Here’s a close look at the CNG models from Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai, Toyota and Tata Motors which range from Rs 7.5 lakh upto Rs 16 lakh.
CNG-powered cars are increasingly becoming one of the top picks for buyers in the Indian market – in the financial year 2023, sales of CNG-powered passenger vehicles crossed 3.18 lakh units, recording 40.7 percent year-on-year growth. This is majorly because the greener fuel costs considerably lower than petrol and diesel. For example, in Mumbai, CNG currently stands at Rs 79 per kg – cheaper by Rs 27.29 and Rs 15.25 than petrol and diesel, respectively.
Additionally, with a majority of automakers having pulled the plug on small-capacity diesel engines, buyers are looking towards CNG for better fuel efficiency numbers.
CNG vehicles offer significantly lesser running costs, but they do command a large premium over their petrol counterparts. And despite the fuel type being predominantly relegated to the budget end of the market, carmakers have recently been introducing CNG versions of their more expensive models. So, here’s a list of the most expensive CNG vehicles currently in India consisting of compact sedans, premium hatchbacks and midsize SUVs.
1. Tata Tigor
Price: Rs 7.60 lakh-8.90 lakh
We begin the list with the Tata Tigor, which is currently the most affordable compact sedan with a factory-fitted CNG kit in the market. Available in XM, XZ, and XZ+ trims, it commands a premium of Rs 90,000 compared to its corresponding petrol manual trims. The Tigor CNG is powered by a 1.2-litre, three-cylinder Revotron engine that puts out 70hp and 95Nm in CNG mode and 86hp with 113Nm in petrol-only mode. One of its unique aspects is that it can be started directly in CNG mode. Overall, the compact sedan offers a claimed economy figure of 26.49km/kg and in its top-spec trim, it gets features like rain-sensing wipers, automatic headlamps, a 7-inch touchscreen, automatic climate control and a digital instrument cluster.
2. Hyundai Aura
Price: Rs 8.13 lakh-8.90 lakh
In January 2023, Hyundai launched the facelifted Aura, which gets a petrol engine option along with a factory-fitted CNG kit. The Aura CNG is available in two trims – S and SX – and commands a premium of 95,000 over its corresponding petrol manual trims. Powering the compact sedan is a 1.2-litre engine that puts out 69hp and 95Nm of torque whilst being paired to a sole 5-speed manual gearbox. In the higher-spec SX trim, the Aura CNG gets equipment like 15-inch alloy wheels, four airbags, an 8-inch touchscreen and a cooled glovebox.
3. Maruti Suzuki Baleno
Price: Rs 8.35 lakh-9.28 lakh
The Baleno was the first Maruti Nexa model to be equipped with a factory-fitted CNG kit and was launched back in late October 2022. The Baleno CNG is available in two trims, Delta and Zeta, and commands a premium of Rs 95,000 for each corresponding trim when compared to its petrol counterpart. Powering the premium hatchback is the same 1.2-litre, four-cylinder, K12N engine that puts out 90hp and 113Nm in petrol mode and 77.4hp and 98.5Nm in CNG mode whilst being paired to a sole 5-speed manual gearbox. Overall, the Baleno CNG can deliver a claimed fuel economy of 30.61km/kg.
4. Maruti Suzuki Dzire
Price: Rs 8.39 lakh-9.07 lakh
Maruti Suzuki launched the Dzire CNG back in March 2022 and is currently the most expensive compact sedan in the market. The brand offers the Dzire CNG in VXi and ZXi trims, and it’s priced Rs 95,000 more than its corresponding petrol manual trims. Powering the Dzire CNG is a 1.2-litre, four-cylinder engine that produces 76hp and 98.5Nm of torque whilst being paired to a sole 5-speed manual transmission. The Dzire CNG also offers the best mileage figure amongst the list of compact sedans – 31.12km/kg.
5. Toyota Glanza
Price: Rs 8.50 lakh-9.53 lakh
As Toyota’s first CNG model, the Glanza is identical to the Baleno CNG; it is also available in two trims – S and G – and shares the same powertrain. However, the starting price of the Glanza CNG is Rs 15,000 more than that of its Maruti counterpart. Along with sharing the same power and mileage figures as the Baleno CNG, the Glanza also gets the same equipment on the inside, which include LED projector headlamps, 16-inch alloys, a 7.0-inch touchscreen, voice assistant, connected car tech with OTA updates, a start/stop button, and six airbags on the top-spec trim.
6. Maruti Suzuki Brezza
Price: Rs 9.24 lakh-12 lakh
As the first compact SUV to get a CNG powertrain, the Brezza is available in three trims – LXi, VXi, ZXi – and cost Rs 95,000 more for each corresponding trim than its petrol counterpart. Powering the Brezza CNG is the same 1.5-litre K15C DualJet engine that’s only available with a 5-speed manual transmission. The unit produces 101hp and 136Nm in petrol-only mode, however, the output dips to 88hp and 121.5Nm in CNG mode. Equipped with a 55-litre CNG tank onboard, the Brezza CNG offers a claimed fuel economy of 25.51km/kg. The Brezza CNG’s ZXi trim gets features like a 7.0-inch touchscreen with SmartPlay Pro+ system, wireless Android Auto/Apple CarPlay, a start/stop button, sunroof and cruise control.
7. Maruti Suzuki Ertiga
Price: Rs 10.73 lakh-11.83 lakh
The Ertiga is the second MPV after the Eeco to be equipped with a factory-fitted CNG kit in Maruti Suzuki’s Arena line-up. Offered in VXi and ZXi trims, the Ertiga CNG is powered by a 1.5-litre, K15C engine that’s mated to a sole 5-speed manual transmission. The MPV puts out 86hp and 121Nm in CNG mode and 99hp with 136Nm in petrol-only mode. Feature highlights on the top-spec trim include automatic headlamps, a start/stop engine button, a 7-inch touchscreen, four airbags, and cooled cupholders. With a 60-litre tank onboard, the Ertiga CNG offers a claimed mileage figure of 26.11km/kg.
8. Maruti Suzuki XL6
Price: Rs 12.51 lakh
The XL6 CNG is the direct rival to the Ertiga CNG and also shares the distinction of being the first CNG model from the Nexa dealership. Unlike the Ertiga CNG, the XL6 is available in a sole Zeta trim and gets features like cruise control, an engine start/stop button, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a 7-inch touchscreen and four airbags. The XL6 CNG shares the same powertrain as the Ertiga CNG but offers a marginally higher claimed fuel economy of 26.32km/kg.
9. Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara
Price: Rs 13.05 lakh-14.86 lakh
Launched in January of this year, the Grand Vitara is the country’s first midsize SUV to get a factory-fitted CNG kit. Available in mid-spec Delta and Zeta trims, the Grand Vitara CNG costs Rs 95,000 more than the corresponding petrol manual trims. Powered by the same 1.5-litre K15C engine from the XL6 and Ertiga CNG, the SUV produces 88hp and 121.5Nm of torque in CNG-spec and 103hp and 136Nm of torque in petrol-only mode whilst being paired to a sole 5-speed manual transmission. In its top-spec trim, the Grand Vitara CNG gets equipment like full-LED headlamps, 17-inch alloy wheels, a 9.0-inch touchscreen system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, connected car tech, an engine start/stop button, and six airbags.
10. Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder
Price: Rs 13.23 lakh-15.29 lakh
The second midsize SUV in its class to be equipped with a factory-fitted CNG kit, the Hyryder squarely rivals the Grand Vitara CNG. Available in S and G trims, the Hyryder CNG costs Rs 95,000 more than its corresponding petrol manual trims and is the most expensive CNG car on sale so far. It is not only powered by the same powertrain as the Grand Vitara CNG but also offers an identical claimed fuel economy figure of 26.6km/kg. In its top-spec G trim, the Hyryder CNG shares the same equipment list as the Grand Vitara CNG, such as full-LED headlamps, 17-inch alloy wheels, a 9.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, connected car tech, an engine start/stop button, six airbags and cruise control.
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