10 most fuel-efficient petrol cars in India in 2022

Fuel prices in India have been hiked several times over the last month, owing to the rise in international crude oil prices due to the Ukraine crisis. As of March 29, petrol prices in Delhi have breached the Rs 100 per litre mark, while in Mumbai, a litre of petrol costs Rs 115.04. So, having a fuel-efficient car can help you save a little bit more on your daily journey.

We take a look at the most fuel efficient petrol cars currently in the market. Do note that the list is based on official figures revealed by manufacturers, with actual figures expected to vary depending on driving conditions and styles.

1. Maruti Suzuki Celerio AMT- 26.68kpl

With the launch of the second-gen model, the Celerio became the most fuel efficient petrol car on sale today. At 26.68kpl, the VXi AMT is the most fuel-efficient model of the Celerio, followed closely by the ZXi and ZXi+ AMT variants at 26kpl. Even the least fuel-efficient variant, the ZXi+ manual at 24.97kpl, is more frugal than the third car on this list  – the Dzire sedan.

Maruti Suzuki has achieved this number thanks to a new, more efficient DualJet K10 petrol engine and the switch to Maruti Suzuki’s latest Heartect platform. The new petrol engine produces 67hp and 89Nm – down 1hp and 1Nm over the previous Celerio – and is paired with either a 5-speed manual or AMT gearbox as before.

2. Maruti Suzuki Wagon R 1.0 AMT- 25.19kpl

Like most Maruti Suzukis, one of the reasons buyers opt for the WagonR is its economical engines. The tall-boy hatchback was updated earlier this year and it gets two petrol engine options – a 67hp, 1.0-litre, and a 90hp, 1.2-litre. The smaller 1.0 engine is more frugal, delivering up to 25.19kpl with the AMT gearbox, while the 1.2-litre is rated to do up to 24.43kpl (ARAI), also with the AMT option. The 1.0-litre engine also comes with a CNG option that is rated at an excellent 34.05km/kg. Another reason for the Maruti Suzuki WagonR’s relatively higher sales numbers is its price and value for money quotient.

3. Maruti Suzuki Dzire AMT- 24.12kpl

Besides the design changes and longer equipment list that came with last year’s facelift, one of the most important changes was the 1.2-litre K12M petrol engine being replaced with the 1.2-litre K12N unit that comes with a start-stop function. The Maruti Suzuki Dzire is 7hp more powerful than before and more efficient in both 5-speed manual (23.26kpl) and 5-speed AMT (24.12kpl) form, making it the most fuel-efficient petrol sedan on sale in India.

4. Maruti Suzuki Swift AMT- 23.76kpl

With the facelift earlier this year, the Maruti Suzuki Swift now shares its 90hp, K12N petrol engine with idle-start stop tech and 5-speed manual and AMT gearbox options with the Dzire. In the peppier hatchback, the powertrain options’ mileage figures are slightly lower – 23.2kpl and 23.76kpl for the manual and AMT, respectively.

5. Toyota Glanza AMT/ Maruti Suzuki Baleno AMT- 22.94kpl

The 2022 Baleno and its Toyota counterpart, the Glanza, are powered by a solitary 90hp, 1.2-litre, four-cylinder DualJet K12N petrol engine. The engine can be had with either a 5-speed manual or a 5-speed AMT automatic gearbox (replacing the older model’s CVT unit). The ARAI-claimed fuel economy of the new engine with the manual gearbox is 22.35kpl, while the new AMT versions are said to return an even higher 22.94kpl. The new Baleno is priced from Rs 6.35 lakh-9.49 lakh, while the new Glanza costs between Rs 6.39 lakh-9.69 lakh. (ex-showroom, India).

6. Maruti Suzuki Alto- 22.05kpl

Maruti Suzuki’s smallest model is powered by a frugal 48hp, 0.8-litre engine that has been certified by the ARAI to deliver 22.05kpl. While the Maruti Suzuki Alto feels basic and has a cramped cabin, its low price, high efficiency and minimal maintenance costs make it a popular buy. There’s also a CNG variant on offer that has an equally impressive mileage of 31.59km/kg of gas.

7. Renault Kwid 1.0 AMT- 22kpl

The Renault Kwid comes with two engine options – a 54hp, 0.8-litre and a 68hp, 1.0-litre. However, it is the latter that can go an impressive 22km on a single litre of petrol, when mated to the AMT gearbox. The Kwid 1.0 manual is nearly as efficient with an ARAI mileage of 21.74kpl, while the 0.8-litre unit is rated at 20.71kpl. This makes it marginally more fuel-efficient than its cousin from Datsun, the Redigo, with which it shares its powertrain options.

8. Datsun Redigo AMT-  22kpl

Datsun updated its smallest model in 2020 and made it much better for it. Besides the comprehensive styling update, the Datsun Redigo facelift got more equipment too, such as internal wing mirror adjust across the range and an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment for the top-spec T(O) variant. The hatchback comes with two petrol engines – a 54hp, 0.8-litre and a 68hp, 1.0-litre. At 22kpl for the 1.0-litre engine with the AMT gearbox, the Redigo still ranks among the most frugal petrol cars in the country. The 0.8-litre and 1.0-litre engines are rated at 20.71kpl and 21.7kpl, respectively, with the manual gearbox.

9. Maruti Suzuki S-Presso- 21.7kpl

The S-Presso is a typical small Maruti – it weighs relatively less, comes with a frugal and peppy engine and is well priced for what it is. Considering it shares the 68hp, 1.0-litre petrol engine with the Celerio and WagonR, it isn’t surprising that the Maruti Suzuki S-Presso has similar ARAI efficiency figures. Interestingly, it is the higher-spec VXI and VXI+ variants (which ride on 14-inch rims) that have a marginally higher 21.7kpl rating – the lower variants are rated at 21.4kpl. Maruti Suzuki’s Renault Kwid and Datsun Redigo rival also gets a 5-speed AMT option – only on the VXI and VXI+ variants – and a factory-fit CNG option on the mid-spec LXI and VXI trims.

10. Maruti Suzuki Ignis- 20.89kpl

While the Ignis may not be the sales sensation Maruti Suzuki hoped for, it is an underrated, if expensive, hatchback (for what is on offer). A highlight of the Maruti Suzuki Ignis is the peppy 83hp, 1.2-litre K12M petrol engine, which delivers an ARAI-rated efficiency of 20.89kpl in manual and AMT automatic form.

Which of the Top 10 most fuel-efficient petrol models would you go for? Let us know in the comments.