Despite petrol engines becoming more mainstream, diesel options continue to appeal to buyers seeking a good balance of fuel efficiency and performance. In the midsize SUV segment, while some brands have moved away from diesel, companies like Hyundai, Tata, Mahindra and Kia still offer diesel-powered models. In this list, we rank midsize diesel SUVs in India from least to most fuel-efficient, based on ARAI-claimed figures, as real-world numbers vary by driving conditions and styles.
Note: The claimed ARAI fuel-efficiency figures for diesel engines of the Tata Curvv and the Mahindra Thar Roxx are yet to be revealed.
3. Kia Seltos
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Claimed fuel efficiency of up to 19.40kpl
The Kia Seltos is offered with two petrol engine options and a diesel mill too. The 1.5-litre diesel produces 116hp and 250Nm and is paired with a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic transmission. According to ARAI-claimed figures, the Seltos is the least fuel-efficient diesel midsize SUV in India, and its manual version’s mileage is 1.6kpl higher than the automatic’s.
2. Tata Sierra
Claimed fuel efficiency of up to 21.26kpl
The Tata Sierra is one of the most recent entrants in the midsize SUV segment, positioned between the Curvv and Harrier in the manufacturer’s line-up. Like the Seltos, the Sierra gets a 1.5-litre diesel engine, but it has slightly better output figures. It produces 116hp across both gearboxes, though torque differs between the two. The 6-speed manual delivers 260Nm, while the 6-speed automatic produces 280Nm. Interestingly, while the Sierra is less fuel-efficient than the Creta in the manual guise, it offers a higher mileage in the automatic version, making it the most fuel-efficient diesel automatic midsize SUV in India.
1. Hyundai Creta
Claimed fuel efficiency of up to 21.80kpl
The Hyundai Creta has been the bestselling midsize SUV for a while. It is offered with the same diesel engine option as the Seltos, with the same manual and automatic transmissions. Compared to the Seltos, the Creta is smaller and is built on the older K2 architecture and is therefore expected to be lighter, which explains its higher claimed fuel efficiency. With a claimed mileage of up to 21.80kpl, the Creta is the most fuel-efficient diesel midsize SUV in India.
Uday Singh
Glenn Noronha
