India’s Most Fuel Efficient Diesel Hatchbacks – 2015 Edition

Snapshot – Diesel hatchbacks kickstarted the 25 Kmpl club when the diesel powered Chevrolet Beat and the Tata Indica eV2 breached and hit the mark respectively. Ever since, there has been only one addition to the 25 Kmpl club, but an important one at that. Diesel hatchbacks continue to push the mileage envelope further, making four wheeled mobility more cost effective. Here five such toppers in India that will stretch your diesel rupee the farthest.

Chevrolet Beat

936cc is what the Chevrolet Beat hatchback’s turbo diesel engine displaces, making it the smallest diesel powered car engine in the country. Small means frugal and it’s of no coincidence that the Beat Diesel is India’s most fuel efficient hatchback, with a 25.44 Kmpl mileage number. The 936cc engine features a three cylinder layout, which is famed for its frugal nature. The motor is a derivative of the 1.3 liter-4 cylinder Small Diesel Engine, which was jointly developed by Fiat and General Motors. The 936cc diesel unit was built specifically for the Indian car market and this motor makes 57 Bhp-140 Nm. The Beat is also sold with 1.2 liter Petrol and LPG-Petrol dual fuel engines.

Maruti Suzuki Swift

The Maruti Suzuki Swift, in facelifted guise, has breached the 25 Kmpl mileage mark , clocking 25.2 Kmpl. The car is India’s best selling B+ segment hatchback, averaging about 15,000 monthly units. The car’s light weight and Maruti Suzuki’s fuel efficiency oriented engine tuning has resulted in the best mileage being squeezed out of the Fiat Multijet diesel motor. This engine isn’t about mileage along though. Well spaced gear ratios and 75 Bhp-190 Nm outputs on tap mean that the Swift delivers punchy performance. A combination of brawn and frugalness, the Swift Diesel delights enthusiasts and penny pinchers alike. The car is also available with a 1.2 liter K-Series petrol engine.

Tata Indica eV2

The Tata Indica eV2 was the first car in India to hit the 25 Kmpl fuel efficiency mark, and this is one of the many reasons why this car is a still a cabbie favourite. Featuring a 1.4 liter-4 cylinder turbo diesel engine that uses common rail fuel injection technology, the Indica eV2 has decent pep, with 70 Bhp-140 Nm to boot. The 1.4 liter CR4 mill is a derivative of the IDI 475 block, the very first 1.4 liter diesel engine that powered the first generation Indica. Over the years, Tata Motors has incorporated various refinements to this engine, and in CR4 form, this diesel unit is a reliable, smooth and very fuel efficient. The Indica eV2 also features petrol and petrol-CNG power options.

Hyundai Grand i10

The Hyundai Grand i10 is only the second hatchback in India to be powered by a triple cylinder diesel engine. Featuring a 1.1 liter motor with 69 Bhp-180 Nm outputs, the car is tractable enough on city roads although it cannot hold a candle to the likes of the Maruti Swift on highways. What the Grand i10 Diesel excels in though, is fuel efficiency, which is rated at 24 Kmpl. The car is stuffed with features and gets interiors whose quality makes the Grand i10 feel like a vehicle from a segment higher. Originally a replacement to the i10, the Grand i10 has been a resounding success for Hyundai, and the car maker also offers this hatchback with a 1.2 liter petrol engine.

Toyota Etios Liva

The Etios Liva is Toyota’s least priced car and one of the most fuel efficient ones too, what with its 23.59 Kmpl fuel efficiency number, a distinction that it shares with its sedan sibling. The car features a 1.4 liter D-4D diesel engine that uses a fixed geometry turbocharger for 69 Bhp-170 Nm outputs. Apart from stellar fuel efficiency, the engine’s other claim to fame is its turbo lag free performance, a trait that makes the Liva a hoot to drive on city streets and on the highway alike. The Etios Liva’s looks may not win it plaudits but its boxy lines liberate plenty of room on the inside, making for a spacious car. Toyota also offers the Liva with a 1.2 liter petrol engine option.