Two separate real-world mileage tests of the Maruti Suzuki Victoris AWD mild-hybrid petrol-automatic were conducted independently, each producing notably different results from the official ARAI-claimed figure of 19.07kpl.
The AWD system, exclusive to the petrol-automatic variant, adds up to 100kg over the front-wheel-drive version, a weight penalty that directly impacts fuel efficiency across both city and highway conditions.
Both test units were the top-specification ZXi+ (O) variant of the Maruti Suzuki Victoris, equipped with Maruti's mild-hybrid system and all-wheel drive. The engine is a 1.5-litre, four-cylinder, naturally aspirated petrol unit paired with a six-speed Aisin-sourced torque converter automatic gearbox.
One test recorded the output at 102bhp and 139 Nm, while another noted it at approximately 103hp, figures that are broadly consistent across both reports. The ARAI-claimed mileage for this variant stands at 19.07kpl.
It is worth understanding the Victoris powertrain lineup before reading into the efficiency results. The SUV is available with four powertrain options, a strong hybrid paired with an eCVT, a CNG-manual combination, a mild-hybrid petrol with a five-speed manual, and a mild-hybrid petrol with a six-speed automatic. While all other variants are front-wheel driven, the petrol-automatic is the sole option that can be specified with all-wheel drive.
Two Tests, Two Results, What Each Found
Test One, A More Favourable City and Highway Split
The first real-world test, conducted as part of a long-term evaluation, returned 14.78kmpl in city conditions and 20.24kmpl on the highway, arriving at an overall figure of 16.1kmpl.
While this is still short of the 19.07kmpl ARAI claim, it paints a reasonably positive picture for highway cruising, with the Victoris even surpassing its official figure on an open road.
Test Two, Harsher Conditions, Significantly Lower Numbers
The second independent test told a rather different story. City driving returned just 8.93kmpl, while the highway run yielded 14.62kmpl, resulting in a tested average of 11.78kmpl, a shortfall of 7.29kmpl against the ARAI figure.
Conditions during this test were notably demanding; ambient temperatures ranged from 22 degrees at the start of the highway run to 37 degrees by the end of the city loop. The extreme heat affected the city mileage figure considerably, as the auto start-stop function would not keep the engine switched off for extended periods in order to maintain a preset cabin temperature. This is a real-world variable that laboratory testing simply cannot replicate.
Why the AWD System Makes Efficiency Harder
The Victoris AWD tips the scales at between 1,285kg and 1,305kg, up to 100kg heavier than the front-wheel-drive version. This additional mass is precisely why Maruti's own ARAI figure for the AWD sits 1.99kpl lower than that of the FWD variant at the outset.
For further context, a separate real-world test of the mechanically near-identical Grand Vitara petrol-AT in front-wheel-drive configuration returned a combined figure of 13.45kpl, already higher than what the Victoris AWD managed under the more challenging of the two test conditions.
How the Real-World Test Methodology Works
In both test protocols, fuel tanks were filled to the brim before testing began, and tyre pressures were set to manufacturer recommendations. Cars were driven through fixed city and highway loops at maintained average speeds, with the air-conditioning and all standard electricals, audio system, indicators, and wipers where required, running throughout, mirroring typical ownership use.
Driver swaps were carried out periodically to neutralize individual driving patterns. At the conclusion of each loop, efficiency was calculated by refilling the tank to the brim and measuring consumption.
What Buyers Should Take Away from These Results
The Victoris AWD is a genuinely capable SUV, and its all-wheel-drive system remains a rare offering at this price point in India. However, real-world efficiency will vary considerably depending on ambient conditions, traffic density, and use of climate control.
Buyers prioritizing frugality would be better served by the strong-hybrid or CNG variants of the Victoris, with the strong-hybrid claiming up to 28.65kmpl.
For those committed to the AWD variant, a realistic fuel economy expectation, based on the two tests, would fall somewhere between 12 and 16kpl, depending on how and where the car is driven.
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