India’s 6 Most Fuel Efficient Petrol Hatchbacks

Snapshot – If you want to sell cars by the truckload in India, make them as fuel efficient as possible. It isn’t a coincidence that Maruti Suzuki, India’s undisputed car sales champion, doggedly pursues the maximum mileage route. Why, even facelifted Maruti Suzuki models emphasize on bettering fuel efficiency numbers, so much so that the “Way of Life” slogan of the Indian car brand actually hits the nail on the head. Then, there’s the “Kitna Deti Hain” ad campaign, which summarized what India really wants – Fuel Efficient Cars. Today, let’s take stock of 6 of India’s most fuel efficient petrol powered cars.

Tata Nano

The Tata Nano is the world’s least priced car and India’s most fuel efficient too, with a 25.4 Kmpl mileage figure certified by the powers that be at ARAI. The car’s 624cc twin cylinder engine is the smallest an Indian car sports and this diminutive size of the motor ensures that is sips petrol instead of gulping. A diesel powered Nano, which was in the works for years and that promised a 40 Kmpl mileage number, may never see the light of the day. However, for folks who want running costs that are even lower than that of the petrol powered Nano, the CNG-Petrol dual fuel version is the way to go.

Maruti Suzuki Alto K10

Maruti Suzuki facelifted the Alto K10 recently, and even added an automated manual transmission for good measure. And while they were at it, the engineers at India’s largest car maker decided to squeeze out the maximum bang for the buck in terms of fuel efficiency. So, you have a 24.07 Kmpl mileage number for the Alto K10 Facelift, even as the 1 liter-3 cylinder K-Series petrol motors 67 Bhp-90 Nm outputs remain unchanged. The car benefits from weight reduction and new engine mapping, two party tricks that Maruti Suzuki has used to stunning effect, each time the automaker wants to boost fuel efficiency.

Maruti Suzuki Celerio

The Celerio has been a seminal machine of sorts, a vehicle that demonstrated to Indian car buyers that an automatic car could be as efficient as its manual gearbox equipped sibling. The 23.1 Kmpl mileage number of the Celerio is common to both the manual and AMT variants of the car. The Maruti Suzuki Celerio uses a 1 liter K-Series triple potter that it shares with the likes of the Alto K10 and the WagonR. A very frugal unit, this engine is quite peppy too. Transmission options on the car include 5 speed manual and automated manual options. The Celerio was also the first AMT equipped car in the country, revolutionizing the way buyers looked at automatic cars in the budget segments.

Maruti Suzuki Alto 800

The Maruti Alto 800, together with its larger engined sibling, the Alto K10, represents the country’s best selling car name plate. High fuel efficiency, along with terrific reliability and low maintenance costs, is a major reason for the Alto 800’s success at the hustings. The car is powered by a 796cc, triple cylinder petrol engine, which is the F8D units latest iteration. This engine makes 47 Bhp-69 Nm and despite the bump up in torque numbers, the Alto 800 is much more efficient than the version it replaces, the Alto F8D. For those who want to further whittle down running costs, Maruti Suzuki offers buyers the option of CNG-Petrol dual fuel variants.

Ford EcoSport EcoBoost

Turbochargers, direct injection and variable valve timing as a combination, is the saviour of petrol engines, so to speak. The EcoBoost was the first turbocharged petrol engine equipped SUV in India’s affordable car segment. The crossover is powered by a 1 liter-3 cylinder EcoBoost engine, a jewel of a motor highly acclaimed for both performance and fuel efficiency. Making 125 Bhp-170 Nm, this engine also features an overboost mode that pushes torque up to 200 Nm. The EcoBoost motor allows the EcoSport to return 22.4 Kmpl, which is just 0.3 Kmpl lower than what the crossover achieves on diesel power. Who says you can’t have your cake, and eat it too?

Hyundai Eon

Hyundai is India’s second largest car maker but none of the South Korean automaker’s cars can hold a candle to Maruti Suzuki’s mileage champions in their respective segments. Yet, there’s one Hyundai car that flies its maker’s flag high when it comes to mileage stakes – the Eon 814cc petrol hatchback. The car returns 21.1 Kmpl, in the process becoming the most fuel efficient, petrol powered Hyundai car in the country. The Eon also has a larger, 1 liter petrol engined variant. The 814cc-3 cylinder engined version of the car is also available with a factory fitted petrol-LPG kit.