The price difference between petrol and diesel is a big factor for many car buyers in India. After all, lower fuel prices mean lower running expenses, right? But has this sentiment changed with the introduction of BS6 cars in India? It is time to find out.

First, let’s look at the narrowing gap between petrol and diesel prices. A quick glance at the YoY data below shows how the difference between petrol and diesel prices has reduced from ₹25 in FY 2012-13 to ₹7 in FY 2019-20. And with the latest price revision in the first week of May 2020, the price difference between petrol and diesel is less than ₹2 per litre in Delhi.

*Average fuel prices are considered for Delhi

This reducing price gap has played a big role in shifting the preference in favour of petrol cars. From 2012-13 when petrol cars accounted for 42% of the market share, this number has grown impressively to 70.5% in FY 2019-20. The growth of 28.5% over a period of 8 years clearly underlines that more and more car buyers now prefer petrol cars over diesel ones.

*Industry numbers are considered till March 31st, 2020
*Data is only for passenger vehicles
*Source of Data: SIAM

How To Choose The Right Car?

The best way to solve the Petrol v/s Diesel debate while buying a car is to understand the total cost of ownership. This would include: -
• Cost of the car – This is the on-road price you pay for the car
• Car finance Cost – This will include the loan processing fee and the interest you will pay on the loan amount
• Running Costs – This would be determined on the basis of your daily usage, fuel prices and the car’s fuel efficiency

Maruti Suzuki’s Calculator takes these parameters into account to help you decide between a Petrol v/s Diesel car. It doesn’t just tell you the cost difference between buying a petrol and diesel car but also the amount of kilometres and time it will take to recover the additional cost you pay for a diesel car.

Let’s Calculate to Understand It Better

The difference between a petrol and diesel car includes a lot more than just the type of fuel they run on.

CALCULATE NOW

Step 1

Choosing the location is the first step. Here, we have selected Gurgaon, Haryana.

Step 2

For this calculation, we have picked Swift Petrol LXI variant. For the diesel car, the cost of an equivalent diesel model is considered.

Step 3

This step is about Running Costs. The Swift has a certified fuel efficiency of 21.21 km/l*, making it one of the most fuel-efficient petrol cars in India. The fuel prices taken are real-time and the daily usage has been kept at 50 km.

Step 4

In this step, we enter the Finance Costs, The EMI amount (principal amount + interest) is shown on the basis of the loan amount you take, the repayment period you opt for and the rate of interest you choose.

Step 5

This is the final step where the petrol vs. diesel calculator provides you with the result.

In this case, you’ll be paying about ₹1.45 lakhs extra upfront. To recover this cost, you would need to drive the diesel car for close to 1,97,000 km and based on the daily usage of 50 km per day, that would need a little over 10 years and 8 months.

Do note that this calculator can be used for comparing BS6 cars in India across different segments.

From the car buyer’s perspective:

The number of kilometres to be driven is a huge number. Moreover, the registration of a diesel car will only be valid for 10 years in Delhi NCR.

The purpose of this car cost calculator by Maruti Suzuki is to give you a clear idea about the overall expenses involved in buying and using a car, and which among petrol and diesel cars is the better option for you.

At the end of the day, the choice you make is entirely yours. Make it wisely!

Maruti Suzuki In The BS6 Era

At Maruti Suzuki, we have the largest number of BS6 cars available in India, including petrol as well as S-CNG cars with BS6 compliant engines.

Maruti Suzuki’s BS6 engines are known for their enhanced reliability, superior performance and NVH, and thanks to our wide range of automotive technologies, our petrol cars deliver the best mileage in different driving conditions. Explore Maruti Suzuki’s BS6 cars in India that offer the best of driving performance and fuel-efficiency.

The article is for reference purpose only