Top Fuel-Efficient Cars Under 10 Lakh: Car Buyer's Guide

Author: Jeo George•Published on: 12/30/2025•8 Minutes
Overview:A country that has always been obsessed with the ‘Kitna deti hai?’ aspect of cars, India is a car market that is still dominantly driven by fuel-efficient small cars. While the popularity of SUVs has soared like never before in recent times, the majority of sales volumes still come from fuel-efficient cars under 10 Lakh. Here, we have listed the ten most fuel-efficient cars priced below 10 lakh, which are perfect options for those seeking the best combination of efficiency and affordability.
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Key Highlights:


  • Maruti Suzuki dominates the market in producing India’s most fuel-efficient cars.
  • The Renault Kwid is another fuel-efficient car within the 10 lakh mark.
  • Most of the highly fuel-efficient vehicles within 10 lakh are hatchbacks.



10. Maruti Suzuki Ignis

Starting price: Rs 5.85 Lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi)


The list starts with Maruti Suzuki’s quirky-looking Ignis, which fills a sweet spot between a hatchback and a micro-SUV with its design. However, besides its unique tallboy looks, the Ignis is also popular for its fuel-efficient 1.2-litre petrol engine, which delivers 20.89 kmpl with both 5-speed manual and 5-speed AMT gearbox choices.


Powertrain details

  • Engine: 1.2-litre four-cylinder petrol engine
  • Transmission: 5-speed manual / 5-speed AMT
  • Maximum power: 82.9 PS @ 6,000 rpm
  • Maximum torque: 113 Nm @ 4,200 rpm

9. Renault Kwid

Starting price: Rs 4.70 Lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi)


The Renault Kwid was launched as a direct rival to the Maruti Suzuki Alto, with its SUV-inspired design, high ground clearance, spacious cabin and boot compartment helping it gain initial success. While the Kwid was introduced with two engine options – a 0.8-litre petrol and a 1.0-litre petrol, only the latter is now being offered in the post-BS6 era. The 1.0-litre sCe petrol engine delivers 22.3 kmpl with the 5-speed AMT and 21.46 kmpl with the 5-speed manual transmission.


Powertrain details

  • Engine: 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol engine
  • Transmission: 5-speed manual / 5-speed AMT
  • Maximum power: 69 PS @ 5,500 rpm
  • Maximum torque: 92.5 Nm @ 4,150-4,350 rpm

8. Maruti Suzuki Fronx

Starting price: Rs 7.55 Lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi)


A crossover-inspired version of the popular Baleno hatchback, the Fronx is easily one of the most beautiful-looking cars ever introduced by Maruti Suzuki in India. Besides having a slightly more elevated stance and a bolder design, the Fronx retains the cabin layout and the 1.2-litre petrol engine from the Baleno, which returns 22.89 kmpl with the 5-speed AMT and 21.79 kmpl with the 5-speed manual transmission.


The Fronx is also available with a 1.0-litre turbo petrol engine option, which is quite fuel-efficient, delivering 21.5 kmpl with the 5-speed manual transmission and 20.01 kmpl with the 6-speed automatic gearbox.


Powertrain details

  • Engine: 1.2-litre four-cylinder petrol engine / 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine
  • Transmission: 5-speed manual and 5-speed AT (1.2-litre petrol) / 5-speed manual and 6-speed automatic (1.0-litre turbo-petrol)
  • Maximum power: 89.73 PS @ 6,000 rpm (1.2-litre petrol) / 100 PS @ 5,500 rpm (1.0-litre turbo-petrol)
  • Maximum torque: 113 Nm @ 4,400 rpm (1.2-litre petrol) / 147.6 Nm @ 2,000-4,500 rpm (1.0-litre turbo-petrol)

7. Maruti Suzuki Baleno

Starting price: Rs 6.70 Lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi)


The Maruti Suzuki Baleno is often credited for redefining the premium hatchback space in the Indian car market. Besides its premium and aerodynamic design, spacious cabin, and extensive equipment list, the Baleno is also appreciated for its fuel efficiency. Its 1.2-litre petrol engine churns out 22.94 kmpl with the 5-speed AMT and 22.35 kmpl with the 5-speed manual gearbox.


Powertrain details

  • Engine: 1.2-litre four-cylinder petrol engine
  • Transmission: 5-speed manual / 5-speed AT
  • Maximum power: 89.73 PS @ 6,000 rpm
  • Maximum torque: 113 Nm @ 4,400 rpm

6. Maruti Suzuki Alto K10

Starting price: Rs 4.23 Lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi)


Maruti Suzuki’s most affordable car, the Alto K10, has always been known for its frugal and reliable engineering. This compact entry-level hatchback has been a popular choice among middle-class buyers for years, primarily due to its efficiency. The revised 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol engine of the Alto K10 returns 24.9 kmpl with the 5-speed AMT and 24.39 kmpl with the 5-speed manual.


Powertrain details

  • Engine: 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol engine
  • Transmission: 5-speed manual / 5-speed AT
  • Maximum power: 66.6 PS @ 5,500 rpm
  • Maximum torque: 89 Nm @ 3,500 rpm

5. Maruti Suzuki S-Presso

Starting price: Rs 4.27 Lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi)


Maruti Suzuki introduced the S-Presso as a direct response to the growing popularity of the Kwid, and like its rival, it also relied on its crossover SUV-inspired design, featuring funky-looking elements both inside and out. A unique proposition in the entry-level hatchback segment, the Maruti Suzuki S-Presso is offered exclusively with a 1.0-litre petrol engine, which achieves 24.76 kmpl with the 5-speed AMT and 24.12 kmpl with the 5-speed manual transmission.


Powertrain details

  • Engine: 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol engine
  • Transmission: 5-speed manual / 5-speed AT
  • Maximum power: 68.5 PS @ 5,600 rpm
  • Maximum torque: 91.1 Nm @ 3,400 rpm

4. Maruti Suzuki WagonR

Starting price: Rs 5.79 Lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi)


The ‘OG tall boy’ hatchback of India, the WagonR, has been a successful product. Popular for its best-in-class space management, reliability, after-sales service and resale value among entry-level cars. The WagonR is currently offered with two engine options – a 1.0-litre petrol and a 1.2-litre petrol, among which the former is more fuel-efficient, delivering 25.19 kmpl with the 5-speed AMT and 24.35 kmpl with the 5-speed manual. Even the 1.2-litre engine is very frugal in the WagonR, claiming 24.43 kmpl with the 5-speed AMT and 23.56 kmpl with the 5-speed manual.


Powertrain details

  • Engine: 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol engine / 1.2-litre four-cylinder petrol engine
  • Transmission: 5-speed manual and 5-speed AT (for both engine options)
  • Maximum power: 68.5 PS @ 5,600 rpm (1.0-litre petrol) / 90.9 PS @ 6,000 rpm (1.2-litre petrol)
  • Maximum torque: 91.1 Nm @ 3,400 rpm (1.0-litre petrol) / 113.7 Nm @ 4,200 rpm (1.2-litre petrol)

3. Maruti Suzuki Dzire

Starting price: Rs 6.84 Lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi)


India’s favourite sedan, the Maruti Suzuki Dzire, entered its fourth generation in 2025, receiving an all-new design inside and out, more features, and, most importantly, a three-cylinder petrol engine for the first time. The Dzire’s 1.2-litre Z-Series petrol engine might have lost one cylinder over its predecessors, but in the process, it has become the most fuel-efficient version of the sedan ever, claiming 25.71 kmpl with the 5-speed AMT and 24.79 kmpl with the 5-speed manual.


Powertrain details

  • Engine: 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol engine
  • Transmission: 5-speed manual / 5-speed AT
  • Maximum power: 81.6 PS @ 5,700 rpm
  • Maximum torque: 111.7 Nm @ 4,300 rpm

2. Maruti Suzuki Swift

Starting price: Rs 6.49 Lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi)


Maruti Suzuki first introduced the new-generation Z-Series petrol engine with the fourth-generation Swift, which was launched ahead of the new Dzire. One of India’s highest-selling cars, the Swift also underwent changes in its generational upgrade, receiving a new three-cylinder petrol engine that claims 25.75 kmpl with the 5-speed AMT and 24.8 kmpl with the 5-speed manual.


Powertrain details

  • Engine: 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol engine
  • Transmission: 5-speed manual / 5-speed AT
  • Maximum power: 81.6 PS @ 5,700 rpm
  • Maximum torque: 111.7 Nm @ 4,300 rpm

1. Maruti Suzuki Celerio

Starting price: Rs 5.64 Lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi)


India’s most fuel-efficient car under 10 lakh is the second-generation Maruti Suzuki Celerio. Compared to its predecessor, which had a tallboy-inspired design, the second-generation model has a more curvaceous design. This new model retained the 1.0-litre petrol engine from its predecessor, albeit with some modifications. It now delivers a claimed mileage of 26 km/l with the 5-speed AMT and 25.24 km/l with the 5-speed manual.


Powertrain details

  • Engine: 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol engine
  • Transmission: 5-speed manual / 5-speed AT
  • Maximum power: 68.5 PS @ 5,600 rpm
  • Maximum torque: 91.1 Nm @ 3,400 rpm

Ready to Buy? Here’s What You Should Know


All the cars mentioned above have been updated to comply with the latest emission norms, which has also resulted in an increase in their fuel efficiency compared to their predecessor versions. These cars have remained popular selling models for their respective carmakers (Maruti Suzuki and Renault) for a long time.


The 1.0-litre K10C petrol engine will continue to power the Alto K10, S-Presso, WagonR, and Celerio. However, it will be interesting to see whether Maruti Suzuki will replace the older-generation 1.2-litre four-cylinder petrol engine of the WagonR, Ignis, Baleno and Fronx with the new-generation 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol engine introduced in the Swift and Dzire in the future.


Key Takeaway: As you can see, the list of the most fuel-efficient cars under 10 lakh is predominantly dominated by Maruti Suzuki, with nine cars out of ten on the list. Thanks to their exceptional fuel efficiency figures, all these compact cars have been the driving force of Maruti Suzuki all these years, helping it securely hold the numero uno position in the Indian car market.


FAQs


1. Which car under 10 lakh gives the best mileage?
The Maruti Suzuki Celerio tops the chart of India’s most fuel-efficient cars under 10 lakh, claiming 26 kmpl with the 5-speed AMT and 25.24 kmpl with the 5-speed manual.


2. Which car has a 5-star rating under 10 lakh?
Among all the cars under 10 lakh, the Maruti Suzuki Dzire is one of the newest models to achieve a 5-star rating in the Global NCAP crash tests.


3. Which car engine is fuel-efficient?
Among all the engines offered in cars under 10 lakh, the 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol, 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol and 1.2-litre four-cylinder petrol engines from Maruti Suzuki are popular for their high fuel efficiency figures.