While buying a mid-size SUV, it is important to consider its fuel consumption, especially if you mostly drive in traffic or take long-distance drives on a highway. Maruti Grand Vitara AT and Honda Elevate CVT are equipped with petrol engines and automatic transmissions, but their real mileage is significantly different from the ones mentioned in the official documents. Therefore, it is interesting to see which car has a better consumption rate and how close their actual mileage is to the claims.
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Maruti Grand Vitara AT vs Honda Elevate CVT ARAI Mileage Figures
ARAI mileage ratings are great as a standard reference because they are done in a controlled environment. Do not, however, expect to achieve the same mileage on the roads as under laboratory conditions. Your driving, traffic, use of air conditioning, and other factors can contribute to the difference in numbers.
The Grand Vitara offers more choice in terms of petrol, CNG, and strong-hybrid options. Meanwhile, the Elevate only provides a petrol engine with a choice between manual and automatic transmissions. Thus, Maruti has an advantage in terms of fuel efficiency.
For the purpose of comparison, we will focus on the petrol automatic variants of both SUVs, as those with manual transmissions do not provide a realistic idea of actual on-road mileage.
Also Read: Complete Guide to Buying a Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara
| Car | Engine & Transmission | Fuel Type | ARAI Mileage (km/l) |
| Maruti Grand Vitara | 1.462L petrol, 5MT | Petrol | 21.11 |
| Maruti Grand Vitara | 1.462L petrol, 6AT | Petrol | 20.58 |
| Maruti Grand Vitara | 1.462L S-CNG, 5MT | CNG | 26.60 km/kg |
| Maruti Grand Vitara | 1.490L strong hybrid, e-CVT | Petrol hybrid | 27.97 |
| Honda Elevate | 1.498L petrol, 6MT | Petrol | 15.31 |
| Honda Elevate | 1.498L petrol, CVT | Petrol | 16.92 |
For the variants considered in this comparison, the Grand Vitara has the advantage in terms of fuel efficiency claims. However, the real question is whether this advantage remains when both SUVs are driven in everyday conditions. Both cars feature naturally aspirated petrol engines but have different automatic transmissions. The Grand Vitara has a six-speed torque-converter automatic, while the Elevate has a continuously variable transmission. The Grand Vitara uses a 12-volt integrated starter generator to support the engine during acceleration.
Maruti Grand Vitara AT vs Honda Elevate CVT Real World Mileage vs ARAI Mileage
The Grand Vitara’s mileage advantage on paper also holds up in real-world driving. It stays ahead of the Elevate in both city and highway in terms of fuel efficiency, though both fall short of the ARAI-certified figure.
The Grand Vitara’s real-world average is about 34.6 per cent below the claimed figure. In contrast, the Elevate’s real-world average is about 35.9 per cent below the claimed figure, which suggests that the Maruti has managed to retain a bit more of its on-paper efficiency.
| Powertrain | Grand Vitara Claimed | Grand Vitara Real World | Elevate Claimed | Elevate Real World |
| Petrol Automatic | 20.58 km/l | 13.45 km/l (11.60 City / 15.30 Hwy) | 16.92 km/l | 10.85 km/l (8.60 City / 13.10 Hwy) |
The difference between the expected and actual mileage may be explained by traffic, waiting time, air conditioning use, number of passengers, and driving conditions. Although the Grand Vitara and Elevate have different automatic gearboxes, the Grand Vitara has proved to be more economical, with a 2.60km/l higher in the real world than the Elevate.
Also Read: Honda Elevate Mileage Comparison: Automatic vs Manual
Maruti Grand Vitara AT vs Honda Elevate CVT Fuel Efficiency Comparison
The real-world results give the Grand Vitara a consistent advantage. It wins both city and highway tests rather than depending on one particular driving condition.
The city gap is particularly large at 3km/l, while the highway difference is 2.2km/l. Therefore, the mileage result does not flip when the driving environment changes. The Grand Vitara is more efficient in both conditions.
Maruti Grand Vitara AT vs Honda Elevate CVT City Fuel Efficiency Comparison
City driving is hard on the engine due to frequent stop-starts and slow-moving traffic, with engines having to work harder during acceleration than on the open road. Partly offsetting this is the 12V integrated starter generator on the Grand Vitara, which assists the engine during acceleration.
Both cars have automatic gearboxes, but whereas the Grand Vitara has a six-speed torque-converter automatic, the Elevate has a CVT. However, the Grand Vitara was more economical in the heavy stop-start of city driving.
| Powertrain | Grand Vitara City Mileage | Elevate City Mileage | Winner |
| Petrol automatic | 11.60km/l | 8.60km/l | Grand Vitara |
Maruti Grand Vitara AT vs Honda Elevate CVT Highway Fuel Efficiency Comparison
On the highway, the focus shifts to powertrains and energy consumption, where the Grand Vitara continues its dominance, proving that the advantages over the competitor extend beyond city driving. The higher 45-litre fuel tank capacity, in addition to the superior proven efficiency, ensures longer distances between refuels, giving the Grand Vitara an edge over the Elevate.
| Powertrain | Grand Vitara Highway Mileage | Elevate Highway Mileage | Winner |
| Petrol automatic | 15.30km/l | 13.10km/l | Grand Vitara |
The difference is therefore well above the 1km/l range where mileage alone may not be a meaningful deciding factor.
Maruti Grand Vitara AT vs Honda Elevate CVT Fuel Cost Comparison
For this comparison, we have assumed 1,500km of monthly driving and used the real-world combined mileage of both SUVs. Petrol is calculated at ₹102.12 per litre in Delhi.
| Metric | Grand Vitara Petrol AT | Honda Elevate Petrol CVT |
| Monthly Running | 1,500 km | 1,500 km |
| Real-World Combined Mileage | 13.45 km/l | 10.85 km/l |
| Monthly Fuel Use | 111.52 litres | 138.25 litres |
| Average Monthly Fuel Cost | ₹11,389 | ₹14,118 |
| Average Yearly Fuel Cost | ₹1,36,666 | ₹1,69,416 |
| 5-Year Fuel Cost | ₹6,83,331 | ₹8,47,078 |
The Grand Vitara is saving about ₹2,729 on a monthly basis on fuel, which adds up to almost ₹32,749 every year. Therefore, over five years, the difference could be as high as ₹1.64 lakh, assuming similar mileage, distance driven and petrol prices.
The two SUVs also have a near-identical starting price on the comparison, with the Grand Vitara AT priced at ₹13.45 lakh while the Elevate CVT is at ₹13.43 lakh ex-showroom. The Grand Vitara’s lower running cost is, therefore, a big incentive for buyers who are likely to cover more kilometres on a yearly basis.
For low-mileage owners, the savings may take longer to become significant. However, for high-mileage users, the Grand Vitara’s better fuel efficiency can make a noticeable difference to the overall cost of ownership.
Maruti Grand Vitara AT vs Honda Elevate CVT Mileage vs Competitors
The Grand Vitara and Elevate face strong competition from SUVs such as the Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos. Looking at their claimed petrol-automatic mileage gives a quick idea of how the two models compare with some of the segment’s popular choices.
| Model | Petrol Automatic Mileage | Other Fuel Mileage |
| Maruti Grand Vitara AT | 20.58km/l | Strong Hybrid: 27.97km/l; CNG: 26.60km/kg |
| Honda Elevate CVT | 16.92km/l | Not available |
| Hyundai Creta 1.5 Petrol IVT | 17.7km/l | Diesel available |
| Kia Seltos 1.5 Petrol IVT | 17.7km/l | Diesel and turbo-petrol available |
The Grand Vitara has the highest claimed petrol-automatic mileage among these four SUVs. The Elevate sits below the Creta and Seltos as well, making the Maruti’s fuel-efficiency advantage clear even before considering its strong-hybrid and CNG options.
Also Read: Maruti Grand Vitara Mileage Comparison: Petrol vs CNG vs Strong Hybrid
Summary
The Maruti Grand Vitara AT is a more fuel-efficient SUV in this comparison. It has a higher claimed mileage than the Honda Elevate CVT, and the test also shows a significant difference in the city and highway ranges.
The Grand Vitara managed 11.60km/l in the city and 15.30km/l on the highway with a combined figure of 13.45km/l. The Elevate had 8.60km/l, 13.10km/l, and 10.85km/l. In terms of fuel economy and lower running costs, the Maruti model is the more practical choice, especially for people who drive a considerable number of kilometres a year.
For example, it is possible to save about ₹32,749 a year with a 1,500km monthly range in Delhi, considering the petrol cost. Thus, if fuel economy is a priority in the selection of a vehicle, then the Grand Vitara AT is the best option.
FAQ
Q. Is the Grand Vitara AT more fuel efficient than the Elevate CVT?
Yes. The Grand Vitara AT delivers better claimed as well as real-world mileage than the Elevate CVT, making it the more fuel-efficient option overall.
Q. Which SUV is better for city driving, Grand Vitara AT or Elevate CVT?
The Grand Vitara AT is better for city driving from a fuel-efficiency perspective. It returned a higher mileage than the Elevate in the real-world city test.
Q. Which SUV is better for highway driving?
The Grand Vitara AT has the advantage on the highway as well. Its higher tested mileage makes it the more economical choice for regular long-distance travel.
Q. Is the Grand Vitara AT cheaper to run than the Elevate CVT?
Yes. Based on 1,500km of monthly driving and the assumed Delhi petrol price, the Grand Vitara costs less to fuel and can save around ₹32,749 per year.
Q. Does the Grand Vitara’s claimed mileage match its real-world mileage?
No car’s claimed mileage is likely to match everyday driving exactly. The Grand Vitara also returned a lower figure in real-world testing, but it still maintained a clear advantage over the Elevate.
