Most fuel efficient petrol compact SUVs – Kia Syros, Skoda Kylaq, Mahindra XUV 3XO, and more

The compact SUV segment is one of the most hotly-contested in the Indian car market. The reason behind this is that for many buyers, the high-riding appeal of an SUV in a smaller, more affordable package is too good to pass up. However, fuel efficiency is just as important to Indian car buyers, and with manufacturers 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 of them offers the most frugal option.

We put together a list of the top 10 most fuel-efficient petrol compact SUVs currently on sale, including the upcoming Kia Syros. 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 powertrain combinations.

10. Tata Nexon: 17.44kpl

Introduced all the way back in 2018, the Tata Nexon is the oldest car on this list and one of India’s best-selling SUVs. Tata sells the current iteration of the Nexon with only a 120hp, 1.2-litre 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 with an ARAI figure of 17.44kpl, followed by the AMT with 17.18kpl and then the dual-clutch auto with just 17.01kpl.

9. Kia Syros: 18.2kpl

The Kia Syros is the latest contender in the compact SUV space and is scheduled to launch on February 1. 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 among the lower rungs of the compact SUV segment, though, with the manual and automatic variants managing just 18.2kpl and 17.68kpl respectively.

8. Hyundai Venue: 18.27kpl

The Hyundai Venue has been going strong for 6 years and currently has two petrol engines on offer: an 83hp, 1.2-litre naturally-aspirated petrol, and a 120hp, 1.0-litre turbo-petrol. Of both these options, 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.

7. Kia Sonet: 19.2kpl

Even though the Sonet is built on the same platform as the Hyundai Venue and offers identical petrol powertrain options (save for an iMT gearbox instead of a standard manual in some variants), the Kia compact SUV manages to achieve much better fuel efficiency. The Kia Sonet did get a facelift 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.

6. Skoda Kylaq: 19.68kpl

Launched in December 2024, the Skoda Kylaq is another brand-new entrant in the compact SUV segment that delivers impressive ARAI fuel economy. The sole 115hp, 1.0-litre turbo-petrol engine offered with the Kylaq can be 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.

5. Maruti-Suzuki Brezza: 19.8kpl

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. Alongside the engine, the Brezza can be had with either a 5-speed manual or 6-speed torque converter gearbox. As far as fuel economy goes, there’s a substantial gulf between the two transmissions, with the automatic beating the manual by 2.42kpl.

4. Nissan Magnite: 20kpl

The Nissan Magnite received a mid-life refresh last year that 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.

3. Mahindra XUV 3XO: 20.1kpl

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 when it comes to fuel efficiency either, offering 18.89kpl when paired with the manual gearbox.

2. Renault Kiger: 20.5kpl

The Renault Kiger is available with 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 ekes out a 0.5kpl victory over the equivalent Magnite variant, granting the Renault compact SUV a higher rank on this list.

1. Maruti Fronx/Toyota Taisor: 22.8kpl

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 powering the Fronx and Taisor, both compact SUVs offer an identical but class-leading fuel efficiency of 22.8kpl in their AMT variants. The 100hp, 1.0-litre turbo-petrol isn’t as fuel-efficient, but manages 21.5kpl when coupled with the manual gearbox, which is still enough to beat the competition.

Also see:

Here are India’s most fuel efficient petrol midsize SUVs

Most fuel efficient hybrid SUVs, cars on sale under Rs 50 lakh

Here are India’s most fuel efficient diesel SUVs