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

The Maruti Suzuki Fronx CNG has the lowest running cost of any SUV on sale in India, at roughly ₹2.98 per km on 28.51 km/kg. Three more CNG SUVs sit just behind it: the Victoris at ₹3.15 per km (27.02 km/kg), the Brezza at ₹3.16 (26.90 km/kg) and the Grand Vitara at ₹3.20 (26.6 km/kg). The first strong hybrid, the Victoris, costs about ₹3.49 per km even though its 28.65 km/l is the highest raw mileage figure here, and the cheapest diesel, the Kia Sonet, works out to roughly ₹3.73 per km.

SUVs in India span everything from sub-4-metre city runabouts to full-size, body-on-frame off-roaders, and running cost varies just as widely across that range. A buyer comparing two SUVs on size or price alone can end up missing a real gap in what each one actually costs to keep fueled, since fuel type and powertrain engineering often matter more than the segment an SUV sits in.

This list pulls together the SUVs with the lowest running cost per kilometer across every mainstream size class in India, compact, mid-size, and dedicated off-roaders, based on ARAI-certified mileage where the manufacturer publishes one. Buyers who want a segment-specific breakdown can also check our dedicated lists for compact SUVs, mid-size SUVs, and off-road SUVs with the lowest running cost.

Key takeaways

• Lowest running cost overall: The Maruti Suzuki Fronx CNG comes out cheapest at roughly ₹2.98 per km, the best figure of any SUV in India regardless of size class.
• CNG dominates the top of this list: Four of the top five entries here run on CNG, spanning both compact and mid-size Maruti SUVs, well ahead of hybrid and diesel alternatives.
• Diesel rivals trail by a real margin: Diesel options like the Kia Sonet and Hyundai Creta cost noticeably more per km to run than any CNG or hybrid entry on this list.

SUVs with the lowest running cost per km

Rank	Model	Segment	Fuel type	ARAI mileage	Estimated running cost/km
1	Maruti Suzuki Fronx	Compact SUV	CNG	28.51 km/kg	₹2.98
2	Maruti Suzuki Victoris	Mid-size SUV	CNG	27.02 km/kg	₹3.15
3	Maruti Suzuki Brezza	Compact SUV	CNG	26.90 km/kg	₹3.16
4	Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara	Mid-size SUV	CNG	26.6 km/kg	₹3.20
5	Maruti Suzuki Victoris	Mid-size SUV	Strong hybrid	28.65 km/l	₹3.49
6	Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara	Mid-size SUV	Strong hybrid	27.97 km/l	₹3.58
7	Kia Sonet	Compact SUV	Diesel	about 24.1 kmpl, not ARAI-confirmed	₹3.73
8	Hyundai Creta	Mid-size SUV	Diesel	about 20.7 kmpl, not ARAI-confirmed	₹4.35

Maruti Suzuki figures are the ARAI-certified numbers printed in each model's own brochure. Kia and Hyundai either block automated access or do not print ARAI mileage, so those two figures are our own and are worth confirming with a dealer.

1. Maruti Suzuki Fronx CNG

Price: ₹7.89 lakh (Sigma CNG) to ₹8.74 lakh (Delta CNG) ex-showroom.

The Fronx CNG has the lowest running cost of any SUV in India, thanks to a smaller 1.2-litre engine tuned for CNG efficiency over outright power.

Engine: 1197cc K-Series petrol, producing 77.5 PS and 98.5 Nm in CNG mode.

Mileage: 28.51 km/kg.

Estimated running cost: ₹2.98 per km.

Transmission: 5-speed manual only on CNG.

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

2. Maruti Suzuki Victoris CNG

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

The Victoris CNG uses an underbody tank design that keeps boot space largely intact, and its running cost is the lowest of any mid-size SUV in India.

Engine: 1462cc K15C petrol, producing 87.8 PS and 121.5 Nm in CNG mode, and 100.6 PS with 137.1 Nm when it runs on petrol.

Mileage: 27.02 km/kg.

Estimated running cost: ₹3.15 per km.

Transmission: 5-speed manual only on CNG.

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

3. Maruti Suzuki Brezza CNG

Price: ₹9.35 lakh (LXi CNG MT) to ₹11.71 lakh (ZXi CNG MT) ex-showroom.

The Brezza CNG comes within a hair of the Victoris on running cost, despite sitting in the more affordable compact SUV segment.

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

Mileage: 26.90 km/kg.

Estimated running cost: ₹3.16 per km.

Transmission: 6-speed manual only on CNG.

Warranty: 3 years or 1,00,000 km, extendable up to 6 years.

4. Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara CNG

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

The Grand Vitara CNG rounds out the CNG-powered entries on this list, running the same basic K-series setup as its Victoris sibling on a slightly older platform. Maruti's own launch announcement for the Grand Vitara S-CNG confirms this mileage figure directly.

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

Mileage: 26.6 km/kg.

Estimated running cost: ₹3.20 per km.

Transmission: 5-speed manual only on CNG.

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

5. 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 of any SUV on this list, though its running cost still lands behind all four CNG entries above it.

Engine: 1490cc, 3-cylinder petrol producing 92 bhp and 122 Nm, paired with an electric motor.

Mileage: 28.65 km/l.

Estimated running cost: ₹3.49 per km.

Transmission: e-CVT automatic only.

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

6. 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 electric motor.

Mileage: 27.97 km/l.

Estimated running cost: ₹3.58 per km.

Transmission: e-CVT automatic only.

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

7. Kia Sonet

Price: ₹9.80 lakh to ₹15.75 lakh ex-showroom across diesel variants.

The Sonet's diesel engine is the most efficient non-Maruti option on this list, though it still trails every CNG and hybrid entry above it by a real margin.

Engine: 1.5-litre CRDi diesel, producing around 114 bhp and 250 Nm.

Mileage: Up to 24.1 kmpl on the manual transmission. Kia does not publish a figure we can verify against a brochure, so treat this as an approximation rather than a certified number.

Estimated running cost: ₹3.73 per km.

Transmission: 6-speed manual or torque converter automatic.

Warranty: 3 years, unlimited km.

8. 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. It remains one of the best-selling SUVs in India, largely on the strength of its cabin space and dealer network, but neither of those advantages shows up in the fuel bill.

Engine: 1.5-litre diesel engine.

Mileage: Approximately 20.7 kmpl. Hyundai prints no ARAI mileage in its brochures, so this figure is an estimate and not a certified one.

Estimated running cost: ₹4.35 per km.

Transmission: 6-speed manual or torque converter automatic.

Warranty: Standard Hyundai warranty terms apply.

Ranking methodology

Running cost per km is calculated as fuel price divided by ARAI-certified mileage. Only factory-fitted powertrains are included, and this list considers compact, mid-size and off-road SUVs together, though on cost per km no off-roader gets close enough to reach the top eight, so a full breakdown of any single segment is better found in the dedicated lists linked above.

Fuel prices are held constant across every entry, so the differences in running cost seen here come down to mileage and powertrain technology rather than local variation in petrol, diesel, or CNG prices, which can shift the exact rupee figure up or down depending on where a car is actually driven.

Conclusion

Across every SUV size class in India, CNG comes out ahead on running cost, and the Fronx leads the entire field by a clear margin over every rival, including SUVs a full segment above it in size and price. Buyers who need more cabin space than a compact SUV offers should look at the Victoris or Grand Vitara CNG instead. Both stay close behind the Fronx on running cost while stepping up to the mid-size class.

For buyers who specifically want an automatic gearbox, the Strong Hybrid variants are worth a serious look. Neither CNG option here offers one, and the running cost gap to CNG is smaller than the raw mileage numbers suggest. Anyone considering a diesel SUV from outside Maruti's lineup should go in aware that even the best of them, the Sonet, trails every CNG and hybrid entry on this list by a real, ongoing cost difference.

For a closer look at where these SUVs sit within their own size classes, the compact, mid-size, and off-road breakdowns cover each segment in more depth, and the full Maruti Suzuki lineup is worth checking before making a final call.

FAQs

Which SUV in India has the lowest running cost overall?

The Maruti Suzuki Fronx has the lowest estimated running cost of any SUV in India, at roughly ₹2.98 per km on its CNG variant, regardless of size class.

Does CNG beat hybrid on running cost across every SUV segment?

Among the models on this list, yes. Both Maruti CNG mid-size SUVs undercut their own Strong Hybrid siblings on running cost, even though the hybrids post a higher raw mileage number in their own units.

Is a diesel SUV ever cheaper to run than these CNG or hybrid options?

Not among the models covered here. Even the most efficient non-Maruti diesel option, the Kia Sonet, trails every CNG and hybrid entry on this list on running cost.

Why do compact and mid-size Maruti SUVs post such similar running costs?

Several share closely related engines and CNG or hybrid technology across Maruti's lineup, which keeps their mileage figures, and therefore running costs, close together despite differences in size and price.

Does a lower running cost mean a lower purchase price too?

Not necessarily. The Grand Vitara and Victoris Strong Hybrid variants cost more upfront than several diesel rivals on this list, despite having a lower running cost per km.