Kia Seltos Mileage Comparison: Petrol vs Diesel vs Turbo Petrol

The Kia Seltos has been a hit among consumers looking for a mid-sized SUV, and the 2026 model (second-generation) adds to it by offering excellent fuel economy. There are a variety of powertrain options available, including three engines (1.5L petrol, 1.5L turbo-petrol and 1.5L diesel) that give potential buyers the ability to choose according to their needs.

The New KIA Seltos has many different types of transmissions available, such as Manual, IVT, iMT, DCT and Diesel Auto. If you want the simplest version for city use, the regular petrol makes sense. If you want stronger performance, the turbo petrol is the more exciting choice. If your priority is fuel efficiency and long-distance driving, the diesel remains the best pick.

Comparison of Kia Seltos Mileage

Kia Seltos powertrain	Transmission	Reported ARAI mileage	Best suited for
1.5L Petrol	Manual	16.5 kmpl	City and regular family use
1.5L Petrol	IVT automatic	16.5 kmpl	City buyers wanting smooth automatic driving
1.5L Turbo Petrol	iMT	15.6 kmpl	Buyers wanting performance without a clutch pedal
1.5L Turbo Petrol	DCT automatic	17.5 kmpl	Performance with automatic convenience
1.5L Diesel	Manual	19.4 kmpl	Best mileage and highway usage
1.5L Diesel	Torque converter automatic	17.8 kmpl	Diesel efficiency with automatic comfort

According to reports, the maximum fuel efficiency from Kia Seltos diesel manual is 19.4 km/l, and the minimum fuel efficiency of the Kia Seltos turbo petrol iMT is 15.6 km/l. Whereas both the Kia Seltos regular petrol manual and the Kia Seltos regular petrol IVT exhibit an average fuel economy of 16.5 km/l. 

What’s New in the 2026 Kia Seltos?

The 2026 Kia Seltos represents a major transformation from previous models as it has been completely redesigned, features a larger exterior and longer wheelbase, received interior upgrades, and offers new technology as well as enhanced safety features compared to what was previously available.

The current Seltos continues with three engine options:

Engine	Power	Torque	Transmission options
1.5L petrol	115 PS	144 Nm	6-speed MT, IVT
1.5L turbo petrol	160 PS	253 Nm	6-speed iMT, 7-speed DCT
1.5L diesel	116 PS	250 Nm	6-speed MT, 6-speed AT

The Seltos does not come with the diesel iMT variant anymore. Customers buying choosing the diesel variant now have a manual transmission option or a 6-speed torque converter automatic transmission option.

The updated Seltos received a 5-star safety rating from the Bharat NCAP, making it a safer and overall better product than the previous gen model.

Also Read: How to Improve Kia Seltos Reliability

Kia Seltos Petrol Mileage

The 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine is the most practical option for everyday buyers. It is available with a 6-speed manual gearbox and an IVT automatic transmission.

The ARAI mileage for both versions (petrol) is 16.5 kmpl. Therefore, from a mileage viewpoint, the manual and IVT petrol engines are the same, which can aid buyers looking to buy an automatic (IVT) engine without having to suffer from a major mileage decrease.

In real-world testing, the Seltos petrol IVT returned 10.31 kmpl in the city and 14.22 kmpl on the highway. These figures show the usual difference between claimed mileage and everyday driving, especially in traffic-heavy conditions.

Choose the Kia Seltos petrol if:

• Your usage is mostly within the city
• You want smoother and simpler ownership
• You do not drive enough to justify diesel
• You want a comfortable automatic for daily use
• You prefer lower upfront cost compared to diesel or turbo petrol variants

The petrol manual cars are best for buyers who wish to keep costs down, while the petrol IVTs cater to those who tend to spend a lot of time in traffic and want a smooth, automatic sort of transmission.

Used Kia Seltos Cars

Starting From

₹ 6.5 Lakh

Explore Pre-Owned Cars

Kia Seltos Turbo Petrol Mileage

The 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine is the most powerful engine in the Kia Seltos range. It produces 160 PS and 253 Nm, which makes it much stronger than the regular petrol engine.

With regards to the turbo-powered petrol engine, the options for transmission systems are the 6-speed iMT and 7-speed DCT systems. The iMT system reports an ARAI mileage of 15.6 km/l, whereas the DCT transmission reports a mileage of 17.5 km/l according to ARAI.

This is interesting because the DCT automatic is more efficient on paper than the iMT. For buyers, that makes the turbo petrol DCT the more appealing option if they want performance and better claimed efficiency.

The actual MPG of the Seltos turbo petrol DCT has come out to be 9.27 kmpl in urban areas and 14.76 kmpl on highways. The highway number is good for a very strong turbo petrol SUV, but the urban number decreases significantly when driving in stop-and-go traffic conditions.

Choose the Kia Seltos turbo petrol if:

• You want stronger acceleration
• You enjoy highway driving
• You want the most responsive Seltos engine
• You prefer automatic performance with the DCT
• You are comfortable with higher fuel costs than petrol or diesel

The turbo petrol is not the best choice for low running costs. It is the better choice if you care more about performance and driving feel.

Kia Seltos Diesel Mileage

Among the available engines for the Kia Seltos, the most economical is the 1.5L Diesel Engine. The 1.5L Diesel Engine provides 116 PS of power and 250 Nm of torque and can be mated to either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed torque converter automatic transmission.

The diesel manual has a reported ARAI mileage of 19.4 kmpl, making it the most fuel-efficient Seltos variant. The diesel automatic has a reported ARAI mileage of 17.8 kmpl, which is still better than most petrol versions.

A diesel automatic can be helpful for buyers who do a lot of highway miles, carry heavy loads, or make long trips. The diesel engine also gives you more torque (250 Nm), making it easier to pass other vehicles and relax when starting to drive long distances than a standard petrol engine.

Choose the Kia Seltos diesel if:

• You drive high monthly kilometres
• You frequently travel on highways
• You want better torque for long drives
• You want the best reported mileage in the Seltos range
• You are comfortable paying more upfront for lower running costs

It is the best Seltos mileage pick for diesel cars. The diesel automatic makes sense if you’re looking for highway comfort combined with city convenience.

Kia Seltos Petrol vs Turbo Petrol vs Diesel: Key Differences

Factor	Petrol	Turbo petrol	Diesel
Best for city use	Yes	Good, but thirstier	Good, but better for longer runs
Best for performance	Average	Best	Strong torque, not sporty
Best for mileage	No	No	Yes
Best automatic	IVT	DCT	6-speed AT
Lowest running cost	Moderate	Highest fuel cost	Best for high running
Best buyer type	Regular family buyer	Enthusiast or highway user	Long-distance user

Which Kia Seltos Mileage Option Should You Buy?

If you run low to moderately frequently, then the 1.5L petrol version of the Seltos is probably the best value option to go with, as it’s more convenient for daily family usage as well as being a lot easier to drive.

If you want a more exciting drive, choose the turbo petrol DCT. It offers the best performance in the Seltos range and has a better reported mileage figure than the turbo petrol iMT.

If you rack up a lot of mileage during the month, go with the diesel option. The diesel manual gives the highest documented fuel economy, while the diesel automatic is more convenient than the manual but still allows for maximum diesel fuel economy.

FAQs