For the last two and a half years, my family has been using a Hyundai Venue 1.2-litre Naturally Aspirated Petrol, and overall, it has been a reliable car. It is an E20-compatible model, which means it is designed to run on petrol blended with up to 20% ethanol. However, over the past few months, I have started noticing something that has genuinely surprised me its fuel efficiency/mileage has dropped significantly.
Before the wider availability of E20 petrol, our Venue consistently returned around 14-15 km/l in mixed driving conditions, including both city traffic and highway journeys. On a full tank, the car would comfortably deliver more than 550kms of driving range. It was one of the reasons we were quite happy with its running costs.
Over the last three fuel tanks, however, the situation has been noticeably different. The mileage has fallen to around 10-12 km/l, and the driving range from a full tank has reduced to roughly 400-420 kilometres. I initially thought it might be due to traffic conditions, driving style, tyre pressure, or even a temporary issue, but after observing the same pattern across multiple refuels, I felt it was worth sharing my experience.
One claim that I have heard several times is that E20 fuel can improve engine performance or make the vehicle feel more responsive. Personally, I have not experienced any noticeable increase in acceleration or performance. My Venue drives exactly the way it always has. The only major difference I have observed is the decline in fuel economy. This is my personal experience, and it may not be the same for every owner or every vehicle.
Interestingly, I recently discussed this with one of my friends who owns a Volkswagen Polo Petrol. He told me that he has also been unhappy with the mileage after the introduction of E20 petrol. Because of this, he has started filling his car with IndianOil XP100 premium petrol, even though it currently costs around ₹167/l. According to him, he wants to see whether using a higher-grade fuel improves efficiency and overall driving experience.
After hearing his feedback and experiencing the mileage drop in my own car, I have also decided to conduct my own test. During my next refuel, I plan to fill the Hyundai Venue with XP100 petrol and use it under my normal driving conditions. I will carefully monitor the mileage, driving range, engine response, and overall performance over an entire tank before reaching any conclusions.
At this stage, I am not recommending XP100 petrol, because I have not tested it myself yet. I believe it would be unfair to suggest something without firsthand experience. Once I complete the test, I will publish a detailed follow-up article sharing the actual mileage figures, range, and whether the additional cost of premium petrol is justified.
This article reflects my personal ownership experience with a Hyundai Venue 1.2-litre petrol over the last 2.5 years. It is not a scientific test or a conclusion about E20 fuel as a whole, and other owners may have different experiences depending on their vehicle, maintenance, driving style, traffic conditions, weather, and fuel quality. If you own an E20-compatible petrol car, I would be interested to know whether you have observed any changes in fuel efficiency after switching to E20 petrol.
