Hi CarBikeGPT team, I'm from Bangalore and looking to buy my first SUV. My budget is around ₹13-14 lakh for the base petrol variant. I'm torn between the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara Petrol base and the Kia Seltos petrol base. My daily commute is city driving, but I also do frequent weekend trips to Mysore and Coorg with family, so highway performance and easy overtaking are crucial. I'm worried about facing power or pickup issues on the highways with these 1.5L naturally aspirated engines. Which one would you recommend, especially considering my overtaking concern?
CarBikeGPT Says: Hello there! That's a great question, and it's smart to consider highway performance, especially with family on board. Between the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara Petrol base and the Kia Seltos Petrol base, for your specific needs, we'd lean towards the Kia Seltos.
While both are excellent choices in the compact SUV segment, the updated Kia Seltos, even in its base HTE trim, offers a more polished and modern package. The 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine in both cars produces 115hp and 144Nm of torque. In our experience, the Seltos's engine feels a tad more eager and refined when pushed, which helps with city driving and feels adequate on the highways for cruising. For overtaking on single-lane highways, you'll need to plan your moves and downshift if it's a manual, as neither engine is a powerhouse. However, the Seltos's overall driving dynamics and slightly better low-end response for its NA engine might give it a slight edge here. The Grand Vitara's 1.5L engine, while smooth and fuel-efficient, can feel a bit laid-back, especially when you demand quick acceleration for overtakes.
Beyond the engine, the Seltos also feels more premium inside and often offers a more comprehensive feature list even in its lower variants, giving you better value for your money. If highway overtaking is a major concern, honestly, for similar money, you could consider the turbo-petrol variants of other cars or even the Seltos itself, but that would push your budget. Sticking to your base NA petrol choice, the Seltos offers a more complete and satisfying package for your mix of city and highway usage. It's the newer product with a more contemporary feel that truly stands out.