There’s no simpler way to compare one car’s performance to another than with a head-to-head quarter-mile race. In this edition of Autocar India’s quarter-mile racing series, we’ve brought together some of the newest midsize SUVs in the market, including the Tata Sierra, Kia Seltos and the Renault Duster. Let’s find out which of this new crop of midsize SUVs is the quickest down the drag strip.
Race 1: Tata Sierra vs Kia Seltos
| SUV | Seltos | Sierra |
| Engine | 1482cc, 4-cylinder | 1498cc, 4-cylinder |
| Power | 160hp at 5500rpm | 160hp at 5000rpm |
| Torque | 253Nm at 1500-3500rpm | 255Nm at 1750-4000rpm |
| Transmission | 7-speed dual-clutch | 6-speed torque converter |
| Kerb weight | 1467kg | 1552kg |
Our first pairing is between the Tata Sierra and the Kia Seltos, both of which are powered by 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engines, but with different gearboxes.
These two new midsize SUVs are neck-and-neck on paper, with both featuring 160hp turbo-petrol engines, similar torque outputs and similar weight. However, the torque-converter-equipped Sierra launches much stronger than the Seltos, whose dual-clutch automatic is conservative off the line. The Kia Seltos does begin to claw back lost ground, but a little too late. The Sierra manages to win by a slender margin of about two tenths of a second. Race 2 is even closer, with a gap of just over a tenth, but the result stays the same.
| Sierra vs Seltos drag race times | ||
| Sierra | Seltos | |
| Race 1 | 16.92 sec | 17.11 sec |
| Race 2 | 17.07 sec | 17.19 sec |
Race 2: Skoda Kushaq vs Renault Duster
| SUV | Kushaq | Duster |
| Engine | 1498cc, 4-cylinder | 1333cc, 4-cylinder |
| Power | 150hp at 5000-6000rpm | 163hp at 5,250rpm |
| Torque | 250Nm at 1600-3500rpm | 280Nm at 2,000-3,500rpm |
| Transmission | 7-speed dual-clutch | 6-speed dual-clutch |
| Kerb weight | 1322kg | 1363kg |
Our next pairing is between the Skoda Kushaq and the Renault Duster. The Kushaq uses a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine, while the Duster uses a smaller but more powerful 1.3-litre unit. Both engines come mated to a DCT gearbox.
The Duster has the advantage on paper with more power, and it backs it up by winning Race 1 by two tenths. The Renault’s wet-clutch DCT allows a better launch than the Skoda’s dry-clutch unit, but the Skoda’s snappier shifts and stronger top end mean it is catching up. Race 2 starts off with the Skoda getting a better launch, and as such, it goes on to beat the Renault by nearly four tenths. Race 3 is closer than Race 2, but the result stays the same, with the Kushaq coming out on top yet again.
| Kushaq vs Duster drag race times | ||
| Kushaq | Duster | |
| Race 1 | 17.77 sec | 17.65 sec |
| Race 2 | 17.05 sec | 17.69 sec |
| Race 3 | 17.28 sec | 17.67 sec |
Race 3: Tata Sierra vs Skoda Kushaq
| SUV | Sierra | Kushaq |
| Engine | 1498cc, 4-cylinder | 1498cc, 4-cylinder |
| Power | 160hp at 5000rpm | 150hp at 5000-6000rpm |
| Torque | 255Nm at 1750-4000rpm | 250Nm at 1600-3500rpm |
| Transmission | 6-speed torque converter | 7-speed dual-clutch |
| Kerb weight | 1552kg | 1322kg |
Finally, we bring together the winners from the first two rounds to determine the fastest midsize SUV you can buy today.
The Sierra has the numbers on its side, but the Kushaq does tend to punch above its weight. As was the case in the earlier races, the Skoda proves tricky to launch off the line, while the Tata Sierra jumps ahead. From there on, the Kushaq does start to reel in the Sierra, but it’s just not enough. The Tata Sierra wins Race 1 by just about a tenth. Race 2 is equally close, with the gap being a minuscule 0.2 seconds, and the Sierra manages to win again.
| Sierra vs Seltos drag race times | ||
| Sierra | Kushaq | |
| Race 1 | 17.18 sec | 17.28 sec |
| Race 2 | 17.02 sec | 17.21 sec |
Autocar India’s testing standards
Before we conduct our performance tests, we check and maintain tyre pressures based on the manufacturer’s recommendation and ensure the car has a full tank of fuel. The car is then tested in a controlled environment, and the data is collected via highly accurate GPS-based timing equipment.
