Compact sedans are a big deal in India. What started off as an experiential effort by Tata Motors with the Indigo eCS has now turned into a genuinely important segment in the industry. This is one segment where fuel efficiency, among other things, has prime relevance in the list of considerations of the buyers. Keeping that in mind, here are our picks for the top 4 fuel efficient compact sedans as rated by the ARAI.
Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire: ARAI fuel efficiency: 26.59kmpl (diesel); 20.85kmpl (petrol)
The Swift Dzire has been the clear-cut choice for many for years now and it’s still a great product. Besides Maruti’s strong sales and service back up, the Swift Dzire also has a rather efficient engine range in its stride. The diesel-powered Dzire, in fact, gets a 1.3-litre unit which delivers as much as 26.59kmpl while the 1.2-litre petrol motor is rated at 20.85kmpl. In our tests, the diesel Swift Dzire delivered 19.4kmpl in the highway and 14.3kmpl in the city.
Ford Figo Aspire: ARAI fuel efficiency: 25.83kmpl (diesel); 18.16kmpl (petrol)
Those looking for an efficient compact sedan that also happens to be fun to drive would want to have more than one test drive in the Ford Figo Aspire. While the 1.2-litre petrol engine isn’t particularly exciting, the 1.5-litre diesel engine is both punchy and fuel efficient at the same time. The petrol-powered Figo Aspire delivers a claimed 18.16kmpl while the diesel model (the most powerful in its class), betters it with 25.83kmpl.
Honda Amaze: ARAI fuel efficiency: 25.80kmpl (diesel); 17.8kmpl (petrol)
The recently updated Honda Amaze shows up on this list at number 3 with its potent albeit slightly noisy diesel and a rev-happy 1.2-litre petrol motor. The 1.5-litre diesel engine develops 100bhp and 200Nm of torque, delivering all of it in a fairly linear manner. The petrol motor, too, puts down its power smoothly though it does lack the outright punch. Nonetheless, Honda is claiming 25.80kmpl for the Amaze diesel and 17.8kmpl for the Amaze petrol. During our tests, the diesel model managed to cover 14.9km to a litre in the city and 20.5kmpl out on the highway.
Hyundai Xcent: ARAI fuel efficiency: 24.40kmpl (diesel); 19.1kmpl (petrol)
The no-nonsense compact sedan from Hyundai has earned its place in the market over the last couple of years by offering a quality package all round and competitive fuel efficiency. The Xcent’s 1.1-litre, three-cylinder diesel engine is good for a claimed 24.40kmpl and the 1.2-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine for 19.1kmpl. In our tests, the diesel-powered Xcent did quite well, delivering 15.5kmpl in the city and 20.1 kmpl on the highway.
