Kia is one carmaker that cracked the Indian automotive market. The Korean brand achieved this feat in just 3 years and overtook entrenched brands to become the fifth-largest carmaker in India, in terms of overall volumes. Kia started its operations in India with the brilliant Seltos which is still one of the most popular cars in India. The Seltos did everything well, making it a hard SUV to a fault. It is a well-engineered product that packs potent powertrain options, and class-leading features – all of which sealed its success.
Fast forward to 2022, Maruti Suzuki figured it also needs a piece of the pie – the compact SUV space. What resulted is the Grand Vitara, a legendary nameplate that made a comeback with hybrid tech, something all of its rivals lack including the Kia Seltos. The Grand Vitara has a lot going for it and in this article we take a detailed look at it, pitching it against the Kia Seltos to find out how these SUVs fare:
Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara vs Kia Seltos: Dimensions
Dimensions | Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara | Kia Seltos |
Length | 4345mm | 4315mm |
Width | 1795mm | 1800mm |
Height | 1645mm | 1620mm |
Wheelbase | 2600mm | 2610mm |
Ground Clearance | 210mm | 190mm |
Boot Space | 373 litres | 433 litres |
It does not come as a surprise that the Grand Vitara and the Seltos are similar when it comes to dimensions. The Vitara comes out as the bigger car as it is longer and taller than the Seltos but by a small margin. It also features a higher 210mm ground clearance against the 190mm of Seltos. However, the Kia gets a longer wheelbase and crucially a bigger boot space (433-litres)making it the more practical choice here for those long weekend drives with the whole family. The Grand Vitara only gets a 373-litres boot space as it is a hybrid.
Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara vs Kia Seltos: Engine & Transmission
Parameters | Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara | Kia Seltos |
Engine Options | 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol engine (mild hybrid),1.5-litre 3-cylinder petrol engine(strong hybrid) | 1.5-litre diesel/1.5-litre petrol engine/1.4-litre turbo petrol |
Transmission Options | eCVT, 5-speed MT, 6-speed MT | 6-speed MT, 7-speed DCT, 6-speed AT, CVT |
Power | 102bhp/115bhp | 113bhp/138bhp/115bhp |
Torque | 136Nm/122Nm | 143Nm/250Nm/242Nm |
Mileage | 20.58 to 27.97 kmpl | 16.1 to 21 kmpl |
There is a drastic and distinct differentiation when it comes to engine and gearbox of these SUVs. The Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara deploys a 1.5-litre petrol engine in 3-cylinder and 4-cylinder guise for strong and mild hybrid setups respectively. This also means the Grand Vitara is only a petrol-powered car. The gearbox options include an eCVT or a 5- or 6-speed manual.
Moving on to the Seltos it is clear that the Kia offers two petrol and one diesel engine option with not one but 4 gearbox options. You will be spoiled for choices with the Kia Seltos. It is also the only diesel-engined car in this comparison giving it an edge there. However, if you want the best fuel economy, the Vitara steals the crown with a rated fuel economy of 20.58 to 27.97 kmpl. For perspective, the max claimed fuel economy of the Seltos (21 kmpl) is the least fuel economy offered by the Grand Vitara (20.58 kmpl).
Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara vs Kia Seltos: Features & Comfort
Features | Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara | Kia Seltos |
Infotainment system | 9-inch infotainment system | 10.25-inch infotainment system |
Music system | Yes | Yes |
Climate control | Yes | Yes |
Ventilated seats | Yes | Yes |
Adjustable steering | Yes | Yes |
Drive modes | Yes | Yes |
Instrument cluster | Digital | Digital Analogue |
Sunroof | Panoramic | Panoramic |
Adjustable seats (manual or electric) | Manual | Electric |
Rear AC vents | Yes | Yes |
60:40 rear seat split | Yes | Yes |
Cruise control | Yes | Yes |
To be honest, it is hard to pick a winner based on the features since both the SUVs are more or less equal in this parameter. Both cars are loaded to the brim with features you expect today without any major misses. Look harder and you might notice that the Kia offers electric seats and a bigger 10.25-inch touchscreen helping it take a slight edge over the Maruti Suzuki. Meanwhile, the Grand Vitara makes up for it with a fully digital instrument cluster.
Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara vs Kia Seltos: Safety Features
Features | Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara | Kia Seltos |
NCAP Safety Rating | NA | 3 stars (GNCAP) |
Airbags | 6 | 6 |
ABS with EBD | Yes | Yes |
ESC | Yes | Yes |
Traction control | Yes | Yes |
Automatic headlamp | Yes | Yes |
Rain-sensing wipers | No | No |
Hill hold assist | Yes | Yes |
Hill descent control | Yes | Yes |
Rear sensors | Yes | Yes |
Rear parking camera | Yes | Yes |
ISOFIX Child seat anchor points | Yes | Yes |
ADAS | No | No |
Only the Kia Seltos has been subjected to a crash test by the GNCAP. Maruti Suzuki claims the Grand Vitara will do well in a crash test but until officially tested, it is hard to pick a winner here. But looking at the extensive list of safety kit on offer for both SUVs show how serious they are when it comes to safety. Everything is offered in terms of safety in both SUVs except for rain-sensing wipers and ADAS suite.
Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara vs Kia Seltos: Price Comparison
Variants | Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara | Kia Seltos |
Base Variants | Rs 10.45 lakh | Rs 10.69 lakh |
Mid Variants | Rs 13.40 lakh | Rs 14.29 lakh |
Upper Mid Variants | Rs 15.55 lakh | Rs 15.65 lakh |
Top Variants | Rs 19.65 lakh | Rs 19.15 lakh |
Strictly looking at the base sticker price, the Grand Vitara takes the cake here with a lower price tag for its mild-hybrid version. However, things take a sharp turn when it comes to top-spec pricing where the Grand Vitara becomes the dearer option by around Rs 50,000. The mid and upper-mid variants of these SUVs are priced competitively and there are a ton of variants available to suit your needs.
Summary
Kia’s dominance with the Seltos is surely going to take a hit with the Grand Vitara in the picture. Although it lacks punch from the engine and a diesel engine option, the Maruti does everything else well making it a worthy rival to the established Kia Seltos. More importantly, Maruti Suzuki will cater to a major chunk of the customers as it offers substantially more fuel economy (thanks to the hybrid tech) and looks contemporary with its modern design.
The Kia is also a good-looking SUV and despite being 3 years old, it still looks fresh. It will still remain the choice for a diesel SUV or an SUV which can also provide some driving thrills with its turbo petrol mill and the sorted chassis. The Grand Vitara has an even better chassis with AWD support but it takes a step back in the engine department when you strictly consider performance. That said, both SUVs offer a lot for your money making them the best options amongst their rivals.
