Mercedes-Benz India has issued a clarification after a popular YouTuber claimed that his Mercedes GLC SUV suffered a massive drop in fuel efficiency after being refuelled with E20 petrol. The automaker said all its BS VI petrol models sold in India are compatible with E20 fuel and meet the required certification standards.The controversy began after the content creator Saurav Joshi shared a video claiming that his Mercedes-Benz SUV’s fuel economy had dropped from around 17 kmpl to just 5 kmpl within two days. He also alleged that the vehicle’s estimated driving range had fallen from nearly 800 km on a full tank to about 480 km after switching to E20 petrol. Expressing concerns over the fuel, he suggested that ethanol-blended petrol could affect engine reliability and said he was worried about using his petrol-powered SUV.Soon after, Mercedes-Benz India released a customer advisory, stating that customer safety, vehicle reliability and performance remain its top priorities. The company clarified that all Mercedes-Benz BS VI petrol vehicles are materially compatible with E20 fuel and have been certified by the relevant authorities. It also said customers facing technical concerns can approach the brand for assistance.E20 petrol, which contains 20 percent ethanol and 80 percent petrol, has been at the centre of a wider public debate in recent weeks. While some vehicle owners have reported lower fuel efficiency after using the blended fuel, the government has maintained that E20 is safe for compatible vehicles and says any reduction in mileage is expected to be limited, typically in the range of 3-5 percent depending on the vehicle and operating conditions.
