Kia Seltos vs MG Hector vs Tata Harrier vs Nissan Kicks: Price-wise Comparison

With Kia launching the Seltos at an impressive starting price of Rs 9.69 lakh, we find out if it actually betters rivals like the MG Hector and Hyundai Creta on the value front

Kia recently launched its much-awaited car, the Seltos, with price tags between Rs 9.69 lakh and 15.99 lakh (ex-showroom India). It takes on the Hyundai Creta, MG Hector, Tata Harrier, and the base variants of the Jeep Compass. Here’s how they stand in terms of pricing:

• With a sub-Rs 10 lakh starting price, the Seltos has an advantage over the entire bunch except the Nissan Kicks and Renault Captur. It also offers better equipment than the other two.
• The Seltos is priced on par or undercuts most rivals despite featuring BS6 engines.
• If you wish to buy a petrol-automatic, you will have to extend your budget up to Rs 13.79 lakh. However, it is just Rs 2,000 more expensive than the Creta SX Auto, the cheapest petrol-auto in this segment.
• Kia Seltos is the only offering that gets a choice of two BS6-compliant petrol engines and automatic options.
• In comparison to the top-spec Creta Executive, the top-spec Seltos GTX+ offers more features and power but costs Rs 1.80 lakh more.
• The most affordable petrol-DCT in this array of cars is available in the Hector, though its top-spec Sharp-DCT variant costs Rs 79,000 more than the Seltos for now.
• The Harrier is not available with any petrol powertrain option.
• The Jeep Compass’ prices start just below the pricing of Seltos GTX DCT and goes beyond the Rs 20 lakh mark.
• Hector is the only offering with a 48V unit supporting its petrol engine.
• The Nissan Kicks and Renault Captur are diesel-oriented models and thus offer only two petrol options.
• Kia Seltos’ top-spec GTX+ DCT pricing is unavailable but is expected soon as the dealers are already accepting bookings for the same.
• The Jeep Compass is priced in the range of Rs 15.60 lakh to Rs 21.67 lakh.

• Seltos’ diesel lineup pricing is one of the lowest when compared to other models in this segment, but is closely matched by the Hyundai Creta and Nissan Kicks.
• The most value for money diesel-auto on offer is the Seltos, which costs Rs 17,000 less than the Creta S Auto.
• Not only this, Kia also plans to launch a fully-loaded diesel AT variant of the Seltos in the near future. The Hyundai Creta misses out on a top-spec diesel AT.
• Only the Jeep Compass offers a 4X4 drivetrain but prices start at a hefty Rs 20 lakh going till around Rs 28 lakh.
• The Hyundai Creta’s lower variants (E+, EX, S MT) get a diesel 1.4-litre engine (90PS/220Nm) which makes less power than the Seltos’s 1.5-litre unit (115PS/250Nm).
• Of all the cars, the Seltos and the Compass Trailhawk are the only ones with BS6-compliant engines.
• Both the Renault Captur and Nissan Kicks are not available with a diesel-auto combination like Hector and the Harrier.

Note: All prices are ex-showroom, Delhi.