The compact SUV segment is a hotbed of competition in the Indian market, as the high-riding appeal of an SUV in a smaller, more affordable package is a very compelling prospect for many buyers. However, fuel efficiency is just as important a factor to them, and with carmakers like Maruti Suzuki, Toyota, Hyundai, Skoda, Renault, Nissan, Mahindra, Kia and Tata all competing for a slice of the compact SUV pie, it can be a bit difficult to ascertain which one offers the most frugal option.
We have compiled a list of the 10 most fuel-efficient petrol compact SUVs, ranked from lowest to highest. The list is based on official ARAI figures revealed by manufacturers, although real-world efficiency may vary depending on driving conditions and styles. Since many of these compact SUVs offer an optional automatic gearbox over the standard manual, we have counted the highest fuel efficiency figure offered by their respective powertrain combinations.
10. Tata Nexon
Mileage: 17.44kpl
First launched in 2017, the Tata Nexon is the oldest car on this list. Tata sells the Nexon’s current iteration with only a 120hp, 1.2-litre, 3-cylinder turbo-petrol engine, which can be mated to a manual, AMT, or dual-clutch transmission. The 5-speed manual gearbox is the most fuel-efficient option here, thanks to its ARAI-claimed figure of 17.44kpl, followed by the AMT with 17.18kpl and the dual-clutch auto with 17.01kpl.
| Tata Nexon: ARAI-claimed fuel efficiency | ||
|---|---|---|
| Engine | Transmission | Fuel Efficiency (kpl) |
| 3 cyl, 1199cc, turbo-petrol | 5-speed manual | 17.44 |
| 3 cyl, 1199cc, turbo-petrol | 6-speed AMT | 17.18 |
| 3 cyl, 1199cc, turbo-petrol | 7-speed DCT | 17.01 |
9. Kia Syros
Mileage: 18.20kpl
The Kia Syros is the on of the latest contender in the compact SUV space. Unlike the two petrol engines offered to Sonet buyers, Kia has equipped the Syros with a sole 120hp, 1.0-litre turbo-petrol unit that can be coupled to a 7-speed dual-clutch or a 6-speed manual gearbox. The fuel economy of the Syros' petrol engine is 18.20kpl and 17.68kpl in the manual and automatic variants, respectively.
| Kia Syros: ARAI-claimed fuel efficiency | ||
|---|---|---|
| Engine | Transmission | Fuel Efficiency (kpl) |
| 3 cyl, 998cc, turbo-petrol | 6-speed manual | 18.2 |
| 3 cyl, 998cc, turbo-petrol | 7-speed DCT | 17.68 |
8. Hyundai Venue
Mileage: 18.27kpl
The Hyundai Venue has been on sale for over six years and it is currently available with two petrol engine options: an 83hp, 1.2-litre naturally aspirated petrol and a 120hp, 1.0-litre turbo-petrol. Of these, the 1.0-litre turbo-petrol is the more frugal choice when equipped with the 6-speed manual, delivering an ARAI fuel economy of 18.27kpl. The 7-speed dual-clutch automatic, meanwhile, follows closely with a claimed 18.15kpl figure.
| Hyundai Venue: ARAI-claimed fuel efficiency | ||
|---|---|---|
| Engine | Transmission | Fuel Efficiency (kpl) |
| 4 cyl, 1197cc, petrol | 6-speed manual | 17.52 |
| 3 cyl, 998cc, turbo-petrol | 6-speed manual | 18.27 |
| 3 cyl, 998cc, turbo-petrol | 7-speed DCT | 18.15 |
7. Kia Sonet
Mileage: 19.20kpl
Even though the Kia Sonet is built on the same platform as the Venue and offers identical petrol powertrain options (save for an iMT gearbox instead of a standard manual in some variants), it manages to achieve much better fuel efficiency. The Sonet received an update in 2024, that improved its ARAI fuel economy across the board, and of the petrol engines, the 120hp, 1.0-litre turbo-petrol mated to the 7-speed dual-clutch auto is the most fuel-efficient offering.
| Kia Sonet: ARAI-claimed fuel efficiency | ||
|---|---|---|
| Engine | Transmission | Fuel Efficiency (kpl) |
| 4 cyl, 1197cc, petrol | 5-speed manual | 18.83 |
| 3 cyl, 998cc, turbo-petrol | 6-speed clutchless manual | 18.7 |
| 3 cyl, 998cc, turbo-petrol | 7-speed DCT | 19.2 |
6. Skoda Kylaq
Mileage: 19.68kpl
Launched in December 2024, the Skoda Kylaq is another new entrant that delivers an impressive ARAI fuel economy. The sole 115hp, 1.0-litre turbo-petrol engine offered with the Kylaq is mated to either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed torque converter auto. Of these two transmissions, the automatic is the more frugal choice by a considerable 0.63kpl margin.
| Skoda Kylaq: ARAI-claimed fuel efficiency | ||
|---|---|---|
| Engine | Transmission | Fuel Efficiency (kpl) |
| 3 cyl, 999cc, turbo-petrol | 6-speed manual | 19.05 |
| 3 cyl, 999cc, turbo-petrol | 6-speed torque converter | 19.68 |
5. Maruti Suzuki Brezza
Mileage: 19.80kpl
While the Maruti Suzuki Brezza may come with just one petrol option, the unit in question is the company’s tried-and-true K15C 1.5-litre naturally aspirated engine that develops 103hp and features mild-hybrid technology. The Brezza can be had with either a 5-speed manual or a 6-speed torque converter gearbox. As far as fuel economy goes, there's a gulf between the two transmissions, with the automatic beating the manual by 2.42kpl.
| Maruti-Suzuki Brezza: ARAI-claimed fuel efficiency | ||
|---|---|---|
| Engine | Transmission | Fuel Efficiency (kpl) |
| 4 cyl, 1462cc, petrol | 5-speed manual | 17.38 |
| 4 cyl, 1462cc, petrol | 6-speed torque converter | 19.8 |
4. Nissan Magnite
Mileage: 20kpl
The Nissan Magnite received a mid-life refresh in 2024, which introduced various design tweaks. Underneath the skin, though, the Magnite soldiers on with its two petrol powertrains: a 72hp, 1.0-litre naturally-aspirated unit and a 100hp, 1.0-litre turbo engine. A 5-speed manual is standard for both engines, and automatic transmissions are also available in the form of a 5-speed AMT for the non-turbo and a CVT for the turbo unit. The manual variants of both engines are extremely close in terms of fuel efficiency, with only the turbo-petrol CVT falling behind the others in the Magnite range.
| Nissan Magnite: ARAI-claimed fuel efficiency | ||
|---|---|---|
| Engine | Transmission | Fuel Efficiency (kpl) |
| 3 cyl, 999cc, petrol | 5-speed manual | 19.9 |
| 3 cyl, 999cc, petrol | 5-speed AMT | 19.7 |
| 3 cyl, 999cc, turbo-petrol | 5-speed manual | 20 |
| 3 cyl, 999cc, turbo-petrol | CVT | 17.7 |
3. Mahindra XUV 3XO
Mileage: 20.10kpl
The 131hp, 1.2-litre turbo-petrol in the Mahindra XUV 3XO is not only the strongest petrol engine in the compact SUV segment but also one of the most efficient, thanks to its 6-speed manual variant achieving an ARAI figure of 20.1kpl. The 111hp, 1.2-litre turbo-petrol engine offered in the lower variants of the XUV 3XO doesn't fall that far behind, offering 18.89kpl when paired with the manual gearbox.
| Mahindra XUV 3XO: ARAI-claimed fuel efficiency | ||
|---|---|---|
| Engine | Transmission | Fuel Efficiency (kpl) |
| 111hp, 3 cyl, 1197cc, turbo-petrol | 6-speed manual | 18.89 |
| 111hp, 3 cyl, 1197cc, turbo-petrol | 6-speed torque converter | 17.96 |
| 131hp, 3 cyl, 1197cc, turbo-petrol | 6-speed manual | 20.1 |
| 131hp, 3 cyl, 1197cc, turbo-petrol | 6-speed torque converter | 18.2 |
2. Renault Kiger
Mileage: 20.38kpl
The Renault Kiger has the same petrol engine and gearbox options as its sibling, the Nissan Magnite. Just like the Magnite, the Kiger is more fuel efficient in its 100hp, 1.0-litre turbo engine guise. However, the 5-speed manual version of the Kiger turbo ekes out a 0.38kpl victory over the equivalent Magnite variant, granting the Renault compact SUV a higher rank on this list.
| Renault Kiger: ARAI-claimed fuel efficiency | ||
|---|---|---|
| Engine | Transmission | Fuel Efficiency (kpl) |
| 3 cyl, 999cc, petrol | 5-speed manual | 19.83 |
| 3 cyl, 999cc, petrol | 5-speed AMT | 19.83 |
| 3 cyl, 999cc, turbo-petrol | 5-speed manual | 20.38 |
| 3 cyl, 999cc, turbo-petrol | CVT | 17.63 |
1. Maruti Fronx/Toyota Taisor
Mileage: 22.80kpl
The ARAI fuel economy crown goes to the Fronx and Urban Cruiser Taisor, the badge-engineered compact SUV siblings from Maruti Suzuki and Toyota, respectively. Thanks to the 90hp, 1.2-litre petrol engine, these models offer an identical but class-leading fuel efficiency of 22.80kpl in their AMT variants. The 100hp, 1.0-litre turbo-petrol motor isn’t as fuel-efficient with a 21.50kpl claimed figure when coupled with the manual gearbox, which is still enough to beat the competition.
| Maruti Fronx/Toyota Taisor: ARAI-claimed fuel efficiency | ||
|---|---|---|
| Engine | Transmission | Fuel Efficiency (kpl) |
| 4 cyl, 1197cc, petrol | 5-speed manual | 21.7 |
| 4 cyl, 1197cc, petrol | 5-speed AMT | 22.8 |
| 3 cyl, 998cc, turbo-petrol | 5-speed manual | 21.5 |
| 3 cyl, 998cc, turbo-petrol | 6-speed torque converter | 20 |
Also see:
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Top 10 most expensive cars ever sold in the world
