New Kia Seltos 2026 vs Hyundai Creta: Battle Of The Segment Heavyweights

Can the newcomer beat the segment-leader? We find out!

The compact SUV segment is heating up once again. Kia has taken the wraps off the next-gen 2026 Seltos, which is modern and larger than before.

Meanwhile, the Hyundai Creta continues to be one of the most popular and well-rounded choices in the segment. On paper, both SUVs pack multiple engine options, long feature lists, and modern tech. So how do they stack up against each other? Let's break it down.

Price

Model	2026 Kia Seltos	Hyundai Creta
Price (ex-showroom)	From Rs 11.20 lakh (expected)	Rs 10.73 to Rs 20.20 lakh

Kia will announce the prices of the 2026 Seltos on January 02, 2026, while its bookings are underway for a token price of Rs 25,000.
Based on its expected pricing, the Hyundai Creta will likely undercut the Seltos, making it the more accessible option on paper.
Take a look at the pricing of all Hyundai Creta variants after the recent GST revision.

Dimensions

Parameter	2026 Kia Seltos	Hyundai Creta	Difference
Length	4460 mm	4330 mm	+130 mm
Width	1830 mm	1790 mm	+40 mm
Height	1635 mm	1635 mm (including roof rails)	No difference
Wheelbase	2690 mm	2610 mm	+80 mm
Boot Space	447 litres	433 litres	+14 mm

With a longer body and a significantly larger wheelbase, the Seltos places itself amongst the biggest SUVs in the segment.
This should translate to better rear-seat comfort and road presence.
The Creta is not far behind, but the numbers clearly favour the Seltos, with greater length, a longer wheelbase, and a larger boot space.

Powertrain

	2026 Kia Seltos	Hyundai Creta
Engine	1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol	1.5-litre turbo-petrol	1.5-litre diesel	1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol	1.5-litre turbo petrol	1.5-litre diesel
Transmission	6-speed MT/ CVT	6-speed iMT/ 7-speed DCT	6-speed MT/ 6-speed AT	6-speed MT/ CVT	7-speed DCT	6-speed MT/ 6-speed AT
Power	115 PS	160 PS	116 PS	115 PS	160 PS	116 PS
Torque	144 Nm	253 Nm	250 Nm	144 Nm	253 Nm	250 Nm

In terms of engine options, the 2026 Seltos and the Creta remain identical.
This includes the same performance figures for both petrol and diesel engines.
As a result, the choice between the two will come down to the overall driving experience rather than outright numbers.
That said, the 2026 Seltos will also be offered with an additional clutchless manual transmission option with the turbo-petrol engine, which the Creta does not get. However, the sportier Creta N Line can be had with a proper 6-speed manual with the turbo-petrol engine.

Features

	2026 Kia Seltos	Hyundai Creta
Exterior	LED projector headlights Connected LED taillights LED DRLs LED front fog lamps 18-inch dual-tone alloy wheels Front & rear skid plates Black roof rails Motorised flush-type door handles Shark-fin antenna Rear spoiler Neon brake callipers (GTX variant)	Quad-beam LED headlights Connected LED taillights LED positioning lamps Connected LED DRLs LED sequential indicators 18-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels Front & rear skid plates Roof rails Body coloured door handles Body coloured ORVMs Shark-fin antenna Red brake callipers (Knight Edition only) Rear spoiler
Interior	Dual tone cabin themes in multiple options Leatherette upholstery Leatherette-wrapped steering wheel 64-colour ambient lighting Passenger vanity mirror Adjustable headrests for all seats Front centre armrest with storage Front seat back pocket Rear centre armrest with cupholders	Grey dual-tone cabin theme Leatherette upholstery Leatherette-wrapped steering wheel Ambient lighting Passenger vanity mirror Illuminated glovebox Sunglass holder Adjustable headrests for all seats Front centre armrest with storage Front seat back pocket Rear centre armrest with cupholders
Comfort and Convenience	12.3-inch digital driver's display Head-Up Display Dual-zone auto AC with rear vents Ventilated front seats 10-way Power-adjustable driver seat with memory function Manual adjustment for co-driver seat 2-step rear reclining seat Rear window sunshades Panoramic sunroof Wireless smartphone charger Auto-dimming IRVM Boot lamp Electrically foldable ORVMs Multi-drive And Terrain modes 60:40 split-folding rear seats Type-C USB port (front & rear) Keyless entry with push-button start/stop Tilt & telescopic steering wheel	10.25-inch digital driver's display Dual-zone auto AC with rear vents Ventilated front seats 8-way power-adjustable driver seat with memory function 8-way adjustable powered co-driver seat with Boss mode 2-step rear reclining seat Rear window sunshade Panoramic sunroof Wireless smartphone charger Puddle lamps Auto-dimming IRVM Boot lamp Electrically foldable ORVMs Drive modes - Eco, Normal and Sport Terrain Modes - Sand, Snow, Mud 60:40 split-folding rear seats Type-C USB port (front & rear) Keyless entry with push-button start/stop Tilt and telescopic adjustment for the steering wheel
Infotainment	12.3-inch touchscreen 8-speaker Bose sound system Connected car tech Steering-mounted audio and calling controls Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto OTA updates Voice assistant	10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system 8-speaker Bose sound system Connected car tech Steering-mounted audio and calling controls Apple CarPlay and Android Auto OTA updates Voice assistant
Safety	Six airbags Level-2 advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) Electronic stability programme (ESP) Traction control system Hill-start assist All-wheel disc brakes Front, side & rear parking sensors 3-point seatbelts for all seats with reminders 360-degree camera Rear wiper and washer Rear defogger Electronic parking brake with auto-hold Tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) ISOFIX child seat anchorages	Six airbags (as standard) Level-2 advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) Electronic stability programme (ESP) Traction control system Hill-hold assist Hill-descent control 3-point seatbelts for all seats with reminders 360-degree camera Front & rear parking sensors Rear wiper and washer Rear defogger Electronic parking brake with auto-hold Tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) Rear disc brakes ISOFIX child seat anchorages

Both the 2026 Kia Seltos and the Hyundai Creta are packed with modern tech and comfort features, making them closely matched on paper.
The Seltos stands out with a larger touchscreen and digital driver's display as well as a head-up display.
In terms of convenience, the Seltos offers a 10-way power-adjustable driver seat with a memory function, compared to the Creta's 8-way power adjustment. Both models, however, share features such as a Bose sound system, a panoramic sunroof, and Level-2 ADAS.

CarDekho Says…

While the Creta has long been Hyundai's sales topper, the new-gen 2026 Seltos marks a fresh step forward for Kia. Both share similar engines and technology and follow a very similar formula, which makes this comparison closer than it appears at first glance.

The 2026 Seltos, being an all-new generation model, is larger in size and features a completely revised design inside and out, which should appeal to a wider audience. However, its prices are yet to be announced.

On the other hand, the Creta offers a similarly well-rounded package and could undercut the Seltos in terms of pricing. Either way, on paper, both the Seltos and the Creta deliver strong all-round packages, and choosing either of them is unlikely to disappoint you. Let us know which one you plan to bring home in the comments below. Meanwhile, you can check out the comparison between the new Seltos and Sierra, here.