Best Mileage Cars Under 8 Lakh for Daily Commute: 2026 Guide

Key Takeaways

• The Maruti Suzuki Celerio tops the list of best mileage cars under 8 lakh, delivering a real-world city fuel efficiency of around 22.57 kmpl (petrol) and 28.2 km/kg (CNG), resulting in an estimated running cost of ₹4.43 per km and ₹3.19 per km, respectively. 
• Choosing a factory-fitted CNG model reduces daily fuel expenses by approximately 30-45% because CNG per unit is comparatively cheaper than a unit of petrol. 
• Top hatchback models like the Celerio, Wagon R and Tiago are affordable to maintain. The routine periodic servicing costs are between ₹3,500 and  ₹6,000 over 5 years. 
• The Tata Tiago has relatively higher city fuel running costs compared to the Maruti Suzuki Celerio and Wagon R. Tiago’s Pure CNG variant requires mandatory cylinder hydro-testing after 3 years. 

Comparing the Best Mileage Cars Under 8 Lakh for Daily Commuting

Finding the best mileage cars under ₹8 lakh requires evaluating their ARAI-certified fuel economy, fuel type (petrol or CNG), and real-world performance. Popular and trusted brands like Maruti Suzuki and Tata Motors fit this band, with top models like the Suzuki Celerio, Wagon R and Tata Tiago delivering real-world city mileage up to 18-25 kmpl on average, depending on the variant. 

Model & Variant	Ex-Showroom Price	ARAI Fuel Mileage	Estimated Real-World City Mileage
Maruti Suzuki Celerio VXi Petrol MT	₹5,18,400	24.97 kmpl	22.57 kmpl
Maruti Suzuki Celerio VXi CNG MT	₹5,97,900	34.43 km/kg	28.2 km/kg
Maruti Suzuki Wagon R 1.0 VXi Petrol MT	₹5,54,400	24.35 kmpl	20.07 kmpl
Maruti Suzuki Wagon R 1.0 LXi CNG MT	₹5,93,900	33.47 km/kg	26.84 km/kg
Tata Tiago Pure Petrol	₹5,57,000	19 kmpl	13–15 kmpl
Tata Tiago Pure CNG	₹6,58,000	26.49 km/kg	20–22 km/kg

Real-World Ownership Costs of Best Mileage Cars Under 8 Lakh

While ARAI mileage ratings give you an estimate of the potential fuel efficiency a car delivers, evaluating the real-world mileage under stop-and-go traffic is essential to calculate your monthly expected fuel costs. While top hatchback cars like the Maruti Suzuki Celerio, Wagon R and Tata Tiago offer the best mileage under ₹8 lakh ex-showroom price, you should look beyond the price tag and factor in ownership cost over 5 years. You can further explore the best hatchback under ₹8 lakh for first-time buyers. 

Maruti Suzuki Celerio 

• Fuel Economy & Expenses: The Celerio’s VXi petrol variant delivers an ARAI-claimed mileage of 24.97 kmpl for the Manual Transmission (MT), while the CNG variant returns 34.43 km/kg. Autocar India lists user-reported city mileage of up to 22.57 kmpl for the MT and 28.2 km/kg for the CNG model. Assuming a petrol price of ₹100 per litre and CNG price of ₹90 per kg, the user-reported figures translate to approximately ₹4.43 per km for the petrol MT and ₹3.19 per km for the CNG. Actual running costs may vary based on fuel prices in your city, traffic conditions, and driving habits. 
• Maintenance & Repairs: Routine maintenance is scheduled every 10,000 km or after 1 year, whichever is earlier. Because Maruti Suzuki spare parts are widely available at authorized workshops across the country, the repair costs are affordable. Basic servicing like oil changes, brake inspections and filter replacements typically costs around ₹3,500 to ₹4,500 per service. 

Maruti Suzuki Wagon R 

• Fuel Economy & Expenses: The Wagon R VXi 1.0-litre petrol variant returns an ARAI-claimed fuel efficiency of 24.35 kmpl, while the LXi CNG variant offers 33.47 km/kg. As Autocar lists user-reported figures of 20.07 kmpl (petrol) and 26.84 km/kg (CNG), the estimated running cost comes down to ₹4.98 per km (assuming ₹100 per litre) and ₹3.35 per km (assuming ₹90 per kg), respectively. 
• Maintenance & Repairs: Because the Wagon R uses the same parts as any other Maruti Suzuki model in this range, wear-and-tear replacement costs are typically low and manageable. Over the 5-year ownership period, average annual maintenance costs range from ₹3,800 to ₹4,800.

Tata Tiago Pure

• Fuel Economy & Expenses: The Tiago Pure petrol variant offers an ARAI-certified fuel efficiency of 19 kmpl, but users report a city mileage of around 13-15 kmpl. This brings your daily petrol costs to approximately ₹6.66 to ₹7.69 per km, assuming ₹100 per litre. In contrast, the CNG variant returns a mileage of 20-22 km/kg against ARAI-claimed 26.49 km/kg, pushing your daily fuel expenses to nearly ₹4.5 to ₹4.09 per km, assuming ₹90 per kg. 
• Maintenance & Repairs: Routine periodic servicing usually happens at 10,000 km or annually. Core mechanical parts like the engine and gearbox are highly reliable and unlikely to break down, so you need not worry about unexpected repair bills. But the dual CNG cylinders demand mandatory hydro-testing every 3 years, as per regulatory norms. Overall, yearly maintenance costs average between ₹4,500 and ₹6,000 over 5 years.

Which Car Under 8 Lakh Fits Your Daily Mileage?

Deciding which sub-₹8 lakh car suits your needs depends on how many kilometres you drive every month, expected fuel bills and routine maintenance costs.  

If you travel roughly 40 km daily and want the lowest per-kilometre fuel expense on petrol or CNG, the Maruti Suzuki Celerio is the ideal choice compared to its alternatives, the Wagon R and Tiago. Its estimated running cost of ₹4.43 per km for petrol and ₹3.19 per km for CNG, paired with low annual maintenance of ₹3,500–₹4,500, ensures maximum savings. 

FAQs

Which CNG models are considered among the best mileage cars under 8 lakh ex-showroom?

The Maruti Suzuki Celerio CNG variant gives you the highest mileage, an ARAI-claimed 34.43 km/kg in the sub-₹8 lakh bracket. Even in real-world city traffic, users report getting an impressive 28.2 km/kg mileage. Remember, the actual fuel efficiency depends on your city, driving habits and road conditions. 

Is CNG significantly cheaper to run than petrol for a daily commute? 

Yes, CNG is significantly cheaper to run than petrol because its per-unit cost is lower. Commuting daily on CNG typically costs around ₹3–4 per km, compared to ₹6–7 (or more, depending on traffic) for petrol. 

How often do CNG cylinders require mandatory safety inspections? 

As per government safety guidelines, cars with factory-fitted CNG cylinders must go through hydrostatic testing every 3 years to maintain compliance. 

Do automatic (AMT) variants use more fuel than manual variants? 

AMT variants generally use the same amount of fuel as manual (MT) variants to match or slightly outperform in ARAI testing due to computer-controlled gear shift points. 

How much does the routine maintenance cost for petrol hatchbacks? 

Routine maintenance for petrol hatchbacks like the Maruti Suzuki Celerio, Wagon R, and Tata Tiago, covering brake checks, engine oil changes and air filter replacements, usually costs between ₹3,500 and ₹6,000 annually.