Buying a turbo-petrol automatic SUV often comes down to one question that owners feel every single week: how much fuel will it actually consume in the real world?
And that’s exactly why the latest mileage comparison between the Skoda Kushaq 1.5 TSI DSG and Kia Seltos 1.5 Turbo DCT is attracting attention.
On paper, both SUVs promise a blend of performance and practicality. Both use advanced turbo-petrol engines. Both come paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
Yet when tested in real-world conditions, one SUV managed to pull ahead.
Not by a huge margin.
But enough to make frequent highway drivers and fuel-conscious buyers take notice.
The Unexpected Winner
The Skoda Kushaq emerged as the more fuel-efficient SUV in comprehensive real-world mileage testing.
The margin wasn’t dramatic, but it was consistent.
According to the test results:
| Mileage Comparison | Skoda Kushaq | Kia Seltos |
|---|---|---|
| City Efficiency Advantage | +0.28 kpl | — |
| Highway Efficiency Advantage | +0.53 kpl | — |
| Overall Mileage Advantage | +0.4 kpl | — |
That overall lead may sound small.
But over months and years of ownership, small efficiency gains can add up significantly.
More importantly, the Kushaq’s advantage translated into something buyers can immediately understand: driving range.
With a full tank, the Kushaq can travel around 40 km farther than the Seltos.
The Kia Seltos delivered an overall range of 601 km during testing.
For long-distance travelers, that difference could mean one less fuel stop during a road trip.
And that’s where the story starts getting interesting.
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Similar Engines, Different Results
At first glance, these SUVs appear remarkably close.
Both feature turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engines.
Both send power through a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox.
Both use a 50-litre fuel tank.
But beneath those similarities lie some important differences.
Powertrain Snapshot
Skoda Kushaq 1.5 TSI DSG
- 1,498cc turbo-petrol engine
- 150 hp
- 250 Nm torque
- 7-speed DCT
- Kerb weight: 1,322 kg
Kia Seltos 1.5 Turbo DCT
- 1,482cc turbo-petrol engine
- 160 hp
- 253 Nm torque
- 7-speed DCT
- Kerb weight: 1,467 kg
The Seltos clearly wins the power battle.
It produces 10 hp more and slightly higher torque.
But the Kushaq counters with a major advantage that often gets overlooked in showroom conversations.
It weighs 145 kg less.
That is not an insignificant difference.
In the world of fuel efficiency, every kilogram matters.
And lighter vehicles typically require less energy to move, especially during city driving.
Why Did The Kushaq Pull Ahead?
The weight difference is only part of the explanation.
Skoda also equips the Kushaq with technologies specifically designed to reduce fuel consumption.
These include:
- Automatic engine stop-start system
- Active cylinder deactivation technology
Cylinder deactivation allows the engine to temporarily shut down some cylinders under light-load conditions, reducing fuel usage when full performance isn’t required.
The Kia Seltos does not offer these specific efficiency-focused features.
That may help explain why the Kushaq consistently edged ahead in both city and highway testing.
But Not Everyone Will Care
Here’s the contrarian view.
A 0.4 kpl advantage sounds meaningful in headlines.
In real ownership, however, some buyers may barely notice the difference.
Driving style, traffic conditions, tyre pressure, passenger load and route choice can often influence fuel economy more dramatically than a small official test gap.
For some customers, the Seltos’ extra power, broader variant range and lower turbo-petrol automatic entry price could outweigh the mileage advantage offered by the Kushaq.
In other words, fuel efficiency is only one part of a much larger buying decision.
And that debate is unlikely to end anytime soon.
Price Comparison Adds Another Twist
The pricing battle is surprisingly close.
Turbo-Petrol Automatic Price Range
| Model | Price Range (Ex-showroom) |
|---|---|
| Kia Seltos | Rs 16.29 lakh – Rs 19.99 lakh |
| Skoda Kushaq | Rs 18.79 lakh – Rs 18.99 lakh |
The Seltos enters the turbo-petrol automatic segment at a lower price point.
However, at the top end, the Kushaq is approximately Rs 1 lakh cheaper.
That creates an unusual situation where value can look very different depending on which variant a buyer is considering.
How The Test Was Conducted
The fuel-efficiency evaluation followed a controlled real-world methodology.
Before testing:
- Fuel tanks were filled to the brim
- Tyre pressures were set according to manufacturer recommendations
- Fixed city and highway routes were used around Navi Mumbai
- Air conditioning remained operational
- Electrical equipment was used as required
- Driver swaps were conducted periodically to reduce driving-style bias
At the end of each test cycle, fuel consumption was calculated after refilling the tanks.
The goal was simple: replicate everyday ownership conditions as closely as possible.
What Happens Next?
This comparison highlights an increasingly important shift in India’s SUV market.
Performance alone is no longer enough.
Buyers want speed, technology, comfort and efficiency in the same package.
The Skoda Kushaq may have secured a narrow victory in this mileage battle, but the margin is close enough to keep the debate alive.
For shoppers comparing turbo-petrol automatic SUVs in 2026, the bigger question may not be which model wins on paper.
It’s whether a small fuel-efficiency advantage matters more than extra power, features or pricing.
And that’s a decision only buyers can make when they finally step into the driver’s seat.
Editorial Disclaimer: This article is based entirely on publicly available information and test data reported by the source publication. No facts, figures, outcomes, quotes or claims have been fabricated. Analysis and market interpretation may evolve as new information becomes available.