KIA Seltos Vs MG Hector: Battle Of The Newbies In The Country
Engine & Transmission
Kia has come with quite a lot of combinations for the engine as well as the transmission which will make it easier for the potential customers to choose a model specifically catering to their needs.
Seltos will come with three engine options: A 1.4liter turbo GDI petrol engine churning out 140hp and 242nm of torque mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox which also comes with an option of a 7-speed DCT. It will also offer a 1.5-liter petrol motor giving out a mild 115hp and 144nm of torque. This engine can be mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox or an IVT which the Kia calls as the Intelligent CVT. It will also come with a 1.5-liter diesel engine which will give the same power of 115hp as the petrol but will give a healthy output of torque at 250nm.
The Hector, on the other hand, has fewer engine options as compared to the Seltos. It comes with a 1.5-liter turbo petrol motor which produces a healthy 143hp which is also available with a 48V mild hybrid battery. There is also a high powered 170hp 2.0-liter diesel engine which will only be available with a 6 speed manual like the mild hybrid petrol. Only the 1.5 Petrol is available with a 6 Speed DCT.
Both the engines have their own advantages and disadvantages but it is important to note that the Seltos will have the BS6 complaint engine right from the start whereas the Hector will come with a BS4 Engine.
Features & Connectivity
The top spec variants of both the cars come feature loaded with a lot of tech and huge displays at the center console. The Seltos boasts a 10.25-inch display in a landscape orientation whereas the Hector has a Vertical iPad like vertical touchscreen at the center and both the systems come bundled with Android Auto and Apple Carplay. Both the cars are essentially what we call connected cars at the moment and both the systems, the UVO connect in Seltos and the iSmart has an E-Sim with the help of which we can control all the major features with the touch of a button on our smartphones. MG also boasts its voice assisted features with the help of which you can control basic function through voice command like opening a sunroof or controlling the volume. The interior of both the cars come packed with leather upholstery, 360* surround camera, front and rear parking sensors along with automatic headlights and mood/ambient lighting inside the cabin.
Seltos gets an 8inch segment first HUD (heads up display) and the Hector gets front and passenger electric seats and it is likely to be seen whether this will come in the Seltos.
Storage & Safety
Both the cars get 2 airbags as standard and 6 airbags on the top spec variant. Both the cars come equipped with ABS, ESP and traction control. One area where Hector shines is that it comes with disc brakes on all four wheels whereas in the Seltos the lower spec variants get drum brakes at the rear. As far as the boot is concerned the Seltos has a boot space of 433 liters and 587 which is a massive boost for the MG Hector. Both cars have spacious cabins with a lot of cubby holes for storage and the cabins have an airy feel to them due to the presence of large panoramic sunroofs.
Price & Availability
The MG Hector will be launching on the 27th June with a price ranging from Rs 14-18 Lakh Ex-Showroom Delhi and the Seltos will be launching in Late August with prices ranging from Rs 11-17 lakh. The Hector prices will likely see an increase once the BS6 compliant launches and the hike is expected to be steep.
Hector will be available across 120 touch-points which is expected to touch 250 by September 2019. At launch, Kia will have 265 touch-points across 160 Indian Cities which will be expanded to 300 and 350 by 2020/21.
It is yet to see how these two SUVs will spice up the competition in an overcrowded market and must offer a distinctive driving experience for it to survive in the long run. Only the test of time will how these can survive the dynamic yet overly populated space.
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