Re: Kia Seltos : Official Review Hi, fellow BHPians.
I've been a long-time reader of this website, first started way back in early 2011-12 when I wanted to upgrade my car from the Indica Vista (I know right) to the VW Polo (diesel, comfortline).
A lot has happened over the last 10 years, my Polo got totaled in a crash (courtesy of a friend who borrowed it to upgrade my headlamps), I bought a new Ecosport in 2017 (my luck that Ford shut shop), and finally when the EMIs cleared in late 2022, I got the urge of replacing my car (this could also be linked to my parents getting the new Sonet and me just in love with Kia cars - So I guess my parents' purchase became the catalyst for me to change my car.
A little about me - I'm married for three years now, my wife and I have a dog (medium size), and take trips to the hills (not really the rough ones) at least twice a year. My daily drive would be around 45-55 KMs (Delhi + Noida) and some days even more.
Some requirements for the new car:
1. Petrol - Don't trust Delhi and their plans with diesel cars, plus cost differentiation is not that substantial between petrol and diesel.
2. Automatic: I've torn my meniscus twice (I'm a football fanatic and that won't go) so automatics would be easy on my knees (plus my FIL has an automatic Jeep that I have been driving - and it's too easy compared to the MT)
3. Upgrade on the Ecosport - I don't want to settle for a smaller car, so no hatchbacks and I don't love sedans (it's probably because I don't identify as a person driving a sedan - probably sounds vague)
4. Budget - While initially the budget was between 18-20, I willing to spend around 22L for a car that deserves that kind of money.
5. Sunroof - Wife loves the panoramic sunroof, I'm okay with the normal one, but I know the bigger one won't harm one bit.
Getting into the cars' side of things, here are the cars that we have tested:
1.XUV700 - While we tested the AX& variant, the 28L on road was over our budget and the AX5 made more sense. When you look at the car in the showroom, it stands out, it's big, bulky, and commands attention. The test drive was okay, I liked the response I got the throttle, but didn't fall in love with the interiors. I feel they are too plastic for my liking (plus in the AX5 - mostly everything is fabric and shelling out 22-23L for fabric won't let me sleep at night)
2. KIA Seltos HTX IVT: I honestly love the Seltos - 3 of my closest friends own different variants and from the day I sat in the first one, I've always wanted one. I test drove the IVT variant a few days back and felt quite at ease with the car - the acceleration according to me was fine, so was the braking (on road with new costs is about 18.40L). The interiors look good and I love the fact that it comes with paddle shifters - something I've been fascinated with since I started watching F1 (way back in 03)
3. MG Hector - Man, this car is big, butch, and looks badass. The test drive was good - the seating was comfortable but few things that I just can't get over - the manually adjusting internal rear view mirror (how could they!) the outside rear view mirrors don't shut automatically if you lock the car, the laggy infotainment system & of course no physical buttons to change AC or anything else on the (which I feel is a true hassle when one I driving alone). Now, with the Hector you get two variants - Hector & Hector Plus (bench vs captain seats), and also, the new Hector is just around the corner, but that also means that the cost will increase from 23L to at least 25-26, maybe even touch 27. So this is a big problem.
4. Creta - Did not test drive the car, I sat in one of the showroom cars, but nothing grew on me, so didn't test drive it. Safe to say, this one is out.
5. Alcaraz - Wife wanted to see it, she likes the overall look of the car, it's spacious, but I just didn't like the plastic interiors (passenger side - above the glovebox) and the overall cost of the car 24.12L, doesn't seem worthy of the car.
Last but not the least
6. Hyrydr - It makes a lot of sense, getting a high mileage of 20+ is something that will keep the fuel expenses to a low, but the average interiors (I drove the new Glanza sometime back) and honestly, these interiors go better in that car, rather than a 22+L SUV. The dealership in Delhi didn't have a test drive (quite strange) and the first thing we were told was that the waiting is 6 months. Without really taking us through the car (wonder what changed in treating the customers well)
So that was the list - a couple of more things - I don't drive rash at all, I'm a simple sober driver, but obviously enjoy the occasional revving, especially on an empty road, so DCT isn't really something that interests me.
That's all folks - Here's hoping this post abides by the rules of the post (mods/admins - I apologise if something if off on this post)
Many thanks and happy driving to all. |