u/normie_guy_101

Please read the full post or if that’s not possible then at least just the last section that summarises it. This is not a post to spread hate to any particular car or car community.

Coming from 2024 VW Taigun 1.0 AT High line.

Some background about me so I don’t get bashed in the comments. I’m a big fan of German cars since the very beginning. Our family also has a 2011 VW Polo 1.2 Mpi. Rock solid build and great highest stability are my highlights of it. I absolutely love the idea of these German cars on a highway, cruising through at a speed some in the segment won’t even dream of.

My coworker just bought this exact variant of the Kia Seltos (image) it’s some mid level, petrol CVT. 1.5 NA. I didn’t pay much attention because I obviously felt that the Taigun is much better to drive and the Aisin TC is so much better any other AT doesn’t come close. But we went for a short drive for about 4-5 km one way and I drove it back.

And what I saw and felt totally hit me like a train.

Because we are (I am) totally stuck inside the VAG world we have actually stopped paying attention to the competition and more importantly how good they have become.

Observations:-

1. The size.

You get way more legroom, shoulder room and forget to even compare the boot. It’s next level.
4.46 mtrs is not a joke.

Also the boot has no loading lip. It was a flat bed with floor that could store more stuff underneath. A very pleasant boot indeed.

2. Fit and finish

We have long praised VW for the solid interiors, sturdy inductor stocks, gear lever etc and I agree. When I used to compare the Polo with the cars like i10 it was very apparent.

But Kia has improved do damn much. The interior is spot on. It has a European feel to it. It is sturdy. Has very high quality knobs and buttons especially HVAC controls (just to rub our noses in) and that gear lever is pure luxury car territory.

The steering is soft and firm at the right places. In short it is very high quality to be in.

I’m not even talking about the screens as I’m not a big fan of that aspect of a car.

I think the difference in fit and finish is now negative because dare I say it, I feel it has surpassed VAG. It genuinely felt like a luxury car in the inside. Everything was soft touch, grey colour, high quality fit and finish.

3. Drive

Here is where I feel there is still an edge to it and we have an advantage. With the 1.0 AT giving 170 nm torque it is a better to drive engine sure.

But with these crossovers, you’re anyways not going to go track days with it. And the Kia has an ultra smooth setup with the 1.5 L 4 pot, CVT that gives it a really seamless feel. These are cliche words but they are true!

Overall I felt that the drive can compare like 16:20 with the Taigun.

Another small observation, the horn. VW should have given a horn that is similar to this one. I mean they started the trend of trumpet horns and they only stopped it when everyone is giving these sweet sounding trumpet horns.

To conclude, I’ll say that the Kia Seltos has improved so damn much that at this point it is becoming very difficult to justify not going for it (if I was in the market looking for it) I mean it makes a very very strong case for it. We can’t simply ignore these factors especially when we will be travelling with our families who would greatly appreciate these factors i mentioned above.

I skipped the usual things like features, large panoramic sunroof etc because I’m not that into those things but yeah the Seltos is better in that too. And the official Global Ncap rating is not here but my suspect is it might be better than last variant at least also since the Verna has scored 5 stars need to be thinking positively for this one too.

TLDR;
Tired the Kia Seltos mid variant petrol cvt.
It seems to be good value for money. The value proposition and the factors that make it better to own for a family really seem like it can outweigh something like Taigun or Kushaw which are a more enthusiastic product.

Really hope VAG take notes and improve. Again, this is coming from a fan of VW Škoda.

In the morning I had posted concerns about the weather and the rain gods have heard as it seems!!

Proper rains!!

Yaaaayyyyyayaysudjfjfjdkckc! 🙌🏻

Garba in the rains anyone?! Okay maybe that’s too crazy.

Every morning checking the weather for any signs that it will rain.

Also now I’m lowkey getting fearful about the year ahead. What happens to the ground water levels in such low rains? The water we use in the buildings come from the ground water boring right? That’s scary now.

Why would someone who have all the money to buy a normal petrol G, choose an electric one?

I mean you’re already the top 1 % then what difference would it make if you get a petrol or an electric G. Petrol one at least has more character.

I guess that is another secret the rich wont share with us.

Edit: I’m really getting a lot of unnecessary hate here. I’m not against EVs!!

I’m just trying to exclaim that someone has chosen a car that is know for its unique characteristics and by choosing an EV it is missing a lot of it. It would be natural for an EQS or an iX but seems odd for G Wagon.

An MG Windsor makes more sense compared to a Thar Roxx EV (it doesn’t exist for a reason)

Is anyone else who is also taking use of the AMC water for drinking? The one that comes 6:30-7:30 AM and PM.

We have started using it for half of the day because we were having vitamin deficiency and RO water was accelerating it. We got positive results after using it for half of the day since almost 2-3 years now but these constant news of these contaminations are raising concerns to me.

Anyone else who is using this and not using RO?

I’m not sure if everyone is aware of this trick or not but let me just share it anyways if it helps anyone. Especially amidst this fuel crisis.

The car’s AC usually draws a small but constant amount of power and the set temperature/level of cooling - blue to red, of the AC determines how much power it will draw.

That being said, the blower speed will do absolutely no change to how much engine power the AC unit is drawing from. Which means, you can keep it at full or at level 1, it won’t matter.

So to summarise, here is the setup I keep when I’m driving for more than 20 min that ensures me I get max fuel efficiency from the ride.

1. After the car is ‘cool enough’ (this can vary if you’re someone who is sweating always), I switch the temp to close neutral (just left of the centre point between the blue and red intersection)

For cars with Auto climate control that would be like to 26-28 degrees Celsius.

2. Now to compensate I turn the fan to speed 3.

But that will be uncomfortable, right? To have a full blast of air constantly?! Right.

3. So I turn the air to choose majority of it from the leg area and rest from the vents. Even if I’m wearing shoes I can still feel the cold air near my socks.

In cars with Auto climate control, it will be a digital selection so you can only split it 50-50. That’s fine too.

You can do whatever makes you comfortable but the goal is to just reduce the cooling setting so it puts less load on the engine.

And this setup does save me some fuel in each tank. You can try and let me know if it works for you too.

In this stupid E20-E30 debate, fuel crisis, Modi ji asking us to use less transport while the govt vehicles just idle all day with the AC on and the drivers inside just chilling (yes you can go and take a look outside, I regularly see parked govt cars - Ciaz, Innovas, etc where there is a pool of water below it because the drivers inside are just sitting with the AC on.) all you can do is at least save some money of your fuel bill.

Help yourself first in this nation. Sad but true. I’m sure people like us take the car out only when it’s needed so I hope this trick saves money and fuel both.

[ To the mods, this is written 100% by me. And the AC unit photo is also taken by me. ]

Edit 1 :
For the people with an AC with a digital readout, I want to say that the crux is, the temperature set is what determines how much power the compressor will draw.

Imagine it as your home AC. If you keep at 18 all day you will have more bill than it would be if you keep at 27 all day.

Edit 2: For people who find it difficult to believe

In my experience I have seen a difference in the fuel economy. Plus if you just take a simple test, drive uphill from a basement or something and do 3 tests

1. No AC
2. AC at full blue setting, full power.
3. AC like I said - near the middle

You’ll find the difference in the engine torque quite evident. The first one is best. The second one is worst - can even stall my car if i dont be careful. And the third one is balanced.

Apart from this I have also seen few YouTube videos supporting my claim.

I’m not sure if it varies to some particular car type. But for smaller car engines it is very evident.

Edit 3:

Also, needless to say. Don’t forget to keep the car in circulation mode for the majority of the drive. Helps cool it much faster.

Edit 4:
I just got my first award!!! Wow. Thank you anonymous person.

I think this is the right time to rename my user name to “award_normie_guy” /s

(Award Anshuman would be proud)

Disclaimer: I don’t follow politics in detail. Nor I am an expert. I am just an average social media user on this topic.

BJP has done something that was just never felt before.

Since yesterday, whenever Mamta Is coming on media and giving a statement I’m actually eager to listen. Eager to know how devastated she is. Hearing her complain about anything and everything. Especially those comments on those posts. (My fav so far: “why are you outside after 8 pm?”)

Really satisfying. Anytime WB came on news it was always such level of injustice in the innocent people. I knows no govt in India is fair and not corrupt but these guys were next level in the crime and atrocities.

Happy to know that she and her goondaraaj is about to come to an end.

Also happy to know that the victim’s mother has also won. Praying for a fair investigation and justice to be served to culprit (s) in the most harsh way possible.

Make no mistake I know BJP is also full of crap in many cases but at least these TMC guys who were constantly spreading crime, letting Bangladeshi guys infiltrate into India and suppressing the innocent people are now going out.

BJP, Time for you to make the Gujaratis proud. Make those bengolis people happy they chose you.

Last but not the least.
Humba humba rumba rumba. 🕺

As this is going to be mostly read by Reddit users who are normally a bunch of sensible bunch of people so consider this as just a humble friendly reminder.

Was driving at around 5 PM and the outside temperature gauge was reading 44 degree Celsius! I just felt that in this heat we should be extra forgiving and kind to those people who are on Two Wheelers - bikes, Activas, cycles, even the ones pushing a hand cart or pedestrians crossing the road.

I’m grateful to God for that I’m driving but I see many who are less fortunate and are out there in the heat, making a living, out for an important purpose or something, simple things like letting them stand in the shade at the lights, giving them way first at a crossing, or just letting them just pass by can make their travel easier.

I do realise that a few have the bad habit of breaking the law, not respecting other larger vehicles etc but let us just let them go by. Maybe they are just frustrated by the heat and want to take shelter as soon as they can.