Mercedes-Benz India has issued a clarification after a popular YouTuber claimed that its Mercedes GLC SUV suffered a massive drop in fuel efficiency after refueling 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 started after content creator Saurav Joshi shared a video claiming that the fuel economy of his Mercedes-Benz SUV had dropped from around 17 kmpl to just 5 kmpl in two days. He also said the vehicle’s estimated driving range had dropped from nearly 800km with a full tank to around 480km after switching to E20 petrol. Expressing concerns about the fuel, he suggested that gasoline blended with ethanol could affect the engine’s reliability and said he was worried about using his SUV on gasoline.Soon after, Mercedes-Benz India issued a notice to customers, stating that customer safety, vehicle reliability and performance remain their 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 that customers facing technical issues can approach the brand for assistance.E20 gasoline, which contains 20% ethanol and 80% gasoline, has been at the center 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 mileage reduction is expected to be limited, typically in the 3-5 percent range depending on the vehicle and operating conditions.
