tata Harrier and also the Jeep Compass.
The Kia Seltos’s sibling, the Hyundai Creta has been on Indian roads for many years now and is one the most loved SUVs in the segment. However, it does not make much sense to compare the current-gen Creta with the all-new Seltos. Since the specifications of the next-gen 2020 Creta are already out on the internet, we thought that would make a better comparison.
So here we take a closer look at how the Seltos fares against the next-gen Creta, the two sibling SUVs from the two sibling brands, on paper.
Kia Seltos vs Next-Gen Hyundai Creta – Engine Specifications (Petrol)
| Model | Kia Seltos | Hyundai Creta |
| Engine | 1.5L Petrol/1.4L Turbo Petrol Engine | 1.5L Petrol/1.4L Turbo Petrol Engine |
| Power | 115 Bhp/140 Bhp | 115 Bhp/140 Bhp |
| Torque | 144 Nm/242 Nm | 144 Nm/242 Nm |
| Transmission | 6-speed Manual, CVT/7-speed DCT | 6-speed Manual, CVT/7-speed DCT |
As a matter of fact, the next-gen 2020 Hyundai Creta will be sharing its engines with the Kia Seltos. Currently, the Creta comes with a 1.6L petrol engine which produces 122 bhp. However, in order to save development costs, Kia and Hyundai will be sharing the same engines across many other models as well.
As for the 2020 Creta, it will get the 1.5L petrol engine an the 1.4L turbo-petrol engine from the Kia Seltos in the same state of tune and could also be offered with similar gearbox options. The two cars will largely be the same under the hood when the next-gen Creta comes out next year.
Kia Seltos vs Next-Gen Hyundai Creta – Engine Specifications (Diesel)
| Model | Kia Seltos | Hyundai Creta |
| Engine | 1.5L, CRDi Diesel Engine | 1.5L, CRDi Diesel Engine |
| Power | 115 Bhp | 115 Bhp |
| Torque | 250 Nm | 250 Nm |
| Transmission | 6-speed manual/6-speed Torque Converter | 6-speed manual/6-speed Torque Converter |
The story is same for the diesel engine as well. Hyundai has anyway said that they are going to discontinue their 1.4L and 1.6L diesel engines post the BS-VI emission norms become effective. The 1.5L diesel engine will be sourced from Kia Motors for the Hyundai Creta in the same state of tune and the transmission options will also likely remain similar. However, there are rumours that Hyundai could also be offering this diesel engine in a lesser state of tune for a price advantage.
Kia Seltos vs Next-Gen Hyundai Creta – Dimensions
| Dimensions | Kia Seltos | Hyundai Creta |
| Length | 4,315 mm | 4,300 mm |
| Width | 1,800 mm | 1,790 mm |
| Height | 1,620 mm | 1,622 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,610 mm | 2,610 mm |
The next-gen 2020 Hyundai Creta will have sure grown in dimensions from the current-one. It will be 30 mm longer, 10 mm wider and its wheelbase will also have grown by 20mm. However, it will be lower by 8 mm than the current one. With the increase in its dimensions, it will be very close to those of the Seltos, but it will still be very marginally smaller than the Seltos. Both the cars however share the exact same wheelbase as they are based on the same platform.
Exterior Design
The Seltos’s design is all about the drama. The sharp lines beautifully bring out the muscles in the Seltos. The car is very proportionate, has the perfect stance and the LED head lamps and tail lamps will take your heart away. The details on the Seltos are really impressive like knurled finish on the tiger nose grille. The Seltos is easily the better looking SUV. It’s looks smart, contemporary and you definitely will turn your head when it goes down the road. Nevertheless, looks are a subjective matter and both cars look good in their own individual way.
The next-gen 2020 Creta on the other hand has been completely redesigned from what it is now. The next-gen Creta has already been launched in the Chinese market where its called the ix25. The next-gen Hyundai Creta gets Hyundai’s new cascade grille, new split LED headlamps and tail lamps and a completely different face and tail. The looks might not be to everyone’s taste and there might be some changes to the India-spec version, but the car retains its overall stance and looks quite similar in profile as well.
Also Read : 2019 Hyundai Elantra Facelift Launch Confirmed For Mid-September
Interiors and Features
The Kia Seltos has a very neat yet sophisticated interior design scheme with very good ergonomics. It is absolutely loaded with every feature you can image of and then some more. Quality of materials and fit and finish are absolutely great as well. It even gets connected car technologies and also a heads-up display. The design of the dashboard also looks very premium and fresh for our eyes. It also gets numerous segment first features and thus is extremely good value for money as well.
Now, coming to the next-gen 2020 Hyundai Creta, the interiors see a bigger change than the exterior. The dashboard is dominated by the infotainment screen flowing down the main center console. There’s minimal use of buttons with only a few on the center console. There’s a new gear lever, and the infotainment system surround with the center console gets a beautiful piano black finish, the rest being finished in beige. There’s also a new all-digital instrument cluster. That’s a huge departure from the current Creta and a good one indeed.
Also Read : Hyundai Will Discontinue 1.4L and 1.6L CRDi Diesel Engines Post BS-VI Emission Norms!
Prices
The current-gen Hyundai Creta is priced from Rs 9.60 lakh to Rs 15.65 lakh, ex-showroom. The Seltos has been launched today in India with a starting price of Rs. 9.69 lakhs, and goes all the way up to Rs. 15.99 lakhs. Kia has absolutely nailed the segment with the pricing of the Seltos. It promises to be much more value for money than the Creta considering the level of equipment, the wide variety of engine configurations and the stunning looks as well. With the arrival of the next-gen Hyundai Creta next year, it would be interesting to see how the Seltos fares against its updated brother then.
