It is no secret that compact SUVs have taken the Indian market by storm, and for good reasons. Not only are they versatile (Read: strong road presence, high ground clearance and light controls) and appealing, compact SUVs are also light on the pocket when it comes to fuel efficiency. Here are your top 3 most fuel efficient options from the bunch.
Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza:
ARAI fuel efficiency: 24.3kmpl
Maruti Suzuki’s latest hot seller is factually the most fuel efficient compact SUV in the market. It’s 90bhp/200Nm 1.3-litre diesel engine not only offers reasonable amount of grunt but also low running costs, with its ARAI-certified efficiency of 24.3kmpl. In our real world tests, the Vitara Brezza managed 14.1kmpl in the city and 19.1kmpl on the highway, averaging 16.6kmpl.
Ford EcoSport:
ARAI fuel efficiency: 22.27kmpl
The Ford EcoSport received several upgrades in October last year. Besides adding more features the brand also bumped up the power rating for the 1.5-litre diesel engine to 98bhp and 205Nm of torque. That said, the additional grunt hasn’t led to any drop in fuel efficiency as the EcoSport continues to be among the most fuel efficient compact SUVs. While its ARAI figure is rated at 22.27kmpl, our tests show that the EcoSport is marginally less fuel efficient than the Vitara Brezza, returning 13.8kmpl in the city and 18.8kmpl on the highway.
Hyundai Creta:
ARAI fuel efficiency: 21.38kmpl
The Hyundai Creta is another compact SUV with respectable fuel efficiency. Positioned in a segment higher than both the Vitara Brezza and the EcoSport, the Creta competes with the likes of the Mahindra XUV500, however, it is significantly more efficient than the latter. The Creta is also the only offering here to be offered with different diesel engine options. As you would expect, the smaller 1.4-litre engine-equipped Creta is the most efficient of the range, at 21.38kmpl while the more powerful 1.6-litre model is rated at 19.67kmpl. Lastly, those looking for the more convenient diesel automatic model will have to make do with a claimed fuel efficiency of 17.01kmpl.
