Buying Kia Seltos? Wait for the Toyota HyRyder?
Kia Seltos has successfully made its way to three lakh Indian homes since its launch in 2019. Kia’s first car in the country has become a high-selling SUV in a period of just 3 years. Its popularity needs no introduction but some exciting rivals have made this segment competitive like never before. Brands like Toyota will soon enter this segment with their strong reputation of reliability. The recently-unveiled Toyota Urban Cruiser HyRyder will go against the Kia Seltos. So, should a Kia Seltos buyer wait for the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder? That is exactly what we discuss in our Kia Seltos vs Toyota Urban Cruiser HyRyder comparison.
Kia Seltos vs Toyota Urban Cruiser HyRyder – Design
Kia created a loud statement with the Seltos. The car looks every bit modern and captivating thanks to its bold design. The tiger nose grille at the front and sharp looking LED lights dominate the front look of the car. The top variants also get a LED DRL strip that runs almost all the way across the front line. All-in-all, the Seltos exudes a strong road presence.
Toyota has followed its global design language on the Urban Cruiser HyRyder as well. The large air-dam and thick grille give the front a muscular look. The HyRyder sits on 17-inch alloy wheels. The rear gets sleek tail lamps.
Specifications
The Kia Seltos comes with three engines and five gearbox options. The 1.5-litre petrol engine that makes 113bhp & 144Nm of torque is mated to a 6-speed manual, 6-speed iMT, or a CVT gearbox. The 1.4-litre turbo-petrol engine is quite peppy and makes 138bhp & 242Nm of torque. Transmission options for this unit include 6-speed manual and 7-speed DCT. The 1.5-litre diesel engine on offer produces 113bhp & 250Nm of torque. Gearbox options for the diesel engine include 6-speed manual and traditional torque convertor automatic gearbox.
Comparing it with HyRyder, first of all, this one is only available with petrol engines. You get two petrol engine options in the HyRyder. A 1.5-litre K15C mild hybrid petrol that makes 102bhp & 137Nm of torque mated to a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic gearbox is on offer. The other one is the 1.5-litre 3-cylinder Atkinson cycle engine. This engine is mated to an electric motor to give a combined output of 115bhp. The strong hybrid engine variant is available with an E-drive transmission only.
The biggest highlight of this SUV is the availability of All-Wheel-Drive. This is expected to give it a very strong hand in the segment when compared to the existing rivals.
Seltos vs Urban Cruiser HyRyder – Features
Kia has loaded the Seltos with many features. Features are one of the major points why this car has such high sales numbers. The car has features like 8-speakers BOSE audio system, a 360-degree parking camera with front parking sensors, a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system with connected car tech, smart air purifier, HUD and many more.
The Toyota Urban Cruiser HyRyder also sails high in terms of features ranging from drive mode select, panoramic sunroof, Heads Up Display, ventilated seats, a 9.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system to many others. It also has a more premium look with a tan colour interior and efficacious piano black inserts.
Kia Seltos vs Toyota Urban Cruiser HyRyder – Pricing
Kia Seltos is priced from Rs 12.43 lakh (on-road, Mumbai) to Rs 22.34 lakh (on-road, Mumbai). Toyota has not launched the Urban Cruiser HyRyder yet, however, we are expecting this car to be priced between Rs 12 lakh to Rs 20 lakh (ex-showroom) once it launches in the coming weeks.
So, should you wait?
The Kia Seltos has established quite a name for itself. The features on offer, the way this SUV looks and the overall package that it offers makes it a great choice for buyers in this segment. However, one thing that haunts the Kia family is safety. The Kia Seltos is a 3-star rated car, however, the brand has recently updated the Seltos with standard six airbags. Now, talking about the Toyota SUV, this one will come in with impressive features, impressive fuel-efficiency figures as well as better capability thanks to AWD. However, one thing that you would need to adjust with would be the quality of materials used. All-in-all, if your focus is clearly on quality and features, you should lean towards the Seltos. However, if the above-mentioned points about the Urban Cruiser Hyryder intrigue you, you should definitely checkout this SUV.
Do let us know what your pick would be in the comments.
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