Mercedes-Benz responds to YouTuber who blames E20 for drastic loss of fuel efficiency

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