The popular Maruti Grand Vitara is available with three powertrain options – a 1.5-litre petrol with a manual gearbox, the same 1.5-litre naturally aspirated engine with a torque convertor automatic, and a 1.5-litre strong-hybrid powertrain with an e-CVT gearbox. Based on ARAI’s tests, the Grand Vitara hybrid is rated at 27.97kpl, while the petrol-AT has a 20.58kpl figure. We find out if the 7.39kpl difference between the two exists in the real world, with our exhaustive and accurate tests.
Maruti Grand Vitara hybrid vs petrol: specifications
Grand Vitara hybrid weighs 70kg more than petrol-AT.
While the Maruti Grand Vitara petrol-AT weighs 70kg less than the hybrid, the latter is more powerful overall, by 13hp. Both variants send power to the front wheels with the petrol engine using a 6-speed torque convertor automatic, and the hybrid utilising an e-CVT. The Grand Vitara’s strong-hybrid system takes over drive when the petrol engine is deemed unnecessary, thereby maximising efficiency. It should be noted that the Grand Vitara petrol-AT is also available in AWD form, which weighs more than the front-wheel drive model and has an ARAI-rated efficieny of 19.2kpl.
Maruti Grand Vitara hybrid vs petrol: real world efficiency test results
Real world tests show the Grand Vitara hybrid goes 8.63km more on a litre of petrol.
As expected, the Grand Vitara hybrid is far more frugal than the petrol-AT, though the 8.63kpl margin is larger than the ARAI-rated 7.39kpl. In fact, the Grand Vitara petrol’s real-world average mileage is a significant 7.13kpl less than the ARAI number, while the hybrid’s real world number is just 5.89kpl less than the ARAI figure.
Autocar India’s fuel efficiency testing
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 recommendation. 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.
Uday Singh
Viraaj Bhatnagar
Dipan Sur
