When it comes to buying a car in the Indian market, everyone has their priorities. Some want a sporty design, while others care more about what’s under the hood. But there’s one thing that’s a common denominator for most of us: mileage. It doesn’t matter if you’re looking to buy a small hatchback for your daily commute or an SUV for family trips – but how much you spend at the petrol pump matters a lot. Besides, in a country like ours where fuel prices are steadily increasing, having a car with a good mileage is a blessing.
Luckily, in our vast and ever-expanding car market, there’s no shortage of options. So, finding a car that not only delivers good fuel economy but also checks off all your other boxes isn’t too tough a task. We’ve segregated the list into the best mileage petrol, hybrid, diesel and CNG cars.
Best Mileage Cars – Petrol
| Car Name | Mileage | Starting Price |
| Maruti Suzuki Celerio | 26.68 km/l | Rs 5.36 Lakh |
| Maruti Suzuki Spresso | 21 km/l | Rs 4.26 Lakh |
| Maruti Suzuki Alto K10 | 24.3 km/l | Rs 3.99 Lakh |
Best Mileage Cars – Hybrid
| Car Name | Mileage | Starting Price |
| Urban Cruiser Hyryder/ Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara | 27.97 km/l | Rs 10.76 Lakh |
| Honda City Hybrid | 26.5 km/l | Rs 19.04 Lakh |
| Innova Hycross/Maruti Invicto | 23.24 km/l | Rs 25.97 Lakh |
Best Mileage Cars – Diesel
| Car Name | Mileage | Starting Price |
| Hyundai Alcazar | 24.5 km/l | Rs 17.78 Lakh |
| Hyundai Venue | 24.10 km/l | Rs 10.71 Lakh |
| Tata Nexon | 24.08 km/l | Rs 11.10 Lakh |
Best Mileage Cars – CNG
| Car Name | Mileage | Starting Price |
| Maruti Suzuki Celerio | 34.43 km/kg | Rs 6.73 Lakh |
| Maruti Suzuki WagonR | 34.05 km/kg | Rs 6.44 Lakh |
| Maruti Suzuki Alto K10 | 33.85 km/kg | Rs 5.73 Lakh |
Best Mileage Cars – Petrol
Maruti Suzuki Celerio
The Maruti Suzuki Celerio has held the throne for the best mileage cars in India for over two years now. Re-launched back in 2021 with a new engine that delivers a class leading mileage of 26.68 kmpl, drivers save a ton while driving. In fact, it’s the AMT that delivers this mileage, which seals the deal for many drivers that have stop-go traffic nightmares. Moreover, it’s one of those Maruti cars that’s playful and youthful by design, thanks to its rounded edges and vibrant colours. The easy handling, compact design, and comfortable ride further make a solid case for the car.
Maruti Suzuki Celerio Key Specs:
- Engine: 1.0-liter engine
- Transmission: 5-speed Manual and 5-speed Automatic
- Mileage: 26.68 km/l
- Airbags: 2
- Fuel Type: Petrol and CNG
- Seating Capacity: 5
Maruti Suzuki S-Presso
Launched in 2019, the Maruti Suzuki S-Presso quickly caught attention with its quirky tall-boy design. Despite being marketed as a micro-SUV by Maruti, it’s fundamentally a hatchback, and its mileage certainly attests to that fact as one of the best mileage cars in India. Packaged with a reliable 1.0-litre petrol engine, the S-Presso delivers an impressive mileage of 25.3 km/l, making it one of the most fuel-efficient cars in its segment. Moreover, this is complemented with the convenience of an AMT. Beyond its mileage, the S-Presso shines with its compact dimensions, easy manoeuvrability, and a substantial 180 mm ground clearance, offering SUV-like reassurance over obstacles that Indian roads throw at you.
Maruti Suzuki S-Presso Key Specs:
- Engine: 1.0-liter engine
- Transmission: 5-speed Manual and 5-speed AMT (automatic)
- Mileage: 21 km/l
- Airbags: 2
- Fuel Type: Petrol and CNG
- Seating Capacity: 5
Maruti Suzuki Alto K10
The Maruti Suzuki Alto K10 stands as a frontrunner in the entry-level car segment, and its impressive mileage is one of the most solid reasons why it sells like hotcakes in the Indian market. With a 1-litre petrol engine mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox, the Alto K10 achieves a remarkable mileage of 24.39 kmpl. Despite common assumptions that automatic cars are less fuel-efficient, the Maruti Suzuki Alto K10 offers an AMT variant that delivers a slightly higher mileage of 24.9 kmpl. What’s more is that in 2022, the legendary Alto received a complete revamp after a decade, bringing back the iconic nameplate with a refreshed and cheerful look.
Alto K10 Key Specifications:
- Engine: 1.0-liter engine
- Transmission: 5-speed manual and 5-speed automatic
- Fuel Efficiency: 24.3 km/l
- Fuel Type: Petrol and CNG
- Airbags: 2
- Seating Capacity: 5
Best Mileage Cars – Hybrid
Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara / Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder Hybrid
The Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara and Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder share the mechanical setup under the hood, making them essentially cousin cars. They started the SUV hybrid segment in India two years ago, and both models have garnered considerable success ever since. Featuring a 1.5-liter hybrid engine combined with a 48V motor unit, both cars achieve an impressive mileage of 27.97 kmpl, making it one of the best mileage cars in the hybrid segment. What’s more is that these engines are coupled with an e-CVT transmission, making driving around cities easier. The best part is that these cars finally offer the right amount of aesthetics, ample ground clearance, robust performance, and advanced tech features as SUVs—all while maintaining impressive fuel efficiency. In a market filled with fuel-thirsty vehicles, these models stand out as solid pocket-friendly choices without any compromises.
Grand Vitara/Urban Cruiser Hyryder Key Specifications:
- Engine: 1.5-litre strong hybrid petrol
- Transmission: e-CVT Automatic transmission
- Mileage: 27.97 km/l
- Airbags: 6
- Fuel Type: Electric + Petrol
- Seating Capacity: 5
Honda City Hybrid
The Honda City has always been known to have one of the most reliable and sturdy engines, and the hybrid further propels this car to make it one of the best mileage cars. It boasts a handsome and timeless design, a feature-rich and plush cabin, exceptional rear seat comfort, and a smooth engine – it ticks all the right boxes for even the pickiest of buyers. But with the introduction of the hybrid variant a couple years ago, the already impressive engine now operates even quieter and more efficiently, delivering an impressive mileage of 27.13 kmpl. This makes it an ideal choice for commuters or individuals who rely on chauffeured rides but were concerned with the rising petrol costs.
Honda City e:HEV Key Specifications:
- Engine: 1.5-litre strong hybrid petrol
- Transmission: e-CVT automatic
- Mileage: 27.1 km/l
- Airbags: 6
- Fuel Type: Electric + Petrol
- Seating Capacity: 5
Toyota Innova Hycross / Maruti Invicto Hybrid
Frugal running costs is probably the last thing that comes to mind when you think of a 4.7 metre long MPV. However, with the Toyota Innova Hycross and Maruti Suzuki Invicto, that’s not the case. These cars are also mechanically the same with the only difference being in the design and features department. They deliver an exceptional 23.24 kmpl, beating several smaller cars almost half their size! This hybrid setup is essentially a 2-litre petrol engine synchronised with an electric motor, integrated with an e-CVT automatic transmission. Positioned above the Innova Crysta in Toyota’s line-up and Ertiga in Maruti’s line-up, both cars pack in a ton of convenience and safety tech including level 2 ADAS! You can comfortably seat 7/8 people (depending on the exact variant you opt for) and go on a long road trip without having to worry about fuel costs!
Innova Hycross Specifications
- Engine: 2.0-litre strong Hybrid petrol (187 PS & 188 Nm) with 206 Nm from an electric motor
- Transmission: CVT, eCVT
- Mileage: 23.24 km/l (strong hybrid)
- Airbags: 7
- Fuel Type: Petrol
- Seating Capacity: 7
- Body Type: MPV
Best Mileage Cars – Diesel
Hyundai Alcazar Diesel
The Alcazar is the only 7-seater SUV in Hyundai’s lineup and is one of the best mileage cars in its segment. As with most Hyundai cars the Alcazar is also top notch in terms of comfort, convenience, features, and more importantly mileage. Even with the size of the Alcazar, it still delivers an impressive 24.5 km/l mileage. This number is higher for the manual variant and lower for the automatic variant. The Alcazar also maintains strong performance even with the high mileage, indicating that mileage doesn’t negatively impact its overall performance. It has a 0-100 time of roughly 11 seconds powered by its 1.5 litre diesel engine.
Hyundai Alcazar Specifications
- Engine: 1.5-litre diesel
- Transmission: 6-speed manual, 6-speed AT
- Mileage: Up to 24.5 kmpl for Diesel
- Airbags: 6
- Fuel Type: Diesel
- Seating Capacity: 7
- Body Type: SUV
Hyundai Venue Diesel
The Hyundai Venue, one of the best mileage cars in its segment, has been in India for over 5 years now and has been a solid contender in the hotly contested compact SUV space. It’s got the looks, has diverse options in trims, has potent powertrain options and features the latest tech in its cabin. However one major reason that’s behind its success is often overlooked – it’s mileage. The Venue’s 1.5-litre turbo diesel engine delivers an astounding 24.10 kmpl mileage. At the same time, this engine goes from 0-100 in under 12 seconds and has excellent torque.
Hyundai Venue Specifications
- Engine: 1.5 Ltr turbo diesel
- Transmission: 6 Speed MT / 6 Speed AT
- Mileage: 24.10 kmpl/ 19 kmpl
- Airbags: 6
- Fuel Type: Diesel
- Seating Capacity: 5
- Body Type: SUV
Tata Nexon Diesel
Another compact SUV and a direct rival to the Venue, the Nexon recently got a major upgrade. Often taking the throne for the best selling compact SUV in India, Tata obviously knows what Indian customers like which is why the Nexon often leads the sales chart. The design and feature upgrade made the Nexon an even better value for money proposition – but its diesel mileage is something that’s applaudable at 24.08 kmpl. The 1.5 litre engine is the fastest in the segment and one of the most fuel efficient, making it one of the best mileage cars and well balanced.
Tata Nexon Specifications
- Engine: 1.5 Ltr turbo diesel MT/ 1.5 Ltr diesel AT
- Transmission: 6 Speed MT/ 6 Speed AT
- Mileage: 23.23 kmpl/ 24.08 kmpl
- Airbags: 6
- Fuel Type: Diesel
- Seating Capacity: 5
- Body Type: SUV
Best Mileage Cars – CNG
Maruti Suzuki Celerio CNG
The Maruti Celerio makes it to this list twice – first in the form of the petrol trim and now in the CNG trim – which makes the Celerio CNG the most fuel-efficient overall in India. Regardless, the petrol variant has all the bells and whistles that the corresponding VXI trim of the petrol offers. As one of the best mileage cars, the CNG trim offers a 1-litre unit that provides a staggering 35.6 km/kg mileage. However, if you’re set on getting all the features that the ZXI+ offers or need the automatic, then the petrol Celerio is the way to go.
Maruti Suzuki Celerio Specifications
- Engine: 1.0-litre petrol-CNG engine
- Transmission: 5-Speed Manual
- Mileage: 35.6 km/kg
- Airbags: 2
- Fuel Type: CNG
- Seating Capacity: 5
- Body Type: Hatchback
Maruti Suzuki WagonR CNG
Since its inception two decades ago, the WagonR practically screams three words: efficiency, practicality and reliability. As one of the oldest Maruti cars in India, in particular, it has consistently impressed drivers with its class-leading mileage, and the current-generation model is no exception. Maruti only offers th 1.0-itre engine with the CNG kit delivering a mileage of 34.05 km/kg. On the feature front it checks the essential boxes of having a comfortable ride, practical cabin and standard tech on-board. Starting at Rs. 5.54 lakhs for the base model, the WagonR goes up to Rs 7.37 lakh for the top-of-the-line ZXI AT.
Maruti Suzuki WagonR Specifications
- Engine: 1.0-litre petrol-CNG engine
- Transmission: 5-Speed Manual
- Mileage: 34.05 km/kg
- Airbags: 2
- Fuel Type: CNG
- Seating Capacity: 5
- Body Type: Hatchback
Maruti Suzuki Alto K10 CNG
Last but certainly not the least is the Alto K10 CNG, which also appears again on this list, albeit in the CNG form. The K10 CNG has a 1-litre petrol engine that gives a healthy mileage of 34 km/kg. Its small yet robust and peppy engine is suitable for both city and highway traffic. The K10 CNG is available in the VXI trim. In terms of features, the Maruti Alto K10 CNG packs in a power steering, air conditioning, power windows, and a music setup. The car is also equipped with safety features such as dual front airbags, seat belt reminders, and a high-speed warning alert. Overall, it makes the car both convenient, comfortable and one of the best mileage cars on sale in India.
Maruti Suzuki Alto K10 Specifications
- Engine: 1.0-litre petrol-CNG engine
- Transmission: 5-Speed Manual
- Mileage: 34 km/kg
- Airbags: 2
- Fuel Type: CNG
- Seating Capacity: 5
- Body Type: Hatchback
Summary
Overall, the Indian market is evolving and with changing consumer preferences, carmakers have updated their models to keep up with these trends. That being said, mileage is something that will always be a factor that Indian consumers, or any consumer globally would consider before shortlisting and buying a car. So going through if these best mileage cars are in line with your desired fuel type is really important! At the end of the day, you should prioritise what you like and not just look at mileage as the sole criteria for buying a car.
