CNG will make economic sense over petrol only when there’s a certain threshold of running.
What fuel type should I go for in between CNG and petrol? Are there any drawbacks between the two?
Devesh Vidhani, Ajmer
Autocar India says: Choosing between a CNG or petrol car solely depends upon your priorities in terms of the vehicle’s performance and practicality, ease of refuelling, as well as the car’s average monthly mileage.
While a CNG-equipped car offers around one-and-a-half times the fuel efficiency in CNG mode than in petrol, and only an average monthly running of around 1,500km would justify the additional investment over the petrol variant, while taking into account the overall maintenance expenses and the narrowing gap between the two fuel prices.
Moreover, the fuel-efficiency trade-off comes with almost negligible boot space, which could limit your vehicle’s usage. Options like the Maruti Suzuki Dzire CNG, Hyundai Aura CNG, Tata Tigor CNG and Maruti Suzuki Ertiga CNG, however, aim to offer the best balance between usable boot capacity and driving range by installing a large CNG cylinder in the vehicle’s boot.
In terms of performance though, CNG technology has significantly evolved, and most carmakers are able to integrate the bi-fuel powertrain with as little as 10 percent power loss in CNG mode, which is hardly perceptible in day-to-day driving conditions in both city and highway. The factory-fitted CNG kits also adhere to the highest levels of safety standards.
At the end of the day, it all boils down to the net cost savings while driving on CNG, as well as the network of CNG pumps in the primary city where the vehicle will be used, to avoid long refuelling queues.
If the vehicle’s running is not going to cross the aforementioned threshold, we would advise opting for a petrol-only car and enjoying its effortless performance, convenience and low maintenance costs over a longer time.
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