Optimal Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara and Kia Seltos Variants Under Rs 18 Lakh for Long-Distance Road Trips

What a Long-distance road trip lover looks for in a car

Long-distance road trip lovers prioritize comfort, reliability, and fuel efficiency in a car. Ample interior space, sufficient boot capacity, excellent ride comfort, and limited body roll are desired. Essential safety features like ABS and multiple airbags provide peace of mind.

High-tech convenience attributes like Bluetooth connectivity and automatic climate control add to the overall driving experience. Efficient fuel consumption and large fuel tank capacity are important to minimize refueling stops. In this regard, Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara and Kia Seltos are considered among the best cars for long drives in India.

Why Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara and Kia Seltos are popular among Long-distance road trip lovers

Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara and Kia Seltos are highly popular among road trip enthusiasts due to their perfect blend of comfort, reliability, and fuel efficiency. Both models offer ample interior space and substantial boot capacity, enabling passengers to travel comfortably with luggage. With excellent ride quality and limited body roll, these cars provide a smooth and enjoyable journey, even on long distances.

Safety features such as ABS and multiple airbags are standard across all variants, providing a sense of security. The availability of both petrol and diesel options caters to different fuel preferences. Advanced convenience features such as Bluetooth connectivity, touchscreen navigation, and automatic climate control are added bonuses.

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Notably, the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara and Kia Seltos are known for their robust performance. They have superior high-speed stability and impressive ground clearance, making them suitable for different terrains. Given the excellent city and highway mileage, these cars are ideal for not just the city, but also highway driving in India.

For this comparison, we take a look at their variants priced Rs 15 lakh to Rs 18 lakh.

Our variants shortlist for Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara and Kia Seltos

Variant	Price (INR)
Kia Seltos HTX IVT	15,90,000
Kia Seltos HTX Diesel iMT	16,59,000
Kia Seltos HTX Diesel AT	17,59,000
Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara Alpha AWD	16,91,000
Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara Alpha AT DT	17,07,000
Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara Alpha AWD DT	17,07,000

The Kia Seltos HTX IVT offers safety with ABS and six airbags. The petrol engine, along with advanced automatic transmission, ensures smooth rides. The fuel tank capacity of 50 liters and overall mileage of 20.8 kmpl make it an efficient choice for long road trips.

Kia Seltos HTX Diesel iMT and HTX Diesel AT are similar, offering the same safety and convenience features as HTX IVT but run on diesel, which gives a different performance experience. HTX Diesel iMT has a basic automatic transmission, while HTX Diesel AT has advanced automatic transmission.

Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara variants Alpha AWD, Alpha AT DT, and Alpha AWD DT come with ABS, six airbags, and manual seating adjustments. These models also feature impressive ground clearance, making them a perfect fit for uneven terrains encountered on road trips. The petrol engine with a fuel tank capacity of 45 liters ensures a longer drive without frequent refuelling stops. If you seek high-performance cars, you can check out our comparison of the Grand Vitara with Hyundai Creta. You can also read our guide to the best Grand Vitara variants for off-roading enthusiasts.

Best variant among Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara and Kia Seltos for Long-distance road trip lovers

The Kia Seltos HTX Diesel AT stands out as the best option. This variant combines safety, convenience, and performance for an optimal long-distance road trip experience. With six airbags and ABS, safety is paramount. The advanced automatic transmission paired with a diesel engine delivers an exceptional performance, ensuring a smooth, hassle-free drive.

A boot capacity of 433 liters is enough to accommodate the luggage of all passengers comfortably. Moreover, the car comes with a ground clearance of 190mm, offering superior performance on various terrains. Despite being a diesel variant, it provides an overall mileage of 18 kmpl, reducing the need for frequent refueling.

Finally, features like automatic climate control and Bluetooth connectivity enhance the comfort level and convenience for the driver and passengers. If you’re a tech-savvy gadget lover, you can read how the Kia Seltos compares with Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara and Hyundai Creta.

The Top 3 choices

1. Kia Seltos HTX Diesel AT
2. Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara Alpha AWD
3. Kia Seltos HTX IVT

Variant	ABS	Airbags (number)	Bluetooth Connectivity	Engine – Fuel type	Engine – Transmission	Ground clearance (mm)	Overall Mileage (kmpl)
Kia Seltos HTX Diesel AT	Yes	6	Yes	Diesel	Advanced Automatic	190	18
Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara Alpha AWD	Yes	6	Yes	Petrol	Manual	208	19.38
Kia Seltos HTX IVT	Yes	6	Yes	Petrol	Advanced Automatic	190	20.8

The Kia Seltos HTX Diesel AT is the top choice due to its comprehensive blend of safety, convenience, and performance. Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara Alpha AWD comes second with its impressive ground clearance and petrol engine. The Kia Seltos HTX IVT, offering a similar set of features with a petrol engine and better mileage, rounds off the top three.

These variants are among the most comfortable cars for road trips in India. They offer a blend of safety, convenience, and performance, ensuring an enjoyable long-distance road trip experience.

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