Cng Cars Under 5 Lakh in India (6)

autocar.india

•21h

The Tata Nexon CNG’s lack of an automatic gearbox is not necessarily a case of Tata deliberately holding back the option. The important difference is that Tata’s other CNG AMT models use a 1.2 litre naturally aspirated petrol engine, whereas the Nexon CNG uses a 1.2 litre turbo petrol engine. The turbo engine delivers power differently, so pairing it with an AMT would require specific calibration and validation for both petrol and CNG operation.There is no known fundamental engineering barrier to offering an automatic with the Nexon CNG, but Tata would need to ensure smooth shifts, drivability and long term durability. Cost and expected demand would also influence the decision. A Nexon CNG AMT has been the subject of speculation, but Tata has not officially confirmed a launch date or even the production version.

Tata Nexon

autocar.india

•3d

With 7,000-8,000 km per month, your running is exceptionally high, and that fundamentally changes the recommendation. At this level, fuel efficiency and running costs become the dominant factor, and the car needs to be robust enough for long-term ownership over 10-12 years.Diesel is the most practical and economical choice for your usage. Modern diesel engines are efficient, reliable and well-suited to high-mileage highway driving, and the fuel cost advantage over petrol is significant at your running. CNG is not recommended at this level of usage. Even with factory-fitted underbody tanks, the limited range and refuelling inconvenience make it impractical for such high monthly running. You could end up spending a lot of time waiting in queues at CNG stations.Within your budget, the Tata Altroz is the most value for money diesel car on sale. It is a spacious, comfortable and safe 5-seater with a strong and efficient diesel engine, and good highway manners. There are multiple variants priced below Rs 12 lakh on-road, so you can take your pick, based on the features you need. Expect real-world mileage to be around 16-20kpl.If you want a diesel-automatic option, given your high running, we'd strongly recommend the Kia Sonet HTE O variant (priced at Rs 12 lakh on-road). Its diesel engine is refined, efficient, and the 6-speed torque converter automatic makes the drive experience smooth and effort-free. Real-world efficiency is likely to range between 14-19kpl. The engine-gearbox combination is tried and tested, and you can expect a fuss-free ownership experience with this one.

Tata Altroz

Kia Sonet

autocar.india

•1w

The Tata Safari is the more expensive and more premium SUV option, but it is larger and heavier than the other two cars you've listed. Also, it is available only with a turbo-petrol, which given its weight, isn't going to be very efficient in the real world. Lastly, the controls like the gearbox and clutch are heavier compared to the other two which feel relatively effort-free. So we'd rule out the Safari.Given you're usage, opting for a CNG version will keep a check on your running costs. Both Maruti and Kia offer factor CNG options with their respective manual gearbox versions of the 1.5 petrol engine.The Maruti Suzuki XL6 is a sensible choice here, given its reputation for reliability, ease of maintenance and Maruti's unmatched service network, which is important for a long-term owner. However, we'd recommend you to go for the Kia Carens Clavis which feels more premium than the XL6. The Clavis' cabin feels more upmarket, space is excellent, it is better equipped, refinement is better, and now it also offers a factory-fitted CNG variants. Overall, the Clavis CNG feels like the more polished offering, hence it gets our vote.

Kia Carens Clavis

Tata Safari

Maruti Suzuki XL6