Top 7 fuel efficient automatics in India

A year has changed a lot in the Indian automotive scene. Automatics were seen as gas guzzlers and sold in small numbers before, but now, there are plenty of options available as efficient runabouts for congested cities without the patella bruising clutch pedal. Indian manufacturers are addressing the problem of driving in traffic without you having to break the bank. So here are the top seven fuel efficient automatics on sale in India today. 

For the guide, we’ve taken ARAI figures (expect 15-20 percent lower fuel economy in normal driving conditions but ARAI figures give a better comparative idea). We have also compared them to a similar spec variant with a manual gearbox to determine if the cars are a better value proposition. The cost to travel 50,000km over the period of ownership based on current fuel prices in Delhi has also been considered to give you an idea of the money you will spend on fuel in the long run. Figures in brackets are for the manual gearbox variants wherever applicable.

You will be amazed at the cars that make our list. 

7. Volkswagen Vento diesel DSG

ARAI mileage: 21.2kmpl (20.3kmpl)

Range: 1166km (1117km)

Cost to travel 50,000km: Rs 1.24 lakh (Rs 1.3 lakh)

Price premium over same spec manual variant: Rs 1.07 lakh or 10.6 percent

The Volkswagen Group has played a smart hand with its 7-speed DSG gearbox. The unit is borrowed from the Polo TSI and suits the new 1.5-litre diesel engine perfectly. It’s one of the more advanced units in this list that not only delivers good efficiency but also makes the car nicer to drive than most cars you will find here. It is the only automatic diesel worth buying, alongside the Rapid DSG of course, in the C-segment. The engine develops 105PS of power and 250Nm of torque. We think the price difference is a bit steep and since the entire unit is imported by VW, maintenance costs will be high outside warranty. The car comes with a two year warranty but we suggest you go for an extended warranty of two additional years/100,000km for peace of mind if you are convinced that it’s time to move on to automatics. 

6. Skoda Rapid diesel DSG

ARAI mileage: 21.7kmpl (21.14kmpl)

Range: 1194km (1163km)

Cost to travel 50,000km: Rs 1.21 lakh (Rs 1.24 lakh)

Price premium over same spec manual variant: Rs 1.1 lakh or 11.2 percent

It’s a bit surprising that the Rapid is a bit more efficient using the same mechanicals as the Vento. This boils down to the aerodynamics of the cars with the Rapid possibly creating marginally less drag. In the real world, the difference should be negligible though. Same engine and 7-speed DSG gearbox means, power and torque figures stand at 105PS and 250Nm as well. Skoda charges a bit more premium for the Rapid compared to the Vento. Does it make a difference? Well, about Rs 3,000 more in the long run isn’t much and gets nullified by the marginally better fuel economy. It’s still expensive so you’ve got to be convinced that most of your commutes will be in chock-a-block traffic to choose the Rapid or the Vento DSGs. Pick the Skoda Shield warranty pack though. It’s similar to the Volkswagen Extended Warranty with an additional 2years/100,000km extension.

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5. Tata Zest AMT

ARAI Mileage: 23kmpl (23kmpl)

Range: 1012km (23kmpl)

Cost to travel 50,000km: Rs 1.14 lakh (Rs 1.14 lakh)

Price premium over same spec manual variant: Rs 72,000 or 11.5 percent

You’d expect the Zest AMT to be the most fuel efficient diesel automatic in the country, but it only makes fifth spot overall and second among the diesels. That said, the Zest AMT is efficient nonetheless, as it was the primary objective of Tata Motors to provide the most affordable diesel automatic in India. The Zest uses a similar 5-speed AMT unit to the Celerio and Alto K10 but mated to the Fiat sourced diesel engine. It is fairly crude but fits the bill perfectly for a car that will clock a lot of miles in congested cities. The 1.3-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder engine develops 90PS of power and 200Nm of torque. But the real problem with the Zest is the unnecessary 11.5 percent premium Tata Motors is charging for the clutch actuator that makes it an AMT. Compared to Maruti’s price differential for the Celerio AMT (read in the coming pages), the Zest AMT costs a fortune and that just doesn’t make it a sensible buy.

4. Maruti Celerio AMT

ARAI mileage: 23.1kmpl (23.1kmpl)

Range: 810km (810km)

Cost to travel 50,000km: Rs 1.37 lakh (Rs 1.37 lakh)

Price premium over same spec manual variant: Rs 38,000 or 9.35 percent

The first car to kickstart the AMT craze in India, Maruti’s Celerio is a hit. Half the numbers of Celerios sold are the AMT variants creating an acute shortage of the Magneti Marelli produced unit. The AMT gearbox is a five speed unit that uses an electronic clutch actuator to automate shifts. The petrol K-series engine is smooth responsive when driven in the manual override mode but in automatic drive mode, shifts are slow and jerky. You will enjoy lesser visits to the fuel station though. At 23.1kmpl, you get a larger than entry-spec hatchback that costs under Rs 5 lakh. The AMT costs 9.35 percent more than a manual gearbox equipped variant which isn’t much. 

3. Maruti Alto K10 AMT

ARAI mileage: 24.07kmpl (24.07kmpl)

Range: 842 km (842km)

Cost to travel 50,000km: Rs 1.32 lakh (Rs 1.32 lakh)

Price premium over same spec manual variant: Rs 42,000 or 12.4 percent

The third most efficient automatic in the country isn’t an automatic as well. The 5-speed AMT (or AGS as Maruti calls it) from the Celerio is used in the Alto K10. Since the K10 is a considerably lighter car, it delivers an ARAI rated efficiency figure of 24.07kmpl, about 1 kmpl better than the Celerio. It lets your left foot rest in peace and returns diesel car like fuel economy, which counts for a lot in the budget hatchback segment. The Alto K10 comes with a 998cc 3-cylinder petrol engine developing 68PS of power and 90Nm of torque. Maruti has realized the potential of the AMT with the Celerio and so decided to charge a lot more premium for the Alto K10. Since it is the same unit, the K10 is lesser value for money compared to the Celerio, so if you can stretch your budget by about Rs 35,000 you can go for an entry level Celerio AMT instead and enjoy the extra space and better quality. 

2. Mini Cooper D 6-Speed Steptronic

ARAI Mileage: NA (Since it is a CBU, we can only get the combined EU fuel consumption rating which is 26.3kmpl)

Range: 1157km

Cost to travel 50,000km: Rs 99,828

Price premium over same spec manual variant: NA (The Cooper D isn’t available with a manual gearbox for comparison)

The Mini Cooper D is an unexpected entrant into this list. Since the Mini is a CBU, the company doesn’t have to provide ARAI figures. Fuel quality and testing conditions vary as a result. But EU figures rate the Mini Cooper D 3-door at 26.3kmpl in the combined EU cycle and that’s impressive for a car with a 9.2 seconds 0-100kmph time and 205kmph top speed. The Mini Cooper D uses a six-speed steptronic gearbox for both the 3-Door and 5-Door. The 5-Door is marginally less efficient due to the 55kg additional weight. Powering the Mini Cooper D is a 1.5-litre 3-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine with 118PS of power and 270Nm of torque on tap.

1. Mahindra Reva e2o T2

ARAI mileage: NA 

Range: 120km/charge. It takes 12 units for a full charge. Price of one unit of electricity in Delhi is Rs 2.7. That makes a full charge cost Rs 32.4. In fossil fuel terms, an e2o can travel 195km using a litre of diesel!

Cost to travel 50,000km: Rs 13,500 or 417 full charges.

Price premium over same spec manual variant: NA (The e2o isn’t available with a manual gearbox for comparison)

Quite the number there, but range anxiety and absence of charging points are still an issue. Independent house owners and those who don’t travel long distances in the city can consider the e2o. There is no denying the fact that it the most affordable car to run by a fair margin. The e2o T2 produces 26PS of power and 54Nm of torque. The automatic transmission offers two driving modes, one for normal driving and one for more power.