I have a budget of Rs 12 lakh and am planning to buy my first car. I will mainly drive in the city around two days a week, with occasional outstation trips. Since petrol prices are increasing, should I spend around Rs 1 lakh extra on a CNG variant, or would it be better to buy a petrol car and save that Rs 1 lakh? Considering my low usage, fuel-cost savings, maintenance, driving experience, resale value and the fact that I am a beginner learning to drive, which option makes more financial and practical sense?

•8m

With your usage pattern of city driving two days a week and only occasional outstation trips, a petrol car is the more sensible choice. The additional Rs 1 lakh premium for a factory CNG variant is difficult to justify at your low running, as the fuel savings will take a long time to recover. CNG cars also come with compromises such as reduced boot space, slightly lower performance and the inconvenience of refuelling at CNG stations, which can be a hassle for a beginner.

A petrol car will be easier to drive, more responsive and simpler to maintain, which is important when you are buying your first car. Modern petrol engines are efficient enough that the difference in running costs is not significant at low usage. Resale value is also not a major concern here, as petrol cars hold their value well and the CNG premium is unlikely to be fully recovered.

The only scenario where CNG makes sense is if your running increases significantly in the future. For your current usage, it is better to save the Rs 1 lakh and put it towards a higher variant with better safety and convenience features.

•4m•

Suggest some good cars for my requirement

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