Even though the prices of petrol and diesel have reduced in the early part of this month, the entry-level hatchback segment in India continues to see value-conscious car buyers accord sharp focus to fuel efficiency across town, country and urban markets.  They are keen to s-t-r-e-t-c-h every ounce of expensive fuel to the max. And this segment of buyers is rather large.

Recognising the pulse of this entry level buyer segment, Maruti Suzuki India today launched India’s most fuel-efficient petrol hatchback – the second-generation Celerio. Priced between Rs 499,000 to Rs 694,000 (ex-showroom, India), the new model scores 23 percent higher in terms of fuel efficiency over the outgoing car.

At 26.68kpl, it is a notable improvement over the outgoing model that delivered a claimed 21.63kpl. Launched in 2014, the first-generation Celerio has clocked combined sales of 592,498 units across petrol, diesel and CNG, as well as manual and AMT options, till end-September 2021.

“Interestingly, Pune forms the largest base of Celerio customers for Maruti Suzuki India, followed by Bangalore and Hyderabad,”said Shashank Srivastava, executive director, Marketing and Sales, MSIL. “Most of these customers are IT professionals,” he shared another nugget of information.

With a bulbous design and contemporary set of features such as a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, push-button start and electronically-foldable ORVMs, the new Celerio is targeted at 25- to 35-year-old car buyers.

The car now sits on Suzuki’s Heartect platform, utilising 40 percent high tensile steel in its monocoque, and also making it 55mm wider than before.

Engine of efficiency
The biggest change though is under the bonnet, where Maruti Suzuki has implanted the all-new K10 C, three-cylinder engine with DualJet and Dual VVT technologies. It comes with two fuel injectors per cylinder enabling a power output of 65.71hp and 89Nm of peak torque.

The engine comes mated to a five-speed manual or an AMT drivetrain, that also gets hill-hold assist. The 1.0-litre powerplant is also equipped with an idle-start-stop system that is also a reason behind the class-leading fuel efficiency and 19 percent reduction in CO2 emissions per kilometre, compared to outgoing car.

After the Celerio, Maruti Suzuki’s own Dzire compact sedan takes the second spot in the list of Top-10 most fuel-efficient cars in India. The company is likely to introduce a CNG variant into the new Celeio in the coming weeks.

According to Kenichi Ayukawa, MD, MSIL, “The new Celerio ticks all the boxes of customer expectations with an unmatched driving experience, unrivalled fuel-efficiency and host of features that offer comfort, convenience, and safety at an attractive price.

“The first generation Celerio introduced and democratized the Auto Gear Shift (AGS) two-pedal technology. We are confident that the new Celerio with its advanced features, stylish new design, and next-gen powertrain will further appeal to the urban customers and bring the much-needed excitement in the market,” concluded Ayukawa.

Maruti Suzuki: the fuel efficiency king
When it comes to maximising fuel efficiency, there's no looking beyond Maruti Suzuki. Of India's Rop 10 most-fuel efficient cars, the company has all of eight models, the Renault Kwid and the Datsun Redigo being the only two other models in the list.  

across town and country. The gap between the fuel efficiency claim of the new Celerio and next-best

This can also be attributed to the development of the new hatchback. With new Celerio on top, the