Diesel SUVs In Demand - 5 Most Fuel-Efficient Models

The Indian automobile industry has been witnessing a surge in SUV sales, which has significantly boosted the sale of diesel vehicles in India. According to media reports, nine out of ten diesel-powered cars sold are SUVs. This trend has also increased diesel’s share in the PV (passenger vehicle) market for the first time in 13 years, as other fuels (like petrol, CNG, and electric) become more popular. Most SUV buyers in India are opting for diesel models, which is why OEMs such as Tata, Mahindra, and Hyundai continue to maintain a strong diesel product portfolio. In fact, Skoda Auto India has confirmed the return of diesel models starting from 2025.

Diesel-powered SUVs are preferred for their high fuel efficiency and torque, making them suitable for long drives and heavy-duty purposes. Additionally, these SUVs are known for their practicality, high ground clearance, space, and performance. Let’s take a look at India’s top 5 most fuel-efficient diesel SUVs.

Hyundai Venue

The Hyundai Venue is the most fuel-efficient diesel SUV in the country. The SUV’s diesel variants come with a 1.5L, 4-cylinder engine that produces a maximum power of 114 bhp and 250 Nm of torque. With a manual gearbox, it delivers a claimed fuel efficiency of 23.4 kmpl. All diesel variants of the Venue are priced between Rs 10.71 lakh and Rs 13.44 lakh (ex-showroom).

Tata Nexon

The Tata Nexon is one of the top-selling SUVs in the country. Its model lineup offers two powertrain options: a 120 bhp, 1.2L turbo petrol engine and a 115 bhp, 1.5L diesel engine. The diesel engine delivers a maximum torque of 260 Nm. It is available with either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic gearbox. The Nexon diesel offers a mileage of 23.22 kmpl with the manual transmission and 24.07 kmpl with the automatic transmission. Prices start from Rs 10 lakh and go up to Rs 15.80 lakh (ex-showroom).

Kia Sonet

The Kia Sonet’s diesel version uses a 1.5L engine that offers a claimed power of 115 bhp and 250 Nm of torque. Similar to the Seltos, this subcompact SUV gets an iMT gearbox and a 6-speed automatic transmission. The diesel manual variant delivers a fuel economy of 24.1 kmpl, while the automatic variant returns a mileage of 19 kmpl. Currently, the Sonet diesel variants are priced between Rs 9.80 lakh and Rs 15.77 lakh (ex-showroom).

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Mahindra XUV 3XO subcompact SUV is the fourth most fuel-efficient diesel SUV in India. Its diesel model uses a 117 bhp, 1.5L engine with both 6-speed manual and 6-speed AMT gearbox options. The manual version returns a claimed mileage of 20.6 kmpl, and the automatic variant promises 21.2 kmpl. The Mahindra XUV 3XO diesel variants are priced between Rs 9.99 lakh and Rs 14.99 lakh (ex-showroom).

Kia Seltos

The Kia Seltos midsize SUV is available with multiple engine options, including a 1.5L diesel engine. This diesel motor produces 116 bhp and 250 Nm of torque. It comes with two gearbox options – iMT and automatic – delivering a claimed fuel efficiency of 20.7 kmpl and 19.1 kmpl, respectively. Prices for the Seltos diesel start from Rs 12.46 lakh for the HTE manual variant and go up to Rs 20.45 lakh for the top-end X-Line automatic variant.

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