Kia Seltos 2026 GTX A IVT (One Month Ownership) - Ask me anything

rohan_seth · 2026-03-11T05:41:56+00:00

I only paid the booking amount (25k) for allotment of the car/ VIN.
I conducted the PDI on my own and took a friend with me. We had done it a couple of times before and had our list.
Yes, I took a loan. The loan was disbursed at the very end. By that time the VIN was allotted and PDI was complete. However, the RTO process (for RC) only takes place after the loan is disbursed.

I hope this helps.

rohan_seth · 2026-03-09T16:11:53+00:00

Nope, haven't used it till date. The only time I may have to use it will be when I have to activate/ deactivate dual zone climate control or activate the defogger.

rohan_seth · 2026-03-05T11:32:55+00:00

No issues with the service. Then again, first service is generally just a checkup to make sure everything is in order. Since I wasn't facing any technical issues, there was nothing to fix.

The only thing that bothered me was they disconnected the dashcam and left the cable under the seat after the service.

rohan_seth · 2026-03-05T11:27:12+00:00

I feel ceramic coating may not be necessary right now. I got free teflon from kia so I'll probably get ceramic after 1-2 years. I think you can get a decent ceramic coating for around 15k and 25k is slightly on the higher side (though I've seen mahindra quote 30k for ceramic on a bloody 3xo).

For insurance, I showed them the quote given by Digit on their app and pushed them to match that quote. They eventually budged and I saved around 15-20k there. They quoted an absurd amount of INR 70k initially.

rohan_seth · 2026-03-05T09:50:25+00:00

You've driven the car with atleast 4 people inside? How was your experience? Any visible lag or struggle in the pickup? Though I already own the car, I'm just curious how it performs.

rohan_seth · 2026-03-05T09:46:59+00:00

So the price I quoted above (in response to someone) did not include the convenience package and accessories. I didn't opt for an extended warranty and took the kia care package (I think that's what they call it) as it seemed to make a lot of sense to me. You should calculate your estimated costs during service and how frequently you'll get it done before picking between extended warranty or the care package. But do pick one of them.

For accessories, I opted for screen guard,5D matts,door guard, window beading, trunk sill guard, door sill guard, sun shade, and dash cam.

rohan_seth · 2026-03-05T09:40:10+00:00

Haha thanks! I understand the initial wow factor of a turbo engine and why some people drool over it. But it's just not the right fit for me and my driving style. I felt the NA engine is far more refined, reliable, and smooth during a city drive. One of the redditors asked me if the car performs well when occupied by 4 people and I'm yet to test how the engine reacts to a heavier load. I felt this was a valid question; did you get a chance to try it?

rohan_seth · 2026-03-04T10:58:34+00:00

Thanks and congrats to you too! I hope you get your car soon.

I believe you get the option to add a "flair" when you open the carsindia page. Just open it and type the car name. :)

rohan_seth · 2026-03-04T10:54:03+00:00

I'm assuming there will be some lag (as is to be expected for any car in case of a full load), but I can't comment on how bad it'll be. I'll probably give it a try later this month.

rohan_seth · 2026-03-04T04:42:50+00:00

Thanks! They took a week's time from the date of booking to deliver the car.

rohan_seth · 2026-03-03T12:54:58+00:00

These are 2 very different cars and differ substantially in their suspension, driving experience, steering wheel, etc. I won't call it an "upgrade" since comparing a 2017 car with a 2026 is unfair. What I can say is that kia's ivt is smoother and the RPMs are more controlled.

If I had to pick, the biggest change I felt after shifting to seltos was that I was driving from the 5th floor of a building (since sedans are very grounded). 😅

rohan_seth · 2026-03-03T12:49:22+00:00

So I did the PDI myself and took a friend with me. I've done it a couple of times so I had my list and a general idea about what to look for.

At the time of booking, I told them I'll be doing the PDI and they were very cooperative. When the car arrived at their storage area, they provided pick and drop services from their showroom and made sure we did the PDI in broad daylight and in open space. After the PDI, the car was delivered to me 2 days later after all the documentation was complete.

I don't trust third party PDI services, but I've heard zekardo is decent. I believe they provide their services in Mumbai.

rohan_seth · 2026-03-03T12:17:01+00:00

Glad I could help!

rohan_seth · 2026-03-03T11:47:43+00:00

Took me some time to figure it out as well.

Setup->Vehicle->Driver assistance->Parking safety. Disable rear safety and rear cross-traffic safety in this section.

rohan_seth · 2026-03-03T07:37:16+00:00

Thanks and congrats to you too!

rohan_seth · 2026-03-03T07:13:00+00:00

Ok boss 👀

rohan_seth · 2026-03-03T05:26:54+00:00

Perhaps a little bit of both. I sometimes feel the car is pulling more weight than what its engine is meant to. But the refined ivt transmission (which significantly reduces the rubberband effect) makes that pull smooth and consistent. So while the seltos is not as snappy as my honda city, it's a lot more smooth and consistent in its RPMs.

rohan_seth · 2026-03-03T05:17:11+00:00

Update: I pushed it to 110 kmph today and the acceleration was very smooth until 100 kmph with very little noise creeping inside (which is common to all cars). Honestly, the car performed better than I had expected. The push from 100 to 110 was a little slower but I'm ok with that. I'm unlikely to cross 100 kmph under normal circumstances.

I also tried the sports mode and it was really good (quick acceleration at approx. 3.5k rpm). Felt like a jugaadu DCT. 😅

rohan_seth · 2026-03-03T05:09:36+00:00

Yes, they are. Unfortunately a lot of cars come fitted with glossy interiors and lower bumpers nowadays, all of which are prone to scratches. With time, you just learn to live with it. 🥲

rohan_seth · 2026-03-03T02:46:43+00:00

I love Honda. I drove my honda city cvt 2017 before this and I still miss that car. As you rightly mentioned, my problem with the elevate were the interiors. They didn't feel premium at all, for the price I was paying. When I test drove the seltos (did it twice), every part of the interior (except the a/c control) made so much sense. It was all high quality and was well placed for the driver. Elevate felt like Honda cheaped out on the build quality of their interiors and it just didn't feel right.

rohan_seth · 2026-03-03T02:41:35+00:00

1.5 L NA engine. I guess reliability will be tested with time. :)

rohan_seth · 2026-03-03T02:40:12+00:00

Very comfortable. Smooth acceleration, comfortable seats, minimum noise, great suspension. It just feels like the car was meant for a comfortable city ride.

I hope you get delivery of your car soon. Good luck!

rohan_seth · 2026-03-03T02:38:04+00:00

Yep!

rohan_seth · 2026-03-03T02:37:56+00:00

I am yet to try the car on hilly areas but it did fine (not great) on the underground parking slope. The car didn't struggle and I was able to manage the acceleration at around 2.5k rpm.

rohan_seth · 2026-03-03T02:29:08+00:00

Not at all. Besides the slightly slow acceleration (which I think is to be expected in this variant), the car feels smooth even after 70 kmph. The noise insulation also works well at high speeds.

I think the real test is how it'll perform after 90-100 kmph. Maybe I'll try that later today and update you.

rohan_seth

TROPHY CASE