Magnite turbo petrol vs XUV300 diesel: road test shows which gives better mileage
Road-test figures show the diesel Mahindra XUV300 is the most economical to run, while the Nissan Magnite turbo leads among the petrol SUVs.
Along with looks and features, mileage is a major concern for Indian buyers of compact SUVs. The Nissan Magnite and the Mahindra XUV300 have both drawn attention for their varied engine and gearbox options. The question is which gives better mileage on real roads, and the available road-test figures offer an interesting answer.
The Nissan Magnite is offered with a 999cc naturally aspirated petrol engine and a 999cc turbo petrol engine. The naturally aspirated engine comes with manual and AMT gearboxes, while the turbo engine comes with manual and CVT gearboxes. According to the company's figures, the turbo manual returns up to 19.9 km/l. The naturally aspirated manual returns up to 19.4 km/l and the AMT up to 19.7 km/l. The turbo CVT is rated at 17.9 km/l.
The road test, however, painted a somewhat different picture. The Magnite turbo manual returned 12.8 km/l in the city and 16.1 km/l on the highway. The turbo CVT managed 9.5 km/l in the city and 15.22 km/l on the highway. This shows that the mileage on paper and the figures in actual driving can differ. Traffic, speed, the weight of passengers and driving style have a major effect on mileage.
The Mahindra XUV300 was offered with a 1.2-litre turbo petrol, a 1.2-litre TGDi turbo petrol and a 1.5-litre turbo diesel engine. The claimed mileage of the diesel manual variant is up to 20.1 km/l, and that of the diesel AMT up to 19.7 km/l. In the road test, the XUV300 diesel manual returned 14.4 km/l in the city and 17.9 km/l on the highway. The diesel XUV300 can therefore prove more economical on long drives.
On running costs, assuming 1,500 km of driving a month at the petrol and diesel prices used, the estimated monthly fuel bill for the Magnite turbo manual was Rs 11,616. For the XUV300 petrol manual it came to Rs 13,702, and for the XUV300 diesel manual Rs 9,153. Among petrol SUVs, the Magnite comes out ahead, while the diesel XUV300 has the lowest running cost.
The choice in 2026 also needs consideration. The Nissan Magnite can still be bought as a new SUV. Production of the XUV300 has ended, and it has been replaced by the XUV 3XO. A buyer who wants a new car therefore has the Magnite as the direct option. Anyone considering a used XUV300 should check its service record, mileage run and condition.
