Hyundai Creta VS Kia Seltos Vs Honda Elevate: Best Compact SUV?

The Hyundai Creta has long been considered the King of SUVs in India. It is the number one choice for people and consistently tops the sales charts every month. Despite its long waiting line and expensive top trims, customers want this vehicle parked outside their homes, as it is more of a status symbol than just a car. However, if you are looking at a Creta, Im sure you must have considered its rivals like the Kia Seltos, and Honda Elevate. If you are unaware of the differences between them, Im going to explain it in simple terms so that your perspective on its rivals becomes clearer.

Let's start without further ado, and make sure to join 91Wheels Whatsapp channel group to never miss such exciting comparisons.

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Price Comparison: Hyundai Creta vs Rivals

The Creta and Seltos both start at under Rs 11 lakh ex-showroom, with the Creta being Rs 10,000 more expensive. If we go further, both have the same set of engines, transmissions, and 28 trims. However, in the Kia, you have an iMT option, which is not available in the Creta.

Both premium SUVs reserve their top-of-the-line models with a 1.5L Turbo Petrol engine and a 7-speed DCT, which cost Rs 20.14 lakh ex-showroom for the Creta and Rs 20.36 lakh ex-showroom for the Seltos. To add more, the highest selling trim in Hyundai is the SX, priced around Rs 15.30 lakh, and in Kia, it is the HTX, at Rs 15.44 lakh.

On the other hand, the Honda Elevate starts at Rs 11.79 lakh, and the top trim costs Rs 16.63 lakh. There is no performance varient or special trim. That's why it is one of the cheapest SUVs here.

Powertrains and transmission: Hyundai Creta vs Rivals

For Creta and Seltos, this is very easy to explain, as there are three engines - two petrol and one diesel - available in both SUVs. A range of transmissions, including manual, automatic, DCT, iVT, and iMT, is also available. Let's look at their specifications in a table.

On Honda Elevate, unfortunately there is just one engine option, the 1.5 L i-vtec petrol, making 121 Ps and 145 Nm of torque, mated to 6-speed manual or CVT.

Features: Hyundai Creta vs Kia Seltos vs Honda Elevate

Again, both cars pack a long list of features in their respective top models, which justifies their price. Almost every feature you'll find in the Creta is available in the Seltos as well. However, in the Kia, an additional heads-up display feature is available, and the ambient lighting comes with a plethora of color choices.

In this section, I am not going to list the names of features but rather point out a few observations. First, the 10.25-inch touchscreen in the Kia has a better layout and design than the Creta. It feels more seamless, with very minimal bezels. On the other hand, the execution of the screen in the Creta feels average.

The area where the 10.25-inch screen fits is quite large, but there are huge bezels. This may not be noticeable during a dark theme, but becomes evident when you turn on the navigation. Overall, the interior of the Seltos appears more premium and classy, whereas the Creta is designed to cater to every section of socitey.

However, the Honda Elevate is a unique SUV here, as it doesn't pack a lot of features that are available in its competitors. Inside, it feels basic and doesn't excite you because the design is quite old-fashioned. Honda should have added powered driver seats, ventilated seats, a panoramic sunroof, 360-degree camera and dual-zone climate control. Also, Honda offers ADAS Level-1, whereas the Korean cars provide ADAS Level-2.

Driveability: Hyundai Creta vs Kia Seltos vs Honda Elevate

Both Kia and Hyundai drive like a knife through butter with every engine and transmission. In the Creta, you get a more comfortable ride compared to the Seltos, and even at high speeds, it feels a bit more controlled. However, the Seltos has stiffer suspension, so at high speeds, the stability and confidence you get are better than those of the Hyundai SUV. Apart from that, both SUVs have super light steering, making driving on tight city roads or anywhere else extremely easy.

The Honda Elevate is an outstanding SUV to drive, with its 1.5 L i-VTEC engine being the roaring heart of it. It loves to rev hard and will always put a smile on your face when you take it towards the red line at high RPMs. Comparing its only engine with Hyundai and Kias 1.5 L petrol, the Elevate feels more powerful and definitely enhances your driving experience. If you want a more performance-oriented engine in these Korean cars, then you have to opt for the top 1.5L Turbo petrol, which costs above Rs 20 lakhs.

Practicality and Interior Space: Hyundai Creta vs Kia Seltos vs Honda Elevate

In terms of practicality Creta and Seltos has exactly same size of boot space; 433 litres. Also, 5 people can easily sit and travel long journeys, as there is enough space. Plus you get rear ac vents with device charging units, and rear sun blinds. However, in the back seat of Creta there is little more comfort than Seltos, probably because of its positioning, which is not a huge factor, but worth mentioning out.

The Japanese SUV provides 458 L of boot space, despite being shorter in length than korean SUVs. Also, the legroom inside is more because of its longer wheelbase, and the seats are more comfortable. Anyone who will sit there will understand, how cushiony and premium seats feel in the Honda Elevate. To add more, another positive point of Elevate is its central headrest in the second row, which is not present in its rivals.

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