As is the norm in the segment, these diesel compact SUVs have a 1.5-litre engine and a 6-speed manual gearbox. We find out how fuel efficient the Nexon and XUV 3XO are with our exhaustive and accurate tests.
Published on Nov 09, 2025 01:01:00 PM
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Follow usThe Tata Nexon and Mahindra XUV 3XO are among the 8 diesel compact SUVs on sale in India, and are direct rivals in the hotly contested segment. Both come with a 1.5-litre diesel engine and a 6-speed manual gearbox, and these are the versions we have put through our real world mileage tests to find out which is more efficient in actual usage.
| Specifications and price | ||
|---|---|---|
| Nexon | XUV 3XO | |
| Engine | 4-cyl, turbo-diesel | 4-cyl, turbo-diesel |
| Displacement (cc) | 1496 | 1497 |
| Power (hp) | 115 | 117 |
| Torque (Nm) | 260 | 300 |
| Gearbox | 6-speed manual | 6-speed manual |
| Fuel tank | 44 | 42 |
| Kerg weight (kg) | 1357 | 1469 |
| Power-to-weight (hp/tonne) | 84.75 | 79.65 |
| Torque-to-weight (Nm/tonne) | 191.59 | 204.22 |
| Price range (Rs, lakh) | 9.01-13.42 | 8.95-13.43 |
On paper, the XUV 3XO diesel has a 2hp and 40Nm advantage, but that is somewhat minimised by its kerb weight, which is 112kg more than the Nexon. Our Nexon vs XUV 3XO diesel performance comparison also showed that the difference in weights helps the Tata out-accelerate the Mahindra in the 0-100kph tests. The Nexon has a 2-litre larger fuel tank, and a 2.63kpl higher ARAI efficiency figure, which means it'll go further than the XUV 3XO on a tank of diesel. prices of the homegrown diesel compact SUVs are comparable, with the XUV 3XO's range starting Rs 6,000 lower, and the Nexon topping out Rs 1,000 lower.
| Real world mileage | ||
|---|---|---|
| Nexon | XUV 3XO | |
| Tested city mileage (kpl) | 16.5 | 13.5 |
| Tested highway mileage (kpl) | 19.4 | 17.4 |
| Tested average mileage (kpl) | 18.0 | 15.5 |
| ARAI mileage (kpl) | 23.23 | 20.6 |
| ARAI range (km) | 1,022 | 865 |
| Tested range (km) | 792 | 651 |
In our city tests and on the highway runs, the Nexon diesel went further on a litre of diesel by margins of 3kpl and 2kpl, respectively. Along with an average real world mileage that betters the XUV 3XO diesel by 2.5kpl, the Nexon can go about 141km further on a full tank of fuel thanks to the higher fuel efficiency, and its larger tank capacity.
Before our real-world fuel efficiency tests, we fill our test cars’ tanks to the brim and maintain tyre pressures based on the manufacturer’s recommendations. These cars are driven in fixed city and highway loops in and around Navi Mumbai, and we maintain certain average speeds. Throughout the tests, there is only one person in each car, running the aircon and other electricals, such as the audio system, indicators and wipers, when required, just like a regular user would. Periodic driver swaps further neutralise variations in driver patterns. At the end of each cycle, we calculate efficiency by filling the tanks to full again.
Also see:
Mahindra XUV 3XO vs Tata Nexon diesel comparison
Kia Syros diesel vs Sonet real world mileage compared
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