The Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos are close relatives. Hyundai and Kia belong to the same group, and the second-generation Creta and the first-generation Seltos share engines, gearboxes and a 2,610 mm wheelbase. They are the two most natural choices for anyone shopping for a used midsize SUV in Delhi NCR, which is exactly why picking between them is harder than it looks.
Here's the short answer: choose the year and the powertrain first, then the badge. From 2023 onwards, both SUVs come with six airbags as standard and RDE-compliant engines, which makes a later car a safer bet than an older top-spec one. Between the two, the Creta gives you a much larger service network and more cars to choose from. The Seltos offers a factory warranty that Kia says transfers to the next owner, plus a head-up display and 360-degree camera on pre-facelift top variants.
One note before we start: the all-new Seltos that went on sale in January 2026 is a different car. This guide focuses on the 2019–2025 Seltos and the second-generation Creta (2020 onwards), which make up most used listings.
The Generations at a Glance
Kia Seltos
- August 2019: launched in India
- May 2021: update with Kia's new logo and an iMT (clutchless manual) option
- 2023: 1.4 turbo-petrol dropped ahead of the RDE emission norms
- July 2023: facelift with a new 1.5 turbo-petrol and ADAS on top trims
- January 2026: all-new second-generation Seltos priced and on sale
Hyundai Creta
- March 2020: second-generation Creta launched
- February 2023: 1.4 turbo-petrol dropped; six airbags and ESC made standard
- January 2024: facelift with the 1.5 turbo-petrol and ADAS on top trims
- March 2024: Creta N Line added
- January 2025: Creta Electric launched
As of October 2026, Hyundai has confirmed a next-generation Creta but hasn't launched it.
Engines and Gearboxes, Year by Year
2019 to early 2023 (pre-RDE)
Both SUVs used the same three engines:
- 1.5 petrol (115hp, 144Nm): 6-speed manual or IVT, which is Hyundai and Kia's name for a CVT automatic. The Seltos also offered an iMT from 2021.
- 1.4 turbo-petrol (140hp, 242Nm): the Creta came only with a 7-speed DCT; the Seltos with a 6-speed manual or the 7-speed DCT.
- 1.5 diesel (115hp, 250Nm): 6-speed manual or 6-speed torque-converter automatic. By 2022 the Seltos diesel was also offered with an iMT.
2023 onwards
- 1.5 petrol: carried over at 115hp and 144Nm.
- 1.5 turbo-petrol (160hp, 253Nm): the Creta facelift pairs it with a 7-speed DCT (the N Line also offers a 6-speed manual), while the Seltos facelift offered an iMT or the DCT.
- 1.5 diesel (116hp, 250Nm): the Creta offers a 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic. The Seltos swapped its diesel manual for an iMT in 2023 and brought the manual back in January 2024, alongside the automatic.
Which powertrain suits you?
- Mostly city driving: the 1.5 petrol with a manual or the IVT automatic is the simplest choice.
- Long highway runs and high mileage: the diesel makes sense, but in Delhi a diesel car's road life is counted from its registration date. Check how many years are left before you pay a diesel premium.
- You want performance: a turbo-petrol DCT is the quickest option, but buy one only with a full authorised-service history (see below).
Safety: Airbags and Crash Ratings
For a used buyer, the variant's airbag count matters as much as any star rating.
- Creta: in 2020, six airbags came only on the top SX(O) trim, with two on the rest. Six became standard from February 2023.
- Seltos: by 2022 it had four airbags as standard, and six became standard from August 2022.
- Facelifts: both come with six airbags as standard.
Crash-test results for the cars in this guide:
- Global NCAP, Creta (2022): the India-made Creta, tested in its base form with two airbags, scored 3 stars for adult and 3 stars for child occupant protection.
- Global NCAP, Seltos (2020): 3 stars for adult and 2 stars for child occupant protection, also with two airbags.
- Both were tested under Global NCAP's older protocol. The Creta's body shell was rated unstable, and the Seltos's was called a borderline case of unstable.
- Bharat NCAP: the new-generation Seltos scored 5 stars for both adult and child occupant protection in March 2026. We could not find a published Bharat NCAP rating for the 2019–2025 Seltos or the India-made Creta.
You may also see a five-star ASEAN NCAP rating quoted for the Creta. That applies to the Indonesia-built car, not the India-spec Creta.
Recalls and Reported Problems to Check
- IVT oil pump controller recall: Kia recalled 4,358 Seltos 1.5 petrol IVT units built between 28 February and 13 July 2023, and Hyundai recalled Creta and Verna 1.5 petrol IVT units built between 13 February and 6 June 2023 for the same part. Fixes were free. Ask an authorised workshop to check the VIN.
- Early Seltos diesel fuel pump: units built between October 2019 and March 2020 were recalled for a free fuel pump replacement, as reported in November 2020.
- 1.4 turbo DCT: Kia issued a software update in early 2020 for gear-skipping on early Seltos DCTs, and some owners reported overheating warnings in heavy traffic at the time. Seltos owners have also reported clutch actuator replacements under warranty. These are owner reports rather than recalls, but they make the service history essential on either SUV.
- City-only diesels: if a diesel has spent its life on short trips, ask about diesel particulate filter (DPF) warnings and any cleaning done.
Features, Space and Warranty
- Size: almost identical. The pre-facelift Creta measures 4,300 x 1,790 x 1,635 mm and the Seltos 4,315 x 1,800 x 1,645 mm, on the same 2,610 mm wheelbase. The facelifts both claim a 433-litre boot.
- Equipment: the 2020 Creta's top trims had a panoramic sunroof; the pre-facelift Seltos had a single-pane sunroof but offered a head-up display and a 360-degree camera. Both offered ventilated front seats on top trims, and Level 2 ADAS arrived with the facelifts.
- Warranty: both carry a standard 3-year, unlimited-km warranty. Kia says its warranty transfers to the next owner for the remaining period. Hyundai's warranty page doesn't say either way, so ask a dealer, and check whether the first owner bought an extended warranty.
- Service network: Hyundai reports 1,675 touchpoints across 1,025 cities (May 2026). Kia reported about 800 touchpoints in 391 cities when it crossed 500 workshops in April 2026.
Popularity and Resale
The Creta remains India's best-selling midsize SUV. From April to September 2026 it sold 89,727 units against 67,667 for the Seltos, according to Autocar Professional. In the used market, that usually means more Cretas to choose from.
There's no reliable public data comparing the two SUVs' resale values. Judge each car on its condition, history and asking price rather than assumptions about the badge; our guide on whether a used car's price is fair can help.
Delhi NCR Checklist Before You Buy Either
- Registration date and fuel type: check how much road life is left under Delhi's age rules, especially for 2019–2020 diesels.
- RC, loan and challans: run the number through Hooter's RC check and challan check, and confirm there's no live hypothecation.
- Service and recall history: ask for authorised-workshop records and a VIN check for open recalls.
- Gearbox behaviour: in a DCT or IVT, crawl through traffic on the test drive and watch for judder, slow engagement or warning lights.
- Airbag count: confirm the variant's airbags, especially on 2020–2022 Cretas.
- Accident history: see how to check a used car's accident history.
Verdict: Which One Should You Buy?
Pick a used Creta if you want the widest service network and the most cars to choose from, you like the panoramic sunroof on 2020-onwards top trims, or your budget stretches to a 2024-onwards facelift with ADAS.
Pick a used Seltos if you want a factory warranty that can transfer to you (on a car under three years old), you'd like a turbo-petrol with a manual or iMT outside the Creta N Line, or you value the head-up display and 360-degree camera on pre-facelift top variants.
Whichever you choose, favour a car with six airbags (standard on the Seltos from August 2022 and the Creta from February 2023), and steer clear of an early turbo DCT that has no documented service history.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are the Creta and Seltos the same car underneath?
They are closely related. The second-generation Creta and the 2019–2025 Seltos share engines, gearboxes and a 2,610 mm wheelbase, but they differ in styling, features and equipment by variant.
Which is safer, a used Creta or a used Seltos?
In Global NCAP's older tests of base two-airbag versions, the Creta scored 3 stars for adults and children, while the Seltos scored 3 stars for adults and 2 for children. For a used buyer, choosing a variant with six airbags matters most.
Is the 1.4 turbo DCT a risky buy?
It isn't automatically a bad buy, but owners have reported DCT problems on both SUVs. Buy one only with a complete authorised-service record and a thorough test drive in traffic.
Does the factory warranty transfer to a second owner?
Kia says its warranty transfers for the remaining period. Hyundai's warranty page doesn't say, so confirm with a dealer before you rely on it.
Which holds its value better?
We haven't found reliable data on that. The Creta's higher sales mean more choice in the used market, but condition and history matter more than the badge.
The Bottom Line
The Creta and Seltos are close enough that the individual car matters more than the name on the bonnet. Pick the right year and powertrain, check the airbags, the recall status and the service history, and either SUV can be a smart used buy.
Start your search with used Hyundai Creta cars and used Kia Seltos cars on Hooter. For more detail, read our guide on which used Creta model year to buy and our take on manual vs automatic used cars.