India’s most fuel-efficient BS6 diesel cars

10. Ford EcoSport        21.7kpl

 

Ford is one of the few carmakers that has opted to continue with small-capacity diesel engines in the BS6 era and its 100hp/215Nm, 1.5-litre four-cylinder unit is an excellent example of a small diesel done right. Not only does it deliver a high number of smiles per hour (our long-term report confirmed that the EcoSport delivers on that promise), it also delivers more than decent fuel-economy in the relatively heavy EcoSport compact SUV, with an ARAI rating of 21.7kpl. The EcoSport just makes the top 10 list by out-performing the Hyundai Creta by a 0.3kpl margin.

Ford EcoSport diesel technical specifications
Engine	1.5-litre, four-cylinder, turbo-diesel
Power	100hp
Torque	215Nm
Manual gearbox	5-speed
Automatic gearbox	-
ARAI mileage (MT)	21.7kpl
ARAI mileage (AT)	-
Price range	Rs 8.54-11.67 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi)

9. Tata Nexon         22.4kpl

 

With Tata’s smallest diesel engine – the frugal 70hp, 1.05-litre three-cylinder unit – having been discontinued, the brand’s 1.5-litre diesel mill is now its smallest offering. In the Tata Nexon, this engine makes 110hp and 260Nm of torque, delivering an ARAI-rated mileage of 22.4kpl when mated to the 6-speed manual. Interestingly, this is 0.9kpl more than its BS4 counterpart. Expect the Nexon diesel-AMT to have a similar rating.

Tata Nexon diesel technical specifications
Engine	1.5-litre, four-cylinder, turbo-diesel
Power	110hp
Torque	260Nm
Manual gearbox	6-speed
Automatic gearbox	6-speed AMT
ARAI mileage (MT)	22.4kpl
ARAI mileage (AT)	-
Price range	Rs 8.45-12.70 lakh (ex-showroom, India)

8. Hyundai Venue          23.3kpl 

 

In BS6 form, Hyundai’s compact SUV has a 1.5-litre, four-cylinder diesel engine that has a fixed-geometry turbocharger. This means its output is 15hp/10Nm lower (at 100hp and 240Nm of torque) than the variable-geometry version in the Hyundai Creta, but it is also more frugal, with an ARAI-rated fuel efficiency of 23.3kpl. Compared to the BS4-spec Venue diesel, the new 1.5-litre unit posts a 0.4kpl lower figure than the now-discontinued 90hp, 1.4-litre diesel engine. As Venue diesel prices range between Rs 8.10-11.40 lakh, the Hyundai is the most affordable and most efficient diesel compact SUV available in India.

Hyundai Venue diesel technical specifications
Engine	1.5-litre, four-cylinder, turbo-diesel
Power	100hp
Torque	240Nm
Manual gearbox	6-speed
Automatic gearbox	-
ARAI mileage (MT)	23.3kpl
ARAI mileage (AT)	-
Price range	Rs 8.10-11.40 lakh (ex-showroom, India)

7. Ford Freestyle          23.8kpl

 

The same 100hp, 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine and 5-speed manual combination in the EcoSport can go 23.8km on a litre of diesel in the lighter Freestyle cross-hatch. Of the two engine options available – the other is a 96hp, 1.2-litre petrol mill – it is the diesel unit that is far better suited to the Freestyle’s fun-to-drive nature. The Freestyle is the only BS6 diesel cross-hatch in its class; neither the Maruti Suzuki Ignis nor the Mahindra KUV100 NXT have that option.

Ford Freestyle diesel technical specifications
Engine	1.5-litre, four-cylinder, turbo-diesel
Power	100hp
Torque	215Nm
Manual gearbox	5-speed
Automatic gearbox	-
ARAI mileage (MT)	23.8kpl
ARAI mileage (AT)	-
Price range	Rs 7.34-8.19 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi)

6. Ford Figo & Aspire          24.4kpl

 

In the Figo hatchback and Aspire compact sedan, Ford’s excellent 1.5-litre diesel goes even further on a litre of diesel. Despite the approximate 15kg difference in kerb weights, both models have an identical ARAI rating of 24.4kpl, which could be due to the different gearing on the 5-speed manual. The Ford Figo diesel is an arch-rival to the Hyundai Grand i10 Nios, while the Ford Aspire diesel directly takes on the Hyundai Aura and Honda Amaze.

 

Ford Figo and Aspire diesel technical specifications
	Figo	Aspire
Engine	1.5-litre, four-cylinder, turbo-diesel	1.5-litre, four-cylinder, turbo-diesel
Power	100hp	100hp
Torque	215Nm	215Nm
Manual gearbox	5-speed	5-speed
Automatic gearbox	-	-
ARAI mileage (MT)	24.4kpl	24.4kpl
ARAI mileage (AT)	-	-
Price range	Rs 6.86-7.85 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi)	Rs 7.49-8.34 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi)

5. Honda Amaze          24.7kpl

 

Speaking of the Amaze, Honda’s compact sedan is powered by a 100hp, 1.5-litre diesel engine that is mated to either a 5-speed manual or a CVT-automatic gearbox. The diesel-manual version is rated at 24.7kpl, giving the compact sedan a spot on the top 5. The Amaze diesel-CVT has an ARAI rating of 21kpl, and lower output figures of 20hp/40Nm too. The Honda Amaze diesel is the second-most efficient compact sedan by a margin of 0.3kpl.

Honda Amaze diesel technical specifications
Engine	1.5-litre, four-cylinder, turbo-diesel
Power	100hp(80hp)
Torque	200Nm(160Nm)
Manual gearbox	5-speed
Automatic gearbox	CVT
ARAI mileage (MT)	24.7kpl
ARAI mileage (AT)	21kpl
Price range	Rs 7.34-8.19 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi)

4. Hyundai Verna           25kpl

 

Until the next-gen Honda City goes on sale, the Hyundai Verna will be the only diesel midsize sedan available. Recently updated with a new 115hp, 1.5-litre diesel engine which is shared with the Creta, the Verna sure has appeal for buyers with lots of driving. The Verna diesel-manual delivers 25kpl while the smooth auto is good for 21.3kpl.

Hyundai Verna diesel technical specifications
Engine	1.5-litre, four-cylinder, turbo-diesel
Power	115hp
Torque	250Nm
Manual gearbox	6-speed
Automatic gearbox	6-speed torque convertor
ARAI mileage (MT)	25kpl
ARAI mileage (AT)	21.3kpl
Price range	Rs 10.66-15.10 lakh (ex-showroom, India)

3. Hyundai Grand i10 Nios          25.1kpl

 

Hyundai’s 1.2-litre U2 CRDi unit is the smallest diesel engine currently available in India. In the Grand i10 Nios, this three-cylinder unit makes 75hp and comes with the 5-speed manual and AMT gearbox options. The petrol-manual Nios has a fuel-efficiency figure of 25.1kpl, earning it a space on the podium. While the Nios diesel-AMT’s ARAI figure is yet unknown, one can expect it to be close to the manual’s. The Hyundai Grand i10 Nios diesel is the most frugal diesel hatchback in its class, though it misses out on the title of most fuel-efficient hatchback by 0.01kpl.

Hyundai Grand i10 Nios diesel technical specifications
Engine	1.2-litre, three-cylinder, turbo-diesel
Power	75hp
Torque	190Nm
Manual gearbox	5-speed
Automatic gearbox	5-speed AMT
ARAI mileage (MT)	25.1kpl
ARAI mileage (AT)	-
Price range	Rs 6.75-8.04 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi)

2. Tata Altroz           25.11kpl

 

Tata’s all-new premium hatchback is the most efficient diesel hatchback currently available in India, with an ARAI-rated economy of 25.11kpl. Available in a single engine-gearbox version, the Altroz diesel uses a 90hp version of Tata Motor’s 1.5-litre Revotorq engine mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox. Until the BS6 Honda Jazz diesel arrives, the Tata Altroz is the only diesel-powered premium hatchback in the market.

Tata Altroz diesel technical specifications
Engine	1.5-litre, four-cylinder, turbo-diesel
Power	90hp
Torque	200Nm
Manual gearbox	5-speed
Automatic gearbox	-
ARAI mileage (MT)	25.11kpl
ARAI mileage (AT)	-
Price range	Rs 6.99-9.34 lakh (ex-showroom, India)

1. Hyundai Aura          25.40kpl

 

Hyundai’s 1.2-litre diesel engine also does duty in the Aura compact sedan and it’s at its most frugal here. Interestingly, the Hyundai Aura diesel-AMT has an ARAI-certified fuel economy of 25.40kpl, stretching each litre of diesel the farthest, which makes it the most fuel-efficient diesel car in India right now. The diesel-manual also impresses with its 25.35kpl figure.

Hyundai Aura diesel technical specifications
Engine	1.2-litre, three-cylinder, turbo-diesel
Power	75hp
Torque	190Nm
Manual gearbox	5-speed
Automatic gearbox	5-speed AMT
ARAI mileage (MT)	25.35kpl
ARAI mileage (AT)	25.40kpl
Price range	Rs 7.74-9.23 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi)

Also see:

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Top 5 bestselling motorcycles above Rs 2 lakh in FY2020

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