Honda Elevate vs Kia Seltos vs Volkswagen Taigun (2026)
The classic midsize suv shortlist, settled with numbers (August 2026):
- Pick the Honda Elevate if you want the biggest boot (458 L).
- Pick the Kia Seltos if you want the lowest starting price (₹11.00 Lakh), the most power (158 bhp), the best claimed efficiency (up to 2026 kmpl), the best crash-test score (5 stars).
- Pick the Volkswagen Taigun as the balanced middle path — it wins no single spec outright but concedes little anywhere.
Three-Way Specification Comparison
| Spec | Honda Elevate | Kia Seltos | Volkswagen Taigun |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ex-showroom price | ₹11.99 Lakh – ₹16.86 Lakh | ₹11.00 Lakh – ₹21.82 Lakh | ₹11.50 Lakh – ₹19.50 Lakh |
| Engine / Motor | 1.5L i-VTEC petrol | 1.5L NA petrol / 1.5L turbo-petrol / 1.5L diesel | 1.0L & 1.5L TSI turbo-petrol |
| Max power | 119 bhp | 158 bhp | 148 bhp |
| Fuel options | Petrol | Petrol, Diesel | Petrol |
| Transmissions | Manual, CVT | Manual, iMT, CVT, DCT, Torque Converter AT | Manual, Torque Converter AT, DCT |
| Mileage (claimed) | 15–17 kmpl | ARAI figures for the 2026 gen not announced yet (engines carried over) | 17.2-19.9 kmpl (ARAI) |
| Seating | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Safety rating | Not tested | 5 stars | 5 stars |
| Airbags (max) | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Boot space | 458 L | 447 L | 385 L |
Honda Elevate in short
The Elevate is Honda's midsize SUV built on the City's platform, squaring up to the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos and Maruti Grand Vitara. It counters their variant blitz with a simple honest formula: the proven 1.5 i-VTEC, a smooth CVT, 220 mm ground clearance and Honda Sensing ADAS. It trades flash for driving polish and long-term dependability.
Full Elevate prices & variants →Kia Seltos in short
The second-generation Seltos arrived in July 2026 as Kia India's most consequential launch of the year: bolder styling, dual 12.3-inch displays, up to Level 2+ ADAS with a built-in dashcam on the new GTX(O)/X-Line(O) trims, and a 5-star Bharat NCAP rating whose 31.70/32 adult score is the highest yet for an ICE car. The three familiar engines carry over — 115bhp petrol, 158bhp turbo-petrol, 116bhp diesel — across a restructured 12-trim walk. It renews its rivalry with the Hyundai Creta, and now also the Renault Duster and Nissan Tekton.
Full Seltos prices & variants →Volkswagen Taigun in short
The Volkswagen Taigun is the driver-focused pick among midsize SUVs, pitching German engineering against the feature-loaded Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos. Its GT variants with the 150 PS 1.5 TSI and DSG remain the quickest way to hustle through a set of corners in this class. Five stars at Global NCAP make it as safe as it is fun.
Full Taigun prices & variants →Head-to-head pairs
Frequently Asked Questions
Elevate vs Seltos vs Taigun — which should I buy?
Pick the Honda Elevate if you want the biggest boot (458 L). Pick the Kia Seltos if you want the lowest starting price (₹11.00 Lakh), the most power (158 bhp), the best claimed efficiency (up to 2026 kmpl), the best crash-test score (5 stars). Pick the Volkswagen Taigun as the balanced middle path — it wins no single spec outright but concedes little anywhere. Test-drive at least two before deciding — ride and dealer experience differ by city.
Which is the cheapest among Elevate, Seltos, Taigun?
The Kia Seltos starts lowest at ₹11.00 Lakh, against ₹11.50 Lakh for the Taigun and ₹11.99 Lakh for the Elevate (ex-showroom, August 2026).
Which is the safest of the three?
Honda Elevate: not yet NCAP-tested; Kia Seltos: 5 stars; Volkswagen Taigun: 5 stars.