Does E20 Petrol Reduce Mileage? Mercedes-Benz Responds to Sourav Joshi's Now Deleted Viral Video

YouTuber Sourav Joshi has now deleted a vlog after facing backlash over claims that his Mercedes-Benz GLC 300's fuel efficiency dropped drastically due to E20 petrol. Joshi had alleged that the SUV's mileage fell from around 16 km/L to as low as 5 km/L after switching to the ethanol-blended fuel. The viral video prompted Mercedes-Benz India to issue clarification in which they explained that such a fall in mileage cannot be linked to ethanol-blended fuel without proper technical evaluation.

In his now deleted viral vlog, Joshi said his recently purchased SUV was initially returning around 17 kmpl. According to him, the figure later dropped to nearly 9 kmpl and, on some occasions, even touched 5 kmpl. He suggested that the switch to E20 petrol could be the reason behind the decline.

His viral video have added to the already existing controversy around E20 fuel which is now being rolled out across the country as part of the Centre's ethanol blending programme.

So, what is E20? E20 is nothing but a blend of 20 per cent ethanol and 80 per cent petrol. The government has expanded its use to reduce dependence on imported crude oil, strengthen India's energy security and encourage domestic ethanol production.

Since ethanol consumes less energy than petrol, so a slight dip in mileage in the vehicle is expected. However, government said that your driving style, tyre pressure, servicing and even AC usage have a much bigger impact.

The government has also maintained that E20 is a scientifically tested fuel that complies with the quality standards prescribed by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). It has urged motorists not to rely on unverified claims circulating on social media and has reiterated that the ethanol blending programme is aimed at improving air quality, enhancing energy security and supporting farmers through increased ethanol production.

Responding to the discussion, Mercedes-Benz India said all its BS VI petrol vehicles are fully compatible with E20 fuel.

Customer Advisory pic.twitter.com/RxuTYl6Phz

— Mercedes-Benz India (@MercedesBenzInd) July 12, 2026

In a statement, the luxury carmaker said, "At Mercedes-Benz, customer safety, vehicle reliability and performance are of paramount importance to us. All Mercedes-Benz petrol BS VI vehicles are materially compatible with E20 fuel and certified accordingly by relevant authorities. We are happy to support customers for any technical queries. Mercedes-Benz remains committed to sustainable mobility."

The company's clarification is in line with its long-standing position that BS VI petrol models sold in India have been engineered and certified to run on E20 fuel.

The response also comes as India moves closer to making E20 the standard petrol available at fuel stations nationwide. To speed up the transition, the Centre advanced its target of achieving 20 per cent ethanol blending from 2030 to the 2025-26 ethanol supply year, making E20 an increasingly common fuel choice for motorists across the country.