Top 5 fuel efficient diesel cars in India

A little while ago, we revealed the top 10 most fuel efficient petrol cars in India by taking into account the real-world mileage of each car achieved in India’s road tests. This data is collected by driving the car in actual urban and highway conditions in and around a typical Indian metro city. This means traffic, poorly paved roads and pollution, just like you might encounter in your car. 

So, are you the type of car owner for which fuel-efficiency is paramount? And if so, is your car on this list...?

 1. HYUNDAI XCENT

India city mileage: 15.2kpl
India highway mileage: 20.8kpl
ARAI rating: 25.8kpl
Running cost per month: Rs 3611
Price (diesel range): Rs 5.97-7.54 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi)

The Amaze was Honda’s first car in India to be powered by a diesel engine. The made-for-India diesel motor, with an ARAI-rated fuel efficiency of 25.8kpl, gave Honda the bragging rights to India’s most fuel efficient diesel car, surpassed only by its sibling, the City i-DTEC, whose ARAI rating is 26kpl. During testing, the Amaze diesel’s 15.2kpl in the city and 20.8kpl on the highway (still the best here), made it the most efficient diesel car we’d tested, until the Xcent came along. Not bad for a relatively large, 1498cc, four-cylinder engine that makes 98.6bhp and 20.3kgm of torque. 

3. CHEVROLET BEAT

India city mileage: 16kpl
India highway mileage: 19.1kpl
ARAI rating: 25.44kpl
Running cost per month: Rs 3703
Price (diesel range): Rs 4.77-5.99 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi)

Considering this is the most compact car here with the smallest-capacity engine, some might think that the Beat diesel should be at the top of the list. Its ARAI rating of 25.44kpl is second only to the Amaze’s and in our city tests, its 16kpl is second only to the Xcent. However, out on the highway, the small 936cc displacement lets it down, needing to be worked hard to really get the best of it. Which is why its 19.1kpl highway rating lets down its overall FE performance.

4. HYUNDAI GRAND i10  

 India city mileage: 15.4kpl 
 India highway mileage: 19.6kpl
ARAI rating: 24kpl
Monthly running costs: Rs 3714
Price (diesel range): Rs 5.21-6.38 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi)

Hyundai made some modifications to the 1.1-litre, three-cylinder diesel engine for the Xcent, and so its ARAI rating of 24.4kpl is better than the Grand i10’s 24kpl. In our tests, this difference is even more pronounced, with the hatchback’s 15.4kpl and 19.6kpl city and highway figures being some way behind the Xcent’s numbers. Although it must be noted that the Grand i10’s less aerodynamically efficient shape will have had some role to play here.

5. TATA INDIGO eCS

India city mileage: 15.3kpl 
India highway mileage: 19.6kpl
ARAI rating: 25kpl
Monthly running costs: Rs 3724
Price (diesel range): Rs 5.38-5.89 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi)

The pioneer of the compact sedan segment, the Indigo eCS was always billed as a very fuel-efficient car, with a 25kpl ARAI rating that was for its time, pretty much as good as it could get. It’s getting on a bit now, but even so, our tested 15.3kpl in the city and 19.6kpl on the highway, are pretty impressive. The Indigo eCS is powered by the same 1396cc, four-cylinder diesel engine as the Indica that’s next on this list, and produces an identical 69bhp and 14.2kgm of torque.