Currently, we have a Renault Kiger RXT Option manual with a naturally aspirated engine. We want to upgrade to a bigger car. My family is considering the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara, Victoris petrol/CNG, or Hyundai Creta petrol. Our budget is 13-15 lakh. We want a reliable car for long-term ownership of around 15 years, as we are a middle-class family and cannot easily replace the car if we are not satisfied. We are also worried about the possibility of E85 petrol in the future. So we are confused whether to go for CNG. However, I have heard that CNG cars still need to start or run a few kilometres on petrol. If E85 comes, will that harm the car? Our usage is mostly in the city, with one highway trip per year.
In your case, we’d pick the Maruti Suzuki Victoris VXi 1.5 petrol manual. It is a clear step up from your Kiger in space and back-seat comfort, feels easy and smooth in traffic, and Maruti’s wide service network will keep long-term ownership simple. Moreover, Marutis tend to have great resale values, so it won't pinch as much if you have to sell it after 15 years, and the brand's after-sales and service reputation is exemplary.For your running, opting for CNG isn't worth the additional hassles. CNG saves money only when you drive a lot each month. It also feels slower as it saps a lot of power, and often requires waiting in long queues to fill up, as it's not as commonly available as petrol.As for E85, there is concern around it, but currently there is no clear rollout. Just as manufacturers adapted to E20, they are likely to provide solutions if higher ethanol blends are introduced. In the short term, it should not be an issue, and as you have pointed out, a CNG car will require you to have some petrol in the tank, which, if your car is not ethanol ready, is potentially more dangerous.Another option is to try a diesel car, such as the Hyundai Venue, Kia Sonet or Kia Syros, which, though not as spacious as the Victoris, do pack in a lot for the money. They are reasonably reliable too and should hold up well over 15 years, with mileage better than a petrol car. The trade-off, however, is that you will have to maintain the DPF by doing occasional highway runs and topping it up with AdBlue, which adds slightly to the running costs.
