Both the Kia Seltos and the Hyundai Venue are good options and safe buys. But since you have the budget for the Kia Seltos IVT, we would suggest going for that. The four-cylinder 1.5-litre naturally aspirated engine is more refined than the three-cylinder 1.0 turbo petrol on the Venue. The CVT (or IVT as Hyundai and Kia call it) is silky smooth and can actually end up giving you better fuel efficiency than the turbo petrol engine.
The Seltos is also more spacious and comfortable, and the interiors of the new Seltos feel premium with top drawer materials, too.
Other options you can explore or wait for include the brand new upcoming Duster, which was recently unveiled and is expected to launch in March 2026.