As an enthusiast driver, should I buy the XUV700 AX5 or Seltos GT?

Prices are similar for both. Also considering the Seltos HTX+ variant which is a lakh cheaper on-road.

BHPian naru80 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

My friend has shortlisted two cars and their specific variants as a daily driver:

XUV 700 AX5 AT (P) and Kia Seltos GT Line

• Where XUV700 scores: safer, bigger, powerful
• Where Seltos scores: features, reliability, city drivability

The prices are similar for both.

The use case is 40 km from Noida to Delhi commute on weekdays in peak rush hour. Please suggest. It will be 100% self-driven by an enthusiast driver.

My recco is the Seltos HTX+ which is a lakh cheaper on the road, comes with beautiful tan upholstery and is more comfortable with 17-inch wheels minus ADAS.

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

My vote goes for the XUV700 petrol. An acquaintance has the same car from the early batches, a manual variant, and I've only heard praises about the engine. Also, a torque convertor will be a safer choice than DCT given the traffic condition in Delhi and Noida during office hours.

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

I've been dealing with the same dilemma recently. I am currently in the process of purchasing my daily driver. I narrowed it down to Seltos GTX+ (Turbo Petrol DCT) vs ScorpioN Petrol AT. XUV700 and Scorpio are pretty similar in that they share the same engine, the only major difference being the body on frame vs monocoque. I considered both but liked the butch appeal of the Scorpio more. After doing 2 test drives each, I finally decided to book a Seltos.

While on paper ScorpioN made 200 horsepower, the tighter suspension and power-to-weight ratio made the Seltos feel more nimble. The new 1.5 TGDi is ultra-refined and gives you more grunt than you need in the city. The 18-inch wheels didn't compromise on ride quality either from my experience. The steering also has better feedback with the Seltos than with the XUV/Scorpio.

I loved the Scorpio predominantly for its road presence and ride height. It also helps that Mahindra has come a long way and gives ample kit and features in their cars. While Seltos has more features on paper, none of them will be frequently used in daily drives and most are good to have at best. I would recommend a ScorpioN Z8 over an AX5 XUV or bumping up to an AX7 if you wish to go that route, as certain essential things are missing in that variant. In a 20L+ car, I expect folding ORVMs, Leather upholstery and leather-wrapped steering wheel. Some great to-have features are also missing such as Rain Sensing Wipers and Auto headlamps. I would easily swap these for the sunroof.

Why I booked the Seltos was that practicality won. The Seltos feels like a more premium package. It is plenty fast, drives well, has better fuel efficiency and is much more reliable. If you can be happy with the understated road presence, I think you'd be happy with the Seltos as your daily driver. You spend most of the time inside your car and the Seltos has a nicer cabin, not just in features but in touch points as well (Turn indicators, steering wheel, metal pedals etc). Being 6'1 I also found the seats more comfortable in the Seltos.

I don't think either is a bad choice, they're both enough to make an enthusiast happy. Looking forward to seeing what your friend decides.

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

Hi. As others have opined, XUV700 petrol AT if primary considerations are performance, build quality (5 star rated), driving comfort (ride and handling balance), reliable gearbox ( TC over DCT), 3rd row and FE is NOT a CONCERN. I dropped the XUV700 petrol AT from my consideration set when I saw FE drop to 5-6kmpl in rush hour traffic during an extended test drive.

Seltos 1.5 Turbo AT if primary consideration features, size /nimble to drive and park in crowded city conditions, 2 rows AND can live with the stiffer ride ( I find it harsh and cannot bear cars with stiff suspension anymore)

If s/he's still sold on the Seltos, then here's a wildcard suggestion - how about Verna 1.5 Turbo SX DCT? It's the same engine and gearbox, better ride comfort and 3.5 Lacs cheaper before factoring discounts ( make that a travel+ DCT fund). Yes, s/he will need to nurse the gearbox in bumper-to-bumper traffic but it's the cheapest entry point to Hyundai - Kia turbo petrol and great VFM.

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