Octane, in one paragraph
Octane rating — the Research Octane Number (RON) — measures how well petrol resists knock, the premature combustion that can happen under load. Higher octane (95, 97, 99, 100) resists knock better; it is not a measure of how much energy the fuel contains. Whether a higher grade helps depends on your engine: high-compression and turbocharged engines are designed to use it, ordinary engines mostly are not.
India's premium petrol grades, compared
| Grade | Company | RON | Ethanol | Where |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 XP100 | IndianOil | 100 | Ethanol-free (0%)* | Find it → |
| 100 Power 100 | HPCL | 100 | Ultra-low (≤4.5%)* | Find it → |
| Power 99 | HPCL | 99 | E20 | Find it → |
| Speed 97 | BPCL | 97 | E20 | Find it → |
| V-Power | Shell | 97 | E20 | Find it → |
| ACTIVE | Jio-bp | ~97 | E20 | Find it → |
| XP95 | IndianOil | 95 | E20 | Find it → |
| Power 95 | HPCL | 95 | E20 | Find it → |
*Ethanol: IndianOil markets XP100 as ethanol-free (0%); HPCL states Power 100 is ultra-low (up to ~4.5%). Everything below 100 octane is E20 (~20% ethanol). Content can vary by outlet and batch — confirm at the pump.
What E20 changed
India now blends regular petrol with up to 20% ethanol (E20). Ethanol carries less energy per litre than petrol, so some drivers report a small drop in mileage and look for a lower-ethanol option — especially owners of older vehicles, motorcycles and performance engines. Only 100-octane petrol is low in ethanol today, and it is sold at just 332 outlets nationwide. See where to find ethanol-free & low-ethanol petrol →
By brand
Each oil company sells its premium fuel under its own name: IndianOil XP100 / XP95, HPCL Power 100 / 99 / 95, BPCL Speed 97, Shell V-Power and Jio-bp ACTIVE. Each brand page lists the cities and outlets where we've verified it.
Frequently asked questions
What does octane (RON) mean?
Octane rating — measured as the Research Octane Number, or RON — is a fuel’s resistance to “knock”, the premature, uneven combustion that can occur under load. A higher number (95, 97, 99, 100) means more resistance to knock, which lets engines with high compression or forced induction run at their designed timing.
What is the highest-octane petrol in India?
The highest is 100 octane (RON 100), sold as IndianOil XP100 and HPCL Power 100. Both are available at only a small number of outlets nationwide, mostly in and around larger cities.
Which petrol has the least ethanol?
IndianOil markets XP100 as ethanol-free (0%). HPCL Power 100 is ultra-low ethanol (up to about 4.5% per HPCL). Every grade below 100 octane — XP95, Power 95/99, BPCL Speed 97, Shell V-Power, Jio-bp ACTIVE — is E20, blended to about 20% ethanol.
Does higher-octane petrol give better mileage?
Not automatically. Octane measures knock resistance, not energy content. You mainly benefit if your engine is designed for premium fuel (high compression, turbocharged) or if switching from E20 to a lower-ethanol 100-octane grade, since ethanol carries less energy per litre. For a car tuned for regular petrol, the practical gain is usually small.
Is higher-octane petrol better for my bike or car?
Use what the manufacturer recommends in the owner’s manual. High-performance bikes and cars with high compression ratios can benefit from higher octane; ordinary engines generally will not gain much. Higher octane does not “clean” an engine on its own — that comes from a fuel’s detergent additives, which vary by brand.