Mid-Size SUVs With the Lowest Running Cost Per Km in India (2026)

The Maruti Suzuki Victoris CNG has the lowest running cost of any mid-size SUV on sale in India, at roughly ₹3.15 per km on its 27.02 km/kg rating. The Grand Vitara CNG sits just behind at about ₹3.20 per km, the Victoris Strong Hybrid at ₹3.49 on 28.65 km/l, and both the Grand Vitara and the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder Strong Hybrid at ₹3.58 on 27.97 km/l. The Hyundai Creta diesel is the costliest of the six here, at roughly ₹4.35 per km.

A mid-size SUV's price tag says very little about what it costs to actually drive. Two SUVs sitting close together on price can end up with a real gap in running cost once fuel type and powertrain choice come into play, and that gap only grows the more the car gets used. Buyers in this segment tend to compare cabin space, features, and safety ratings first, and treat running cost as something to work out after the purchase.

That approach misses a real, ongoing cost difference. A mid-size SUV isn't a small daily runabout, so the fuel bill adds up faster than it does on a hatchback, and the difference between the cheapest and priciest option to run in this segment can mean a meaningful sum over a few years of ownership.

This list ranks mid-size SUVs in India by estimated running cost per kilometer, based on ARAI-certified mileage across CNG, strong hybrid, and diesel powertrains, so the order reflects what each SUV actually costs to drive rather than its price tag or feature list.

Rank	Model	Fuel type	ARAI mileage	Estimated running cost/km
1	Maruti Suzuki Victoris	CNG	27.02 km/kg	₹3.15
2	Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara	CNG	26.6 km/kg	₹3.20
3	Maruti Suzuki Victoris	Strong Hybrid	28.65 km/l	₹3.49
4	Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara	Strong Hybrid	27.97 km/l	₹3.58
5	Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder	Strong Hybrid	27.97 km/l	₹3.58
6	Hyundai Creta	Diesel	Around 20.7 kmpl (approximate, not brochure-stated)	₹4.35

The Maruti Suzuki and Toyota figures above are the ARAI-certified numbers printed in each model's own brochure. Hyundai does not print an ARAI mileage figure in its brochures, so the Creta diesel number here is our own and is worth confirming with a dealer before you use it to budget.

Key takeaways

• Lowest running cost overall: The Maruti Suzuki Victoris CNG comes out cheapest at roughly ₹3.15 per km, on the strength of its 27.02 km/kg rating against CNG's lower price per kg. The Grand Vitara CNG follows closely behind it.
• CNG beats hybrid here, narrowly: Both CNG variants undercut their own Strong Hybrid siblings on running cost, even though the hybrids post a higher raw mileage number in their own fuel type's units.
• Diesel rivals trail by a real margin: Non-Maruti diesel options like the Hyundai Creta cost noticeably more per km to run than any of the four Maruti powertrains on this list.

The methodology behind this ranking

Running cost per km is calculated as fuel price divided by ARAI-certified mileage, the standardized test most manufacturers publish against, though not every brand prints the resulting figure in its brochure. The pump prices used throughout are ₹85 per kg for CNG, ₹100 per litre for petrol and ₹90 per litre for diesel. Those three numbers drive every per-km figure here, and the CNG-versus-hybrid order is sensitive to them: hold petrol at ₹100 and the Victoris CNG stops being cheaper than the Victoris Strong Hybrid once CNG passes roughly ₹94 per kg, which is inside the range some Indian cities already charge, so check your own city's rates before leaning on this ranking. This matters more in a mixed-fuel comparison like this one, since a CNG figure in km/kg and a hybrid figure in km/l aren't directly comparable without converting both into a common cost basis first.

Only mainstream, factory-fitted powertrains are included here. Limited-run or region-specific variants aren't factored in, since pricing and availability for those can vary widely by state and dealership. Every figure below except the Creta's reflects the manufacturer's own official rating rather than a real-world test, so actual mileage will vary with traffic, AC use, and driving style, though the relative gap between models tends to hold up in daily use.

Mid-size SUVs with the lowest running cost per km

1. Maruti Suzuki Victoris CNG

Price: From ₹11.55 lakh ex-showroom (LXi CNG MT).

The Victoris CNG has the lowest running cost in this segment. Its underbody CNG tank design keeps boot space largely intact, which is a genuine engineering first for this class of SUV.

Engine: 1462cc K15C petrol, producing 87.8 PS and 121.5 Nm in CNG mode.

Mileage: 27.02 km/kg, ARAI certified.

Estimated running cost: ₹3.15 per km.

Transmission: 5-speed manual only on CNG, available on the LXi and Zxi trims.

Warranty: 3 years or 1,00,000 km, standard.

2. Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara CNG

Price: From ₹12.997 lakh ex-showroom (Delta CNG MT).

The Grand Vitara CNG trails the Victoris by a narrow margin, running the same basic K-series CNG setup on a slightly older platform.

Engine: 1462cc petrol, producing 87.8 PS and 121.5 Nm in CNG mode.

Mileage: 26.6 km/kg, ARAI certified.

Estimated running cost: ₹3.20 per km.

Transmission: 5-speed manual only on CNG.

Warranty: 3 years or 1,00,000 km, standard.

3. Maruti Suzuki Victoris Strong Hybrid

Price: From ₹16.43 lakh ex-showroom (VXi Strong Hybrid).

The Victoris Strong Hybrid posts the highest raw mileage figure on this entire list, though its running cost still lands behind both CNG entries once petrol pricing is factored in.

Engine: 1490cc, 3-cylinder petrol producing 92.45 PS and 122 Nm, paired with an AC synchronous electric motor.

Mileage: 28.65 km/l, ARAI certified.

Estimated running cost: ₹3.49 per km.

Transmission: e-CVT automatic only.

Warranty: 3 years or 1,00,000 km, standard.

4. Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara Strong Hybrid

Price: From ₹16.68 lakh ex-showroom (Delta+ Strong Hybrid).

The Grand Vitara Strong Hybrid runs the same core hybrid system as the Victoris, with a nearly identical mileage figure and running cost.

Engine: 1490cc, 3-cylinder petrol producing 92.45 PS and 122 Nm, paired with a 59 kW AC synchronous motor for a combined 115.56 PS.

Mileage: 27.97 km/l, ARAI certified.

Estimated running cost: ₹3.58 per km.

Transmission: e-CVT automatic only.

Warranty: 3 years or 1,00,000 km, standard.

5. Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder Strong Hybrid

Price: From roughly ₹15.11 lakh ex-showroom for the Strong Hybrid range.

The Hyryder shares its hybrid powertrain and platform with the Grand Vitara, a result of the Toyota-Suzuki alliance, and posts an identical mileage figure as a result.

Engine: 1.5-litre, 3-cylinder TNGA petrol paired with a hybrid motor.

Mileage: 27.97 km/l, ARAI certified.

Estimated running cost: ₹3.58 per km.

Transmission: e-CVT automatic only.

Warranty: Standard Toyota warranty terms apply.

6. Hyundai Creta

Price: Diesel variants fall within the Creta's broader ₹10.79 lakh to ₹20.05 lakh range.

The Creta diesel closes out this list with the highest running cost, though it remains one of the best-selling mid-size SUVs in India on the strength of its cabin space and dealer network.

Engine: 1.5-litre diesel engine.

Mileage: Around 20.7 kmpl. Hyundai does not print an ARAI figure in its Creta brochure, so treat this as an approximation rather than a certified number.

Estimated running cost: ₹4.35 per km.

Transmission: 6-speed manual or torque converter automatic.

Warranty: Standard Hyundai warranty terms apply.

Conclusion

For the lowest possible running cost in a mid-size SUV, CNG comes out ahead of even a strong hybrid, and the Victoris leads the entire segment by a narrow margin over its own Grand Vitara sibling. Buyers who specifically want an automatic gearbox should look at the Strong Hybrid variants instead, since neither CNG option offers one, and the running cost gap to CNG is smaller than the raw mileage numbers might suggest, often just a few thousand rupees a year for a typical commute.

Anyone cross-shopping a diesel rival like the Creta should factor in that gap too, since it adds up to a real difference over a typical ownership period of five to seven years, even before accounting for diesel's usual maintenance considerations. For a look at how these SUVs compare against dedicated 4x4s on running cost, see our off-road SUV running cost breakdown, and for the full picture of Maruti's current lineup, that's worth a look before deciding between CNG and hybrid.

FAQs

Which mid-size SUV in India has the lowest running cost?

The Maruti Suzuki Victoris has the lowest estimated running cost on this list, at roughly ₹3.15 per km on its CNG variant.

Is CNG cheaper to run than a strong hybrid in this segment?

Yes, among the Maruti models on this list. Both CNG variants undercut their Strong Hybrid siblings on running cost, even though the hybrids post a higher mileage figure in their own units.

Why do the Grand Vitara and Toyota Hyryder have identical hybrid mileage?

Both SUVs share the same hybrid powertrain and platform as part of the Toyota-Suzuki alliance, so their mileage figures come out identical at 27.97 km/l.

Does the Victoris CNG lose much boot space compared to its petrol variant?

Less than most CNG SUVs. Its underbody CNG tank design, a first for this segment, keeps boot space largely intact rather than sacrificing it to a conventional boot-mounted tank.

Is a diesel mid-size SUV ever cheaper to run than these Maruti options?

Not among the models covered here. The Hyundai Creta diesel's running cost comes out meaningfully higher than any of the four Maruti CNG or hybrid variants on this list, though the Creta figure is an approximation because Hyundai publishes no ARAI mileage of its own.