Toyota HyCross And Maruti Invicto Hybrid MPV Owners: Use Only 95 Octane Petrol, Else Risk Catalytic Converter Damage

We recently came across a report about the Maruti Grand Vitara, where the manufacturer is recommending premium-grade petrol or fuel for the hybrid version of the SUV. It looks like this is not just the case for the Maruti Grand Vitara. Toyota also recommends 95 Octane or RON 95 fuel for its cars in India, specifically the Hyryder and the Innova Hycross.

Toyota has now updated the owner’s manual for the Hyryder SUV and the Hycross MPV, where it clearly mentions that cars manufactured after March 2025 should use RON 95 or 95 Octane fuel. This is done to optimise the engine performance of these cars.

Toyota has not yet mentioned whether this update is specific to hybrid or non-hybrid cars. For the Innova Hycross, the brand has not differentiated between the two versions. This could mean that both hybrid and non-hybrid engine options should use 95 Octane fuel.

However, in the case of the Toyota Hyryder, we already know that the hybrid version needs the premium RON 95 grade, while the non-hybrid version using the K15C series engine can function properly on 91 Octane grade fuel.

Not just the Toyota Innova Hycross, but the Maruti Suzuki Invicto MPV, which is a badge-engineered version of the Hycross manufactured after March 2025, will also be getting the same update. The reason Toyota has come forward with such an update is that low-octane fuel (below 95 Octane) could damage the catalytic converter in the vehicle.

The car should run fine even on regular 91 Octane, but it would reduce the life of the catalytic converter and, in the long run, become an expensive issue for the customer. The catalytic converter is an expensive part—in a car like the Toyota Hyryder, it could easily cost over ₹50,000. So, we feel it would be a good idea for customers not to take any chances and to start filling their cars with 95 Octane fuel as recommended by the manufacturer.

The 95 Octane is a premium grade of petrol with a higher octane rating, offering improved performance and engine protection compared to standard petrol. It's designed for high-performance engines, turbocharged engines, and luxury vehicles that recommend or require higher octane.

If your car has started stalling regularly, is losing power, or is experiencing increased fuel consumption, it is always a good idea to get your vehicle inspected at an authorised service centre. It could be due to a faulty catalytic converter.

Catalytic Converter

A catalytic converter is a device used to control exhaust emissions in an internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle. With emission norms getting stricter every year, we can only expect things to become more complex. Manufacturers will have to make changes to the engine to make cars compliant with emission norms, which will also reflect in the final price of the vehicles.

Coming back to the catalytic converter, it helps convert toxic gases and pollutants in the exhaust gas from the engine into less toxic substances before they are released through the exhaust or tailpipe of your vehicle.