Pros & Cons of CNG cars in 2024: Would you buy one for personal usage?

One of the major reasons to opt for a CNG car is that it's cheaper than petrol. While the difference in the price of petrol and CNG was a lot back in the day, it isn't much anymore.

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We’re currently in an interesting phase when it comes to fuels. Thanks to the government’s ever-changing policies and focus on different fuels, even manufacturers are a bit confused about where to put their resources. Hybrids are also becoming a popular choice given the introduction of some affordable models. Electric vehicles have become mainstream and diesels are getting sidelined. In all this chaos, some people are turning towards CNG as a replacement for diesel engines.

Take Maruti for example. Given that they don’t have a diesel engine anymore in their portfolio, they have focused heavily on CNG. In fact, 12 out of the 17 Maruti models are offered with a CNG option. In recent years, even Tata has focused on CNG cars. They are offering twin storage tanks for CNG and even an AMT option. The point is that with so many options coming to the market, does it make sense for private buyers to get a CNG car in 2024? Here are some of the factors worth considering.

Cost of CNG

One of the major reasons to opt for a CNG car is that it's cheaper than petrol. While the difference in the price of petrol and CNG was a lot back in the day, it isn't much anymore. Moreover, the CNG prices are different depending on where you live. Let's take a look at the prices for this month. In Delhi and NCR, the cost of CNG is Rs. 74.09 per kg and in Hyderabad, a kg of CNG would cost you Rs. 90. Even within a state, there is a lot of fluctuation. The cost of CNG in Mumbai is Rs. 73.50 per kg, while in Pune, it is Rs. 89 per kg. That’s a massive delta! So, depending on the area where you live, CNG can be either affordable or expensive. Click here for CNG prices across India.

Range

The real-world range of CNG cars depends on the amount of gas present in the tank and the pressure. Given that real-world conditions aren’t optimal, the approximate range you will get from a full tank of CNG is roughly 200 km. The good thing is that you still have your petrol tank after you use up all the CNG. Even so, that’s a short CNG-only range.

Running Costs

From the above two points, the third obvious thing to consider is the cost of running a CNG car. As mentioned earlier, depending on where you are, CNG can be affordable or expensive. Let’s consider driving a Maruti Baleno CNG in Mumbai. It has a 55L tank (water equivalent) which means that it can hold roughly 9-10 kg of gas. A full tank would cost Rs. 735. Maruti’s claimed fuel efficiency for CNG is 30.6 km/kg. Now if the car is being run only on the highways, this number is achievable, but realistically, we can consider 25 km/kg (with primary highway running). The full tank range in that case would be roughly 250 km (for Rs. 735). So, if you calculate the cost per km for running a Baleno CNG in Mumbai, it would be ~ Rs. 3 per km. Running the same car in Hyderabad would cost Rs. 3.6 per km. This might seem like a small difference, but in the long run, it would add up to a considerable amount.

Comparison with Petrol

Now, further to the previous point, does it make sense to go for a CNG car instead of a petrol car? I get that most of you might be thinking that Rs. 3 per km is a good number. But consider this for a second - if you calculate the running cost for a Maruti Baleno petrol-only version in Mumbai, that would be around Rs. 5 per km (cost of petrol = Rs. 104.21 as of June 20, 2024).

A Maruti Baleno Zeta Petrol costs Rs. 9.81 lakh (on-road, Mumbai) and the CNG variant costs Rs. 10.44 lakh (on-road, Mumbai). The difference is roughly Rs. 63,000. So it would take roughly 31,500 km of driving to make up that difference. Which is fair enough. If your running is high, you’ll cover it up quickly and the other way around. But apart from this, there are some other factors also worth considering.

Maintenance costs

It is a well-known fact that the maintenance cost for CNG cars is higher than for petrol cars. You need to follow the service manual to the T. In comparison, the maintenance of petrol cars is much more straightforward and forgiving. Here are some of the points you need to consider in terms of maintenance of a CNG car -

• Air filters and spark plugs need to be replaced more frequently.
• CNG-specific filters also need to be replaced regularly (Related Thread).
• CNG Cylinder needs to get hydro-tested once every 3 years. This is a process to check the cylinders for leaks, structural flaws, durability, and corrosion.
• Even when a CNG car is out of warranty, you cannot give it to any neighborhood garage. For any CNG-related issue, you need to take your car to either an authorized service centre or CNG-specific garages.

Boot Space

The CNG tank in the boot seriously hampers the luggage-carrying capacity of the car. The tank is big and you’re left with barely any room for carrying bags or any other luggage. This might be a deal breaker for people who travel with luggage over long distances. Tata has come up with the twin-cylinder tank solution to free up some space in the boot. In all honesty, it is a good solution, but the boot space is still much less than the regular petrol version.

Other Factors

Apart from the abovementioned factors, some other issues may not be as big to influence a buying decision but still affect the day-to-day life of a CNG car.

• Emissions in CNG cars are lower in comparison with petrol cars.
• CNG cars have a higher insurance premium as you have to buy an add-on.
• The road tax on CNG cars is lower than petrol cars.
• Depending on where you stay, you need to consider the availability of CNG. In Mumbai, you might have to queue up to fill CNG in some areas.
• Getting out of the CNG car while refuelling might be inconvenience if you have elderly people travelling with you.
• Due to the added weight at the back, the suspension setup is on the firmer side.

In the end, there are two ways to look at this

• You buy a CNG car to enjoy the lower cost of fuel but live with the other drawbacks of owning a CNG car.
• You buy a regular petrol car and pay for the higher cost of fuel, but don’t have to worry much about anything else.

Do share your thoughts on the same and would you pick a CNG car over a regular petrol car for private use in 2024?

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