Our pick this week: Top 5 most fuel efficient petrol cars in India

The phrase “Kitna deti he?”, has been asked to every car owner in the country at least once. So we thought it’s only fair of us to jot down the top most fuel efficient petrol powered cars in India, as of now. Leaving aside CNG/LPG and diesel, we have included the Top 5 most fuel efficient petrol cars on this list. Note: All of the below stated figures are ARAI (Automotive Research Association of India) claimed. Let’s begin with the countdown.

5. Maruti Suzuki Ciaz:

The Maruti Suzuki Ciaz petrol version comes with a 1.4-litre, 4-cylinder K14B engine makes 92.45 PS of maximum power at 6000 rpm and peak torque is rated at 130 Nm at 4000 rpm. This engine can be paired with either a 5-speed manual or 4-speed slushbox. Since we are hunting down highest frugality, we will go with the manual tranny. We found this particular engine not very good in terms of its overall performance, but there’s no questioning its efficiency, especially for the size and weight it hauls.

Ciaz’s 1.4-litre petrol unit is shared with the Ertiga MPV too.

ARAI claims a fuel efficiency figure of 20.73 km/l for the petrol Ciaz and that’s best-in-class as far as its immediate rivals such as the Hyundai Verna 4S and Skoda Rapid are concerned. All Ciaz models offer a 510-litre boot and 2650mm of wheelbase, which again is best in its class. The top-end Ciaz ZXI+ (manual) is priced at INR. 9,56,066 (ex-showroom, Mumbai).

• Engine capacity – 1373cc
• Maximum power – 92.45 PS
• Peak torque – 130 Nm
• Fuel economy – 20.73 km/l

For our full review of the Ciaz, click here.

4. Maruti Suzuki DZire:

The Maruti Suzuki DZire is one of the country’s best selling cars, ever. It just got a facelift for the 2015 model year and with that, came a 9% bump in fuel economy for the petrol DZire. The engine is a K12-Series unit that’s equipped with variable valve timing and displaces 1.2-litres. Maximum power at 6000 rpm is 84.3 PS and peak torque at 4000 rpm is rated at 115 Nm. The engine, in this case, is mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox.

K-Series engines. (Image for representation purpose, only).

The Maruti Suzuki DZire is currently the second best selling car in India and with the new facelift and other updates, we wouldn’t be surprised if it holds its spot. The top-spec ZXi variant of the DZire retails for INR. 7,08,567 (ex-showroom, Mumbai).

• Engine capacity – 1197cc
• Maximum power – 84.3 PS
• Peak torque – 115 Nm
• Fuel economy – 20.85 km/l

For more on the 2015 Maruti Suzuki DZire, click here.

3. Tata Nano GenX (manual):

The Tata Nano is undeniably the smallest car on our list and also the most affordable. The latest GenX with the manual and AMT gearbox will go on sale on May 19 and we reckon the price to be under INR 3 lakh. It also has the smallest engine here, displacing just 624cc and housing just two cylinders. This water-cooled engine with twin-valves per cylinder puts out a modest 38 PS of max power at 5500 rpm and peak torque is rated at 51 Nm. The 4-speed manual variant of the Nano GenX is rated at 23.6 km/l, while the AMT manages 21.9 km/l and that’s not half as bad.

The AMT model sips slightly more fuel than the manual.

Tata calls their AMT unit ‘Easy Shift’ and it has 5-speeds and in everyday urban scenarios, we will pick this one over the 4-speed manual box. That said, there’s no denying the latter’s higher fuel economy figures. Along with the tiny two-cylinder engine and the lightweight body, the GenX Nano claims to return 23.6 km/l and that’s not bad by any means. Of course, we reckon you to stick within city limits and then you’ll be just fine.

• Engine capacity – 624cc
• Maximum power – 38 PS
• Peak torque – 51 Nm
• Fuel economy – 23.6 km/l

For our thorough review on the AMT-equipped GenX Nano, click here.

2. Maruti Suzuki Celerio AMT:

The Celerio has been one of the best selling cars for Maruti in India. With the addition of their ‘Auto Gear Shift’ (AGS) technology, Maruti claims the Celerio AMT offers the best fuel economy in its class. The Celerio AMT is powered by a three-cylinder 1.0-litre K-Series engine that makes 68 PS at 6000 rpm and 90 Nm of shove at 3500 rpm. This engine comes mated to a 5-speed AMT and unlike some AMTs out there, this one can make the car chug along at 10 km/h without the driver having to press the accelerator pedal.

The K10 unit in the Celerio has drive-by-wire tech.

Maruti has fiddled with the engine and given it some re-designed valves and springs, along with low-viscosity engine oil. This has been done to increase the frugality and by the figures posted by ARAI, seems like the boffins at Maruti have succeeded. The AMT option is only available in the LXi and VXi trim levels of the Celerio. The former retails for INR 4,63,637 and the VXi model sells for INR 4,94,469, both are ex-showroom, Mumbai prices.

Only the LXi and VXi trims get this AMT gearbox.

ARAI has rated a fuel efficiency figure of 23.1 km/l for the AMT-equipped Celerio. Considering the fact that the manual Celerio returns similar figures on every litre of petrol, this is an appreciable attempt by the carmaker.

• Engine capacity – 998cc
• Maximum power – 68 PS
• Peak torque – 90 Nm
• Fuel economy – 23.1 km/l

For our full take on the AMT Celerio, click here.

1. Maruti Suzuki Alto K10 AMT:

The Alto has been the best selling car in the country and it doesn’t surprise us that it also makes it to the top of this list. As with the Celerio AMT, the Alto K10 also comes with the 5-speed Auto Gear Shift. The K10B three-cylinder, 1.0-litre engine in this Maruti is the same unit found under the bonnet of the Celerio. That means 68 PS at 6000 rpm and 90 Nm at 3500 rpm.

Thanks to the smaller size of the Alto K10, this engine seems easily adequate.

ARAI has given the Alto K10 AMT a fuel economy figure of 24.07 km/l, which is best-in-class and even better than the smaller Nano GenX AMT. However, unlike in the Celerio, the AMT box is only available in the top-spec VXi model of the Alto K10. This variant is priced at INR 4,26,285 (ex-showroom, Mumbai).

This AMT is only equipped in the top-spec model of the Alto K10.

• Engine capacity – 998cc
• Maximum power – 68 PS
• Peak torque – 90 Nm
• Fuel economy – 24.07 km/l

To know more about the Maruti Suzuki Alto K10, click here.

That’s it for our list of the Top 5 most fuel efficient petrol cars in India. We will also be writing on the Top 5 most efficient diesels, soon. Anyway, tell us which car you’d pick out of this bunch and why?