Every car brochure in India shouts about mileage, but the number on the brochure rarely tells you what you will actually spend. A petrol car rated at 25 km per litre and a CNG car rated at 35 km per kg look close on paper, yet the CNG car can cost almost half as much to run, because petrol and CNG are sold in different units at very different prices.
This guide compares the best mileage cars under 10 lakh in India in 2026 by cost per kilometre, not just by the ARAI figure. That is the number that decides your monthly fuel bill. Prices below are ex-showroom Delhi as reported in October and November 2026, and every figure is qualified as November 2026. Prices and fuel rates change often, so check the live price with the dealer before you book.
Why cost per km beats the ARAI figure
ARAI mileage is measured under controlled test conditions. Real world mileage in Indian city traffic is usually 10 to 20 percent lower. More importantly, ARAI figures use different units for different fuels: km per litre for petrol and diesel, km per kg for CNG. You cannot compare 25 kmpl with 35 km/kg directly.
Cost per km fixes that. Divide the fuel price by the certified mileage and every car lands on one scale. Using the Delhi fuel prices behind the ranking source reviewed for this guide, about Rs 102 per litre of petrol and about Rs 87 per kg of CNG in October 2026, the cheapest car to run under Rs 10 lakh costs about Rs 2.38 per km, while the most expensive petrol hatchback in the same set costs about Rs 4.69 per km. Over five years at 1,200 km a month, that gap is about Rs 1.66 lakh in fuel alone.
That is why this list is led by CNG cars. Every CNG variant sits above every petrol and diesel car on running cost. But CNG is not right for everyone, so the list also includes the best petrol picks, and explains the trade offs.
The 12 best mileage cars under 10 lakh, ranked by cost per km
1. Maruti Suzuki Dzire VXi CNG AMT
Certified mileage: 36.47 km/kg. Cost per km: about Rs 2.38. Ex-showroom Delhi: Rs 8,53,000.
The Dzire CNG AMT is the cheapest car to run under Rs 10 lakh, according to the cost per km ranking reviewed for this guide. It is the only car here that pairs CNG with an automatic gearbox in this price band, which matters in stop and go city traffic. You also get a proper sedan boot, which most hatchbacks cannot match. The trade off is the price: at Rs 8.53 lakh ex-showroom, the on-road price in Delhi will cross Rs 9.5 lakh, so check the final figure before you commit.
2. Maruti Suzuki Swift CNG VXI AMT
Certified mileage: 35.34 km/kg. Cost per km: about Rs 2.46. Ex-showroom Delhi: Rs 7,92,400.
The Swift CNG is the sportier sibling of the Dzire CNG, with the same frugal engine and an AMT automatic option. Maruti claims 24.8 kmpl for the petrol manual and 25.75 kmpl for the petrol AMT, while the CNG version is far cheaper to run. Pick the Swift if you want a hatchback that is fun to drive and easy to park, and pick the Dzire if you need the boot.
3. Maruti Suzuki Celerio CNG VXi
Certified mileage: 34.43 km/kg. Cost per km: about Rs 2.53. Ex-showroom Delhi: Rs 5,97,900.
The Celerio is the value pick of this list. Its petrol version claims about 26.6 kmpl, among the highest petrol figures under Rs 10 lakh, and the CNG version pushes running cost down to about Rs 2.53 per km. At under Rs 6 lakh ex-showroom, it leaves room in your budget for insurance, accessories and a good music system. It is a small car, so rear seat space is limited, but for a daily commute it is hard to beat.
4. Maruti Suzuki Wagon R CNG
Certified mileage: 34.05 km/kg. Cost per km: about Rs 2.55. Ex-showroom Delhi: check live price, CNG variants start above the Rs 4,98,900 petrol LXi.
The Wagon R is the tall boy hatchback that India has trusted for decades. The high seating position, easy entry and exit, and huge headroom make it a favourite with older drivers and families. Its CNG version is one of the cheapest cars to run in the country. The petrol LXi starts at Rs 4,98,900 ex-showroom Delhi, but that variant returns about 21.79 kmpl and costs about Rs 4.69 per km, the highest running cost in the ranked set. The lesson is simple: if you buy a Wagon R, buy the CNG version.
5. Maruti Suzuki S-Presso LXi (O) CNG
Certified mileage: 32.73 km/kg. Cost per km: about Rs 2.66. Ex-showroom Delhi: Rs 4,64,400.
The S-Presso CNG is the cheapest car to own over five years in the cost per km ranking, at about Rs 7.47 lakh including fuel, because it is cheap to buy and cheap to run. It is a basic car with a small engine and a high stance, and it will not impress anyone at a wedding. But as a first car or a second car for city errands, it makes more financial sense than almost anything else on this list.
6. Maruti Suzuki Baleno CNG
Certified mileage: 30.61 km/kg. Cost per km: about Rs 2.84. Ex-showroom Delhi: check live price, petrol variants start around Rs 6.66 lakh.
The Baleno is the premium hatchback on this list. It offers the most space, the best features and the most upmarket cabin of any car here. Its petrol engine was updated in September 2026, with claimed efficiency of 23.80 kmpl for the manual and 24.77 kmpl for the AMT. The CNG version gives you premium hatchback comfort at a running cost under Rs 3 per km. Choose the Baleno if you want one car that does family duty, highway trips and daily commuting.
7. Tata Tiago CNG
Certified mileage: 26 to 27 km/kg. Cost per km: about Rs 3.20 to Rs 3.35. Ex-showroom Delhi: check live price, range starts around Rs 5.6 lakh.
The Tiago is the safest-feeling small car in this price band, with a solid build and a 4-star safety rating history in its segment. Its petrol version returns about 19 to 20 kmpl, while the CNG version is far cheaper to run. Tata also offers a twin-cylinder CNG layout in some variants, which saves boot space compared with a single large cylinder. If safety matters as much as mileage, the Tiago deserves a test drive.
8. Tata Punch CNG
Certified mileage: about 27 km/kg. Cost per km: about Rs 3.22. Ex-showroom Delhi: check live price, range starts around Rs 6 lakh.
The Punch is a micro SUV with high ground clearance, which helps on bad roads and speed breakers. It is the pick on this list for buyers who want SUV styling and a commanding driving position without paying SUV fuel bills. Its petrol mileage is about 20 kmpl, so again, the CNG version is the one to buy if running cost is your priority.
9. Hyundai Aura CNG
Certified mileage: about 28 km/kg. Cost per km: about Rs 3.11. Ex-showroom Delhi: check live price.
The Aura is Hyundai’s compact sedan, a rival to the Dzire. It is quiet, refined and well equipped, and Hyundai’s after sales network is strong across India. Its CNG version returns about 28 km/kg, which puts its running cost close to the Tiago and Punch. Pick the Aura if you prefer Hyundai’s service experience or if the Dzire waiting period in your city is long.
10. Maruti Suzuki Swift Petrol
Certified mileage: 24.8 kmpl manual, 25.75 kmpl AMT. Cost per km: about Rs 3.96 to Rs 4.11. Ex-showroom Delhi: from about Rs 6.49 lakh.
If you cannot use CNG, because there is no CNG station near your home or you drive long highway distances, the Swift petrol is the best petrol pick for mileage. It is also the most fun petrol hatchback to drive in this budget. Expect real world city mileage of 18 to 22 kmpl, which is lower than the certified figure but still strong.
11. Maruti Suzuki Dzire Petrol
Certified mileage: 24.79 kmpl manual, 25.71 kmpl AMT. Cost per km: about Rs 3.97 to Rs 4.11. Ex-showroom Delhi: from about Rs 6.79 lakh.
The Dzire petrol is the sedan version of the Swift petrol, with the same engine and nearly the same efficiency, plus a 382-litre boot. For a small family that takes highway trips with luggage, the Dzire petrol is often the more practical choice, and it costs only a little more than the Swift.
12. Maruti Suzuki Baleno Petrol
Certified mileage: 23.80 kmpl manual, 24.77 kmpl AMT (September 2026 update). Cost per km: about Rs 4.12 to Rs 4.29. Ex-showroom Delhi: from about Rs 6.66 lakh.
The Baleno petrol closes the list because it trades a little efficiency for a lot of space and comfort. If you drive mostly on highways, where the Baleno’s aerodynamic shape helps, the real world gap to the Swift shrinks. Check the live price of the September 2026 updated model, because the new engine changed both the price and the mileage figure.
CNG versus petrol: how to decide
Buy CNG if you drive more than 1,000 km a month, mostly in the city, and there is a CNG station within 10 minutes of your home or office. The fuel saving of about Rs 1.50 to Rs 2.00 per km adds up to Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,000 a month, which repays the higher purchase price of the CNG variant in about two years.
Buy petrol if you drive less than 800 km a month, take frequent highway trips to places without CNG stations, or need the full boot space. Maruti does not publish a CNG-specific boot figure for its models, and the CNG cylinder eats into luggage space, so check the boot in person before you book.
One more warning applies to every CNG car: the waiting period can be longer than the petrol version, and the CNG variant of a popular model can cost Rs 80,000 to Rs 1 lakh more than the equivalent petrol variant. Do the maths for your own monthly running before you decide.
What about diesel and electric?
The Tata Altroz diesel is the only diesel car that qualified in the cost per km ranking reviewed, and it costs more per kilometre than three petrol automatics in the same table, because diesel prices have risen and the Altroz diesel variant is expensive. Diesel makes sense only if you drive very high monthly distances, and most buyers under Rs 10 lakh are better served by CNG.
Electric cars are worth watching, but the only electric SUV near Rs 10 lakh in November 2026 is the Tata Punch EV, which starts at about Rs 9.99 lakh ex-showroom, before the on-road price pushes it well above Rs 10 lakh. If your budget can stretch and you have home charging, an EV can cost under Rs 1 per km to run. For a strict under-10-lakh budget, CNG remains the practical answer.
How to get the claimed mileage in real life
First, drive gently for the first 1,000 km while the engine settles in. Second, keep tyre pressure at the recommended level, checked every two weeks, because low pressure alone can cut mileage by 5 percent. Third, use the correct engine oil grade at service time. Fourth, avoid idling with the AC on for long periods. Fifth, remove roof carriers and excess weight from the boot. And finally, use the MID average mileage display as a guide, not a promise: fill the tank, drive 300 km, refill, and divide to get your real figure.
FAQ
Which car gives the highest mileage under Rs 10 lakh in India?
On certified figures, the Maruti Suzuki Dzire VXi CNG AMT leads at 36.47 km/kg, with a running cost of about Rs 2.38 per km. Among petrol cars, the Maruti Suzuki Swift leads at 24.8 kmpl. Real world figures will be lower than both.
What is the cheapest car to run under Rs 10 lakh?
The Dzire VXi CNG AMT at about Rs 2.38 per km, followed by the Swift CNG at about Rs 2.46 per km and the Celerio CNG at about Rs 2.53 per km. The cheapest car to own over five years in the ranking reviewed is the S-Presso LXi (O) CNG, at about Rs 7.47 lakh including fuel.
Is CNG better than petrol for mileage?
CNG is cheaper per kilometre, not more efficient in energy terms. A CNG car goes further per rupee because CNG costs less per kg than petrol costs per litre. CNG also means a smaller boot and a longer wait at some filling stations, so check the CNG network near you first.
What is the real world mileage of the Swift and Baleno?
Owners typically report 18 to 22 kmpl in city driving for the Swift petrol, against a certified 24.8 kmpl, and similar figures for the Baleno. CNG versions typically return 28 to 32 km/kg in city use against certified figures above 30 km/kg.
Should I buy a diesel car under Rs 10 lakh in 2026?
For most buyers, no. Diesel variants cost more to buy, and the only diesel car in the cost per km ranking reviewed was more expensive per km than several petrol automatics. Diesel suits only very high monthly running, usually above 2,500 km a month.
Do all these cars cost under Rs 10 lakh on-road?
No. All prices in this guide are ex-showroom Delhi. On-road price adds registration, road tax, insurance and handling charges, usually 10 to 18 percent extra. A car listed at Rs 8.5 lakh ex-showroom can cross Rs 10 lakh on-road in some states, so always ask for the full on-road quote.
Conclusion
The best mileage car under 10 lakh in India in 2026 is not the one with the biggest ARAI number. It is the one with the lowest cost per kilometre for the way you actually drive. For most city buyers, that is the Maruti Suzuki Dzire CNG or Swift CNG, with the Celerio CNG as the budget pick and the S-Presso CNG as the cheapest to own over five years. If CNG does not work for you, the Swift petrol and Dzire petrol are the best petrol picks, and the Baleno is the most comfortable car on the list.
Before you book, test drive your top two picks back to back, check the live ex-showroom and on-road prices, confirm the CNG station network near your home, and ask for the waiting period in writing. Mileage figures are November 2026 figures and they change with new model updates, so verify the latest brochure on the manufacturer’s website before you pay the booking amount.
