India has always been one car market which has been very obsessed with the aspect of fuel efficiency from day one. It is this trait which has helped Maruti Suzuki get the massive popularity and stature here.
The arrival of newer rivals means that the game has just become fiercer, with most new cars promising best in class fuel efficiency figure in their respective segment. And with the rise of petrol cars back in the market, the competition has only become more intense.
Following is the list of the top five most fuel-efficient petrol cars in India priced between INR 5-10 lakh (ex-showroom), all of which surprisingly belong are Maruti Suzuki-made:-
Maruti Baleno/Toyota Glanza – 23.87 km/l
The Baleno has been a runaway success for Maruti Suzuki from day one, as it has got all the parameters sorted, be its smooth and aerodynamic design, spacious interiors and a sufficiently long list of features. Meanwhile, the Toyota Glanza, which is nothing but a rebadged version of the Baleno was launched as the first product from the joint venture between Suzuki and Toyota this year. It has been a decent performer for Toyota Kirloskar Motor.
Both the cars can be had with the new K12N 1.2-litre DualJet, Dual VVT petrol engine that produces 66 kW (90 PS) and 113 Nm of torque. With this engine, which comes linked to a 5-speed manual transmission and is blessed with Smart Hybrid technology, these hatchbacks can achieve a fuel economy of 23.87 km/l - the best rating for a petrol car priced between INR 5-10 lakh (ex-showroom) in the country. Prices for Baleno Smart Hybrid start at INR 7.25 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi), while the Toyota Glanza is priced from INR 7.22 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi).
Maruti Swift – 22 km/l
The hatchback which transformed the perception of people towards small cars almost thirteen years ago, the Maruti Suzuki Swift, is nothing short of a revolution in India. The Swift did redefine the hatchback segment with jts taut proportions, sporty styling and good performance. And now, the Swift, which is currently in its third generation version, has upped the ante with enhanced styling and more premium features, while retaining the original silhouette of the previous two avatars of it.
What the latest Maruti Swift also has retained is the tried and tested 1.2-litre K12M engine from its first and second generation versions. The naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine develops 83 PS of maximum power and 113 Nm of maximum torque. It returns 22 km/l, irrespective of the transmission selected: 5-speed manual or 5-speed automated manual. With a starting price of INR 5.14 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi), the Swift is very much on the affordable side as well.
Maruti Ciaz – 21.56 km/l
With the Ciaz, Maruti Suzuki has achieved great the premium sub-compact sedan segment, which was dominated by Honda City for a very long time. With the segment-best wheelbase which translates into an incredibly spacious cabin, the Maruti Ciaz offers a great value for money package, considering the fact that it undercuts all of its rivals when it comes to pricing.
However, the real forte of the Maruti Suzuki Ciaz is the fuel efficiency it delivers. The facelifted model, which was launched in 2018, saw the introduction of an all new 1.5-litre petrol engine, which also got the same Smart Hybrid technology as its diesel counterpart. The car, in its manual avatar, delivers a fuel efficiency of 21.56 km/l. Prices for the Maruti Suzuki Ciaz commence at INR 8.20 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi).
Maruti Dzire – 21.2 km/l
The Swift's sedan counterpart, the Dzire, is a very popular sub-4 metre sedan, as it's affordable and easy to maintain and run. Maruti Suzuki had launched it in May 2017.
It is the practicality of the Dzire which has consistently kept it one of India's best-selling cars for a long time. It may have seen a complete overhaul in mid-2017, but what it still continues to soldier on is the same 1.2-litre K12M petrol engine from the previous generation models.
The naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine produces a maximum power output of 83 PS and a maximum torque output of 114 Nm. It can be had with a 5-speed MT or a 5-speed AMT. It returns a fuel economy of 21.2 km/l. The prices of the Maruti Dzire, in its petrol avatar, start at INR 5.83 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi).
Maruti Baleno RS – 21.1 km/l
For those who love to be behind the steering wheel most of the times, Maruti Suzuki offers the Baleno RS – a hotter looking and sportier avatar of the standard Baleno. The RS variant comes with a few cosmetic add ons like revised front and rear bumpers, rear disc brake, more sportier suspension setup and a distinctive front grille.
However, the biggest change which differentiates it from the standard Baleno is the K10C 1.0-litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine. With a maximum power output of 101 PS and peak torque output of 150 Nm, the Baleno RS is the most powerful hatchback from Maruti Suzuki till date. For it's a Maruti Suzuki, the fuel economy rating is good too - 21.1 km/l. This hatchback's price was recently slashed by INR 1 lakh to INR 7.89 lakh (ex-showroom India).
