India’s ten most fuel efficient cars

Snapshot – World over, cars are getting more fuel efficient each passing year as manufacturers seek to maximize each drop of the liquid fossil remains.  This year’s top ten list of India’s most  fuel efficient cars has a surprise in store. There’s not even a single Maruti Suzuki car in the list of India’s ten most fuel efficient cars and the latest automaker to embrace diesel power, Honda, tops proceedings. Diesel engines are inherently more fuel efficient than petrol powered ones and this fact comes out in this list, with only one petrol powered car, the Tata Nano, featuring in the top ten. 

Honda City Diesel – 26 Kmpl

A sales success right from word go, the 2014 Honda City has its 1.5 liter i-DTEC turbo diesel engine 98.6 Bhp-200 Nm) to thank for its superb performance at the hustings. The car, a largish C-Segment sedan, clocks an outstanding 26 Kmpl on the ARAI fuel efficiency test. The City Diesel uses a 6 speed manual gearbox with the final ratio making for relaxed cruising and in consequence, great fuel efficiency.

Honda Amaze Diesel – 25.8 Kmpl

The Honda Amaze is India’s second most fuel efficiency car despite being lighter than the City Diesel sedan and using the same 1.5 liter i-DTEC diesel engine. The key difference is in the gearboxes used by the City and the Amaze. While the City features a 6 speeder, the Amaze makes do with a 5 speeder. This apart, there’s little to distinguish both cars in terms of engine and fuel efficiency. The Amaze Diesel manages an ARAI certified 25.8 Kmpl.

Chevrolet Beat Diesel – 25.4 Kmpl

The Chevrolet Beat Diesel uses a 3 cylinder turbo diesel engine, and 3 cylinder engines are renowned for their excellent fuel efficiency numbers. The 936 cc turbo diesel engine is a downsized derivative of the 1.3 liter Multijet motor that Fiat and General Motors developed when they were in an alliance. The Beat Diesel’s engine that outputs 57 Bhp and 150 Nm,  is a sedate performer on the highway but is a nice tool on urban streets.

Tata Nano Petrol – 25.4 Kmpl

The only petrol powered car in this list is the Tata Nano, which features a 623 cc-twin cylinder engine that outputs 37 Bhp and 51 Nm. Also, the Nano’s engine is the least powerful engine in this list. The motor powers the rear wheels of the car but doesn’t suffer the additional weight of a rear wheel drive layout as the engine is situated at the rear. The Nano is also sold in CNG guise.

Tata Indigo eCS Diesel – 25.4 Kmpl

The Tata Indigo eCS Diesel is India’s second most fuel efficient sub-4 meter compact sedan, next only to the Honda Amaze. The car uses a 1.4 liter CR4, common rail turbo diesel engine that outputs 70 Bhp-140 Nm. A five speed manual gearbox comes standard with this engine that is known for its excellent fuel efficiency. The Indigo eCS is mainly bought by cab operators.

Tata Indica eV2 Diesel – 25.4 Kmpl

The Indica eV2 shares the 1.4 liter CR4 turbo diesel engine with the Indigo eCS and also the 25.4 Kmpl fuel efficiency number. Like the Indigo eCS, the Indica eV2 is squarely aimed at the cab operator segment and Indicas are the staple of India’s burgeoning IT and BPO sector as standard fare for company provided employee transport. The Indica eV2 comes with one of the most spacious interiors for its segment.

Ford Fiesta Facelift Diesel – 25.01 Kmpl

The latest C-Segment car in town comes with tasty new form factor that has also resulted in a 3 % improvement in aerodynamics. The improved aerodynamics translate into a higher fuel efficiency as well with the Ford Fiesta Facelift clocking a 25.01 Kmpl number, enough to give the Ford the status of India’s second most fuel efficient, full size sedan. The car is powered by a 1.5 liter TDCI turbo diesel engine (89 Bhp-205 Nm)

Hyundai Xcent Diesel- 24.4 Kmpl

The Hyundai Xcent is the only compact sedan in India to feature a triple cylinder turbo diesel engine, with its 1.1 liter CRDI motor managing 70 Bhp and 180 Nm. The motor gets revised ECU mapping and manages an impressive 24.4 Kmpl. The Xcent is a hot selling car in the compact sedan space with its diesel variant bringing in the big sales numbers.

Hyundai Grand i10 Diesel – 24 Kmpl

Although the Grand i10 hatchback shares its 1.1 liter-3 cylinder turbo diesel engine with the Xcent, the latter gets a lower outputs of 69 Bhp-160 Nm. Despite the lower rated outputs, the Grand i10 is less efficient than its compact sedan sibling. Less efficient is a very relative term here as the Grand i10 still manages an excellent 24 Kmpl as per ARAI.

Toyota Etios Diesel – 23.6 Kmpl

The Etios Diesel sedan is Toyota’s solitary entry to the India’s 10 most fuel efficient cars list. The Etios Diesel uses a 1.4 liter-4 cylinder D-4D turbo diesel engine that outputs 70 Bhp and 170 Nm. The sedan finds more takers as a cab than as a personal car. The Etios sedan’s two siblings, the Liva hatchback and the Etios Cross crossover styled hatchback clock similar fuel efficiency numbers.