Maruti Suzuki says E20 petrol may reduce mileage by only 3–3.5%, while offering better acceleration and lower pollution.
Key Highlights
- E20 fuel has lower calorific value than E10 petrol.
- Mileage impact estimated at around 3–3.5%.
- A 20 km/l car may lose nearly 0.6 km/l.
- Maruti says no E20-related damage seen in serviced cars.
- Industry leaders say E20 rollout is scientifically tested.
Maruti Suzuki has said that the mileage impact of E20 ethanol-blended petrol is limited to around 3 to 3.5 per cent. Rahul Bharti, senior executive officer, corporate affairs at Maruti Suzuki India, said E20 fuel has slightly lower calorific value compared to E10 petrol, which explains the small drop in fuel efficiency.
Explaining the impact, Bharti said that if a car gives 20 km per litre, the reduction may be around 0.6 km per litre. He added that other factors such as tyre pressure, driving style, correct gear usage, acceleration, braking and regular maintenance can affect mileage much more than E20 fuel itself.
The clarification came during an industry interaction on India’s E20 ethanol-blended petrol programme, organised by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas along with other government departments.
Maruti Suzuki also reassured customers that vehicles designed for E10 have been tested with E20 fuel across several parameters. According to the company, no major concern has been found. Bharti said vehicles are designed with safety margins beyond E20 compliance.
The company further said that in FY 2025-26, Maruti Suzuki serviced 2.84 crore cars, of which more than 1.5 crore were over three years old and not E20-certified. Even among these older vehicles, no E20-related issues such as corrosion, wear and tear or component damage were reported from the field.
Industry representatives from Toyota, Hero MotoCorp, TVS Motor, Hyundai and Bajaj Auto also supported the E20 rollout. They said ethanol blending has been introduced through a step-by-step and scientifically tested process.
Experts said ethanol helps reduce pollution and supports India’s goal of lowering crude oil imports. Toyota Kirloskar Motor’s Vikram Gulati also said E85 fuel stations are meant only for flex-fuel vehicles, showing the future direction of fuel policy.
The key message for vehicle owners is that E20 fuel may cause a small mileage difference, but companies and the government say it is safe, tested and part of India’s clean fuel transition.
