Due to the Citroen Basalt X‘s price points and body style, it can be considered an alternative to midsize SUVs like the Tata Curvv (another coupe-SUV), and Hyundai Creta and Maruti Victoris, and similar-sized sedans, like the Skoda Slavia. In fact, the Citroen and the Skoda (and by extension the Volkswagen Virtus) not only have comparable ground clearances of 180mm and 179mm, respectively, the Basalt X Turbo and the Slavia 1.0 Turbo variants share the same Aisin-sourced 6-speed automatic gearbox and near-identical ARAI efficiency figures. We find out which turbo-petrol engine and automatic gearbox combination is more fuel efficient in the real world with our exhaustive mileage tests.

Citroen Basalt X vs Skoda Slavia automatic specifications and price

Slavia’s 1.0-litre mill makes more power, but the Basalt’s bigger motor produces more torque

While both are powered by turbo-petrol engines, the bigger 1.2-litre unit in the Basalt X produces 27Nm more torque, while the Skoda 1.0-litre unit produces 5hp more. This is also reflected in their (approximate) torque-to-weight figures, which tips in the favour of Citroen’s coupe-SUV, and the power-to-weight, where the Skoda sedan gains back ground. Despite being slightly lighter than the Slavia 1.0 AT, the Basalt X automatic’s ARAI-claimed mileage is in fact 0.3kpl lower. It should be noted that in terms of prices, the Basalt X Turbo-AT variants cost up to Rs 2.8 lakh less than Slavia 1.0 AT trims, even when specced with the optional 360-degree camera, which is a Rs 25,000 extra. 

Citroen Basalt X AT vs Skoda Slavia AT real world mileage tests

The Basalt X automatic’s real-world mileage is slightly higher than the Slavia’s

Based on our city and highwat test runs, the Citroen Basalt X averaged a mileage of 11.95kpl, helping it achieve a real world range of around 538km on a single tank of petrol. As the Slavia 1.0 managed an average of 12.44kpl, its real world mileage is just 0.49kpl higher. The Skoda‘s similar-sized tank means its real-world mileage is about 560km, just 22km more than the Basalt X Turbo.

Autocar India’s fuel efficiency testing

Before our real-world fuel efficiency tests, we fill our test cars’ tanks to the brim and maintain tyre pressures based on the manufacturer’s recommendations. These cars are driven in fixed city and highway loops in and around Navi Mumbai, and we maintain certain average speeds. Throughout the tests, there is only one person in each car, running the aircon and other electricals, such as the audio system, indicators and wipers, when required, just like a regular user would. Periodic driver swaps further neutralise variations in driver patterns. At the end of each cycle, we calculate efficiency by filling the tanks to full again.

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