New Kia Seltos vs Toyota Hyryder: Which Compact SUV Should You Pick For Your Family?

Interested in buying the new Kia Seltos? Here’s our Ultimate Buying Guide!

In early 2026, we got the second-generation Kia Seltos, with prices starting at Rs 10.99 lakh (introductory ex-showroom pan-India). With the generation upgrade, the SUV is not only looking much sharper, but has also gotten more tech-loaded than ever before. It takes on a number of rivals, including the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara and Toyota Hyryder. While we already presented to you how it compares with the Maruti SUV, in this story, let’s check out how the new Seltos stacks up against its Toyota counterpart:

Price

• Both the compact SUVs here are priced almost neck and neck, with the exact same starting price.

• However, it’s the Toyota Hyryder that has a higher price when their respective top-end variants are considered, merely due to the dual-tone paint option with the former.

Dimensions

• The new Kia Seltos is bigger than the Toyota SUV in almost all dimensions, except for the height. Even with 18-inch alloy wheels and roof rails, the Seltos is shorter by a margin of 10 mm.

• That said, its biggest advantage is the length and longer wheelbase (95 mm and 90 mm, respectively), which ideally should make it a little roomier inside the Kia SUV.

• Another benefit of getting the Seltos over the Hyryder is its additional 74 litres of boot space that could make a difference when carrying your weekend’s worth of luggage.

Colour Options

• The 2026 Kia Seltos comes in a total of 10 exterior colour choices, offering you three more options to pick from compared to the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder.

• Kia also offers its compact SUV in an Xclusive Matte Graphite shade, although only with the X-Line trim.

• While the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder offers less monotone colour options, it does come in three dual-tone shades to choose from instead of just the two that can be had with the new Kia Seltos.

Features

• While both cover more than just the basic set of creature comforts, it’s the Kia SUV that has the slight edge, obviously given that it’s the newer of the two.

• Common features on board the two compact SUVs include all-LED lighting, roof rails, a panoramic sunroof, wireless phone charger, six airbags, and even a 360-degree camera.

• That said, the Seltos has some unique amenities in the form of larger dual-zone climate control, larger displays inside the cabin, a 64-colour ambient lighting setup, side parking sensors, a memory function for the driver seat, and even Level-2 ADAS.

• The only exclusive features in the Hyryder are a heads-up display and a PM2.5 air filter.

• Thankfully, both come with almost the same set of standard safety features, which include six airbags, ISOFIX child seat anchorages, ESC, and rear parking sensors.

• We have already covered seven features that the new Kia Seltos offers over the Hyryder and its Maruti Suzuki equivalent – the Grand Vitara.

Powertrain Options

*CVT - continuously variable transmission, iMT - intelligent manual transmission (manual without the clutch pedal), DCT - dual-clutch automatic transmission, AT - torque converter automatic transmission, e-CVT - electronically-controlled CVT

^FWD - front-wheel-drive, AWD - all-wheel-drive

• While both the offerings come with a buffer of engine and gearbox choices, both have their differences.

• The Seltos comes in both petrol and diesel guises, whereas the Toyota SUV can be had with an optional strong-hybrid setup as well.

• Toyota also provides the option of a CNG kit with the Hyryder, thereby increasing its engine and gearbox choices even further.

• To give the buyers more options, Toyota also sells the Hyryder in an AWD setup, although only with the N/A engine and AT combo.

• However, when you strictly consider the output figures of the two SUVs here, it’s the Kia Seltos that wins by a big margin.

• However, it’s when you look beyond the power and torque figures that the strong-hybrid powertrain makes more sense as it offers adequate performance for both city and highway usage. It consistently delivers a real-world fuel efficiency of more than 20 kmpl. Even the diesel engine of the Kia Seltos won’t be able to achieve such an economical running cost.

CarDekho Says…

When it comes down to selecting one from the 2026 Kia Seltos and Toyota Hyryder, the answer is pretty simple. The new Seltos is bigger, more feature packed, has better safety technology and more fuel options to choose from. Given the advantages of a larger footprint, more tech inside the cabin, a plethora of powertrain choices (including a diesel unit), it’s the Kia Seltos that should be your go-to choice.

However, if you are someone who prefers ease of maintenance and lower service costs, a decently-equipped features set, and comparatively more conventional looks – all while being lighter on the pocket – the Toyota Hyryder makes more sense. Given the uncertainty around the longevity of diesel powertrains, the strong-hybrid setup of the Toyota SUV stands a brighter chance of going the extra mile on your car ownership journey.

Here are some more strong-hybrid powertrain options that you can check out in the segment:

• Hyundai Creta: The Creta continues to lead this segment with an extemely loyal buyer base. It is also one of the most well-equipped SUV options in this space with diverse range of powertrain choices, against the Seltos.

• Maruti Victoris: It gets the same powertrains as the Grand Vitara, but with more contemporary styling and modern features, including ADAS. Read this story for a comparison between the Maruti Victoris and Kia Seltos.

• Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara: Essentially just the Hyryder under the skin with all the similar traits, but with the brand recall and low-cost service experience associated with the ‘Maruti Suzuki’ logo. We have also compared the Seltos’s specifications with those of the Maruti SUV to help you select the right one for your needs.

• Tata Sierra: Save for its size, the Sierra is also one of the benchmarks in the segment when it comes to in-cabin space, features, safety equipment and powertrain options. You can check out how the Sierra compares to the Kia Seltos here.

• Renault Duster: The Duster is back and it offers one of the best ride and handling balances in the entire segment. Seating is adequate for four and its features, tech and safety package is comparable to the segment’s best. Find out how the Kia Seltos fares against the Renault Duster.

• Volkswagen Taigun: The Volkswagen Taigun is a great driver’s car that also manages to do family duties fairly well. It has the typical German build quality and road manners, tuned for our harsh Indian conditions. However, don’t expect it to wow you with features or comfort conveniences. Check out its comparison with the Seltos here.

• Skoda Kushaq: The Taigun’s brother from Czech Republic is another great enthusiast turned family man’s car. It offers great turbo-petrol engine options, poised ride and handling, and a segment-first feature for the second row passengers that’s lifted straight from a luxury car. (Seltos vs Kushaq Compared)

• Honda Elevate: The Elevate is a safe and sensible option in a segment that wants your attention as soon as you read the brochure. It isn’t the most feature loaded or the most advanced when it comes to tech, but covers all the basics of a family car that some of its rivals sometimes miss out on. (Seltos vs Elevate compared)

• Tata Curvv: The Curvv is all about its design, and if you want to stand out from a crowd of tall and butch SUVs, the Curvv’s SUV-coupe body style will serve you well. It comes with a side of strong convenience and safety package too, along with both petrol and diesel engine options. (Seltos vs Curvv compared)
• MG Astor: Great interior experience and decent features list at a lower price point. (Seltos vs Astor compared)