So, I drove the 430kms between Bangalore & Dharwad for the Ugadi festival & I kid you not, it was the most relaxing drive I have ever had.

BHPian Desi_Dybuk recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Finally I took delivery of my Kia Seltos X Line Petrol DCT last week. This is my first car purchase for myself in over 12 years & is joining my stable of 2011 Hyundai Verna Fluidic (very reliable & not a single issue in over 12 years and 1.9 lakh kms). Delivery experience was seamless with PPS Kia on Mysore Road in Bangalore. (Although, I have purchased cars like Fiat Linea & Maruti Baleno for my dad & Maruti Baleno for my spouse over the years, this is my first car purchase for myself in 12 years)

I had booked my car via Acko Drive & didn't visit the dealership till PDI! I am going to write a separate post on the comedy of errors & frustration that was Acko Drive. (TLDR: Avoid services like Acko Drive & save yourself the stress)

Before delivery, I confirmed that the model was a 2024 manufactured on (by checking the 10th digit of VIN as R) and the month of manufacturing was Feb 2024 by checking the VIN number under the front seat which had -B stamped on the sheet metal after VIN.

I have driven 690 kms so far now since I drove to my native for Ugadi festival. Before purchasing the car, I was thinking that ADAS would be useful, marginally at the max, on the highways. Now having driven the vehicle on both highways & city streets, I am a convert to the logic of ADAS.

First things first: ADAS isn't for you if you are the sort who weaves in & out of lanes on highways without signalling & shadowing other vehicles closely. And it isn't for you if you drive like our notorious Bangalore Auto Annas without discipline. If you are, you are better off turning off ADAS because sooner or later, you are going to get yourself in trouble in real hurry.

Now, I consider myself a very sedate driver & I am someone who likes to stick by rules. Having driven in lots of countries, I am a strong believer of defensive driving. If it takes someone 45 minutes to get from point A to point B, I would rather spend additional 15 minutes extra & arrive safely by following rules of the road. (I get made fun of by my friends on this, but I am least bothered). The last ADAS equipped vehicle I drove was a Tesla in US & KIA's limited system was comparable for the feature set it offers (of course, Tesla is much much more advanced).

So, I drove the 430kms between Bangalore & Dharwad for the Ugadi festival & I kid you not, it was the most relaxing drive I have ever had. This was the method I followed;

1. I would select the middle lane & the Seltos would recognise the lane lines & ADAS would keep the car centered in the lane.
2. I never took my hand off the steering wheel & would give a light tug on the steering wheel once in a while.
3. I set Smart Cruise Control to 90 or 95 (I never drive over 95 on India roads unless it's an expressway) & would camp happily in the center lane. If there was a slow-moving truck, I would put the blinkers on, move over to the next lane, let ADAS pick up the lane lines & then let Seltos handle the drive.
4. If I wanted to make a lane change, the lane departure & blind-spot monitor worked perfectly. The forward radar also worked beautifully & I kept the distance to the vehicle ahead to the shortest possible distance.
5. Even in the city, I drive sedately & I don't shadow people. ADAS is unintrusive. I haven't turned off any of the ADAS features even in city.

In short, if you are a rule following driver, ADAS will make your drive a lot less stressful & will make you a better driver.

On a very interesting sidenote: My very first car I bought with my own money was a Kia Sephia in US when I was a student there. While all other Desis went for Toyotas or Hondas with 6-digit miles, I bought a 3-year-old Kia Sephia with hardly 31,000 miles on it & with full warranty left for another 2-3 years from a disgruntled husband who was selling his ex-wife's car. During those days, Kia & Hyundai were considered very poorly in US.

That little Kia served me loyally for few years till I totalled it on Houston freeway. And because of how trouble-free my experience with the Kia Sephia was, I have only bought Korean cars across continents since then; Hyundai Accent, Hyundai Azera, Hyundai Verna & now a Kia Sephia. Goes to show how much initial impressions last a lifetime.

Read BHPian comments for more insights and information.

The Seltos being relatively old is getting some handsome discounts to the tune of Rs. 40K plus basic accessories kit free.

BHPian vijay.s recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Need help in choosing between the Hyundai Creta Turbo Petrol DCT Automatic / Creta N-line N10 DCT automatic / Seltos GTX Plus DCT Automatic.

The Seltos being relatively old is getting some handsome discounts to the tune of Rs. 40K plus basic accessories kit free. However, there are no such offers for either the regular Turbo petrol Creta or the N-line Creta released just this week.

When compared to the Regular Creta Turbo Petrol DCT Automatic, there is a price difference of approx 50K and approx 1L when compared to N Line DCT automatic. Note this difference does not account for any accessories beside the basic kit for 6K being provided by Hyundai. However, In seltos, I am getting 25K worth of accessories free too which the dealer refused to convert to cash in addition to the 40K discount. Is the price difference worth going with Seltos.

Reason I am asking this question is primarily from the standpoint of safety being emphasized by Creta. I could personally feel the heaviness when lifting the bonnet too and even in the doors of facelift creta.

Anyone else caught up in similar confusion?

Heard from the folks at Kia that there is a price rise in the first week of Apr (after FY2023 ends) and hence need to make my decision fast

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

I have been through a similar confusion. The deciding factor and the deal breaker was the UV cut glass which is available in the Seltos but not in the creta. In Chennai, without this feature, getting into a car under the sun would be very painful.

The second factor was ride comfort which based on reviews is better in the Seltos GT rather than the N-Line because of the stiffer suspension.

The third criteria is that regular creta has light colour seats which will become dirty under my household usage, and hence I prefer only dark seats. Ruled out regular creta completely due to this reason. While N-Line is preferred due to all black interiors, I prefer the Seltos due to the UV glass and ride comfort

Here's what BHPian 07CR had to say on the matter:

I guess it's just the mindgames. In a Hyundai showroom the SAs have been trained to emphasize on better build quality because Creta lacks the equipment of Seltos. With repeated such quotes our mind starts thinking on same lines. Cross posting from other thread regarding BHPian's observation on both cars structure. With additional discounts and the additional equipment which Seltos carries over Creta/ Creta N line, it's a no brainer for me.

Here's what BHPian crenthu123 had to say on the matter:

I do not know, why people are not thinking about the safety aspect of the current Seltos, the car is really unsafe and I have several examples for that. New Creta hopefully will receive a 5 star like Verna as it feels much more solid than the older creta. So, please consider this before making a purchase decision or wait for the next generation Seltos 2025'/26'.

Read BHPian comments for more insights and information.

I previously had a Ford and while I felt their service centre was good, Kia's feels even better.

BHPian Chugh_H recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

Sharing a small update on my GTX+ DCT

I have now completed 7500 km with my car and by the end of this month, I am expecting to add another ~2000 km to my odo. I have enjoyed the ownership so far, car has been a joy to drive within city limits as much as it is on the highways. I am satisfied on most accounts (yes, even suspension) except for that one back-of-the-mind feeling that in case of an unfortunate crash, the body structure could have been stronger. There are a lot of things that could have been better with the car, but as an overall package - it still holds a good rank in this price range. No regrets so far.

The reason for this update is something else though. About 3 weeks ago while I was driving on my usual commute, the engine check light lit up along with a warning on the ICE screen to contact the service centre. I called customer care, and the representative confirmed it is okay to drive the car to my home (~7 km) as long as the check light is not red and the car is not behaving abnormally. They also connected me to the nearest service centre (Allied Kia, Gurgaon) and the service manager promptly connected me to the front desk so I could book an appointment. Fast forward to the weekend, I took the car to service; I couldn't capture the error code on the picture but it was something around 'Higher rpm than normal'. The service advisor recommended throttle body cleaning which is what they did and then cleared the error code history after a test drive. I could not sense anything wrong with the car's behaviour throughout this time.

My earlier car (Ford) had an engine wiring issue which cropped up in the 2nd month of ownership, the car was taken to a service centre and it took them ~4 days to deliver it back to me. This kind of thing doesn't bother me much to be honest as I understand all mechanical things could fail at any point, but the service I receive when the sun ain't shining is how I benchmark companies. I will have to say my understanding of why the AAM junta puts so much weight on good service when buying a car has got better after this instance. Ford is good, Kia is even better! All reps acted like they were invested in their company, and conscious that they represented Kia and not their service centre. They explained to me why such things could occur, explained what they did and how can I reach out to them easily if something crops up again. Special mention to the service manager - Surinder Kumar - he walked to me every ~10 mins while my car was in the service bay and ensured I understood that it was not a big issue and what would they do if re-occurs. I rate them 10/10 on service. FYI, I am not affiliated with them in any way.

Pictures of the engine check warning are attached below for reference. I am curious to know if anyone else who has used 1.5T for >5k kms has faced such an issue, couldn't find anything on the forum/internet so seems to be a one-off sensor issue.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

The fuel efficiency of 12-15 km/l isn't bad for a fully loaded SUV.

BHPian Nrulz recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Journey with Team-bhp:

About me I am passionate about technology; I take time to gather detailed inputs, analyse in-depth and make decisions.

It took almost a year to decide on my first bike which my dad bought for me during my college days (Yamaha Libero 2005); burdened by my analysis, my mates made good fun of me, that I am never going to buy one. Happily, Libero turned out to be my best bud ever; although meagre 107cc engine (decided purely for mileage, whooping 60km/litres), still i have had exciting fun moments with my bike. The Rush of wind as we accelerate and crisscross zooming into city traffic; I never thought I would ever enjoy a car as much.

My Dad’s Chevrolet Beat Diesel 2013 which I started driving in 2016 changed that opinion. Cars are certainly fun to drive in a totally different league. Great power comes with great responsibility: Only after several dents, several broken ORVMs, head-on collision & one major event. Best Moments: driven the car from 35k on ODO till 110k during 7 years; several meticulously planned multiple-day trips; improved know-how on the vehicle through several experiences. Although no gush wind fun; Never short of surprising manoeuvres & overtakes.

Chevy Beat did show its age, when the urge to find a new vehicle crept in. During 2020, came across team-bhp: started to read mainly for truly unbiased passionate vehicle reviews; eventually, I ended up reading the forum every day (page by page). Forum’s advice to retain the existing car is a godsend, I would say. GTO’s advice <How a more expensive car can work out cheaper (if you hold onto it for longer)> (How a more expensive car can work out cheaper (if you hold onto it for longer)) was spot on. I invested in suspension + tyre upgrade + a/c revamp worth 90k during 2021, which made Chevy almost like new; reaped the benefits for the next 2 years. Where can I ever get such timely advice than our beloved forum -> My Membership was approved in July 2021 (what an honour). I immediately bought the team-bhp t-shirt, keychains & stickers; and saved them for the new car.

Unplanned happens and for a Reason:

Coming to December 2023, Floods arrived with its own plans. The apartment basement got flooded and Chevy Beat along with Libero were submerged in water for 6 long days. Having explored several options to Retain (Repair as a secondary car; Repurpose - more of an autopsy & use as show piece; reinvent - covert to EV?): after several sleepless nights & analysis, eventually realised vehicles have to be declared a total loss (safer from ownership termination perspective). We started the hunt for a new car, with more clarity on our requirements than before (reading team-bhp did make one car-wise or to be precise generally-wise - we get more than just car advice here).

Requirements & Usage Pattern

Chevy Beat was used as a beater car (daily office run was around 100km mostly highway + weekend local trips); Thought of shifting our usage pattern for new car as below:

• Daily office commute - Use public transport [car-less time post flooding made the trail runs in public transport practical - turned out better even health-wise] - Of course there will be fun exception drive days to office
• Weekend - Plan Highway Trips

Due to the wise decision of delaying the purchase during the year 2021 (thanks to team-bhp), we have a little more savings now, to look for the segment above with the below requirements.

• Reliable Brand & Service [Having lived post GM’s exit; we did learn our lesson; we can always build good rapport and improve relationships for better service - Never had problem in terms of Service or Spares availability]
• Bigger than Chevrolet Beat [Higher stance + More Space]
• Powerful Engine affordable in that Model/Segment [Sporty]
• Latest Technology [willing to explore; including touch-controls & ADAS]
• Safe car [for Long Trips] - my perspective on safe, improved several folds reading our forum; decided not to go only by star ratings
• Environmentally better [than Diesel of BS4] - Not exactly an EV [Plan: Bicycle + Public Transport or Ola/Uber within city] - Mainly to offset the sins committed (personal opinion. no offence)
• Automatic if possible due to the added comfort, improved fuel efficiency and still fun to drive

Cars considered & Shortlist:

We had shortlisted Ford Ecosport during year 2021 [ARTICLE: How to buy a *NEW* car in India - Manufacturer research - saved us or its a missed opportunity to experience Ford, i don’t know]. We did like S-Cross as second Best option. Brezza, Nexon, Venue were other options considered at that time. Coming to year 2024:

Disclaimer: Below are personal opinion only; No offence intended; all the vehicles had their positives [we had to shortlist only one due to budget constraints]

1. Volkswagen Taigun - Impressed the moment we entered the showroom. Kings red it was with red shade interior. Black/Lava Blue was second option. Wonderful package of engine + features combination although a little expensive. Shortlisted the GT 1.5 MT Variant. For 2023 model, sales person gave an amazing discount of 1.5 lakhs. We thought we will go home and just book as he gave time until 4th Jan for this offer. However, surprisingly the showroom personnel who spoke to us on new year eve with a lot of enthusiasm, never bothered to do a single follow-up. I did send him a Thank-You note for his detailed explanation the same night after reaching home. Maybe if he had responded, our decision might have changed, because we were so attracted to the vehicle or it happened for a reason. Price did increase as they suggested for 1.5L variants starting Jan, but we already made our other choice by then.
2. Skoda Kushaq - Monte-carlo MT was the choice; however, the colour options were limited. Red was too red (although i liked it; didn't get a necessary approvals). Matt Black was available but didn't consider for color shortlist. Crystal blue on Slavia looked awesome, but wasn't available on Kushaq
3. Tata Nexon - Facelift of Nexon did not impress us visually as did the pre-facelift model. We did not take a test-drive; DCA gearbox availability in facelift is a tempting option. Feature-wise Nexon is massively impressive for the price. I need to mention about the kind nature of the sales person and the even nice follow-up calls we got; we would definitely keep Tata as an option for future.
4. Maruti Grand Vitara - Probably Volkswagen effect, although warm greetings and busy-busy outlet, we felt unimpressed visually. S-Cross did win us over better. Availability of AWD version & Hybrid technology were the impressive bits, but given limited options & constraints (less powerful engine), not considered. Why even mention AWD - i was seriously interested in Hilux (i wish the perception about pick-up vehicles change in India, to own one the future)
5. Honda Elevate - What an impressive package: comfortable seats, ground clearance and what not. Rejected at look of front grills, we didn't even take a test drive of the car so cannot comment on the NA engine performance. Adding hybrid tech to the mix in near future will definitely make Elevate a compelling package for city use.
6. Hyundai Creta - As soon as the facelift was out, we took the test drive of both IVT and Diesel Manual (DCT test drive car was not available) and felt extremely comfortable. Light interiors is a concern and also the big boxy front grill was not approved. Emerald Pearl colour was impressive (the one we test drove). We thought of waiting till N-Line, but were sure that the interiors would be black. Wider network of Hyundai is biggest advantage but falling in love with the vehicle is worth sacrifices
7. Aspirational other segment cars: XUV700 AX7L, Harrier, Tucson; EV - My next purchase will certainly be an EV. For now, closely following team-bhp as the technology unfolds
8. Kia Seltos - We visited Kia showroom on January 13th and Seltos facelift (Peuter Olive) GTX+(S) quite impressed us as we entered the showroom; shifted our awe factor from Taigun. We happen to look at Sonet X-line at showroom (we thought this is going to be a pain to maintain). Took test drive of Diesel AT (Torque Converter) on same day: Diesel engine power felt adequate, however, math came into play [Chevy Beat weights around 900 Kg with 56 ps power; Seltos with twice the weight 1800 Kg with 115 ps i.e. almost twice power of Chevrolet Beat - felt not quite an upgrade]. I was already prepared for DPF/SCR handling/best practices after reading our forum and also BS6 diesel felt better for environment (relative). We requested for DCT test drive, but didn't get one to decide. After 2 weeks, Sales person brought home a DCT test drive car: upon driving understood the smoothness of the shifts (much better than AT) but couldn't really test the full power on offer but acceleration was impressive. Decided DCT: again team-bhp to rescue 2023 Kia Seltos Facelift: Which engine + gearbox option would you ... (Kia Seltos Facelift | Which engine + gearbox combination would you buy?). Knowing the uncertainly of DCT gearbox, decided to learn the DCT best practices and also took the extended warranty as recommended by team-bhp. Seltos ride quality was stiff compared to Creta test drive (from numerous threads on larger profile tyres, we knew this is due to R18 wheels); decided against tyre upgrade i.e. even same size due to warranty clause. I also read the entire user manual (this did give lot of insights about the vehicle and warranty clause).

Buying Experience:

• Having experienced the floods, We were focussed on getting a year 2024 manufactured vehicle only and there were no offers on 2024 models
• 2023 model cars (few stocks left available) had some offers, so we requested to check availability of Peuter Olive GTX+ variant; to our dismay none available (only white and red available - we didn't quite like the red shade compared to the kings red of Taigun, so as we were wondering, sales person mentioned that an X-Line (S) DCT is available. We knew this is matt and definite No. After few discussions at home and sage green interiors impressing us, we thought of checking this out. Sales person was kind enough to arrange a visit to the stockyard (he was fine, even if we decide no). The ride we took to stockyard was a GTX S-trim model, so we happen to experience the normal kia speakers (not the bose one's) and felt it to be good. 360 degree camera was something which never impressed currently (this tech is handy & going to improve several folds in near future). The Day: Feb 14th , as we entered the stockyard love at first sight - X-Line(S) DCT model was stationed ready for our PDI. No water damage was noticed (did a video recording of car underbody to inspect). ODO had 20km on it. Person who accompanied us was very kind enough to give us more details without us requesting that they have another stockyard nearly which was getting flooded, when they moved all the vehicles to the new stockyard on-time. However, VIN indicated that this is October manufactured, against sales person mentioning it as December model. During test drive sales person mentioned a discount of 70k for 2023 model and before stockyard visit we negotiated to 90k. Since we found an October model we requested for a final discount of 1lakh. (Thanks to team-bhp again @Flasshhhh your posts on negotiation skills really helped us). I have several others to thank on the Seltos facelift thread, who answered every query; we did ready vehicle ownership threads of every other vehicle considered. so this Thank You list will be never ending
• Next day, we got a call later in the day that they are fine with the discount requested, so we proceeded to pay the booking amount. From here, things moved so fast: there were several back & forth with the sales team (they followed a pre-defined process, where they assumed lot of things, but was not giving me confidence - for instance, they were asking me to pay full amount, without confirming that the vehicle that we did PDI, was the one getting allocated). A Senior sales person pitched in and gave necessary assurance i.e. sharing e-mail confirming the VIN allocated etc. after which we decided to proceed with the payment. [Note: remember to verify the contact details given during booking process - as dealership does this on their own for existing stock, they entered my e-mail wrongly, which caused most of the confusion). Again thanks to team-bhp for the PDI checklist and also the thread - taking Loan on FD, which helped us plan the finance. Several thread on Insurance helped us decide, insurance from the dealer itself, where discounted price was applied.
• Last but not the least, we also decided to plunge the discount to get PPF done (saint-gobain - dealer had a tie-up) where we also got a discounted price [Lot of investment, but till date it's effortless to maintain the exteriors]

Accessories

From Kia:

• Premium Dual Layer Mat - Excellent - Advantages - Easy to remove fine dust and Good coverage for the dead pedal & rear center passenger
• 3D boot mat - We went conservative here, as premium boot mat was expensive. Usage of boot space was always rough like dragging of luggage, so went simple
• Side Step - Advantages outweigh the cons i.e. reduced ground clearance: Convenience of getting in/out without damaging the seat leather edges, Protection of side panels from nearby vehicles & mud splashes from wheels during rain
• Car cover - Good; flimsy but being so has its advantages like easy to install + remove + store
• Key cover - This is totally worth it. Gives premium look to the keys
• Door Visor With Chrome Insert - only chrome accessory (with some hesitation); however, sales advisor suggested advantages - ability to keep windows open a bit during rains & hot days; look-wise chrome complementing the unavoidable bottom window chrome line

Accessories carried over from previous car:

• Dashcam - Qubo 4k - Surprisingly survived 6 days of immersion in water. Recording quality is adequate so far. Have been using a power bank to run the dashcam. SD card did not survive the floods, so had to buy another.
• Lumbar support & Neck support cushions - Anomeo - This brand from travel blue has been perfect companion [this is absolutely necessary - read further under seat/ride comfort]
• Dusting & Cleaning products - From Shell outlet
• Sun Windshield Protection Sheets - For open parking

Delivery Experience

Delivery date was finalised as 24th February. We were excited and thanks to PDI checklist, we bought some return gifts for the day. We had a look at the PPF work, which was impressive, as they explained the properties of the film and why it is the best decision. Saint-gobain team was very passionate and they were super careful detailing every bit (they used gloss films for the gloss parts and matt film for the matte parts). It was sad to look at parts being removed to apply PPF, but the expertise with which they handled, gave us lot of confidence. We couldn't do a complete PDI again but since we took photos of significant issues during first PDI (we verified those). ODO had come to 88km. Finally, as the car arrived at the designated delivery spot and covered in black cloth, we unveiled our car, getting the keys and sharing the return gift & sweets. First drive, was indeed nervous, but luckily previous test drive experiences helped a bit.

Seltos BAdaSS [Brave, Assertive, Speed & Sportive] - Seltos X-Line (S) DCT (Initial Observations during 2000 Km drive - 500Km of which is in the city):

Visual Appeal

Exterior is grabbing attention on city roads (bikers at least pillion turn to have a look). Good road presence (only relative to previous car). Respected on highways (dual tip exhausts play a stunning role). Sage green interiors are soothing and interior is well laid out

1.5 TGDi Engine/ DCT Gearbox

Best part of the Vehicle. Run-in period as suggested by user manual is to keep engine rpm between 2000-4000 rpm for first 1000 km. Planned a highway trip which helped. DCT shifts are super smooth. For City driving, release of brake is good enough for closing gaps in slow moving traffic. Practicing shift to neutral during stop at signal (ISG comes into play to save fuel). For Highways, keeping the acceleration as linear as possible. Auto Hold is clever touch, what a relief. For a sporty automatic, DCT is way to go. In city, patience.

Drive Modes

1. Eco - Sedated driving (lowest RPM) - Difference from Normal mode is observed during overtaking - Best for city as well as sedated driving on highways
2. Normal - Mostly this is all we need; maintains decent RPM and was able to take overtakes with little effort and fuel efficiency was not bad either
3. Sport - Super quick acceleration; 2000 rpm is reached at very low speeds; Good for highways when fuel efficiency is not priority

Observation: after every vehicle restart, by default normal mode is engaged, which also seems to be reasonable from above listed points

Drive Comfort

8 way power adjustable seats + Steering reach & tilt combination helped in getting into a comfortable driving position. Center armrest + Door armrest combination although cushioned were hard but still providing adequate support (Too soft would also make us uncomfortable during long drives; I figured having a turkey towel kind of cotton over them makes it wonderful to use during long highway drives); Road visibility is super good, ORVM's are adequate and blind spot indication is cool. IRVM is also excellent. HUD is a boon even during day time - Especially the feature where the highway symbols are automatically displayed on the HUD i.e. if speed limit is 80kmph, this is indicated on the HUD, along with current speed [even other road signs are displayed around 70% accurately]. Hardly it is required to look at the instrument cluster, which feels safe.

Brakes although crisp, once adopted are confident inspiring.

Ride quality & Passenger Comfort

For a Sporty car, R18 wheels are confident inspiring at high speeds. As many have already suggested, reducing tyre pressure does wonders to ride quality at some expense of handling. We decided to go with 35 psi for this trip and during run TPMS was indicating 39 psi for heated tyres. So as bhpian already indicated, need to try lower psi (especially for bad roads) to arrive at right balance. Seat cushions were indeed firm including the headrest. This can be good as well as bad. Observed that having additional cushion (beneath headrest) is mandatory. During long highway trip, head banging the hard headrest was causing pain. No lumbar support (seems Seltos in other countries get this feature). Ventilated seats for front passengers makes journey comfortable. For rear passengers, we need to add something like (wooden bead mat) in future.
Overall, on good roads, we hardly feel that car is moving at 120 km/h (literally no tiredness of travelling). On bad roads, keep her under 20 km/h or lower and manoeuvre carefully. If travelljng consistently on bad roads, adjust tyre pressure prior.
Having moved on from Diesel; Petrol NVH experience is totally silent. Stock JK Tyres haven't been noisy either. I have used UC6 on my Chevy Beat which was super comfortable and confident inspiring. JK UX Royale has been of similar experience so far (not driven too hard yet). I plan to keep the stock tyres as they seem good & for warranty reasons

ADAS

• I requested sales representative to turn-off ADAS as we drove from showroom but he suggested that keep it on this will be helpful. Definitely True till date.
• A - Advanced but eventually simple algorithms which we need to understand before getting confidence [I am still on the learning curve]
• DAS - Driving Assistance System - Expectation is that it assists the driver and it does a commendable job [I remember one instance on highway when ADAS instructed to keep both hands on the steering; what more can we expect]
• Smart cruise control is a boon for long drives. Paired with lane follow assist and lane keep assist; Thank You ADAS. Even the coffee break alerts are fine [after all it is trying to help]
• Even in City - ADAS is awesome. I had once instance where a pedestrian suddenly ran across in front of the vehicle trying to cross the road [although i was alert and applied the brakes myself; ADAS kicked in and applied a sudden brake when the vehicle went close to the pedestrian - It was shocking, but to be honest, if i think now; it's better this way
• I wish the user manual is able to list all the working parameters of ADAS precisely; Reality: we have to figure out many things by experience.
• Overall this is the best safety feature of the car and having ADAS controls in the steering is clever touch. Even in our crowded city traffic, never had any issues with ADAS (after all it's active only above certain speed limits). Not planning to switch off anytime; will document the observations.

Other Features

• Bottle holders, Center armrest storage, Center console storage - Well thought layout and excellently put together.
• Kia's Music System is quite good. Did't regret missing Bose speakers.
• Remote/Connected Tech - Yet to explore fully, but ability to start the vehicle/climate control ahead, is a boon.
• Panaromic sunroof was hardly used during this trip due to sunny weather; we used voice commands to operate sunroof once during a lunch stop over on the highway; cabin feels airy and view is spectacular.
• Auto up-down windows are very convenient; In built sun-blinds for passenger windows is welcome feature and UV glass help a lot during hot weather. All buttons are backlight, which is nice touch.
• Air purifier is doing fair job [Yet to explore the car diffuser].
• Boot space felt adequate: we took 2 medium & 1 small baggage trolley on the trip (which took up most of the space); realised that taking duffel bags instead, might have been a better decision; Removing the parcel tray might have made way to more space (need to explore more during next trip)
• Map lights, Sunglass holder & other interior lights - Good placement. Buttons feel a little flimsy built though (to be handled with care)
• Head Lights - Adequate [did not have trouble during the night rides]. Auto dimming IRVM is a real saviour - remember the multiple flips i used to perform on my chevy beat.
• Apple CarPlay - Awesome. Being wired doesn't bother a bit. Phone get's hot when connected, so have been removing the case prior. Kia navigation has it's advantage of integrating nicely into the HUD; however, Apple CarPlay wins hands-down with it's simplicity.
• Wireless charging with cooling function - Necessary feature; not utilised fully.
• Ambient lighting - Wonderful during night drive & music integration is awesome.
• Voice commands - works nicely on the sunroof; yet to explore all the commands (might come in handy during solo rides)

Mileage

• Highway mileage consistently achieved was around 16 Km/L - Cost/Km- Rs. 6.54/Km [Decent compared to Rs. 4.83/Km achieved with our Chevrolet Beat Diesel].
• [Total 1560 Kms / 97.77L. Fuel Efficiency: 15.95 Km/L. Good for a fully loaded vehicle with full Air-conditioning]
• In the city mileage varies between 12-15 Km/L on a light foot.

PPF

We encountered one incident of stone chipping the windshield during the highway trip. Exploring ways to avoid windshield hits in the future. Luckily PPF is covering even the panaromic sunroof & paint panels [some relief].
PPF is worthy investment if we plan to retain the vehicle for long and can't invest lot of time in upkeep. I have seen several x-line vehicles on the road and the one's with PPF are certainly well kept [less maintenance]. Going for a reputed brand matters as the passion of professionals installing matters a lot (this is kind of art) and also to avoid paint damage. I had only one issue till date - Seltos logo at the back came off (it can be put back using 3M tape). Overall very happy to have made this decision to go with PPF

Service

First Service was completed 23rd March with 2198Kms on ODO and things went pretty smooth overall [although due to heavy inflow of vehicles, had to wait to take delivery]. Service personnel was extremely knowledgeable and friendly. Took the Under Body Anti Rust Coating & Internal Panel Cavity Wax Protection, which i feel is required in our driving conditions. Only grump, during wash they tore the team-bhp sticker; benefit of doubt, it may not be intentional; replaced a new sticker from our pack.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Currently, I am getting 10 kmpl as mileage in city driving and 13 kmpl on highways.

BHPian naveengnr recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

I have completed 2000 km with my new Seltos GTX+ Diesel AT in a month, and I want to share my feedback about the first-month experience.

• Design: The car looks more beautiful in the segment, especially with the best interior compared to the Creta facelift. Both the exterior and interior are well-designed, but there could be better plastic in some places. My car looks awesome in pearl white. Ride comfort is good, but it feels jumpy on speed breakers.
• Cabin View: One of the top design features is its cabin view. The infotainment system is well-designed with a large display screen. I love the stylish HVAC controls compared to the old-style HVAC in the Creta facelift model. It has the best ambiance with lights on both sides. The display cluster has three drive mode themes and one dynamic theme (which has eight different themes based on time and weather).
• ADAS: I have tested multiple ADAS features in the first month of driving, and most of them are working properly. Please make sure no objects are blocking the radar or sensor on the front grill. I have experienced an issue with radar blocking, displaying "Vital forward safety functions are limited! Radar blocked."
• Connectivity: I am facing audio connectivity issues while connecting my iPhone 14 Pro Max via Bluetooth, but audio is working fine with Android Mobile's Bluetooth. And there are no issues with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.

• Mileage: Currently, I am getting 10 kmpl as an average in city driving and 13 kmpl on highways.

I will post more updates if I encounter any issues or feedback on all available features.

Read BHPian comments for more insights and information.

It competes with cars like the 2023 Kia Seltos, VW Taigun, Skoda Kushaq and Mahindra XUV700.

BHPian Ripcord09 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hyundai Creta N-Line

What you'll like:

• Distinct N-Line touches set it apart from the regular Creta
• Punchy 158 BHP, 1.5L turbo-petrol motor mated to a 6-speed MT or 7-speed DCT
• Firmer suspension coupled with weighted steering make the Creta N-Line fun to drive
• Tasteful N Line-exclusive steering wheel, gear selector, red accents, etc. liven up the interior
• Feature-rich equipment list includes LED headlamps & tail-lamps, panoramic sunroof, dual-zone climate control, ventilated seats, 360-degree camera & more
• Price premium over the regular Creta is justified by the additions & improvements
• Safety kit = ADAS Level 2, 6 airbags, TPMS, hill assist, dashcam (only N8 variant), auto headlamps etc.

What you won't:

• Without a power bump, it feels more like an additional variant rather than a performance-oriented model of the Creta. Hyundai should've tuned the N-Line engine for some more power
• N-Line specific design changes may not be to everyone’s liking
• Although well-priced in relation to the SX(O) variant, it is still an expensive crossover
• Firmer suspension means bad roads & bumps are felt more than in the regular Creta
• 6-speed MT should've had shorter throws & clutch travel should have been shorter in the N-Line variant
• Some misses (no auto wipers, illuminated window buttons, full-size spare tyre on top trim)
• Back seat's width makes it better for 2 adults and a kid, rather than 3 adults

Pre-facelift Review

Facelift Review

N-Line Review

Kia Seltos

What you'll like:

• A superbly engineered all-rounder that delivers a premium experience
• Handsome, contemporary styling. Looks very sharp
• We find the Seltos to be well-priced for what it offers
• Nice, user-friendly interiors with sufficient space & good quality
• Loved the punchy 1.5L turbo-petrol
• Mature on-road behavior, including at highway speeds. A+ brakes as well
• Unusually wide variant offering. Seems there is something for everyone
• Safety kit includes 6 airbags, ESP, all-wheel disc brakes, blind spot monitor, TPMS etc.

What you won't:

• Back seat's width makes it better for 2 adults and a kid, rather than 3 adults
• Dual-clutch ATs (like the Petrol DCT) have a history of poor reliability in India
• Extremely confusing & complicated variant spread
• You get bigger SUVs & Crossovers for the same money (e.g. Hector, Harrier, XUV700)

2023 Facelift Review Link

First Review

Volkswagen Taigun

What you'll like:

• Has its own fresh, European character in a segment dominated by Indian, Korean and Chinese SUVs
• Unmistakably VW styling matched with solid European build quality
• Cabin has good legroom to offer, supportive seats, perfect ergonomics & lots of storage
• 148 BHP engine makes the Taigun one of the most fun-to-drive crossovers in the segment!
• Sporty 1.0L & 1.5L turbo-petrols are mated to slick 6-speed MTs & smooth ATs
• Sorted suspension offers a balanced ride & handling package
• Safety features include up to 6 airbags, ESC, 3-point seatbelts for all, electronic differential lock, brake disc wiping, multi-collision brake and more
• Features like active cylinder tech, ventilated seats, sunroof, 10-inch touchscreen with wireless Android Auto and CarPlay, auto headlamps & wipers etc.
• 5-star GNCAP safety rating - full details here!

What you won't:

• DQ200 DSG transmission has a history of poor reliability & breakdowns in India
• Narrow cabin width makes a 5th adult completely unwelcome. Best for 4 onboard
• Interior colour scheme and quality don't feel up to traditional VW standards. Some polarising details too (chrome outside, painted plastics inside...)
• Sure lacks the street cred / presence offered by some competitors
• VW’s after-sales service can be a hit or miss. Many VW owners find it expensive too
• Turbo-petrols are very sensitive to driving style. FE will drop drastically when you drive hard

Review Link

Skoda Kushaq

What you'll like:

• A breath of fresh (European) air in a sea of Korean, Chinese & Indian SUVs
• Classy exterior & interior styling matched with solid European build quality
• Cabin has good legroom to offer, supportive seats, perfect ergonomics & lots of storage
• 148 BHP engine makes the Kushaq one of the most fun-to-drive crossovers in the segment
• Sporty 1.5L turbo-petrol is mated to slick 6-speed MTs & smooth ATs
• Sorted suspension offers a balanced ride & handling package
• Safety features include 6 airbags, ESC, 3-point seatbelts for all, electronic differential lock, brake disc wiping, multi-collision brake and more
• 6-year extended warranty & 4-year all-inclusive service packages available
• Features like active cylinder tech, ventilated seats, sunroof, wireless Android Auto and CarPlay, audio system with a punchy subwoofer, auto headlamps & wipers etc.
• 5-star GNCAP safety rating - full details here!

What you won't:

• DQ200 DSG transmission has a history of poor reliability & breakdowns in India
• Narrow width makes a 5th adult completely unwelcome. Best for 4 onboard
• At 385 litres, boot space is lesser than its direct rivals (Creta & Seltos = 433L)
• Sure lacks the street cred / presence offered by some competitors
• Skoda’s notorious dealerships & after-sales horror stories
• Turbo-petrols are very sensitive to driving style. FE will drop drastically when you drive hard

Review Link

Mahindra XUV700

What you'll like:

• Handsome styling matched to solid build quality. Has street presence, feels robust
• Very spacious interiors with comfy seats and sorted ergonomics. 6-footer passengers welcome!
• 197 BHP turbo-petrol mated to a smooth 6-speed torque converter
• Sorted suspension with good road manners & high-speed stability
• AWD available for the adventurous, unlike most FWD crossovers in the segment
• Loaded with features like radar-based driver assistance system, pop-out door handles, panoramic sunroof, driver memory seat, 360-degree camera, 10.25" infotainment & instrument cluster etc.
• 12-speaker Sony audio system is fantastic! You'll enjoy its sound quality
• Safety features include 7 airbags, ESP, all-wheel disc brakes, hill hold, hill descent control, driver drowsiness detection, TPMS, ISOFIX...

What you won't:

• Petrol AT is thirsty due to its hefty weight, 197 BHP & torque-converter AT
• Some cabin plastics & a few rough areas don't feel premium in an otherwise loaded SUV
• Missing features such as an auto-dimming IRVM, paddle shifters, full-size spare wheel, ambient lighting, rear sunblinds...
• Concerns over niggles & bugs in a freshly baked, complex Mahindra
• Mahindra's after-sales service is a hit or miss. Remains a gamble
• AWD is not available with the petrol motor

Review Link

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

Damn good time to be in the market for a 20-25 lakh crossover! Those are some seriously competent turbo-petrols. The new Seltos looks deadly, the Creta N-Line is nice (both offer 158 horses!), the VW & Skoda siblings are a pure driving delight with their 1.5L turbo-petrol DSGs and of course, there is the 200 BHP XUV700. Although, as great as the XUV700 is, it cannot match the other 4 in terms of sheer driving pleasure.

Between the Creta N-Line & Seltos, I'd still go for the latter in the deadly matte grey.

Between the Taigun & Kushaq, I'd pick the Skoda.

But really, this is one tough poll. If it came to putting my money down, it would be the Seltos 1.5L Turbo-Petrol. 2nd choice XUV700 only if I needed a bigger SUV.

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

Voted for the Seltos X - line here as barring XUV700 and considering the other crossovers on the list, it comes out much better in every sense. Ride quality might be a little bumpy with the 18 inchers, but I had the Ford Ecosport with the low-profile 17-inch tyres as standard and compared to that, it's way better.

I feel glad to be owning both the cars - XUV700 and Seltos in their respective top trims in diesel AT guises and our de facto choice for family road trips is always XUV700. Over longer journeys, it has proved to be more comfortable than the Seltos and has ample space and power too. While driving solo too, I have extracted 18-19 kmpl from the XUV700 sometimes and it is as fuel efficient as the Seltos as driving XUV700 at 110-115 kmph delivers the same mileage as driving the Seltos at 100-105 kmph. However, if highway drives are out of the picture and it's going to be occasional, Seltos is better at performing city duties. Just the right size to park in congested areas and overall a better and refined experience than XUV700. For instance, the Auto hold function on the XUV700 doesn't release the brakes as smoothly as the Seltos does and multiple other things including the Auto Start-Stop logic which makes Seltos an overall better city commuter.

Also, the cost of upkeep is going to be lower on the Seltos than the XUV700 as we have the MCP package and regular services are covered till 50k kms in it. But if it has to be a one-car garage, XUV700 will be better.

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

Voted with my wallet

After using a Verna for 10 years, the Creta N-Line felt like a natural progression. The electrically adjustable under-thigh support and the beautiful N-Line steering were the biggest attractions for me. It does feel well-built as well.

I had explored all the cars on the poll list except the Seltos. The VAG twins don't hold a candle to the older VAG cars and the cost-cutting is evident on all fronts except the engine. The XUV 700 was too big for my needs and the diesel engine of the XUV felt coarse compared to the one in my Thar.

Here's what BHPian B58lover had to say about the matter:

My pick would be the XUV700, a safe-fast-tech loaded & reliable.

One thing I wanted to ask, is why Creta and Seltos' poor safety rating and unstable structure are not mentioned in the ''What you won't like section''?

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

All of the cars mentioned here are equally good, so a buyer cannot go wrong with any of them.

Ultimately, it's just a matter of the buyer's personal preference, especially regarding the appearance of the cars and which brand they prefer.

My personal favourite from this selection is the Creta N line.

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

Choice of fast crossover comes down to the XUV700 petrol and the Taigun/Kushaq 1.5 GT twins. The Creta N Line and Seltos X line will not even be in contention.

If I am looking for a vehicle for purely personal use, then I will get one of the Germans with my eyes closed. Driving pleasure is unmatched. I’ll go for the Kushaq, I prefer its interior ambiance over that of the Taigun.

But if there is an angle of practicality or family usage involved, which is invariably the case for most buyers, I’ll have to go for Mahindra. The much larger cabin and boot space of the XUV700 cannot be matched by the smaller VW/Skoda. It also helps that the 2.0 mStallion is by far the best engine of this lot, and the rest of the car is pretty darn competent as well. The superbly priced and well kitted AX5 variant of the XUV700 is the single most VFM car that can be bought for 20 odd lakh rupees today, while the AX7L is about as loaded as it gets.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

It's called the iHeyLinkit CP908 for which I paid around $380 (+duties) via AliExpress and I am very happy with the device and its performance.

BHPian MadrasTurbo recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Background

In-car HU user experience, for me, is one of the very important aspects of a car, and though I was mostly satisfied with the OE HU on my Kia Seltos facelift, one thing that I was not a big fan of was the inbuilt Here Maps. It is not terrible but I have been so used to Live Google Maps on my previous car’s Android HU, that I really missed it on the new car. Changing the HU was out of the question, and was not even considered, but I started looking at the available options to integrate live Google Maps to the HU.

Options Considered

• Wired CarPlay/AA - This is the most straightforward way to get Google Maps and I am sure it would fit the bill for most of the users. I was also using this, but always missed the convenience, that I was used to, of just being able to use the application without a phone.
• Wireless CarPlay/AA with a dongle - Costs anywhere from ₹6,500 and goes all the way up to ₹9,000 for some models. Has the same issues as the wired counterpart, but on top, it takes a hit on the phone's battery, and if charged wirelessly, the phone heats up sometimes. I know many Kia/Hyundai users use such dongles and have a lot of positive feedback, so this option is also worth looking into.
• Side loading .apk by accessing the engineering mode - While I was reading online, I came across an interesting thread on xda-developers where someone got access to the engineering mode and could sideload apks directly to the OEM HU. Though I badly wanted to do this, it was not that straightforward, and Kia has been making it harder and harder to access the engineering mode from what I am able to read. But also, with an OTA update, the side loaded apps most likely have to be reloaded. Also, there were other concerns like keeping the application updated, warranty woes, etc. So I dropped this idea.
• Plug and Play Android Car Box a.k.a. CarPlay AI Box - Basically, an external device that uses the wired AA/CarPlay protocol to run a full-fledged Android OS. Interestingly it also supports wireless CarPlay/AA through an application. Now this was the option that could potentially give me the same experience that I had with a proper Android HU, without having to tamper with anything in the car. So I decided to buy one.

What to buy and from where?

There are a good number of options, and I am also seeing more local brands that generally rebrand and sell Android HUs, offering this product under various names - Smart AI Box, AI Car Box, Android Box, etc. But the problem was the pricing. In India, the local distributors seem to have a good markup (understandable as they have to extend warranty, support), and the prices for known brands like Carlinkit and Ottocast sometimes can even be close to ₹30,000.

Honestly, I do not mind spending money on accessories like this which I would not be changing often, and buying an inferior specced product would ruin the experience, and in the end, I may end up not using it at all. I try not to regret buying something. I paid around ₹25,000 including duties for an Android Head Unit 5 years back for my old car, as at that time, there was no one selling an OE fit for my car which was not so popular but also did not have high specs for the generic units. The product was expensive but it never gave any trouble till the day we had to part with our car.

When I was looking at the various products offered I noticed that the specs for a lot of them were identical, but they looked different and had a different name. It became clear that this is very similar to Android HUs, where brands procure from a handful of manufacturers with their custom branding or casing. So I now just needed to find the right product and buy it from the right seller who offers good support and pricing.

I started looking through AliExpress and Alibaba for these products and there were so many options to choose from at prices as low as $50 all the way up to $400. After talking to multiple sellers and watching multiple videos and reviews online, I could generalize the products based on the processor used. There can be other products out there but the majority of them use the following chipsets.

Snapdragon-based

• QCM6490 - Expensive but one of the best available options today, supports 5G, for EU and Asia. Also supports Wifi6E.
• SD662(6125) - Best VFM Chipset, supports 4G and should be the choice of most buyers.
• SD665(6115) - Good performance, supports 4G and slightly cheaper than QM6125.

All the chipsets mentioned above are octa-core processors, There are other Mediatek and Rockchip based boxes that are slightly cheaper but might offer a different UI, or functionality.

Based on information available online, I was very impressed by the performance and features that the QM6490 based boxes offered and I was convinced that this was the one that I wanted to buy. No seller in India offered this product, so I had to import it directly from China. I have good experience with ordering stuff from China in the past, but that was all through AliExpress. Now, it is a little more challenging to order from China as most sellers do not want to ship single items on their own and the buyers as well have little to no protection.

I got in touch with a company called “iHeylinkit”, and what I really liked about them was the support that they offered. I had a lot of questions and was always given a detailed and polite answer to all my questions. I ordered the QM6490 based box from the same seller, which is called the “iHeyLinkit CP908” for about $380 (+duties) via AliExpress to my EU residence. I believe it is also sold by other companies and you can find the product as “Exploter ApplePie Rocket”, “Navlynx ApplePie Rocket” etc.

The seller informed me that they would be willing to ship directly to India, so if anyone is interested, please take a look at their product line-up. You can reach them at +86 158 7619 4110 on WhatsApp.

Disclaimer

I am not linked to the company/seller in any way. I fully paid for my goods, and my review of the product is solely based on my personal experience. Also important to note, I did not order directly and used AliExpress and had full buyer protection. So if anyone happens to buy directly, please be aware of all the possible risks and if possible, share your experience in this thread.

iHeylinkit CP 908

I will start with the overall pros and cons and then go into the details for those interested.

PROS

• Full Android 13 based OS
• Outstanding performance with zero lags
• 8GB RAM with 128GB UFS2.1 storage with the ability to add a micro-SD card up to 128GB
• Dual BT 5.2
• Super quick boot time (less than 15 seconds)
• Built in GPS
• Wireless Android Auto/Apple Carplay
• 5G connectivity
• Wi-Fi 6E
• HDMI Output which is capable of outputting different content for the HU and the rear entertainment unit
• In-Car Wi-Fi Hotspot
• Supports use of OEM GPS data (for supported cars)
• Integrates well with steering controls including the voice commands
• Full access to Google Play Store
• Supports accessories like an air remote(+$20), which can enable the rear seat passengers to control volume, change tracks, and also use the voice commands from the remote. I found this useful
• Split screen support to have more than one apps open

CONS

• $$$. Costs over ₹30,000. With shipping and duties, it can be significantly higher
• UI/UX. The hardware is so capable but the implemented UI/UX out of the box is very poor. System navigation, bloatware, old security patch with an OS that is already almost 2 years old now
• SIM card is not used only for data but also has messaging and calls like a normal phone. Maybe this is useful for someone but I cannot wrap my head around getting calls in the car from the sim I installed for data. No way to uninstall the phone and messaging app. I have now resorted to call-barring and removed messaging permissions for the applications
• Hotspot has to be turned on every time manually, and there is not even a quick toggle. I resorted to using Tasker to trigger on boot
• Device can heat up quite a bit, so it is important to place it in a well-ventilated area
• By default, while using wired Android Auto, pressing the voice command button on the steering once, opens Kia’s voice command, and long pressing opens the assistant, but for some reason both actions only trigger the assistant with this box. Maybe I am missing some configuration, but I was not able to find a way to make this work properly

Unboxing

The product came well-packed with an external cardboard box and bubble wrap. The product box is relatively small and was surprisingly well made. The box contained the following items.

• The device itself
• USB Type A to Type C cable - Used to connect to the car's wired Apple CarPlay port
• USB Type A+Type A to Type C Y Cable - Some cars do not have sufficient power output to power this device, and in this case, additional power needs to be supplied through the Y cable
• USB Type A to USB Type C Adaptor - For cars with type-c input for CarPlay
• Mini HDMI to HDMI - To connect an external monitor like a rear entertainment unit using a full sized HDMI port
• SIM Ejector Pin - To remove the SIM and memory card tray

Boot, Setup, Tweaks and pre-installed apps removal

I used the USB A to USB C cable to connect to the CarPlay port. I was a little worried because many of the users had reported that they had to use the Y cable for additional power to power the device. I wanted to avoid this as first it then takes two USB ports but also it becomes a little too clumsy. But luckily, the power output was sufficient. The device lit up with colors changing from green to red to blue and it was really bright as well. Good thing is there is an option to change the LED color mode, and most importantly it allows you to completely turn the LED off.

It took about 25 seconds for the first boot because it automatically detects the device's resolution and restarts the device. Once it rebooted, I noticed that the resolution was too high, and it was not very usable as the fonts and the icons were small. There were also three big static widgets that were ugly and really was not looking good on the HU. There were also a lot of pre-installed applications.

I quickly realized the implemented UI was very archaic and needed a lot of tweaks. Since I have good experience with Android and customization in general, thanks to my Xda days, I started by seeing what options I had out of the box before deciding the need to root the device. Though I was still limited to how much I could customize, I could get to a point where I was happy without needing to root. A short list of the things that I did.

• Updated to the latest firmware. The firmware updates are done through an app and not the official Android system. But was surprising to see multiple updates as I expected none. The updates were mostly some minor fixes and updates, nothing major.
• Added an Airtel SIM Card and a 128GB SanDisk SD Extreme Pro SD Card.
• Removed all pre-installed applications like HBO Max, Waze etc.
• Turned off the ugly widgets.
• Increased the Magnification/Icon Size and Font Size.
• Turned off Right Hand Drive Mode - Because this aligns the applications in the app drawer to the right which is not very intuitive to use for me.
• Installed Tasker and added a profile to turn on the Wi-Fi Hotspot on boot.
• Enabled Call Barring to ensure that the SIM installed in the device does not get any incoming calls.
• Removed Calls and SMS permissions from all applications.
• Set default assistant to Google Assistant.
• Set default navigation to Google Maps.
• Setup Wireless AndroidAuto/Apple CarPlay through the ZLink app just in case.

Overall Performance and Initial Impressions

Hardware wise the device is impressive inside out. I have mentioned enough about the specs, but I must also mention that the casing feels very well made, light and easy to carry around if needed. Once I set everything up to my liking, it is a breeze to use the device. I just get in the car, use the voice command button on the steering to navigate to my destination and it works flawlessly. My phone is connected to the device’s Bluetooth normally for music and calls.

Performance-wise, the device is a lot quicker than I expected, in the sense, it boots up in parallel with the car's infotainment and in about 10-15 seconds, it fully boots up.

If you setup wireless android auto or Apple CarPlay with ZLink, then post boot up of the device it also automatically connects to AA/CarPlay all under 30 seconds. Another thing I noticed was that when played directly from the device the audio output is much better than any other input modes that I have tried. I am not able to figure out why this might be the case, as the box at the end of the day uses the same CarPlay port as my phone.

The 5G performance is exceptional, I consistently get over 150Mbps, and sometimes even recorded 500+Mbps. The hotspot also is WiFi6 so the connected devices also get access to good speeds.

All other android based car applications can be used, for example, I was able to install my dashcam app, making it easier to offload files to the SD card on board, change settings and view feed. One can also add a CANBUS-based device to connect with the device via Bluetooth, etc. Thinking slightly out of the box, the device also has some other out-of-car use cases, especially while travelling.

• Wi-Fi Hotspot.
• Can connect to any HDMI port in say a hotel TV/Airbnb to access all your content.
• Can also be paired with a mini projector.
• It can also handle some games like Asphalt and supports controllers too.

I am very happy with the device and its performance. I will consider rooting in the long run as that would open up a whole lot of options.

Conclusion and Recommendations

Good hardware, let down by mediocre software.

I am happy with the device but I cannot imagine an average user having to do all these tweaks to have an acceptable experience. The other problem is also powering the device itself, from what I read online, many of the older and some of the newer cars need the Y cable to provide sufficient power. If you want something that is the best available that money can buy, then do go ahead and buy it, but what I would recommend for others is the SD662 based box (called as iHeylinkit CP608 Ultra) for around $150-$170, which features the same UI, casing with HDMI out, and offers good acceptable performance, with 4G connectivity, which should be more than sufficient for all major use cases, I would also suggest talking to the vendor over WhatsApp to better understand the differences between all the available models, to select the one that would suit your needs best.

If you need only Wireless CarPlay/Android Auto stick with well-known adapters like Carlinkit as they are affordable and offer a no-nonsense experience out of the box. Autokit-based wireless AA/Carplay implementations generally perform better than ZLink. Ottocast and Carlinkit also have their own custom skin on the UI which in my opinion is better than the generic ones. You will be paying more for these brands, but it may be worth it as it can save a lot of hassle.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Elevate lacks in terms of features while others offer a good pack of features at an affordable price.

BHPian Petrolhead717 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hi my fellow members and bhpians,

In recent days I was in a research of a suv under 19L(on road),

My requirements are:

• 1.5L Petrol or diesel mated with a manual transmission
• Sunroof
• Alloy wheels
• Automatic climate control
• Front and rear armrest (rear armrest must bcoz this play huge role in decision making)
• It should last for 10 years+

In my head I have the

• Honda Elevate ZX
• Hyundai Creta S(O) P
• Kia Seltos HTX P
• Kia Sonet HTX+ D

Currently we have a 2018 Honda Amaze V Petrol MT done 69k, Honda is reliable, I VTEC is good and in comfort too.

My usage is going to church on Sunday, weekend shopping, weekly once going to the office. Yearly usage is more or less around 12k Kms.

Elevate lacks in terms of features while others offer a good pack of features at an affordable price.

My dear members, please share your opinion and thoughts which will be right one for my requirements.

Here's what BHPian model-T had to say on the matter:

My dad picked up a Kia Seltos HTK+(P) in March. The car drives well, has 6 airbags and almost all the bells and whistles. The new HTK+ also has a SunRoof which was missing in his car.

Your use case is 12K a year so does not warrant a Diesel. Petrol should work perfectly.

He picked up a 5 years warranty and service plan as well which I think was not very expensive (45XX I think, but will check).

This car makes the most sense according to me. You can also check the Hyundai Creta which is an almost identical car but the feature sets may/may not be the same. All the best for your search.

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

If sunroof is a must, Seltos/Creta or even Hyryder/GrandVitara makes more sense as they get the panoramic sunroof.

Rest reading about your existing car and other requirements, ELEVATE seems like a logical upgrade in every sense

Here's what BHPian 07CR had to say on the matter:

All the cars in your list will easily last 10+ years since they are from brands known for reliability.

My pick would be the Seltos HTK+ turbo iMT, if you have large adults in family. I have a DCT seltos facelift and the punch offered by 160 PS motor is very addictive. It's also fuel efficient and delivers around 12-13 in Pune traffic, which is similar to NA engine seltos.

But HTK+ misses out on the rear armrest and few more goodies compared to HTX. So you should consider if you want the added convenience of a clutchless manual and exhilirating performance of 160 PS motor or the more equipment friendly HTX 1.5 MT.

If you have relatively small size adults, you could also consider the Sonet HTX+ turbo iMT. It offers little more equipment than Seltos HTX and HTK+ and would save you around 2.3L or more.

I would avoid Elevate, since it lacks the premium experience and many missing features compared to other two options. Would also avoid Creta, since it's basically a Seltos with slightly softer suspension tune (at the cost of handling), and lesser equipment compared to Seltos.

I own a Sonet turbo iMT and Seltos DCT facelift. Will be happy to share more insights on either cars.

Read BHPian comments for more insights and information.

I have been driving my new Hyundai for the past 15 days and only clocked 450 km till now, and I just love the car!

BHPian sumeetchawla recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hey everyone!

So I thought I would write about my entire car-buying journey. TeamBHP has been of immense help with the whole process and I have been posting about it since last year.

The Search

So I owned a Grand i10 since 2014. But wanted to change the car to a new one since last year. Finally, my friend (who was also looking for his first car) and I started checking out various cars and visiting showrooms for test drives. But I was super confused.

I wrote a very detailed post about it back in May of 2023. Mentioned what all I tested and my thoughts about every SUV I tested. I am not re-writing it here.

Both my friend and I decided on the Creta and finally booked it. I booked the SX(O) and he booked the SX variant. I would have loved the new one. Alas, it was still a year away and I didn't want to wait so much.

But then due to a close family emergency, I had to postpone my decision to buy the car. The SA was very nice and helped me cancel my booking easily and refunded the entire amount.

Time passed and then in July, the new Seltos dropped. I liked the Creta in general due to better comfort, suspension and given that I was a Hyundai user for over 10 years. Still, was excited for the Seltos reveal. They have a very nice marketing team. The Seltos was revealed and I just loved the interiors! It had everything I wanted and which was missing in the old Creta (360-degree camera, ADAS etc). I booked it instantly using the K-Code thing they launched at that time.

Went to checkout the car and loved the green colour. Even took it for a test drive later. But I don't think one test drive was enough to decide on the comfort level. It was the DCT Turbo and it was a thrilling experience to drive it!

Then came the problems. The Kia SA was kind of useless. He had 0 knowledge about stuff and was not as helpful as the previous Hyundai SA I had. Nevertheless, I kept waiting for the car. I thought only 1900 or so people booked the Seltos via the K Code and they would get priority delivery. Oh boy, was I wrong. I booked in July and there was no car in sight till September. While everyone else who booked directly via the dealer was getting deliveries everywhere, my car was nowhere in sight. Even though I booked via K Code, I made a booking via the dealer too. But still no progress. This made me angry as a customer and especially about Kia in general.

Finally, in September, my patience dam broke when the SA told me that the car would come by the end of October. I instantly cancelled the booking. I was anyway not very comfortable with the Seltos because it was only available in Turbo and DCT in the top model. I did not want to go with DCT as most of my driving is within the city. Also, the budget was over-stretching to 23.5 or something. The delay in delivery and the bad experience from the showroom gave me another excuse to just cancel it. I thought it was already October and the new Creta should drop next year. So I dropped all my plans to buy a car that year. Even the refund experience was so bad compared to what I faced at the Hyundai showroom. The SA told me that they could not refund online and I had to go to their showroom to collect the cheque. They also deducted Rs 2500 or something.

Then came January and Hyundai dropped the announcement for the new Creta. My eyes lit up again and the urge to buy the car re-ignited. As soon as I saw the car reveal, I fell in love with it and instantly called up my old Hyundai SA (the good fellow). I told him I wanted to book it instantly. Visited the showroom by the end of January to check the car out in person and booked it then and there itself. The SA promised me that I should get the delivery by the end of February. During the booking, I got some mats and mud guards added as free gifts too. With the option of upgrading to a 3D mat at a discount during delivery. I booked the dual-tone SX(O) IVT version as my mom always loved dual tones very much. Was kind of sad that only black and white dual tone was available and no silver option.

After Booking

The first thing I did after booking was find ways to sell my old car. I tried both Cars24 and Spinny. The quotation they give on the site is useless and is always on the higher side. They come and evaluate the car first and then give a proper final quotation. I went ahead with Spinny as their quotation was better and the entire experience was pleasant. They block Rs 10k till the car registration is also transferred at the RTO. But everything happened very smoothly and I highly recommend Spinny. Finally, with a heavy heart, bid farewell to my first car. Here is the final image before the Spinny executive took the car away.

As promised, the car arrived by the end of February and my SA called me up for a PDI. I visited the stockyard and did a thorough PDI of the entire car. Checked all panels. Checked the panel gaps. Ensured that the km was low in the odometer (it was around 28 kms or something). Made sure all electronics were working correctly. Recorded a video of the entire process just for reference too. I would always recommend doing a PDI before taking delivery of a new car.

One thing I was pleasantly surprised about during the PDI was the chrome door handles. So on the official site, the dual-tone versions don't have chrome handles even in the top trim. That is mostly cause most dual tones don't have chrome handles. But when I went to do the PDI, I saw that all the handles were in chrome. Now this might be cause this is the first batch of cars and they went the extra mile or something haha. Before the PDI, I tried searching for the new Creta dual tone all over the internet but couldn't find a single image.

Here is the official image vs the handles on my car

The Delivery

Another surprising thing that happened was that the dealer asked me to get the insurance from outside. He even helped me get the ICICI insurance at a discounted rate. It has most of the essential add-ons. PolicyBazaar was quoting it around 59k and I got it at 52k. I wrote a separate thread on this.

I was happy with the PDI and went ahead with the delivery. When the first car was purchased, I was not in town so never experienced the car delivery process. I was as excited as a baby getting a new toy.

The delivery experience was also pretty smooth. They did all the formalities and explained the basics to me. I got the free mudguards and instead of taking the normal mats, I upgraded to the 3D ones at a discount. This was actually a mistake, to be honest. The official 3D mats from Hyundai don't cover the dead pedal area in the footwell. Whereas most other 3D mats online do. (though they come at double the price). I think that is a must as the original carpet area is getting exposed whenever I keep my feet on the dead pedal.

I was contemplating getting some coating done but most of them were quoting me too high. Like Ceramic Pro quoted me 50k for ceramic quoting. I wanted to get PPF done initially but I read at a lot of places that PPF on white does tend to appear yellowish after some time due to oxidation. I will most probably get selective PPF done like on the ORVMs and doors (cause I got a doggo). But will get this done later. Even if I do it now, they will do paint correction so I thought why not do it later and try to maintain the paint myself (later on this).

I also purchased the official screen protector from Hyundai. The dealer told me that his team won't be able to fix it and I didn't trust them much to ensure it's bubble-free. So I installed it myself and it was pretty easy.

Review

I have been driving the car for the past 15 days and only clocked 450 km till now. But I just love it! I have been driving a manual all this time and an upgrade to automatic was anyway a big upgrade. Manual has its own fun but, to be honest I just fell in love with driving an automatic. It takes out all the stress from driving in the city, especially with bumper-to-bumper traffic and so many speed breakers everywhere.

The car seating position is great. The electronic seating adjustment option is nice to have. I didn't have these many options with a manual seat. Like adjusting thigh support for example. The CVT drives butter smooth and the entire drive experience is very relaxed. The sports mode makes it a bit peppy but am not going above 2-2.5 rpm for now till the engine-break-in period is over.

The new connected displays look great. I find this to be better than the Seltos for some reason. I am able to see the instrument cluster properly from my seating position and also the display console area is a bit bigger vs Seltos. Mind you, the screen sizes are the same though.

The instrument cluster and the infotainment are very crisp and bright. The cluster has all the necessary information which is easy to follow. The infotainment is very user-friendly too. I was able to get the hang of it and play around with the settings very easily.

The Bose sound system is amazing. I have always read that people thought the Bose sound system of the Creta was a bit underwhelming but I didn't find it so. The base, treble everything is perfect and very premium sounding. I still haven't played it loudly while driving so can't give a better review yet haha. There are options in the setting which allow you to auto-reduce the volume if some safety message comes or while parking.

I found the TPMS to be a bit weird. At first, I filled normal air at 33psi. But while driving it showed 35-36psi. So later I got the nitrogen one filled in all the tyres. When I start the car, after driving it for a while it shows 33-34. But then later on sometimes it shows 35-36. Maybe it depends on the temperature of the tyre too? Am not sure. If someone experienced can comment on this, I would really appreciate it.

360 Degree Camera:

It works brilliantly and is very accurate. I found the 3D version of the 360 camera mostly useless for now. For some reason, it does not show dogs or humans in that mode. The most useful version was the drone view and the front top view. I have set it in the settings such that whenever the speed is below 10 and something comes near my car, the camera automatically starts along with the front parking sensor. Very useful on super crowded roads.

ADAS:

It amazes me how far we have come in terms of technology. While I was doing the PDI, the Hyundai staff at the stockyard was telling me that ADAS is useless but after driving it for 15 days, I fell in love with it. The Lane Departure Warning (LDW) automatically activates whenever the lines are available on the road. It kind of assists you in the background and makes you a better driver. Like one day I was coming down from a flyover and I slightly drifted to the centre as the flyover was empty. The steering wheel slightly nudged me back into my lane and showed a message that I was leaving my lane. It's not like an interfering nudge. You can easily overpower it and do whatever you are doing.

The Blind-spot Collision - Avoidance Assist (BCA) & Blind-spot Collision Warning are pretty great to have. Specially, when anyone is opening the doors and a car is coming from behind, it kind of gives an alarm and the ORVMs light up. Also very helpful while driving as it keeps you aware of your blind spots.

The Lane Keeping Assist (LKA) is fun when I am riding on flyovers as they are properly marked. I live in Kolkata and not a lot of roads have proper markings. It just makes the driving more relaxed as the car auto nudges you to turn and keeps in the lane etc. Haven't tried this much in the city and can't wait to hit the highway.

High Beam Assist (HBA) is very easy to switch on. When you switch on the high beam, it first switches on the auto mode. So it automatically aligns the headlights based on the oncoming traffic. I see so many videos of people claiming that Creta headlights are not sufficient enough. I found them to be extremely good. Or may be cause I am upgrading from a 10-year-old Grandi10 so it feels like a huge upgrade.

Haven't seen much of Leading Vehicle Departure Alert (LVDA) as I usually pay attention and move when the car in front of me moves. I think I only saw this once but again, a good passive thing to have.

The rear collision warning and auto braking work great. It is sometimes a bit irritating when you are taking a U-turn in a busy single-way street in Kolkata though. It auto brakes as soon as I am taking a U-turn because some cycle or autorickshaw always tries to go past the car. But at least in the back of my mind, I know it will always try to prevent any collision if I miss anything. The worst part is when someone is standing behind the car and guiding you to come back. I had to open the window and tell him to move aside haha.

The assistant auto-announces children's crossing. You can turn it off in the settings but I have kept it on. It's not that irritating, to be honest. I even activated the feature where it announces speed breakers. Is not accurate every time and does miss a breaker here and there. But there are many unmarked speed breakers on Kolkata roads and are very irritating.

One thing I still haven't tested or am afraid to test is forward collision assist. The car was delivered with that switched off by default (or maybe the dealer staff did it). Now this includes the features: Forward Collision - Avoidance Assist - Car (FCA-Car) & Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Forward Collision - Avoidance Assist - Pedestrian (FCA-Ped), Forward Collision - Avoidance Assist - Cycle (FCA-Cyl), Forward Collision - Avoidance Assist - Junction Turning (FCA-JT).

The reason I am afraid to test it out in a city like Kolkata is because people just jump in front of the car to cross the roads. Or some random cyclist or an autorickshaw will overtake and cut in front of you. What am afraid of is the car will do a sudden brake and someone from behind will rear-end me. I have been watching YouTube videos about it and it seems it only works at certain speeds and when the collision is imminent. But am still scared. If anyone who has tried this before can share their experience, it will be really helpful.

The drive attention warning only came once when I was driving for more than 1.5 hours as it was office time and most of the roads were jam-packed.

Now coming to the best part about ADAS: the Smart Cruise Control with Stop & Go (SCC with S&G). It was a bit scary to test it out but now that am getting the hang of it, it's so much fun! I think Hyundai is the only car company which allows smart cruise control activation for speeds above 10 kmph. So in free-flowing traffic I just set the speed and the car auto speeds and slows down. It still feels surreal and my feed is hanging over the break just to be safe. You can set the distance to be maintained between the front car. Only drawback is that the minimum distance is also a lot given the distances maintained in the usual city standards. So in bumper-to-bumper traffic, sometimes I need to stop it and manage it myself. The car behind me starts honking if I don't. Maybe I need some more time to get used to it. But that is definitely something I can see myself using a lot. Now club that with lane keep assist and it's such a comfortable drive. Can't wait to try out the highway.

Bluelink:

I found it to be okay. Using it via Alexa is too cumbersome and useless most of the time. Also, don't know how many times I would pre-start the car to cool it. Only useful feature I found was the surround view of the car when it's parked. Maybe any experienced Creta/bluelink users can share some more about it.

Some cons:

One of the biggest complaints I have for Hyundai is that they haven't provided adequate ambient light in a 20L+ car. They said their customer survey said that most customers don't want it but I think it's just cost-cutting. Ambient light does give a very premium feel to the cabin at night. The Alcazar had a similar cabin to the Creta and had such nice ambient lights. They could have given the same thing.

The piano black finish inside the console looks very premium but is very scratch-prone. I asked one of the PPF vendors if PPF can be applied to that. But given that it's electronic, it is not recommended.

Wireless charger - I was pretty intrigued to have a wireless charger as I never even used one at home. But it just heats up the phone and is mostly useless. I was expecting the holes to have some cooling effect but supposedly it doesn't. So I have just switched it off. I think wireless chargers are one of the most overrated features after the cooled glove box.

Wired Apple Car Play - This is such a bummer again. I really hope they can provide some OTA update to connect it wirelessly. Right now I use a short wire to connect to my phone and then I keep the phone in the wireless charger area. It does not even fit properly and is just an inconvenience.

Hyundai Maps - Pretty inaccurate sometimes and the POI suggestions are mostly wrong. Nothing can beat Google Maps.

Apart from these, I didn't find any other major negative to be honest.

Regarding Maintenance

I have instructed my society car washer to wash it only once initially. But now I have told him not to wash. I have been going into a rabbit hole on how to wash and maintain the car at home. Seeing so many videos feels like such a therapeutic process.

Example video

Also followed the car detailing thread over here.

For now, I bought a pressure washer. Turtle Wax foam shampoo and Turtle Ceramic Spray. Haven't yet done the wash myself yet but can't wait to try it out. Let's see how long my enthusiasm lasts to maintain and wash my car on my own. Excited nonetheless.

Here are some pictures of my beast. Will try to add some more later. Also, I think these are the first pictures of a dual-tone new Creta on Teambhp. I was looking for pictures all over the internet after booking but couldn't find any.

Thank you. Hope my experience helps anyone looking to buy a new car. If you have any specific questions, please feel free to ask.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Turns out it was an extremely tedious process. I was worried if all the ADAS/front parking sensors/Camera etc would work as intended, but the technician reassured me about it.

BHPian 07CR recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Past 3.5 Kms have been an excellent experience on my Seltos GT Line DCT. NVH, space, acceleration, equipment, ADAS all has been spectacular experience so far.

My only grouse was with headlights of the car. For a car costing this much, headlight intensity surely had a huge scope of improvement. I also have a Sonet HTX iMT Turbo P, and I am satisfied with it's lights. I expected Seltos to be atleast similar to Sonet in terms of effectiveness, if not better.

Sonet light pic for reference.

Trouble no more-

I came across Bhpian @Behemoth's post wherein he mentioned projector lamps with brackets are now available for Seltos. I spoke with contact provided by Behemoth, and he quoted me an outrageous 27K for 2 inch bi led projector fog lamps (Genome). I kept looking for alternatives and came across Xenon planet BI LED laser 2 inch fog lamps on my Seltos Whatsapp group. The seller was in Delhi, and agreed to ship the bracket, projectors and relay wiring. He mentioned that he would guide with fitment of the same on call and it's easy process. It was NOT!!

None of the garages (even big one's) in Pune were open to installing these. Meanwhile, I was in contact with Genome's distributor and explained him my situation. Just like other shops initially even he declined me saying they cannot install other lamps, either purchase the same from them and then install or install it from somewhere else.

Fortunately I was able to convince him and he shared me Genome's technician's number. He came and toiled for around 4-5 hours. Turns out it was an extremely tedious process. I was worried if all the ADAS/front parking sensors/Camera etc would work as intended, but the technician reassured me about it. Must say he was extremely skilled person, as he took enough precautions at each step, and did a fantastic job. Here are the results-

The projectors

Low beam of only fog lamps-

Low beam of headlamps + Fog lamps-

Low beam and high beam of all lamps-

Total Cost=

• Lamps+Brackets+Relay+Delivery = 14500
• Technician's installation fee = 4000 ( I paid him 500 extra considering his efforts)

Note- Goes without saying, the high beam can be a huge nuisance for oncoming traffic, and I plan to use it only when necessary.

Read BHPian comments for more insights and information.