Best Mileage Cars in India for 2023

The best-selling cars in India are also some of the best-mileage cars. This is not a coincidence and goes on to show how important mileage is to Indians, especially for the vital role it plays to keep the running cost in check. Now, when fuel prices are skyrocketing, there is even greater emphasis on mileage, both from buyers and carmakers. As a result, the mileage figures of the cars available in the Indian automobile industry are higher than ever. If you plan to bring home a car with the most economical mileage figures, here is the list of best mileage cars in India that features the top 3 from every powertrain type: Petrol, Diesel, CNG, and Strong-Hybrid.

Also Read – CNG Cars In India

Best Petrol Mileage Cars

Maruti Suzuki Celerio

Nearly 9 years into the market, and an astonishing mileage is still the biggest attraction of the Maruti Celerio. The latest generation Celerio can run 26.68 km/l, making itself the best petrol mileage car in India. Even the first-generation Celerio delivered a mileage of 23.1 km/l, which is significantly better than most of its current rivals. Unlike most cars, the automatic variant of Celerio delivers better mileage than its manual variant, facilitating you with the best petrol mileage in India with the effortlessness of an automatic transmission. Combined with such mileage figures, the compact design and easy handling make the Maruti Celerio a great car for frequent travelling.

Maruti Suzuki Celerio Specifications

• Engine: 1-litre petrol engine
• Transmission: 5-speed AMT
• Mileage: 26.68 km/l
• Airbags: 2
• Fuel Type: Petrol
• Seating Capacity: 5
• Body Type: Hatchback

Also Read – Best Petrol Cars In India

Maruti Suzuki S-Presso

The Maruti S-Presso has been around since 2019 and fabulous mileage is one of its key highlights. With an easy-sipping refined engine, the S-Presso can drive 25.3 km/l with the convenience of an automatic transmission. Apart from mileage, certain factors make the S-Presso a unique offering, such as its rugged crossover-inspired design, which helps Maruti market the S-Presso as a micro-SUV. The handiest part of this design is the 180 mm ground clearance that keeps you free of worries while driving through potholes and speed breakers. Moreover, due to its compact dimensions and light steering, it is a breeze to manoeuvre through city traffic, which is something every urban driver wants.

Maruti Suzuki S-Presso Specifications

• Engine: 1-litre petrol engine
• Transmission:  5-speed AMT
• Mileage: 25.30 km/l
• Airbags: 2
• Fuel Type: Petrol
• Seating Capacity: 5
• Body Type: Hatchback

Also Read – 5 Seater Cars

Maruti Suzuki Wagon R

The oldest Maruti car in India, Maruti Wagon R has always had exceptionally lucrative mileage as one of its key strengths. It is the same story with the current-generation Wagon R. What is intriguing though, is among its two petrol engines, the larger 1.2-litre unit delivers the best of its mileage figures at 25.19 km/l. Like the previous two cars on the list, the Wagon R facilitates such mileage through its automatic powertrain, adding greatly to the driver’s convenience. Along with a healthy mileage, the tall-boy stance, a spacious cabin, and perfect ergonomics make Wagon R a magnificent city car and this is why it has remained one of the best-selling cars in India for decades.

Maruti Suzuki Wagon R Specifications

• Engine: 1.2-litre petrol engine
• Transmission: 5-speed AMT
• Mileage: 25.19 km/l
• Airbags: 2
• Fuel Type: Petrol
• Seating Capacity: 5
• Body Type: Hatchback

Also Read – Sedan vs Hatchback

Best Diesel Mileage cars

Kia Sonet

Most know the Kia Sonet as a feature-rich Korean compact SUV; however, a lesser-known fact is that it produces the best diesel mileage. With a 1.5-litre diesel engine, the Kia Sonet can deliver a mileage of 24.1 km/l through a 6-speed iMT (clutchless manual). This also explains why the diesel-manual variants of Sonet are some of its best-selling models. Along with great diesel mileage, the Kia Sonet offers a feature-rich cabin that rides high with its 205 mm ground clearance, making uneven patches the least of the driver’s concerns. Kia has also given sincere attention to passenger safety, as the Sonet features four airbags as standard and six airbags in higher variants.

Kia Sonet Specifications

• Engine: 1.5-litre diesel engine
• Transmission: 6-speed iMT
• Mileage: 24.1 km/l
• Airbags: Up to 6
• Fuel Type: Diesel
• Seating Capacity: 5
• Body Type: Compact SUV

Also Read – Diesel Cars In India

Tata Nexon

A fuel-efficient diesel powertrain is a vital part of the recipe that wrote the success story of the Tata Nexon. Not only can its 1.5-litre diesel engine deliver a mileage of 24.07 km/l, but also facilitates you with one of the most exciting performances you can enjoy under 15 lakh. Along with a rare combination of exciting performance and frugal mileage, the Tata Nexon offers a spacious and comfortable cabin that rides 209 mm high from the surface. With all that said, the biggest attraction of the Tata Nexon is its 5-star G-NCAP rating which makes it one of the safest cars in India.

Tata Nexon Specifications

• Engine: 1.5-litre turbo diesel engine
• Transmission: 6-speed manual and 6-speed AMT
• Mileage: 23.22 – 24.07 km/l
• Airbags: 2
• Fuel Type: Diesel
• Seating Capacity: 5
• Body Type: Compact SUV

Also Read – Compact SUVs

Tata Altroz

Currently, the Tata Altroz has the advantage of being the only diesel-powered premium hatchback in India. What makes this advantage even greater is the mileage of 23.60 km/l which puts it ahead of most diesel-powered cars in the mileage race. Along with being high on mileage, the Tata Altroz is also high on style and comfort and packs a host of upmarket features to deliver a premium passenger experience. Moreover, Altroz has recently entered the CNG arena which is sure to make competition even more challenging for the Maruti Baleno and Toyota Glanza. All the same, the biggest of Tata Altroz’s attractions lies in its solid build quality that has earned a 5-star Global NCAP safety rating.

Tata Altroz Specifications

• Engine: 1.5-litre diesel engine
• Transmission: 5-speed manual gearbox
• Mileage: 23.60 km/l
• Airbags: 2
• Fuel Type: Diesel
• Seating Capacity: 5
• Body Type: Hatchback

Best CNG Mileage Cars

Maruti Suzuki Celerio CNG

When the name of the race is ‘mileage’, the Maruti Celerio wins on both petrol and CNG tracks. It delivers a 35.6 km/kg CNG mileage from a 1-litre K10C DualJet petrol engine, which is the naturally aspirated version of the turbocharged engine offered in the Maruti Fronx. This attractive CNG mileage further lifts the urban character of the Celerio, keeping down the overall running cost. Nevertheless, it is important to know, Maruti offers CNG compatibility on only one variant: Celerio VXi which lacks a music system, steering-mounted controls, remote central locking, and an adjustable steering wheel.

Maruti Suzuki Celerio CNG Specifications

• Engine: 1-litre petrol engine with CNG kit
• Transmission: 5-speed manual gearbox
• Mileage: 35.60 km/KG
• Airbags: 2
• Fuel Type: Petrol & CNG
• Seating Capacity: 5
• Body Type: Hatchback

Maruti Suzuki Wagon R CNG

The Maruti Wagon R is one of those cars that are responsible for the rapidly growing popularity of CNG-powered cars in India. An all-time favourite of budget car buyers as well as cab companies, the Maruti Wagon R can deliver a CNG mileage of 34.05 km/kg and minimises the number of fuel stops to a great extent. Such CNG mileage figures make the Maruti Wagon R even more practical and project it as a perfect budget hatchback for most urban requirements.

Maruti Suzuki Wagon R Specifications

• Engine: 1-litre petrol engine
• Transmission: 5-speed manual gearbox
• Mileage: 34.05 km/kg
• Airbags: 2
• Fuel Type: Petrol & CNG
• Seating Capacity: 5
• Body Type: Hatchback

Maruti Suzuki Alto

A CNG mileage that keeps your pocket happy, is something expected of an entry-level car, and being the ruler of this segment, the Maruti Alto delivers the best. Equipped with a 1-litre petrol engine mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox, the Alto K10 can deliver a CNG mileage of 33.85 km/kg. Being one of the oldest CNG offerings, the Maruti Alto CNG has been a great driving force in shifting consumers’ focus from conventional fuel to CNG and still is one of the hottest-selling CNG cars in India.

Maruti Suzuki Alto Specifications

• Engine: 800cc petrol engine with CNG kit & 1-litre petrol engine with CNG kit
• Transmission: 5-speed manual gearbox
• Mileage: 31.59 km/kg (800) & 33.85 km/kg (K10)
• Airbags: 2
• Fuel Type: Petrol & CNG
• Seating Capacity: 5
• Body Type: Hatchback

Best Strong Hybrid Mileage Cars

Maruti Grand Vitara and Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder

In competition with the segment leader, Hyundai Creta, a significantly higher mileage is the greatest advantage of the Maruti and Toyota duo. Both Maruti Grand Vitara and Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder can deliver a mileage of 27.97 km/l from a strong-hybrid unit that includes a 1.5-litre petrol engine connected with a 48V electric motor. This unit comes with an e-CVT automatic transmission that not only eases the driving but also smoothens the ride experience. These mileage figures come in fairly handy in keeping the running cost low, which is something every midsize SUV owner desires. As far as space, comfort, and features are concerned, both these SUVs give neck-to-neck competition to the Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos, which is quite evident given the availability of premium features like a panoramic sunroof, ventilated seats, head-up display, and more.

Maruti Grand Vitara and Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder Specifications

• Engine: 1.5-litre petrol strong-hybrid unit
• Transmission: e-CVT automatic
• Mileage: 27.97 km/l
• Airbags: Up to 6
• Fuel Type: Petrol
• Seating Capacity: 5
• Body Type: Mid-size SUV

Honda City Hybrid

For ages, the Honda City has been acclaimed for its legendary performance and superior comfort. However, not too long ago, the iconic Japanese sedan joined the club of best mileage cars in India. With a strong-hybrid powertrain that features a 1.5-litre petrol engine connected with twin electric motors through an eCVT automatic, the Honda City Hybrid can deliver a mileage of 27.13 km/l. When it comes to ride comfort, the Honda City is still maintaining its stature and packs everything expected of a mid-size sedan, such as rich volumes of space, premium seats, and plenty of features. All the same, concerning the modern safety standards, Honda has equipped the City Hybrid with some ADAS safety features like adaptive cruise control, auto high beam assist, lane departure warning, and automatic emergency braking.

Honda City Hybrid Specifications

• Engine: 1.5-litre petrol engine paired with twin electric motors
• Transmission:  e-CVT automatic
• Mileage: 27.13 km/l
• Airbags: Up to 6
• Fuel Type: Petrol
• Seating Capacity: 5
• Body Type: Mid-size sedan

Toyota Innova Hycross

The Toyota Innova Hycross has garnered great success within a few months and a strong-hybrid powertrain is one of its chief highlights. This hybrid set-up consists of a 2-litre petrol engine in sync with an electric motor, and through an e-CVT automatic, it can deliver a mileage of 23.24 km/l, making the Innova Hycross one of best mileage cars in India. Positioned above the Innova Crysta, the Innova Hycross packs more room and features, keeping itself leaps ahead in terms of overall experience. However, the biggest advantage of the Innova Hycross over the Innova Crysta and even the Kia Carnival is the availability of the Level-2 ADAS safety suite that facilitates adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, lane departure and keep assist, automatic high beam, rear cross-traffic alert, and a pre-collision system.

Toyota Innova Hycross Specifications

• Engine: 2-litre petrol engine paired with an electric motor
• Transmission: e-CVT automatic
• Airbags: Up to 6
• Fuel Type: Petrol
• Seating Capacity: 7 & 8
• Body Type: MUV

Summary

Mileage was, is, and always will be one of the top priorities from a consumer’s point of view. At the same time, the fuel type of a car is also something that makes choosing the right car complex. Different types of fuels have different margins defining what can be taken as a good mileage. This article featuring the top 3 cars for every fuel type in terms of mileage, will help you narrow down your options and make an informed decision.

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