Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos belong to the mid-size SUV segment. Hyundai Creta was first launched in 2015 in India whereas Kia Seltos was first launched in 2019. Since then, both the cars have received multiple upgrades and facelifts. In the current generation cars., both these cars offer three engine options viz. the 1.5-litre Naturally Aspirated Petrol (NA), the 1.5-litre Turbocharged Petrol, and 1.5-litre CRDi Diesel Engine. As both the cars are built on the same platform, the mileage offered by their variants is almost identical. In the Hyundai Creta’s lineup, the diesel engine delivers the best mileage which is up to 21.8 km/l. In the Kia Seltos’s lineup, the best mileage is offered by the diesel engine which reaches up to 19.4 km/l. In this article, we will see which car offers more mileage when it comes to a specific fuel-type or powertrain. Also, we shall highlight the gap between the claimed ARAI mileage and real-world mileage figures.
Hyundai Creta vs Kia Seltos Specs
The differences in the key specifications of Kia Seltos vs Hyundai Creta are highlighted below:
| Specification | Hyundai Creta | Kia Seltos |
| Engine | 1.5-litre NA Petrol1.5-litre Diesel 1.5-litre turbo petrol | 1.5-litre NA Petrol1.5-litre Diesel 1.5-litre turbo petrol |
| Displacement | Petrol: 1497cc (NA), 1482 cc (Turbo Petrol) Diesel: 1493 cc | Petrol: 1497 cc (NA), 1482 cc(Turbo Petrol) Diesel: 1493 cc |
| Power | Petrol: 113-158 bhp Diesel: 114 bhp | Petrol: 113-158 bhp Diesel: 114 PS |
| Torque | Petrol: 144-253 Nm Diesel: 250 Nm | Petrol: 144-253 Nm Diesel: 250 Nm |
| Transmission | 6-speed MT 6-speed TC, IVT7-Speed DCT | 6-speed MT6-Speed AT, IVT7-Speed DCT |
| Drive layout | Front Wheel Drive (FWD) | Front Wheel Drive (FWD) |
| Kerb weight | Petrol: 1175 kg Diesel: 1305 kg | Petrol: 1222 kg Diesel: 1467 kg |
| Fuel tank capacity | 50 litres | 47 litres |
The kerb weight of Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos are almost identical. Their power, torque, displacement, and drivetrain options are also exactly similar. Due to these reasons, the mileage offered by these cars differ slightly according to the variant, driving style, and road conditions.
Hyundai Creta vs Kia Seltos: ARAI Mileage Figures
ARAI stands for Automotive Research Association of India. The mileage tests of ARAI are performed under controlled lab conditions. So, there are some differences in the claimed mileage and actual on-road mileage. The below table highlights the ARAI mileage figures of both these cars on the basis of the combination of each fuel-type and transmission:
| Engine & Transmission | Fuel Type | Hyundai Creta – ARAI Mileage (km/l) | Kia Seltos – ARAI Mileage (km/l) |
| 1.5L NA Petrol – 6MT (Manual) | Petrol | 17.4 km/l | 17.0 km/l |
| 1.5L NA Petrol – IVT (CVT) | Petrol | 17.7 km/l | 17.7 km/l |
| 1.5L Turbo GDi – 7DCT | Petrol | 18.4 km/l | 17.5 km/l |
| 1.5L Turbo GDi – iMT (Clutchless) | Petrol | NA | 15.6 km/l |
| 1.5L CRDi – 6MT (Manual) | Diesel | 21.8 km/l | 19.4 km/l |
| 1.5L CRDi – 6AT (Automatic) | Diesel | 19.1 km/l | 17.8 km/l |
As per the ARAI claimed mileage figures, Hyundai Creta with the 1.5-litre CRDi and 6-speed manual transmission is the most fuel-efficient car in the Creta’s lineup. Kia Seltos with the 1.5-litre CRDi VGT – 6-speed manual transmission is the most fuel-efficient car in the Seltos’s lineup.
Hyundai Creta vs Kia Seltos: Real World Fuel-Efficiency
The below table highlights real world mileage figures for all fuel types and transmission options of both cars:
| Hyundai Creta (1.5-litre Na Petrol) | Kia Seltos (1.5-litre NA Petrol) | |
| City | Manual: 10.5 km/lCVT: 12 km/l | Manual: 10.5 km/lCVT: 11.8 km/l |
| Highway | Manual: 15 km/lCVT: 16.5 km/l | Manual: 14.5 km/lCVT: 16 km/l |
| Average | Manual: 12.5 km/lCVT: 13.8 km/l | Manual: 12 km/lCVT: 13.5 km/l |
| Tank range | 600 to 750 km | 550 – 700 km |
| Hyundai Creta (1.5-litre Turbo Petrol) | Kia Seltos (1.5-litre Turbo Petrol) | |
| City | DCT: 9.5 km/liMT: 11 km/l | DCT: 9 km/liMT: 10.5 km/l |
| Highway | DCT: 15.5 km/liMT: 17.5 km/l | DCT: 15 km/liMT: 17 km/l |
| Average | DCT: 12. km/liMT: 13.5 km/l | DCT: 11.5 km/liMT: 13 km/l |
| Tank range | 570 to 680 km | 520 – 620 km |
| Hyundai Creta (1.5-litre Diesel) | Kia Seltos (1.5-litre Diesel) | |
| City | Manual: 13 km/lAutomatic: 15.5 km/l | Manual: 12.5 km/lAutomatic: 15 km/l |
| Highway | Manual: 18 km/lAutomatic: 21.8 km/l | Manual: 17.5 km/lAutomatic: 19.4 km/l |
| Average | Manual: 15.5. km/lAutomatic: 17.8 km/l | Manual: 15 km/lAutomatic: 17 km/l |
| Tank range | 775 to 1000 km | 700 – 900 km |
The cars with less drop in the mileage in the real-world turns out to be the real winner when it comes to on-road ranking. Hyundai Creta delivers higher mileage figures in the real-world conditions on both highways and city with almost all the powertrains. So, Creta emerges as the clear winner in the department of mileage.
Also Read: Hyundai Creta vs Kia Seltos: Midsize SUVs Compared
Hyundai Creta vs Kia Seltos: Fuel Cost Comparison
We have calculated the monthly fuel costs for Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos cars with a supposed monthly running of 1500 km. These fuel costs are calculated as per the petrol and diesel rates in Pune recorded in July 2026 which are Rs. 112.04 and Rs. 98.68 respectively. The below table sheds insights into the monthly fuel-costs on the basis of powertrain:
| Creta Petrol | Seltos Petrol | Creta Turbo Petrol | Seltos Turbo Petrol | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly Running | 1500 km | 1500 km | 1500 km | 1500 km |
| Monthly Fuel Use | 113 L | 122 L | 125 L | 87 to 98 L |
| Average Monthly Fuel Cost | ₹12,608 | ₹ 13,708 | ₹ 14005 | ₹ 14,135 |
| Average Yearly Fuel Cost | ₹ 1.51 lakh | ₹ 1.64 lakh | ₹ 1.68 lakh | ₹ 1.69 lakh |
| 5-Year Fuel Cost | ₹ 7.56 lakh | ₹ 8.22 lakh | ₹ 8.40 lakh | ₹ 8.48 lakh |
| Creta Diesel | Seltos Diesel | |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Running | 1500 km | 1500 km |
| Monthly Fuel Use | 85 to 90 L | 87 to 98 L |
| Average Monthly Fuel Cost | ₹ 8344 to ₹ 8853 | ₹ 8606 to ₹ 9643 |
| Average Yearly Fuel Cost | ₹ 1 to 1.06 lakh | ₹ 1.03 to 1.16 lakh |
| 5-Year Fuel Cost | ₹ 5 to 5.31 lakh | ₹ 5.16 to 5.79 lakh |
Creta proves to be a clear winner, irrespective of your choice of powertrain. However, the difference is marginal when it comes to the turbo variants of Seltos and Creta.
Also Read: How to Improve Kia Seltos Reliability: Maintenance Tips
Hyundai Creta vs Kia Seltos Price
| Model | Variant (Base to Top) | Price (Ex-Showroom) |
| Hyundai Creta | E Petrol to SX(O)/N Line | ₹ 10.91 to ₹ 20.20 lakh |
| Kia Seltos | HTE Petrol to GTX/X-Line | ₹ 11 lakh to ₹ 19.99 lakh |
Summary
Creta is an overall winner between Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos when it comes to mileage. Creta leads the mileage space when it comes to NA petrol and diesel engines. When it comes to turbo petrol variants, Creta wins in the city while the Seltos performs better on the highways. So, city buyers can prefer the petrol variants of Creta irrespective of whether they go for NA petrol or turbo petrol models. Those who drive in the city a lot can prefer either of these two as the difference isn’t huge. However, Creta is still the better option for those who need a diesel car for their daily driving requirements.
FAQs
Q. Which car gives better mileage, the Hyundai Creta or the Kia Seltos?
Hyundai Creta offers an overall better mileage than Kia Seltos. Creta is the clear winner when it comes to NA petrol and diesel variants. However, Seltos closes the gap on the highway, especially with the turbo DCT powertrain.
Q. What is the real-world mileage of the Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos?
The real-world mileage depends on factors such as driving style, road conditions, engine-gearbox configuration, and traffic. While Creta is more fuel-efficient in the city with its NA petrol and diesel engine powertrains, Seltos is a better option on the highways, especially if you prefer the turbo DCT powertrain.
Q. Which is more fuel efficient in the city, the Hyundai Creta or Kia Seltos?
In the city, you should rather go for the petrol engine with automatic transmission. Here, Creta proves to be a clear winner even with the turbo petrol and DCT configuration.
Q. How much can I save per year by choosing the Hyundai Creta?
With an estimated monthly running of 1500 km and considering the ongoing fuel prices in Pune, you can save up to Rs. 13,000 annually with petrol models and up to Rs. 3000 with diesel models.
Q. Why do both cars return less mileage than their ARAI figures?
ARAI testing happens in lab-controlled conditions while the real-world conditions in India are completely the opposite. Therefore, cars return lesser mileage in the real-world as compared to their claimed ARAI figures.
