Kia Seltos or Maruti Suzuki Jimny: Which is a better city SUV?

I’ve always wanted to own a 4×4 and was very close to buying a Mahindra Thar, but since we are a family of four, I purchased the Kia Seltos in 2021 mainly for city use. However, even today, when I see a Thar on the road, I wish I had bought it instead. Now that the Maruti Jimny is coming with four doors, I’m seriously considering trading my Seltos for it. Is it a good decision?

Avinash B, Bengaluru

Autocar India says: Yours seems to be a classic head versus heart toss-up. On one hand, you’ve got a perfectly capable, practical and comfortable Kia Seltos, which serves yours and your family’s needs well, but on the other hand, you want a fancier lifestyle SUV, which will have immense street presence and will be very capable off-road but won’t match your current car in other areas. The Maruti Jimny is certainly a desirable offering, however, it is a step down in terms of size, quality, performance, space and comfort. And owing to its ladder-frame construction, even long drives with your family won’t be as comfortable as your Seltos.

That said, when you’ve set your heart on something, practicality usually takes a backseat, and you’ll find all the reasons to follow your heart. So ask yourself how badly you want the Maruti Jimny and whether you and your family are willing to make the sacrifices over the Kia, and you’ll get the answer.

Also see:

Kia Seltos review, road test

Kia Seltos review, test drive

Auto Expo 2023: Maruti Suzuki Jimny 5-door makes global debut

Maruti Suzuki Jimny 5-door variants, features explained