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New Delhi: The midsize SUV race in India is heating up again, and I felt the excitement myself while going through the spec sheets of the new generation Kia Seltos and test-driving the new Tata Sierra in Chandigarh. One is a familiar best seller returning with a new look, the other is a nostalgic nameplate that made a bold comeback in 2025. Both brands clearly want a bigger slice of this segment, which is now one of the most crowded markets in the country.
Bookings for the new Seltos are already open at ₹25,000 and pricing will be revealed on January 2, 2026. The Sierra’s pricing is already out, and it has earned a lot of attention since its debut. When I first saw the Sierra in person at the media drive, the size surprised me. It is shorter than the Seltos, but inside the cabin, it feels more open. So the dimension sheet made a lot more sense when I saw the numbers lined up next to each other.
Both SUVs sit in the 4.3 to 4.4 metre range, but their proportions tell two different stories.
| Category | 2026 Kia Seltos | Tata Sierra | Difference | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Length | 4,460 mm | 4,340 mm | 120 mm | Seltos is longer |
| Width | 1,830 mm | 1,841 mm | 11 mm | Sierra is wider |
| Height | 1,635 mm | 1,715 mm | 80 mm | Sierra is taller |
| Wheelbase | 2,690 mm | 2,730 mm | 40 mm | More space inside Sierra, less overhangs |
| Ground clearance | 190 mm | 205 mm | 15 mm | Sierra has better GC |
| Boot space | 447 litres | 622 litres | 175 litres | More boot space in Sierra |
| Wheel size | 16 to 18 inch | 17 to 19 inch |
The Seltos is longer by 120 mm, something that gives it a stretched look. The Sierra is wider by 11 mm and noticeably taller by 80 mm. I felt that height immediately when stepping into the media car earlier this month. On longer road trips, that 40 mm advantage in wheelbase could help with better legroom. The Sierra also offers 15 mm more ground clearance, which is handy for broken sections of highway or those sudden unpaved shortcuts we all take. Boot space is another place where the Sierra jumps ahead with a huge 622 litre capacity. That is 175 litres more than the Seltos, enough for two extra large suitcases.
Under the hood, both SUVs stick to familiar 1.5 litre engines. No surprises there, but the tuning is different enough to matter.
Power and torque:
Gearboxes:
Power and torque:
Gearboxes:
The Seltos keeps the same set of engines as the outgoing model. I have driven the current turbo petrol before, and it still feels lively for city runs and quick overtakes, reaching triple digit speeds easily. The Sierra’s turbo petrol matches the 158 bhp figure, but the diesel is where it pushes ahead slightly with up to 280 Nm of torque, which should make uphill climbs and highway cruising feel more effortless.
For someone who wants more cargo room and a taller cabin, the Sierra is clearly a better fit. The Seltos strikes me as the SUV for drivers who lean towards a more planted, longer body style with a wide mix of gearbox choices. Both offer familiar hardware without big surprises, but in India’s SUV market, sometimes tuning and interior experience matter more than big headline numbers.
With pricing for the Seltos coming on January 2, this rivalry is only getting started. I expect many buyers to wait for that number before deciding, but on specs alone, both SUVs carry enough equipment to keep this segment buzzing well into 2026.
