Introduction
The automotive landscape in India is witnessing a significant shift towards eco-friendly and cost-effective options, with vehicles powered by Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) gaining popularity. CNG vehicles offer several benefits, including lower fuel costs and lower emissions, making them an attractive option for many Indian consumers. This article will explore the top CNG cars available in the Indian market, their key features and the benefits of CNG technology.
Before Buying a CNG Car
It is important to keep some things in mind before buying a new car. There are some special things for CNG cars as well:
The performance and power might be reduces a bit on CNG (about 10-15%), but if you mostly drive in the city, you won’t feel much difference. Make sure to consider their fuel efficiency and also keep in mind the distance CNG cars can travel in one go.
The boot space is a common concern. Conventional CNG cylinders take up a lot of boot space. But, brands like Tata have now come up with twin-cylinder technology, which gives you some boot space. So do check it according to your requirement.
Safety & Technology: Factory-fitted CNG kits are extremely safe. They come with features like leak proof plumbing, auto cut-off while refueling and advanced sensors. You can be absolutely worry free.
Maintenance: CNG cars require slightly different maintenance, like changing the CNG filter. But overall, the running costs are so low that this extra maintenance seems negligible.
Availability of CNG Stations: Make sure to check whether your city has enough CNG filling stations.
Top Picks of CNG Cars
1. Maruti Suzuki Ertiga:
This is the highest selling car among the other CNG cars with total sales of 1,29,920 units in India’s financial year 2025.
Variants: VXi CNG (ex-showroom price – 11.16 lakh) and ZXi CNG (ex-showroom price – 12.25 lakh)
Engine: 1462cc (K15C)
Torque: 121.5 Nm
Power: 87 bhp
Transmission: 5 gears MT
Mileage: 22-23 km/kg
CNG capacity: 8-9 kg
Features: Reverse camera (in Zxi variant), Digital display (7″ touch screen display in ZXi variant), Android Auto, Apple CarPlay (in ZXi variant)
Safety: 6 airbags, ABS, EBD, ESP, Hill hold control
2. Maruti Suzuki Brezza:
The 5 seater SUV car comes with 3 different CNG variants: LXi, VXi and ZXi of S-CNG model. The ex-showroom prices of the variants are 9.64 lakh, 10.70 lakh and 12.21 lakh.
Engine: 1462cc (K15C)
Torque: 121.5 Nm
Power: 87 bhp
Transmission: 5 gears MT
Mileage: 22-24 km/kg
CNG capacity: 7-8.5 kg
Features: 7″ touch screen display, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, USB port – available in VXi and ZXi variants, but not in LXi.
Safety: 6 airbags, ABS, EBD, ESP, Hill hold control
3. Tata Nexon:
It is the safest CNG car, having received a 5 star safety rating from Bharat NCAP. It comes with 5 different CNG variants which are,
Smart 1.2 iCNG – 8.90 lakh
Smart Plus 1.2 iCNG – 10 lakh
Smart Plus (S) 1.2 iCNG – 10.30 lakh
Pure Plus 1.2 iCNG – 10.70 lakh
Creative 1.2 iCNG – 12 lakh
Engine: 1199cc (1.2L Turbocharged Revotron Engine)
Torque: 170 Nm
Power: 99 bhp
Transmission: 6 gears MT and Sport Mode
Mileage: 17-18 km/kg
CNG capacity: 8-9 kg
Features: 7″ touch screen display, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, USB port, GPS navigation system (not in Smart 1.2 iCNG variant).
Safety: 6 airbags, ABS, EBD, ESP, Hill hold control
4. Maruti Suzuki Dzire:
A family friendly safest Sedan, which have received a 5 star safety rating from Bharat NCAP and it comes with 2 different CNG variant, makes it more fuel efficient.
Variants: VXi – 8.79 lakh (ex-showroom) and ZXi – 9.89 lakh (ex-showroom)
Engine: 1197cc (Z12E)
Torque: 101.8 Nm
Power: 69 bhp
Transmission: 5 gears MT
Mileage: 25-28 km/kg
CNG capacity: 7-8.5 kg
Features: 7″ touch screen display, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, USB port, GPS navigation system, wireless charger (in ZXi variant)
Safety: 6 airbags, ABS, EBD, ESP, Hill hold control
5. Maruti Suzuki Baleno:
This is the hatchback that received a 4 star safety rating from Bharat NCAP and most popular in the segment.
Variants: Delta – 8.48 lakh (ex-showroom) and Zeta – 9.41 lakh
Engine: 1197cc (1.2L VVT)
Torque: 98.5 Nm
Power: 76 bhp
Transmission: 5 gears MT
Mileage: 23-26 km/kg
CNG capacity: 7-8.5 kg
Features: 7″ touch screen display, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, USB port, GPS navigation system
Safety: 6 airbags, ABS, EBD, ESP, Hill hold control
6. Tata Tigor:
It is an affordable and safest Sedan with CNG. In Bharat NCAP crash test this car is received a 4 star safety rating and it comes in 5 variants.
XT iCNG – 7.80 lakh
XZ iCNG – 8.40 lakh
XZA iCNG – 8.95 lakh
XZ Plus iCNG – 9 lakh
XZA Plus iCNG – 9.55 lakh
Engine: 1199cc (Bi Fuel)
Torque: 96.5 Nm
Power: 72 bhp
Transmission: 5 gears MT and AMT (XZA & XZA Plus)
Mileage: 23-25 km/kg
CNG capacity: 9-10.5 kg
Features: 7″ touch screen display (10″ touch screen in XZA Plus variant), Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, USB port – not available in XT variant
Safety: 2 airbags, ABS, (EBD, ESP, Hill hold control, Reverse camera) – not available in XT variant
7. Tata Punch:
Tata’s compact SUV and safest car in the world, because it have received a 5 star safety rating from Global NCAP. This is the most impressive thing of Tata Punch. It has so many different variants, but the choosable CNG variants are:
Pure iCNG – 7.30 lakh
Adventure iCNG – 8.12 lakh
Adventure Plus iCNG – 8.47 lakh
Adventure (S) iCNG – 8.67 lakh
Adventure Plus (S) iCNG – 9.17 lakh
Engine: 1199cc (1.2 Revotron)
Torque: 103 Nm
Power: 72 bhp
Transmission: 5 gears MT
Mileage: 18-20 km/kg
CNG capacity: 8-9 kg
Features: 7″ touch screen display, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay (not in Pure & Adventure variants), USB port, Bluetooth connectivity (not in Pure variant)
Safety: 2 airbags, ABS, EBD, ESP, Reverse camera
Why Choose CNG Cars in India
Big Money Savings: First and the biggest reason! Where petrol is more than ₹100/litre, CNG is available for around ₹75-85/kg. Think how much money you will save per kilometre! Your daily commute expenses will be almost halved. CNG cars truly save your money.
Environment-friendly Choice: Not just pocket friendly, cars are better for our planet too. They produce less harmful emissions than petrol or diesel. Clean air, smart choice!
The Confidence of Factory-fitted: Nowadays, most CNG cars come pre-fitted from the factory. This means that your car’s warranty remains intact, safety standards are top-notch and performance is also the best because the company has specifically tuned it for CNG.
A Growing Network: Earlier there was probably a problem with CNG stations, but now CNG pumps are available in every big city and on highways in India. So the tension of range anxiety has also reduced. The Indian government is also promoting clean fuel to reduce pollution.
Conclusion
Choosing a CNG car is one of the wisest decisions you can make today. With rising fuel costs and increasing pollution, CNG cars in India offer you a great balance of savings, performance and eco-friendliness. Whether you want a small hatchback or a family MPV, the Indian market has plenty of CNG options to suit your budget and needs.
FAQs
Yes, factory-fitted CNG cars pass rigorous safety tests. They have high-quality tanks, leak proof systems and auto cut-off valves, which make them as safe as petrol cars.
No, not at all. CNG cars require the same maintenance as petrol cars, but regular servicing is recommended for best performance.
CNG cars offer many benefits, including low operating costs, low environmental impact and fuel savings. Due to these benefits, they are becoming increasingly popular among Indian consumers.
CNG infrastructure in India is expanding and the network of CNG stations is growing in major cities. However, availability in rural areas is still limited, although expansion plans are underway.
