CNG is increasingly becoming the fuel of choice for budget car buyers, thanks to many carmakers pulling the plug on small-capacity diesel engines. Though CNG cars command a premium over equivalent petrol counterparts, they’ve accrued favour thanks to significantly lower running costs, making them viable for daily use in urban environments. Here’s a list of the 10 highest mileage CNG cars you can currently buy in India, ranked from the least to the most fuel-efficient (claimed figures).
10. Tata Punch
Price: Rs 6.75 lakh to Rs 10.60 lakh
The Punch compact SUV is available with a dual-cylinder CNG powertrain in seven trim levels, with prices starting from Rs 6.75 lakh and topping off at Rs 10.60 lakh. The Punch CNG is powered by a 1.2-litre 3-cylinder naturally aspirated petrol-CNG setup that achieves a claimed 26.99km/kg mileage. It can be had with a 5-speed manual gearbox and a 5-speed AMT option.
9. Hyundai Exter
Price: Rs 7.00 lakh to Rs 9.42 lakh
The Exter CNG price starts at Rs 7 lakh and extends to Rs 9.42 lakh, with it being available in a dual cylinder version across 5 variants. Both options are mated to a 1.2-litre 4-cylinder petrol engine, delivering a claimed fuel efficiency of 27.10km/kg. Gearbox choices for the Exter CNG are limited to a 5-speed manual only.
8. Maruti Suzuki Fronx, Toyota Taisor
Price: Rs 7.79 lakh to Rs 8.59 lakh (Fronx), Rs 8.24 lakh (Taisor)
The Fronx and Urban Cruiser Taisor are badge-engineered siblings, and both get a CNG kit paired with a 1.2-litre 4-cylinder petrol engine, which manages a claimed 28.51km/kg mileage and is available with a 5-speed manual gearbox only. The Fronx CNG price ranges from Rs 7.79 lakh to Rs 8.59 lakh (Delta and Sigma trims), while the Taisor CNG is available only in the E variant, priced at Rs 8.24 lakh.
7. Maruti Suzuki Baleno, Toyota Glanza
Price: Rs 7.70 lakh to Rs 8.60 lakh (Baleno), Rs 8.17 lakh to Rs 9.14 lakh (Glanza)
Yet another badge-engineered duo, the CNG variants of the Baleno and Glanza are the first to breach the 30km/kg mark on this list. Both hatchbacks get the same 1.2-litre 4-cylinder petrol-CNG powertrain and 5-speed manual gearbox as the Fronx and Taisor, but they have a greater claimed mileage of 30.61km/kg. The Baleno CNG price starts at Rs 7.70 lakh and climbs to Rs 8.60 lakh (Delta and Zeta trims), while the Glanza CNG is priced between Rs 8.17 lakh and Rs 9.14 lakh (S and G trims).
6. Maruti Suzuki S-Presso
Price: Rs 4.62 lakh to Rs 5.12 lakh
The S-Presso CNG, available in LXi (O) and VXi (O) trims, gets a 1.0-litre 3-cylinder petrol engine that achieves a claimed fuel efficiency of 32.73km/kg and is only offered with a 5-speed manual gearbox. The S-Presso CNG price ranges between Rs 4.62 lakh and Rs 5.12 lakh.
5. Maruti Suzuki Swift
Price: Rs 7.45 lakh to Rs 8.39 lakh
The Swift CNG price starts from Rs 7.45 lakh and goes up to Rs 8.39 lakh, and it is available in VXi, VXi (O) and ZXi trims. It’s powered by a new 1.2-litre 3-cylinder ‘Z12’ petrol engine that delivers a rated fuel efficiency of 32.85km/kg and gets a 5-speed manual gearbox.
4. Maruti Suzuki Dzire
Price: Rs 8.03 lakh to Rs 9.04 lakh
The new-gen Dzire CNG price starts at Rs 8.03 lakh and extends to Rs 9.04 lakh (VXi and ZXi trims). Notably, the Dzire is the only sedan on this list, and it gets the Swift’s 1.2-litre 3-cylinder petrol engine and 5-speed manual gearbox. With a claimed mileage of 33.73km/kg, the Dzire CNG is more fuel efficient than the Swift CNG despite being a bit larger.
3. Maruti Suzuki Alto K10
Price: Rs 4.82 lakh to Rs 5.32 lakh
Coming to the top three highest-mileage CNG cars, the Alto K10 CNG gets the same 1.0-litre petrol engine and 5-speed manual transmission as the S-Presso CNG but has a higher 33.85km/kg claimed mileage. In keeping with its reputation as the most affordable car in India currently, the Alto K10 CNG price ranges between Rs 4.82 lakh and Rs 5.32 lakh – the lowest in this list – for its LXi (O) and VXi (O) trims.
2. Maruti Suzuki Wagon R
Price: Rs 5.89 lakh to Rs 6.42 lakh
The Wagon R hatchback stands as one of the most fuel-efficient CNG cars in India, thanks to its claimed 34.05km/kg reading. The Wagon R CNG can be had only with the aforementioned 1.0-litre 3-cylinder petrol engine, paired with a 5-speed manual gearbox. Available in LXi and VXi trims, the Wagon R CNG price starts at Rs 5.89 lakh and tops off at Rs 6.42 lakh.
1. Maruti Suzuki Celerio
Price: Rs 5.98 lakh
Snagging the CNG fuel efficiency crown is the venerable Celerio hatchback, which uses the same 1.0-litre 3-cylinder petrol engine that does duty in the prior two cars but has an ultra-frugal claimed mileage of 34.43km/kg. Despite the Celerio being larger than the Alto K10 and S-Presso, its CNG version is more fuel-efficient. The Celerio CNG price is Rs 5.98 lakh for its sole VXi variant.
All prices are ex-showroom, India.
Dipan Sur
Uday Singh
Saptarshi Mondal
