YouTuber Mercedes E20 retracts mileage claim, engine failure surfaces

YouTuber Saurav Joshi has retracted his earlier claim that E20 petrol was responsible for the sharp drop in fuel efficiency of the Mercedes-Benz SUV, saying that the problem is actually caused by a fault with the engine. The clarification comes days after Mercedes-Benz India announced that all its BS VI petrol models are fully compatible with E20 fuel.In a recent post on X, the content creator said that the car was checked at an authorized Mercedes-Benz service center, where technicians identified an engine issue affecting the SUV’s mileage. He also apologized for the confusion caused by his earlier statements, adding that he never intended to spread misinformation or mislead people.The controversy started after the vlogger claimed in one of his videos that the fuel efficiency of his Mercedes-Benz GLC dropped from around 17 kmpl to 5 kmpl in two days. He attributed the decline to gasoline blended with ethanol, saying that a full tank that used to travel about 800 km now only lasts 490 km.Following the viral video, Mercedes-Benz India issued an official statement regarding the allegations. The company reiterated that all its BS VI petrol vehicles are certified for E20 fuel compatibility and meet the required regulatory standards.“At Mercedes-Benz, customer safety, vehicle reliability and performance are of the utmost importance to us. All Mercedes-Benz petrol BS VI vehicles are materially compatible with E20 fuel and certified by the relevant authorities. We are happy to support customers with any technical queries. Mercedes-Benz is committed to sustainable mobility,” the company said in a statement.