Mercedes-Benz Clears Air on E20 Petrol Controversy After Sourav Joshi’s Viral Claims

A fresh controversy surrounding E20 petrol has prompted Mercedes-Benz India to issue an official clarification after popular YouTuber Sourav Joshi claimed that the fuel efficiency of his Mercedes-Benz SUV had dropped drastically after using ethanol-blended petrol.

The video quickly went viral across social media and later deleted by the Joshi, raising concerns among thousands of premium car owners about whether E20 fuel could damage modern petrol engines.

In response, Mercedes-Benz released a formal statement reaffirming that all of its BS6 petrol vehicles sold in India are engineered and certified to run safely on E20 fuel.

Why Mercedes-Benz Had to Issue an Official Explanation

The controversy began after Sourav Joshi, one of India’s biggest lifestyle content creators, alleged in his vlog that the mileage of his Mercedes-Benz SUV had fallen from around 16-17 kmpl to nearly 5 kmpl after switching to E20 petrol.

He also claimed that the estimated driving range on a full tank had reduced from nearly 800 km to around 480 km, expressing concerns that ethanol-blended fuel could eventually harm the engine.

The video rapidly gained millions of views and sparked widespread debate on social media, making it necessary for Mercedes-Benz India to publicly address customer concerns before misinformation spread further.

Mercedes-Benz India’s Official Statement

Mercedes-Benz India categorically denied suggestions that E20 fuel is incompatible with its latest petrol vehicles.

The company stated:

“All Mercedes-Benz petrol BS VI vehicles are materially compatible with E20 fuel and certified accordingly by relevant authorities.”

The luxury carmaker further emphasized that its BS6 petrol models have been developed and homologated according to Indian regulations, meaning customers can continue using E20 petrol without worrying about compatibility issues.

Does Mercedes Accept Mileage Can Reduce?

While Mercedes-Benz confirmed compatibility, the company did not specifically address the mileage figures claimed in the viral vlog.

Industry experts point out that ethanol contains less energy per litre than pure petrol, which means a slight reduction in fuel efficiency is technically possible with higher ethanol blends.

However, a drop from 17 kmpl to 5 kmpl would generally require additional factors such as driving conditions, traffic, vehicle load, fuel quality, or a possible mechanical issue rather than E20 fuel alone.

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Why the E20 Debate Has Become So Big?

India’s E20 fuel programme is part of the government’s strategy to reduce crude oil imports, lower emissions and promote domestically produced ethanol. However, the rollout has also triggered concerns among vehicle owners about engine durability, maintenance costs and real-world fuel efficiency.

The viral claims made by Sourav Joshi have brought these concerns back into the spotlight, forcing both automakers and policymakers to reassure consumers that modern BS6 vehicles are certified for E20 fuel.

At the same time, experts believe more real-world data and transparent testing will help build greater consumer confidence as India moves toward higher ethanol blending targets.

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