The most popular cars outside of the mass market segment are those trending in the compact SUV category. Specifically, this includes the Mahindra XUV300, Hyundai Venue, Maruti Suzuki Brezza, Tata Nexon, Kia Sonet, Renault Kiger, and Nissan Magnite. We tested all these cars by driving them on the same predefined route to evaluate their real-world mileage.
Mahindra XUV300
The XUV300 offers both petrol and diesel engine options. We focused on the 1.2-litre turbocharged mStallion TGDi petrol engine paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. This engine produces 128bhp and 250Nm of torque in the automatic version, compared to 230Nm in the manual. The ARAI-claimed fuel efficiency is 18.2kmpl. In our tests, the SUV returned 9.61kmpl in the city and 18.08kmpl on the highway. These are commendable figures given the car’s weight of 1,420kg, making it the heaviest in this comparison.
Hyundai Venue
The Hyundai Venue is equipped with a high-tech 1.0-litre three-cylinder direct-injection turbo-petrol engine that outputs 118bhp and 172Nm of torque. This engine is paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT) with paddle shifters. The ARAI-claimed fuel efficiency is 18.3kmpl. Despite its 1.2-tonne weight, the Venue achieved 12.58kmpl in the city and 18.8kmpl on the highway, showcasing its refined and silent petrol engine and efficient DCT.
Maruti Suzuki Brezza
The Maruti Suzuki Brezza, despite being the oldest model in the segment, is updated with modern features. Its 1.5-litre engine produces 102bhp and 136Nm of torque, sufficient for both city and highway driving. The six-speed torque converter automatic gearbox is effective, and the paddle shifters are surprisingly responsive. Despite weighing 1,230kg, the Brezza delivered 13.1kmpl in the city and 18.63kmpl on the highway, making it the most fuel-efficient among the tested models.
Tata Nexon
The Tata Nexon, another updated compact SUV, features a 1.2-litre three-cylinder turbo petrol engine that generates 118bhp and 170Nm of torque. It comes with a seven-speed DCA gearbox, which mitigates low-end turbo lag. Weighing 1,310kg, the Nexon’s fuel efficiency was 9.1kmpl in the city and 16.6kmpl on the highway.
Kia Sonet
The Kia Sonet, updated this year with cosmetic changes and ADAS, shares the 1.0-litre turbo-petrol engine with the Venue. It is available with either a six-speed iMT or a seven-speed DCT. The Smartstream G 1.0 T-GDi petrol engine produces 120bhp and 172Nm of torque. Its throttle response is good, and it doesn’t require constant flooring to gain speed. The ARAI-rated mileage is 19.2kmpl, while our tests showed 9.84kmpl in the city and 17.72kmpl on the highway.
Renault Kiger
The Renault Kiger features a 1.0-litre turbo-petrol engine producing 99bhp and 160Nm of torque. While the three-cylinder engine isn’t the most refined, it is fairly quiet. The CVT gearbox offers smooth shifts, and the throttle response is well-calibrated. The Kiger achieved 10.38kmpl in the city and 17.38kmpl on the highway.
Nissan Magnite
The Nissan Magnite, with its light kerb weight of 1,039kg and 100bhp engine, provides a peppy performance and smooth driving experience. It returned 12.74kmpl in the city and 18.24kmpl on the highway, making it a strong contender in the compact SUV segment.
These evaluations highlight the real-world fuel efficiency of some of the most sought-after compact SUVs in the Indian market, providing prospective buyers with valuable insights into their performance.