Who Should Still Buy Premium Petrol In 2026? Explained!
The other day, we did a story explaining why it is pointless to buy premium petrol in 2026, as it no longer has the edge in RON (Research Octane Number) that it once used to offer. E20 petrol (20% Ethanol-blended petrol) - both premium and regular - have a RON value of around 95. That makes a big difference. Who should still continue buying premium petrol (think of XP95, Power95, Speed 97 and more)? Here’s your answer. People who want to buy ‘petrol mixed with cleansing additives’ may still buy these in 2026. Read on, for the more detailed answer.
Premium petrol is essentially high-grade fuel, formulated with a significantly higher Octane number than the petrol that was on sale previously. India’s first premium petrol - Bharat Petroleum’s Speed, was launched in 2002, when the Octane number of regular petrol was around 87. It, however, had the same Octane value but came with additives that promised higher efficiency, smoother engine operation and cleaner combustion (lesser emissions).
Premium petrols like Indian Oil’s XP95 and HP Power that came much later, had significantly higher RON values. By that time, 91 Octane was the RON baseline for regular petrol.
People used to buy them for their higher RON value and performance-friendly nature. Benefits like lower emissions, cleaner combustion, smoother engine operation, etc were all preserved.
The rollout of E20 has made many premium petrol brands obsolete, in a certain way. People who used to buy 95-Octane fuel for its ‘high’ RON value alone, do not have to do so anymore as even the regular E20 petrol has similar RON value and related traits.
The blending process itself has caused this increase in RON. Ethanol has a RON value of 108, and this has raised the overall RON of blended fuel to the 95+ territory. This would cater to the demands of people who are in search of high Octane fuel.
A high RON value would resist pre-ignition and allow the fuel to withstand higher compression before getting ignited. High compression and turbocharged engines will particularly find this useful.
When running on high-Octane fuel, they will deliver more power and fuel efficiency. The ignition will also become even, leading to cleaner and better combustion.
E20 petrol has lesser emissions than unblended petrol, as Ethanol burns cleaner than standard petrol. This was also something that premium petrol brands used to achieve with their additives.
For daily commuting, there is very little real-world difference between E20 and standard 95-Octane premium petrol. It thus makes little financial sense to spend extra on premium-branded petrol instead of regular petrol for most users.
The actual reason for anyone to buy premium petrol in 2026 is not the RON value, but the chemicals that it comes with. Premium petrol continues to contain specialised detergents, dispersants, and friction modifiers, designed specifically to keep the engine clean over time. These actively remove carbon deposits from critical areas like fuel injectors, intake valves, and combustion chambers.
If not removed periodically, Carbon deposits can affect fuel spray patterns and airflow, affecting the engine’s performance and efficiency. The consistent use of premium petrol can clean these deposits.
Again, you can also do this by using cleansers and additives with regular E20 petrol. Getting the math right and analysing which of these makes more sense is something an individual needs to do himself/herself.
Enthusiasts who care about throttle response and refinement will also notice subtle gains, especially when the engine is working under heavy load.
Another group of people who should still consider premium petrol in 2026 is people who own high-end performance cars and vehicles with engines that are extremely sensitive to fuel quality. It remains a fact that premium fuel can make performance cars and sports cars unlock their peak performance.
Ultra-high Octane petrol like the XP100 is probably the best example. It is very expensive and equally rewarding in terms of performance delivered. XP100 is also the only resort for people who are looking for a completely Ethanol-free petrol brand. But one must also be prepared to pay upwards of Rs. 160 per liter for 100 Octane non-ethanol blended petrol. For everyone else, regular petrol (E20) will do just fine.