Comparing the Kia Seltos and the Mahindra Thar side by side helps you weigh how each car fits your driving needs before you decide. In terms of pricing, the Kia Seltos is available at ₹1,372,000, while the Mahindra Thar is priced at ₹999,000. On the engine front, the Kia Seltos comes with a 1497 cc (Petrol NA) / 1482 cc (Diesel) unit compared to the Mahindra Thar's 1997 cm3, producing 113 bhp @ 6300 rpm (Petrol NA) / 158 bhp @ 5500 rpm (Petrol Turbo) / 114 bhp @ 4000 rpm (Diesel) and 112kW @ 5000 r/min respectively. Fuel efficiency stands at 18.30 kmpl (Petrol AT) / 21.38 kmpl (Diesel MT) - ARAI for the Kia Seltos versus 15.2 kmpl for the Mahindra Thar. The full specification, pricing and feature breakdown for both cars is available in the table below.
| Specification | ||
|---|---|---|
Engine & Performance |
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| Battery | — | 12V heavy-duty automotive electrical architecture |
| Displacement | 1497 cc (Petrol NA) / 1482 cc (Diesel) | 1997 cm3 |
| Drive Type | Front-Wheel Drive (FWD) | RWD/ 4WD |
| Engine Type | Smartstream G1.5 Petrol / Smartstream G1.5 Turbo / Smartstream G1.4 Turbo GDi / U2 1.5 CRDI Diesel | 2.0 L mStallion Turbocharged Gasoline Direct Injection (TGDi) |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 50 Litres | 57 L |
| Fuel Type | Petrol / Diesel | Petrol / Diesel |
| Gearbox | 6-Speed Manual / 6-Speed iMT / 6-Speed AT / 7-Speed DCT | 6‑speed (MT/AT) |
| Mileage | 18.30 kmpl (Petrol AT) / 21.38 kmpl (Diesel MT) - ARAI | 15.2 kmpl |
| Number of Cylinders | 4 | 4 |
| Power | 113 bhp @ 6300 rpm (Petrol NA) / 158 bhp @ 5500 rpm (Petrol Turbo) / 114 bhp @ 4000 rpm (Diesel) | 112kW @ 5000 r/min |
| Starter | Push Button Start | keyless engine ignition system |
| Torque | 144 Nm @ 4500 rpm (Petrol NA) / 253 Nm @ 1500-4500 rpm (Petrol Turbo) / 250 Nm @ 1500-2750 rpm (Diesel) | 320Nm @ 1500-3000 r/min |
| Transmission Type | Manual / Automatic / DCT / iMT | Manual / Automatic |
Dimensions & Weight |
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| Boot Space | 433 Litres | 257 l |
| Gross Vehicle Weight | 1810 kg | 2110 kg |
| Ground Clearance | 190 mm | 226 mm |
| Kerb Weight | 1320 kg | 1650 kg |
| Length, Width, Height | 4365 mm / 1800 mm / 1645 mm | 3850 mm, 1820 mm, 1855 mm |
| Seating Capacity | 5 | 4 |
| Wheelbase | 2610 mm | 2,450 mm |
Comfort & Interior |
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| Adjustable Steering | Tilt & Telescopic | Hydraulic Power Steering column with mechanical Tilt adjustment only; telescopic adjustment is omitted |
| Auto-Dimming IRVM | Yes | Manual day/night anti-glare internal rearview mirror adjustment toggle |
| Central Locking | Yes | Speed-sensing automatic central door-locking logic |
| Climate Control | Automatic Dual-Zone Climate Control | Heavy-duty manual air conditioning unit paired with newly introduced rear AC vents |
| Cluster | 10.25-inch Full Digital Cluster | 4.2-inch colored digital driver's data hub paired with analog dials |
| Cruise Control | Yes - Smart Cruise Control (ADAS top) | Steering wheel-mounted electronic speed cruise controls |
| Electrically Adjustable Seats | Yes - Driver 8-way (top) | No |
| Infotainment System | 10.25-inch Touchscreen with Wireless Android Auto & Apple CarPlay | Upgraded floating 10.25-inch touchscreen supporting wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay profiles |
| Keyless Entry | Yes - Smart Key | Smart remote central keyless locking fob |
| Power Adjustable ORVMs | Yes | Power-adjustable exterior side mirrors standard on higher-spec configurations |
| Power Windows | Yes | Front doors only (switches mounted logically on the center console layout) |
| Push Start | Yes | No |
| Rear AC Vents | Yes | Rear AC air ventilation modules to improve back row cooling |
| Rear Seat Armrest | Yes | No |
| Seat Upholstery | Leatherette (top) / Fabric (base) | Premium, heavy-duty black fabric or washable vinyl upholstery built to repel water and trail dirt |
| Sound System | Bose 8-Speaker Premium Audio (top) | Roof-mounted 4-speaker and 2-tweeter system layout designed to maintain audio clarity during open-top conversion |
| Sunroof | Panoramic Sunroof (HTX/GTX+) | Hard Top |
| USB Ports | Yes - Front & Rear | Dedicated front dashboard fast-charging USB ports |
| Voice Command | Yes - via UVO app | Smart voice recognition logic built into the center touchscreen module |
| Wireless Charger | Yes | No |
Exterior & Lighting |
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| Body-Colored Bumpers | Yes | Dual-tone bumpers featuring scratch-resistant deep charcoal cladding panels for off-road protection |
| DRLs | LED DRLs | Bumper-integrated LED Daytime Running Lights paired with fender-mounted turn indicators |
| Fog Lamps | Yes - LED | Front bumper-integrated round Halogen fog lights |
| Headlight | LED Projector Headlamps | Classic round Halogen headlamps with an integrated manual leveling switch |
| ORVMs with Turn Indicators | Yes - Power Folding | No |
| Rear Wiper & Defogger | Yes | Fully integrated into the glass window section of the rear opening tailgate |
| Roof Rails | Yes | No |
| Tail Lamp Type | LED Tail Lamps | Full-LED signature rectangular rear tail lamps |
| Tyre Size | 215/60 R17 (base) / 215/55 R17 (top) | 255/65 R18 |
| Tyre Type | Radial, Tubeless | Radial Tubeless |
| Wheel Type | 17-inch Alloy Wheels | Steel, Alloy |
Safety |
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| ABS | Yes | Yes |
| Airbags | 6 Airbags (Driver, Passenger, 2 Side, 2 Curtain) | Dual front airbags |
| Brake Assist | Yes - Brake Assist System (BAS) | Hydraulic Brake Assist logic |
| EBD | Yes | Yes |
| Electronic Stability Program (ESP) | Yes - ESC + VSM | Yes |
| Hill Hold Assist | Yes - HAC | Standard incline descent control and slope-holding safety lock framework |
| ISOFIX Child Seat Mounts | Yes | Dedicated anchoring brackets mounted directly into the rear seats |
| Rear Parking Camera | Yes - 360° Camera (top) | Yes |
| Rear Parking Sensors | Yes - Front & Rear | Bumper-flush sonar proximity sensors |
| TPMS (Tyre Pressure Monitoring System) | Yes | Advanced Tyre Pressure Monitoring System featuring a unique Tyre Direction Monitoring System to display steering wheel orientation |
Other Specifications |
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| Color Options | Glacier White PearlImperial BlueFrost BluePewter OliveAurora Black PearlMagma RedGravity GraySparkling SilverMorning Haze | Stealth BlackDeep ForestEverest WhiteTango RedBattleship GreyGalaxy Grey |
| Rating (out of 5) | 4.0 | — |
| Reviewer Name | Motoautiv Expert | — |
