The Kia Seltos, the company's flagship model, has been a key driver of this success, accounting for over 48% of total domestic sales. Following closely are the Kia Sonet and Kia Carens, contributing 34% and 16% of sales, respectively.

Also read: Hyundai and Kia's Anti-Theft Software Cuts Theft by Over 50%

Since its launch in 2019, Kia has transformed the Indian automotive industry with its futuristic technology and cutting-edge design, establishing itself as one of the most aspirational car brands in the country. Notably, 42% of Kia’s sales come from top trims, challenging the notion that India is solely a cost-conscious market. Kia’s strategy of introducing advanced transmission options has also paid off, with automatic transmissions—IVT, 6AT, and 7DCT—making up 32% of total sales. The innovative iMT (Intelligent Manual Transmission) launched with the Sonet in 2020 contributes another 15%. The brand's Petrol to Diesel sales ratio currently stands at 59% to 41%.

Kia India's growth trajectory has been impressive. Starting with 45,226 units sold in 2019, the company’s sales volume has steadily increased year over year—reaching 140,505 units in 2020, 181,583 units in 2021, and 254,556 units in 2022. Last year, Kia recorded annual sales of 255,000 units, and the momentum continues in 2024, with nearly 1.5 lakh units sold in the first seven months alone. This sets the stage for a strong performance in the upcoming festive season.

Also read: 2024 Kia EV9 Secures IIHS Top Safety Pick Award

Kia has also expanded its presence across India, now boasting 588 touchpoints in 256 cities. Additionally, India serves as a crucial export base for Kia Corporation, with over 2.6 lakh units dispatched to more than 100 export markets. Including overseas dispatches, Kia India's cumulative sales stand at nearly 1.3 million units.

This milestone not only marks Kia's success in India but also solidifies its position as a key player in the global automotive market.

While Kia India remains a key export hub, the company is shifting its focus to the domestic market, aiming to produce 90% of its vehicles for India this year. Major export destinations include South Africa, Chile, Paraguay, and various Latin American countries.

Also Read: Maruti Suzuki Achieves 3 Crore Cumulative Production Milestone

Mr. Myung-sik Sohn, Chief Sales Officer of Kia India, emphasized the company's commitment to quality and innovation, highlighting the success of their Made in India vehicles on a global scale, "Our dedication to quality and innovation has driven us to this milestone. The success of our Made in India vehicles internationally shows our commitment to quality. We've quickly become a major market for Kia Corporation and aim to maintain this momentum. While our focus is on the domestic market, we plan to keep our exports steady this year."

Also Read: Kia EV9 Wins Coveted Red Dot: ‘Best of the Best’ Award

The Anantapur plant, operational for about five years, has become an essential part of Kia's global network, renowned for its advanced production capabilities and high-quality standards.

Month after month, Kia has been receiving an impressive average of 13,500 bookings, solidifying the Seltos' position as a popular choice in the market. Priced competitively starting at 10.99 Lakhs (Ex-showroom), the Seltos has resonated well with customers seeking style, performance, and value.

Since its inception in August 2019, Kia has rolled out over 600,000 Seltos units in India, with a significant chunk of them finding homes in the domestic market. In 2023 alone, Kia managed to sell a remarkable 104,000 units of the Seltos, underlining its widespread appeal.

Notably, automatic variants have emerged as favorites among the Seltos' clientele, constituting nearly half of the total bookings. With an increasing emphasis on safety, a substantial 40% of buyers are showing keen interest in variants equipped with Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS).

Reflecting Indian consumers' enduring fondness for sunroofs, a whopping 80% of Seltos buyers are opting for this feature. The balance between petrol and diesel bookings remains healthy, standing at 58:42%. Furthermore, the allure of premium features is evident in booking trends, with 80% of buyers gravitating towards the top-tier variants.

Launched with much fanfare in July 2023, the New Seltos has continued to uphold its reputation as an aspirational SUV in the Indian market. Boasting a refreshed design, enhanced performance, and a slew of advanced features, including 15 Hi-Safety features and 17 Level 2 autonomous features, the Seltos sets a new standard for SUVs, embodying style, substance, and sophistication.

The new Seltos comes with a new-age design, 32 safety features including the most-advanced Level 2 ADAS with 17 Features and much-awaited features like panoramic sunroof. It will be available for pre-bookings in India from 14 July 2023 onwards. This significant achievement underscores Kia’s commitment to the Indian market and showcases the success of its strategic approach.

Kia made its entry into the Indian market with the launch of the Seltos in August 2019, which quickly became one of India’s favorite SUV brands. In a record time of 46 months, it achieved the remarkable milestone of 500,000 sales.

Kia further expanded its product portfolio with the Carnival and Sonet in 2020, followed by the Carens and EV6 in 2022, solidifying its position in the Indian market. The state-of-the-art Kia facility at Anantapur has so far manufactured over 532,450 units of Seltos (Both outgoing and incoming), followed by 332,450 units of the Sonet, 120,516 units of the Carens and 14, 584 units of the Carnival.

Kia Seltos has been a true game changer for the segment and the most popular product for the company. It is the only car in the segment that comes with six airbags as standard across variants. Kia India is all set to celebrate its 3rd anniversary in India on 22nd August’22, marking the completion of three years since the Seltos was launched in India.

The Kia Seltos is the most popular Kia product in India, accounting for close to 60% of the company's total sales in the country. The model immediately connected with new-age buyers upon its introduction because of its revitalising design, class-leading connectivity features, and exceptional in-car experience. Besides its successful journey in the Indian domestic market, the Seltos has also shown a strong demand in the overseas market as well, with 103,033 Seltos exported to more than 91 countries, from the Kia India Anantapur plant till date.

Myung-sik Sohn, Chief Sales Officer, Kia India, ”Being our first product in India, the Seltos has played a pivotal role in charting Kia’s success story here. With Seltos, Kia India was able to establish itself as a true disruptor and was able to cement its position in the country’s top 5 car manufacturers within just two months of commencement of sales in the country. With Seltos, we wanted to offer a world-class product that addressed the unmet needs of Indian customers, and the great response we’ve received is a testimony to the fact that we have achieved what we initially set out for. We are happy to see today that, Seltos has made its mark not only in its segment but on the overall Indian auto industry; it is amongst the most sought-after cars by the new age Indian customers.”

Kia India recently crossed the 5-lakh sales milestone in the country, with Seltos contributing close to 60% to the overall sales. While 58% of the Seltos sales come from its top variants, the automatic options of the vehicle contribute to around 25%.

The decision to provide six standard airbags on the Seltos emphasizes Kia’s commitment to offering the best products for its customers and is in line with the increased focus on safety.

Hardeep Singh Brar, Vice President and Head of Sales & Marketing, Kia India said, “Seltos is a special product for Kia India as it marked the beginning of our journey in this vibrant country. Since then, Seltos has created many benchmarks in its segment and beyond; and has proved to be the flag bearer of Kia’s ‘Make in India, for the world’ prowess. Seltos has contributed close to 60% to our overall sales in the country. With the Seltos, Kia brought in many firsts in the segment and by giving six airbags as standard, we want to keep that momentum.”

The Kia Seltos is the most popular Kia product in India, accounting for close to 60% of the company's total sales in the country. The model immediately connected with new-age buyers upon its introduction because of its revitalising design, class-leading connectivity features, and exceptional customer experience.

The demand for the petrol and diesel variants of the Seltos is balanced, with around 46% of the customers preferring the diesel variants of the Seltos. While 58% of the Seltos sales come from its top variants, the automatic options of the vehicle contribute to around 25%. The revolutionary iMT technology became an instant hit amongst buyers, with 1 out of every 10 Seltos buyers opting for it in 2022. Also, Kia is the first manufacturer to provide iMT on a Diesel vehicle. For customers, the most popular variant is HTX Petrol, and the most popular colour is White when driving the Seltos home.

Continuing its growth momentum, the company registered 60% Y-o-Y growth over June 2021 and 26% over H1, 2021. The Kia Seltos and Carens lead the sales momentum with 8,388 and 7,895 units sold, respectively, followed by Sonet with 7,455 units and Carnival with 285 units sold.

The Kia Seltos remained the highest selling model for the company, registering sales of 48,320 units, while Sonet sold 40,687 units in the first half of the CY 2022. The company’s highest-ever half-yearly sales was supported by its latest RV – the Carens, which contributed almost 25% to the overall sales with 30,953 units sold in the first 5 months of its launch.

Commenting on the performance, Hardeep Singh Brar, Vice President & Head of Sales and Marketing, Kia India said, "The immense love we are getting from the people of India is the result of the strong foundation of Kia in the country, backed by extensive research and customer-centricity. Despite the global supply chain constraints, we are still managing to achieve milestones in record time. This wouldn't have been possible without our customers' trust in the brand. We are deeply humbled for their continued support, and we promise to keep trying to enhance their buying and ownership journey further."

The company recently celebrated the 1.5 lakh sales milestone of Kia Sonet, which has disrupted the compact SUV segment in a short span of two years since its launch in September 2020. The recently launched globally acclaimed - the Kia EV6 is already sold out for the year with deliveries slated for September, 2022.

2022 Kia Seltos

The refreshed Kia Seltos has been updated with 13 new enhancements. The company has introduced the first-in-India Intelligent Manual Transmission (iMT) technology with the 1.5 Diesel engine on the Kia Seltos HTK+ variant. The vehicle also comes in a new variant HTX AT powered by Diesel 1.5 powertrain.

Kia India also has extended paddle shifters along with multi-drive and traction modes for all automatic variants of the refreshed Kia Seltos for a sportier and more responsive driving experience. Multiple other safety features such as Side Airbag, Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Vehicle Stability Management (VSM), Brake Assist (BA), Hill Assist Control (HAC), Highline Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (Highline TPMS) and All-Wheel Disc brakes are also offered as standard on the refreshed Kia Seltos.

Furthermore, The HTX+ variant of the vehicle also boasts curtain airbags. Further, design changes have been made in the Seltos logo design on the D-cut steering wheel, SUS scuff plate and tailgate to further enhance its appeal. In the case of Seltos X Line, it will now be offered with the X Line Logo on Indigo Pera Seats.

2022 Kia Sonet

The refreshed Kia Sonet has been updated with 9 new enhancements. It will now be equipped with Side Airbag and Highline Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (Highline TPMS) as standard across variants to further enhance safety. The company will also offer key safety features like Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Vehicle Stability Management (VSM), Brake Assist (BA), Hill Assist Control (HAC)as standard on the iMT trims.

Further, curtain airbags will now be offered from HTX+ variant onwards. Customers of the newly launched Kia Sonet will get the Advanced 10.67 cm (4.2”) Colour Instrument Cluster from the HTX variant itself so that they can get detailed car information and feel always in charge. The Semi Leatherette seat will now be offered from the HTE variant itself. Similar to the refreshed Seltos, the newly launched refreshed Sonet will also get design changes in the Sonet logo on the D-cut steering wheel and tailgate.

Kia India has launched the refreshed Seltos and Sonet at a starting price of INR 10.19 Lakh (ex-showroom, pan-India) and INR 7.15 Lakh (ex-showroom, pan-India), respectively.

Hyundai Alcazar

The newest launch in this list, the Hyundai Alcazar is perfect for dads with a quickly growing family. Hyundai’s latest SUV is based on the Creta, with the two being pretty similar except for the few differences. At the front, the Alcazar gets a new grille, redesigned headlights and bumper while the rear gets a boxier design with wraparound taillights and redesigned bumper and skid plates. The biggest change between the two SUVs are in their length, the Alcazar being quite a bit longer to make space for the new third row of seats. The Alcazar will be available in both 6-seat and 7-seat configurations, with the former getting captain seats in the middle row.

Prices for the Hyundai Alcazar range between Rs 16.30 lakh – Rs 19.99 lakh, ex-showroom. There are two powertrain options available – 1 petrol and 1 diesel. The petrol unit is a new 2-litre N/A petrol that churns out 159 PS and 190 Nm of peak power and torque. The diesel engine is the same 1.5-litre four-pot which puts out max power and torque figures of 115 PS and 250 Nm. Transmission options for the Alcazar are a 6-speed manual or torque converter auto.

Kia Seltos

If you want to gift your Dad an SUV that comes with pretty much every feature available but don’t want a 7-seat SUV, then the Kia Seltos can be a great choice. Launching in the Indian market in 2019 after being showcased at the 2018 Indian AutoExpo, the Seltos is one of the best selling compact SUVs in India. The mid-size SUV quickly became a best seller in the segment with its combination of feature-loaded trims, eye-catching design, and an attractive price range.

The Kia Seltos has two main branches of trim levels – Tech Line and GT Line. It is available with 3 engine choices of two petrol and one diesel. The petrol 1.5-litre 4 cylinder produces 115 PS/144 Nm of peak power and torque figures and can be paired with a manual or IVT transmission while the 1.4-litre turbo-petrol makes 140 PS/242 Nm max power and torque which comes mated with a manual or a 7-speed DCT. The 1.5-litre turbo-diesel churns out power and torque figures 115 PS/250 Nm respectively and you have the option of either a manual or an auto transmission.  Prices for the Kia Seltos range from Rs 9.95 lakh for the base HTE G trim and goes up to Rs 17.65 for the top GTX+ variant. All prices are ex-showroom, respectively.

Renault Kiger

Mahindra Thar

One of the most successful launches in the Indian auto industry in recent years, the Mahindra Thar is a perfect give to your dad if he is the adventurous type. However, you probably will have to wait till the next Father’s Day to actually receive one. Demand for the new Thar so high that the current waiting periods for a new Thar stretches to 12 months, even after Mahindra has increased production by 50%. The second-gen Thar is underpinned by a brand new platform and new powertrain options, with the SUV only sharing the nameplate with its predecessor. With the new Thar’s much better on-road manners and feature-loaded trim levels, it is aimed at being a serious option for a daily driver.

The second-generation Mahindra Thar is priced between Rs 12.11 lakh – Rs 14.16 lakh, ex-showroom. The 4x4 comes with 2 engine options, a 2.2-litre turbo-diesel, and a 2-litre turbo-petrol. The oil-burner makes 130 PS/320 Nm of peak figures while the petrol makes 150 PS/320 Nm of max figures. Transmission options for both the powertrains are a 6-speed manual and a 6-speed automatic with a low range box and transfer case.

Ford Endeavour

If your Dad is the adventurous type, but the Thar is not big enough for the family, then the Ford Endeavour is a great choice. The Ford Endeavour was one of the first premium SUVs when it launched way back in 2003. Based on the Ranger pickup, the endeavour was the SUV version of the truck and Ford specially developed the vehicle for the Asian market. The second-generation Endeavour was launched in 2015, featuring new powertrains, better ride quality courtesy new suspension, and first in class features.

Prices for the Ford Endeavour range from Rs 29.99 lakh for the base variant to Rs 35.45 lakh for the flagship Sport variant. The Endeavour is powered by a 2-litre turbo-diesel unit which makes 170 PS/420 Nm of peak power and torque figures. It is mated to a 10-speed torque converter automatic transmission. The Endeavour is slated for an update around 2022 at the earliest, as the current generation is only 5 years old.

This was our list of  5 best SUVs for Dads this Father’s Day, which one are you gifting?

Although both SUVs belong to completely different segments and are not direct rivals to each other, this was still a hard fought battle. But before we get on with the tug of war, here's what you need to know about the contenders. The Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza featured here is a BS4-spec model that came powered by a 1.3L diesel engine that produced 90hp and 200Nm of peak torque. This is a manual version of the Brezza, equipped with a 5-speed gearbox. Interestingly, this Brezza also gets a few tasteful mods including larger 17-inch alloy wheels and LED headlamps from the facelifted BS6 model of the Brezza.

Also Read : Jeep Compass Facelift vs Kia Seltos Drag Race - Unexpected Winner

Meanwhile, the Kia Seltos is powered by a 1.5L, four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine that produces 115hp of power and 250Nm of peak torque. The one featured in this video gets a 6-speed manual gearbox. Kia also offers a 6-speed torque converter automatic with the diesel engine on the Seltos. On paper, the Seltos thus has a clear advantage. It is not only more powerful and torque-ey than the Brezza, but it is also heavier than the latter, making it even more difficult for the Brezza to pull it through. Now let us explore the results of Kia Seltos vs Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza tug of war competition.

The tug of war was conducted across four different rounds. The first round was held on soft soil, in which, both the SUVs ended up burying their tires, rendering the first round null and void. From the second round onwards, the vloggers moved on to a proper stretch of tarmac for more accurate results. When on proper ground, the Kia Seltos clearly showed its might by pulling the Vitara Brezza in both the second and third rounds, although the Brezza did put up a strong fight. Here, the specs advantage of the Seltos was clearly in play.

That said, for the fourth and final round, the vloggers changed drivers, and this time, the Vitara Brezza was able to save some honor. Not only did it strongly resist the pull of the Seltos, the Vitara Brezza also managed to gain some momentum and pull the Seltos in its own direction to win the fourth round. In the end, a lot of such performance actually depends on the skills of the driver. That said, the Brezza was able to offer a stiff competition primarily because it was in its diesel spec. The BS6 petrol-powered Brezza is much lower on torque (138Nm), and probably would have lost out on this battle much more easily.

Stay tuned to IndianAutosBlog.com for more such interesting stories and other four-wheeler news.

Three-row versions of compact and mid-size SUVs are the latest trend in the Indian automotive market. We thus saw the Hyundai Alcazar being born out of the Creta, the Tata Safari being born out of the Harrier and the MG Hector Plus being born out of the Hector. Among all SUVs in this segment and price range, it is only the Kia Seltos that hasn't yet received the three-row treatment. This is particularly surprising given the entire competition has moved on the three-row segment. More importantly, Hyundai has already adapted the Creta platform for the three-row Alcazar, and so a 7-seater version of the Seltos should really be in the making.

Also Read : Kia Seltos 7-Seater - Hyundai Alcazar Sibling - Rendered

Kia has been closely watching this space and is aware of interest in the three-row SUV segment. In fact, a three-row Kia model has been spied internationally, which we speculate is a seven-seater version of the Seltos. This model has been spied previously as well and was originally thought to be an MPV. However, on closer evaluation, it appears that this could actually be stretched version of the Kia Seltos. Look closely at this test mule above and you will notice that the raked A-pillars, window line and the front doors are actually quite similar to that of the Seltos. The roof, however, is taller to make way for greater headroom for the third row of seats.

Previous spy images also revealed that this test mule has longer rear doors than the Seltos. The upcoming SUV will mostly certainly be underpinned by the same platform as the Hyundai Alcazar. It is essentially a stretched version of the platform used by the Seltos. The rear end of the test mule, as seen in these images, is completely wrapped in camouflage. This is where we expect the bulk of changes to be concentrated with a longer rear overhang, distinct rear quarter glass area and a more upright and redesigned tail gate. The seven-seater version of the Seltos could also boast of a new grille and front bumper design along with new alloy wheels.

Under the hood, the seven-seater Kia Seltos will likely borrow its engine options from the Hyundai Alcazar. That means it will be powered by a 159PS 2.0-litre petrol engine and a 115PS 1.5-litre diesel engine. Although Hyundai offers a 6-speed manual and 6-speed torque converter automatic gearbox with the Alcazar, Kia could different transmission options to create some differentiation. Just like the Alcazar, the three-row version of the Seltos will likely be offered in both 6- and 7-seater configurations. We expect the upcoming 7-seater SUV to command a premium of around INR 1 lakh over the Seltos when it is launched in early 2022 in India. That said, the company still hasn't announced anything officially and we will have to wait to see what's really in store for the future.

Stay tuned to IndianAutosBlog.com for more Kia updates and other four-wheeler news.

The cumulative sales volume of Hyundai and Kia have surpassed the monthly sales figure of Maruti Suzuki for the first time ever. The Korean duo recorded total sales of 36,051 units in May 2021. Meanwhile, Maruti Suzuki registered total sales of 32,903 in May 2021. Maruti Suzuki has dominated the Indian car market for years, whereas Hyundai has mostly been playing catch up. With the introduction of Kia in the Indian market, it finally seems to be paying dividends for the Hyundai group.

Also Read : Kia Sonet Over 2 Times More Popular Than Maruti Brezza

In comparison, in May last year, Hyundai and Kia together posted a cumulative sales figure of 8,544 units, while Maruti Suzuki registered 13,702 units, considering that sales in May 2020 were far severely affected by the pandemic. Both, the Hyundai Group and Maruti Suzuki, thus recorded massive year-on-year growth of 322% and 140% respectively. Meanwhile, in April 2021, Hyundai and Kia together recorded cumulative sales of 65,113 units while Maruti Suzuki sold 1,35879 units, thus recording a massive month-on-month decline of 45% and 76% respectively.

The Hyundai Group's strong performance have to be credited to the Hyundai Creta, Hyundai Venue, Kia Seltos and the Kia Sonet, all of which together sold 23,221 units, which is nearly two-thirds of the Korean duo's entire sales in May 2021. In fact, the Hyundai Creta was the best selling car in May 2021, toppling the Maruti Suzuki Swift from the top position after several months. While Maruti usually occupies all top 5 positions in the top-10 best-selling cars' list, in May 2021, they only had two models in the top-5 list.

This naturally also had an impact on the market share of both brands. Hyundai and Kia's combined market share rose by 12% to 34.94% compared to April 2021, while Maruti's market share dropped by 16% to 31.89%. However, here it has to be pointed out that Maruti Suzuki had its manufacturing plants shut down for a long time in May 2021, which is the primary reason for its poor sales. The company had diverted oxygen used in manufacturing processes to medical institutions for relief in the Covid-19 crisis.

Stay tuned to IndianAutosBlog.com for more Hyundai and Maruti Suzuki updates and other four-wheeler news.

Kia Digi-Connect is a one-of-a-kind customised application that will enable customers to connect with their nearest Kia India dealerships and get complete assistance using a video conference offering them a showroom-like experience. The integrated solution application has been developed keeping in mind the current pandemic situation. It will not only ensure the safety of customers but also expedite and improve their buying process.

Also Read: 2021 Kia Sonet Walkaround Video - New Features Detailed

Speaking about the launch of the application, Mr Tae-Jin Park, Executive Director and Chief Sales & Business Strategy Officer, Kia India, said:

The Kia Digi-Connect initiative signifies Kia India’s bold and innovative approach towards offering a matchless premium customer experience, aligned with our new brand purpose - ‘Movement that inspires’. With this industry-first initiative, we have taken a step forward in transforming the purchase journey of our customers to a seamless, digital one. Technology-led digital transformation has been the primary approach for Kia India right at the outset and we are committed to spearheading the digital revolution in the Indian automotive industry going forward. We are confident that such digital innovations will offer great customer delight at every step of their car buying journey and make Kia India an aspirational and lovable brand in the country.

The Kia Digi-Connect app is a completely safe and secure platform that is integrated with Kia India’s Central Lead Management System. To experience the digital buying solution, customers can go to the company’s official website and opt for video consultation through Kia Digi-Connect.

The Kia Digi-Connect solution will also provide customers several additional options of 360-degree virtual experience through video call, screen and video sharing along with sharing of brochures, price list, etc., through the digital medium. The app also allows customers to include multiple family members and friends on the same call from different geographic locations to collectively understand and discuss with dealership representatives.

Introducing the Kia Digi-Connect, Mr Hardeep Singh Brar, Vice President and Head of Marketing & Sales, Kia India, said:

We are committed to the safety of our consumers and dealer partners, especially in these difficult times of COVID-19, and the Kia Digi-Connect solution is designed to ensure just that. We believe this initiative will be a game-changer in the purchase journey of the customers as it offers a safe platform where the buyers can access all the information about Kia products and services from the comfort of their homes, as they would when visiting the showroom. This further reiterates our commitment to offering a differentiated Kia ownership experience to our patrons in the country.

Stay tuned to IndianAutosBlog.com for more Kia updates and other four-wheeler news.

But before we go ahead with the race, let's take a look at the specifications. Unlike other drag races, where both cars are powered by an internal combustion engine, and have comparable specs, the two SUVs involved in this drag race here are completely different under the skin. The Kia Seltos, here in its diesel-manual-spec, is powered by a 1.5L four-cylinder turbodiesel engine that produces 115hp and 250Nm of peak torque. Meanwhile, the Tata Nexon EV is powered by a 3 Phase Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor that produces 129hp and 245Nm of peak torque, drawing power from a 30.2kWh lithium-ion battery. There's no transmission in case of the Nexon EV.

Also Read : Jeep Compass Facelift vs Kia Seltos Drag Race - Unexpected Winner

On paper, the Nexon EV has more power than the Seltos, while the latter has marginal more torque. However, there's a world of a difference on how both SUVs put that power and torque down on the road. The drag race was conducted across two rounds. Unsurprisingly, it was the Tata Nexon EV that came out as the winner in both the rounds, and that's primarily down to the fact of how an EV produces it power and torque. As you can see in the video, the Kia Seltos gets the better start, but the Nexon EV is quick to catch up and then zooms past the Seltos to take victory in both the rounds. So what really happened there?

Thanks to generous torque from the diesel engine, the Seltos gets off the line very well in both the rounds. Meanwhile, the Nexon EV can deliver all 245Nm of torque right from standstill, which overwhelms the grip of the tyres and naturally, there's lots of wheelspin. While the Seltos gets away initially, once the Nexon EV has gained its traction, there's really no stopping it. Not only does it catch up to the Seltos, but it also easily overtakes the diesel-powered SUV to take a comfortable victory. That's the effortlessness with which an EV performs against conventionally fueled vehicles.

However, if this race went on for longer, the Kia Seltos might have been able to save some honor. Incidentally, top-speed of the Nexon EV is limited to 120kph. In fact, acceleration on the Nexon EV actually tails off after 100kph. The Kia Seltos, on the other hand, does not have to worry about either such problems. Moreover, hard acceleration with an EV inevitably has effect on its range, and after a couple of drag races, the Nexon EV was down to just 95 km of range. With limited or no charging infrastructure, this remains one of the biggest challenges of EV owners in the country, which we are hopeful, will be resolved over the next few years.

Stay tuned to IndianAutosBlog.com for more such interesting drag races and other four-wheeler news.

Also Read- Off-Road-Spec Kia Seltos Looks Bolder Than Even a Tata Safari

K Mahendran, a prominent Congress leader from Tamil Nadu, has converted his Kia Seltos into an ambulance. The vehicle is already in use by the authorities to provide free services to patients in rural areas.  Mahendran said that he had planned to buy a proper ambulance to be used for emergencies. However, as that was taking longer than desired to be delivered, he decided to convert his personal Seltos into an ambulance at a cost of Rs 5 lakh. The ambulance is well equipped, with an oxygen cylinder fitted into the vehicle to provide oxygen to patients during transit if needed. The unavailability of ambulances in Tamil Nadu’s rural areas and remote places like Pattukottai spurred Mahendran to convert his vehicle to an ambulance.

Mahendran belongs to Tharmarankottai village, which is around 10 km away from Pattukottai. He said that a 60-year old woman in the village developed severe non-COVID-19 related complications on Sunday. The family couldn’t arrange an ambulance or a vehicle as no one was willing to travel so far. Mahendran also stated that in Jimper, Puducherry, a family from the village had to spend more than Rs 15,000 to take a Covid-19 patient to the hospital a few days ago.

Also Read- Tata Harrier Pickup Version Looks Expedition Ready

Coming to the vehicle, prices for the Kia Seltos range from Rs 9.95 lakh for the base HTE G trim and goes up to Rs 17.65 for the loaded GTX+. It is available with 3 engine choices, two petrol and one diesel. The petrol 1.5-litre 4 cylinder produces 115 PS and 144 Nm of peak power and torque figures and can be paired with a manual or IVT transmission while the 1.4-litre turbo-petrol makes 140 PS and 242 Nm max power and torque which comes mated with a manual or a 7-speed DCT. The 1.5-litre turbo-diesel churns out power and torque figures 115 PS and250 Nm respectively and you have the option of either a manual or an auto transmission.

Fastest cars in India under 20 lakhs – Kia Seltos

The first entry on our list of the fastest cars in India under 20 lakhs is the Kia Seltos. The compact SUV has been a consistent top seller since its launch, helping the South Korean automaker establish itself really quickly in the Indian auto market. The top of the line Seltos GT comes with a 1.4-litre turbo-petrol engine that makes 140 PS and 242 Nm of peak power and torque. The powertrain compliments the SUV’s sporty and aggressive design, with the Seltos GT coming with features like full LED headlamps and DRLs, signature red grille inserts, grey metallic alloy wheels, and dual exhaust pipes. Moving to the interior, the Seltos GT gets a chrome upholstery package, brushed stainless steel pedals and GT branding. Safety features include dual airbags, ABS with EBD, cornering lights, parking sensors front and rear, and a reversing camera.

• Acceleration – 0 to 100 in 9 Seconds
• Maximum Speed – 190 kmph

Honda City

The next car on our list of fastest cars in India under Rs 20 lakhs is the Honda City. The latest fifth-generation City is powered by a 1.5-litre i-VTEC DOHC petrol engine that churns out peak power and torque outputs of 121 PS and 145 Nm, respectively. The fifth-generation City’s design is an evolution of the last model with sleeker headlamps, redesigned front bumper, and a sculpted lip spoiler on the boot lid. The interior of the new City has been given a more noticeable upgrade with a new, premium dashboard with soft-touch panels and a touchscreen infotainment system with inbuilt Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Safety features on the fifth-generation City include six airbags, ABS with EBD, front seat belts with pre-tensioner load limiter, and rear parking sensors with a reversing camera

• Acceleration – 0 to 100 in 11 Seconds
• Maximum Speed – 180 kmph

Hyundai Grand i10 Nios

Hyundai’s Grand i10 Nios is the third car on our list of fastest cars in India under 20 lakhs in India. The hatchback’s fastest variant is powered by a 1-litre turbo-petrol that makes 100 PS and 171 of peak power and torque figures. Other engine options include a 1.2-litre N/A petrol making 83 PS and 114 Nm peak power and torque and a 1.2-litre diesel that makes peak power and torque figures of 75 PS and 190 Nm, respectively. The turbo-petrol engine coupled with the Grand i10 Nios’ light weight gives it a good power-to-weight ratio, helping the hatchback post quick acceleration figures.

The Hyundai Grand i10 Nios’s top variants come loaded with features like an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with integrated Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a 5.3-inch semi-digital instrument cluster, a USB charger at the front and a power outlet at the rear, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls, rear parking camera, electrically adjustable and foldable ORVMS and more.

• Acceleration – 0 to 100 in 10 Seconds on Turbo Petrol
• Maximum Speed – 170 kmph

Hyundai Creta

Hyundai makes another appearance on our list of fastest cars in India under 20 lakh rupees with the Creta. The flagship Creta Turbo comes with a 1.4-litre turbo-petrol engine that makes 140 PS and 242 Nm of peak power and torque figures. The turbo models of the second-generation Creta get projector headlights, a contrasting black coloured roof, rear spoiler, and diamond-cut alloy wheels. Moving to the interior, the Creta comes with features like a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto & Apple CarPlay, including a panoramic sunroof, wireless charger, ventilated front seats, automatic climate control, cruise control, an electronic parking brake, push-button start and more.

• Acceleration – 0 to 100 kmpl in 9 Seconds
• Maximum Speed – 190 kmph

Ford Figo

The last entrant in our list on our list of fastest cars in India under 20 lakhs is the Ford Figo Sports Edition. The hatchback is powered by a 1.5-litre TDCi diesel engine that makes peak power and torque figures of 100 PS and 215 Nm, respectively. The Figo Sports Edition gets a few unique touches on the exterior like black headlamp surrounds, a black front grille, and dual-tone exteriors with dynamic graphics. Moving to the interior, the Figo Sports Edition gets a leather-wrapped steering wheel with red stitches, lunar grey interior applique, proteus black centre stack bezel, and single tone chrome black environment. The Ford Figo Sports edition comes with safety features like dual front airbags, ABS with EBD, engine immobilizer, keyless entry and perimeter alarm.

• Acceleration – 12.76 Seconds
• Maximum Speed – 165-175 kmph

The Kia Seltos is powered by a 1.5L, four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine that produces 115hp of power and 250Nm of peak torque. The one featured in this video gets a 6-speed manual gearbox. Kia also offers a 6-speed torque converter automatic with the diesel engine on the Seltos. Meanwhile, the Jeep Compass is powered by a 2.0L, four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine that produces 170hp and 350Nm of torque. The particular Compass featured in this video gets a 6-speed manual gearbox, while it is also offered with a 9-speed torque converter automatic.

Also Read : Kia Seltos 1.5L Petrol vs Diesel Drag Race - Can You Guess The Winner?

On paper, the Jeep Compass has a clear advantage with much greater power and torque outputs, thanks to its bigger engine. However, in the drag races between the two SUVs, the results were not quite so straight forward. The drag races were conducted on a closed stretch of road across four separate rounds. In the first run, the Jeep Compass gets a clean start off the line and is soon able to edge ahead of the Seltos, which it maintains till the end and clearly wins the race. However, it is all about redemption for the Kia Seltos from the second round onwards.

In the second round, the Kia Seltos gets a much better launch than the Jeep Compass and is quickly able to build a healthy lead. Through the course of the race, the Compass was able to close the gap, but it still wasn't good enough to get ahead of the Seltos before the finish line. The Seltos thus won the second round, but given a longer stretch of road, the Compass would have definitely come out on top. In the third round, the Compass just got a poor start with tons of wheel spin and Seltos easily cruised to victory. In the fourth round too, although the Jeep Compass got a better start, it missed the second gear, and the Seltos was once again allowed to have an easy victory.

Overall, as per the vloggers, the Kia Seltos is the winner of this competition. Although the specs for the Seltos are much lower, it is also much lighter than the Jeep Compass, which really helps it with its launches. That said, over a longer course of the race, the Compass would definitely have been the winner with its greater power and torque eventually coming into play. It must be noted that the results hugely depended on individual drivers as well. Although the Jeep Compass sits in a segment above the Kia Seltos and is also much more expensive, the smaller and more affordable Kia Seltos is the winner here.

Stay tuned to IndianAutosBlog.com for more such interesting drag races and other four-wheeler news.

Before we talk about the drag race, let's address the specifications first. The 1.5L, naturally aspirated, four-cylinder petrol engine on the Seltos produces 115hp and 144Nm of peak torque. Meanwhile, the 1.5L, 4-cylinder turbo-diesel engine on the Seltos produces an identical 115hp of power, but produces way more torque at 250Nm. Both versions of the Seltos come mated to a manual gearbox here in this comparison. The petrol version of the Seltos is in its base-spec HTE G trim. The diesel version is also in its base-spec HTE trim.

Also Read : Kia Seltos Diesel - Automatic vs Manual Drag Race

The drag race was conducted across four different rounds for a more accurate representation of the results. The diesel version of the Seltos clearly has the advantage on paper and that was well reflected in its real world performance as well. Thanks to its massive torque advantage, the Seltos diesel beats the Seltos petrol in all four rounds of the drag race by a considerable margin. In fact, the advantage is evident right from the get go, where the Seltos diesel launches much better than the Seltos petrol in all four runs.

Currently, prices for the 2021 Kia Seltos start from INR 9.95 lakh and go up to INR 17.65 lakh (ex-showroom). A highlight of the updated C-SUV is the introduction of the iMT technology that has been available on the Sonet. The iMT gearbox on the Seltos is being offered with the 115hp 1.5L, NA petrol engine. The 140hp 1.4L turbo-petrol engine, which was so far offered only with a 7-speed DCT gearbox, is now also being offered with the 6-speed manual gearbox in a new GTX(O) trim. All automatic variants of the Seltos now additional come equipped with steering-mounted paddle shifters for a sportier driving experience.

Stay tuned to IndianAutosBlog.com for more Kia updates and other four-wheeler news.