Most fuel efficient diesel compact SUVs as per ARAI

There are eight diesel compact SUVs on sale in India, which is a surprisingly high number considering that sales are heavily skewed towards petrol cars in this segment. As diesel compact SUVs are usually chosen for long-distance running or as more rugged rural runabouts, mileage is an important consideration for buyers. Here we list and rank every sub-4-metre diesel SUV based on ARAI’s testing cycle.

Do note that the models are ranked from the lowest to the highest figure, regardless of whether it is the manual or automatic version.

8. Mahindra Thar RWD

ARAI mileage: 15.2kpl

From the outset, it should be noted that while the Mahindra Thar 3-door with the smaller 1.5-litre diesel engine – 119hp and 300Nm – qualifies for the compact class, the model with the larger 2.2-litre diesel unit does not. Available with a sole 6-speed manual, the Thar RWD has an ARAI efficiency figure of 15.2kpl. The lifestyle SUV received a mid-lifecycle facelift just last month and is now priced between Rs 9.99 lakh and Rs 12.19 lakh.

7. Mahindra Bolero

ARAI mileage: 16.5kpl

The Mahindra Bolero is powered by a 76hp/210Nm 1.5-litre diesel engine paired with a 5-speed manual gearbox; this 7-seat compact SUV has an ARAI rating of 16.5kpl. Mahindra’s stalwart workhorse also received a refresh recently, bringing mild exterior design updates, more features and a new top-spec variant, and it now costs Rs 7.99 lakh-9.69 lakh.

6. Mahindra Bolero Neo

ARAI mileage: 18.04kpl

First introduced in 2021 and updated just last month, the Mahindra Bolero Neo is the only other 7-seat compact SUV on sale in India. The Bolero Neo gets a 100hp 1.5-litre diesel engine and a 5-speed manual gearbox; this combination is rated at 18.04kpl by ARAI. Prices for the facelift start at Rs 8.49 lakh and go up to Rs 10.49 lakh. 

5. Kia Syros

ARAI mileage: 20.75kpl

Kia’s second compact SUV has the ubiquitous 1.5-litre diesel engine option that produces 116hp and 250Nm and is rated for 20.75kpl in manual form and 17.65kpl in automatic. Our real-world Syros mileage tests saw the diesel-automatic deliver 12.2kpl. Prices for the Kia Syros diesel start at Rs 10.14 lakh and go up to Rs 15.94 lakh, making it the most expensive diesel compact SUV on sale right now.

4. Hyundai Venue

ARAI mileage: 20.99kpl

While the Hyundai Venue has always shared the same 1.5-litre 4-cylinder diesel engine with the two Kias (Sonet mentioned below), in second-gen form, it gets an automatic gearbox option for the first time. Compared to the previous-gen model, the ARAI mileage for the Venue diesel-manual has dropped from 23.7kpl to 20.99kpl; a likely contributor to the efficiency drop is the fact that the new-gen model is up to 30kg heavier. The Venue diesel-automatic is rated at 17.9kpl. These figures see the Venue drop to fourth place on this list from second.

3. Mahindra XUV 3XO

ARAI mileage: 21.2kpl

Mahindra’s only monocoque compact SUV, the XUV 3XO, seats five. It is far more premium than the Bolero and Bolero Neo and comes with a more powerful 117hp 1.5-litre engine. On offer are 6-speed manual and AMT gearbox options, which have efficiency figures of 20.6kpl and 21.2kpl, respectively. The Mahindra XUV 3XO diesel range is priced between Rs 8.95 lakh and Rs 13.43 lakh. Do note that the recently launched XUV 3XO RevX variants do not come with the diesel engine option.

2. Kia Sonet

ARAI mileage: 22.3kpl

The Kia Sonet shares its 116hp diesel engine with the Syros but posts a slightly higher ARAI efficiency figure. Note that Kia has yet to reveal a mileage figure for the newer diesel-manual version, but it should be close to the now-discontinued 6-speed iMT version’s 22.3kpl. Meanwhile, the diesel-automatic is rated at 18.6kpl. Its price range is Rs 8.98 lakh-14.09 lakh. Kia recently introduced a 7-year extended warranty package for the Sonet, among other models.

1. Tata Nexon

ARAI mileage: 24.08kpl

The Tata Nexon was last updated at the beginning of 2025, and the diesel range is now priced between Rs 9.01 lakh and Rs 14.05 lakh. Tata’s compact SUV is powered by a 115hp 1.5-litre engine that has manual and AMT gearbox options, and it is the latter that makes the Nexon the most frugal diesel compact SUV, with an ARAI figure of 24.08kpl. In manual form, the Nexon diesel is rated at 23.23kpl. While the Nexon got ADAS-equipped variants recently, the active safety suite is not available on the diesel version.