Maruti Suzuki Victoris Vs Kia Seltos HTE: Which Base Variant Is Better?

The 2026 Kia Seltos has recently been launched in India with a major makeover, larger proportions, and upgraded technology to stay relevant in the fiercely contested compact SUV space. At the same time, the Maruti Suzuki Victoris has quickly gained traction, thanks to strong sales and its wide mix of petrol, hybrid, CNG, and AWD options. 

Both SUVs promise modern features, advanced safety, and well-equipped interiors on paper. The real question, however, is how they stack up against each other when put-head-to-head. Here's a comparison between the base variants of the Maruti Suzuki Victoris and the Kia Seltos.

Maruti Suzuki Victoris Vs Kia Seltos HTE Base Variants: Engine Options

The Maruti Suzuki Victoris LXi gets two powertrain options, a 1.5L K15C petrol and a CNG engine, mated to work in conjunction with a 5-speed manual gearbox. The petrol unit is capable of pushing out a peak power and torque output of up to 103 hp and 139 Nm, respectively. Also, it claims a fuel efficiency of up to 21.18 kmpl. 

Maruti Suzuki Victoris

Kia Seltos HTE is offered with a 1.5-liter NA petrol engine and a 1.5-liter turbo diesel engine, mated with a 6-speed manual gearbox.  The naturally aspirated unit claims to deliver a peak power and torque output of up to 113 hp and 144 Nm, respectively. 

Kia Seltos

Maruti Suzuki Victoris Vs Kia Seltos HTE Base Variants: Features

The Maruti Suzuki Victoris LXi variant boasts features designed to balance safety, comfort, and convenience. Safety is addressed through six airbags, ABS with brake assist, electronic stability program, traction control, hill hold assist, ISOFIX child seat anchors, and all three-point seat belts. On the exterior, it gets halogen projector headlights, LED taillights, 17-inch steel wheels with covers, ORVMs with turn indicators, and a rear defogger. Inside, the cabin features black-ivory upholstery, a 4.2-inch driver's display, and a 7-inch touchscreen with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Convenience highlights include a voice assistant, push-button start/stop, smart key, auto AC with pollen filter, rear AC vents, and a Type-A USB charger, making the LXi a well-rounded entry variant.

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Also, the Kia Seltos offers features such as six airbags, ABS, ESC, hill-start assist, tyre-pressure monitoring, and all-wheel disc brakes, along with three-point seatbelts for all passengers and ISOFIX child seat anchors. Exterior highlights include LED headlights with DRLs, LED taillights, 16-inch steel wheels with covers, a rear spoiler, a shark-fin antenna, and flush-fitting door handles. Inside, the cabin is finished in black-grey upholstery and provides manual seat height adjustment for the driver, steering-mounted controls, cruise control, and a centre console with armrest and cup holders. Technology features include a 12-inch driver's display, a 10.25-inch touchscreen with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and multiple USB-C charging ports. Convenience is enhanced with keyless entry, electrically adjustable ORVMs, manual AC, and rear AC vents, making the HTE a solid entry-level option in the Seltos lineup.

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Kia Seltos Interior

Maruti Suzuki Victoris Vs Kia Seltos HTE Base Variants: Price

The Maruti Suzuki Victoris LXi has been tagged at an ex-showroom price of Rs 10.50 lakh. Meanwhile, the Kia Seltos HTE variant starts from Rs 10.99 lakh (ex-showroom).