Most expensive CNG cars, SUVs in India

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.

Published On Mar 07, 2024 12:11:00 PM

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CNG-powered cars are increasingly becoming one of the top picks for buyers in the Indian market – Retail sales data available on the VAHAN website reveals that 3,64,528 CNG cars were sold in the first 10 months of FY2024 (April 2023-January 2024), which is a 29 percent increase over last year's 2,82,364 units. This is majorly because the greener fuel costs considerably lower than petrol and diesel. For example, in Mumbai, CNG currently costs Rs 73.50 per kg – cheaper by Rs 32.81 and Rs 20.77 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.

10. Maruti Suzuki Baleno

Price: Rs 8.40 lakh-9.33 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.

9. Maruti Suzuki Dzire

Price: Rs 8.44 lakh-9.12 lakh

Maruti Suzuki launched the Dzire CNG back in March 2022 and is currently the most expensive compact CNG 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 the same 1.2-litre, four-cylinder engine that does duty on the Baleno, and produces 76hp and 98.5Nm of torque in CNG mode 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.

8. Maruti Suzuki Fronx CNG

Price: Rs 8.46 lakh-9.32 lakh

The Fronx is a coupe-crossover based on the Baleno, so the powertrain here is the same 1.2-litre unit as on the Baleno and Dzire with identical outputs. Maruti Suzuki claims that the Fronx CNG offers a fuel efficiency of 28.51km/kg. The Fronx CNG is available only on the entry-level Sigma and Delta trims, but still comes fairly well equipped with features such as 7.0-inch touchscreen, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity, automatic climate control, dual airbags and reverse parking sensors.

7. Toyota Glanza

Price: Rs 8.65 lakh-9.68 lakh

The Glanza was Toyota’s first CNG model, and 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 25,000 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 9.29 lakh-12.25 lakh

The Brezza is the first and only compact SUV to get a CNG powertrain. It's 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 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, 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.

5. Maruti Suzuki Ertiga

Price: Rs 10.78 lakh-11.88 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 the 1.5-litre, K15C engine as the Brezza, and comes mated to a 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. It has a 60-litre CNG tank and Maruti claims a mileage figure of 26.11km/kg.

4. Toyota Rumion CNG

Price: Rs 11.39 lakh

The Rumion is Toyota’s badge-engineered sibling to the Ertiga, which means under the skin, it’s the same as the Ertiga with the same 1.5-litre K15C powertrain. However, unlike the Ertiga CNG that comes in mid-spec trims, the Rumion is only available in a single entry-level S trim. That said, the Rumion's S trim is equipped at par with Ertiga's mid-spec VXi trim, which means it’s not as bare bones, although it’s a fair bit more expensive than the Ertiga. Toyota claims a fuel efficiency figure of 26.11 km/kg which, again, is identical to that of the Maruti.

3. Maruti Suzuki XL6

Price: Rs 12.56 lakh

The XL6 CNG is a more premium alternative to the Ertiga CNG, and was the second model from the Nexa line-up to get a CNG powertrain. The XL6 CNG is also available in a sole mid-spec 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.

2. Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara

Price: Rs 13.11 lakh-14.92 lakh

Launched in January 2023, the Grand Vitara was 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 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 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.

1. Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder

Price: Rs 13.71 lakh-15.59 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.

Also see:

Most affordable diesel cars, SUVs in India in April 2023