5 CNG SUVs That Offer A Commanding View Without Compromising On Mileage

In a market where fuel prices and urban congestion drive purchasing decisions, CNG-powered SUVs are gaining traction among Indian buyers. These vehicles offer the higher seating position and road presence of SUVs along with the lower running costs of a CNG vehicle, genius isn’t it! Retrofitting SUVs with a CNG kit is also an option but factory-fitted CNG technology has a more credible reputation among Indian buyers. Times Drive readers here's is an overview of five factory-fitted CNG SUVs currently available in the Indian market that caters to buyers seeking an efficient yet commanding driving experience:

Toyota offers the CNG variant of the Urban Cruiser Hyryder with a 1.5L petrol engine. In CNG mode, the engine delivers 86.59 bhp and 121.5 Nm of torque and a fuel economy of 26.1 km/kg. The Hyryder CNG is positioned as a compact SUV with dual-fuel practicality and is priced from Rs 13.81 lakh (ex-showroom). The model is part of Toyota’s collaborative product strategy with Maruti Suzuki.

Sharing its powertrain with the Hyryder, the Maruti Suzuki Brezza CNG also uses the same 1.5L engine producing 86.59 bhp and 121.5 Nm of torque and a fuel economy of 25.51 km/kg when running on CNG. The Brezza CNG is priced from Rs 9.64 lakh (ex-showroom), offering a more affordable entry point into the compact SUV CNG segment.

Tata’s Nexon recently expanded its portfolio with the inclusion of a factory-fitted CNG option. It is powered by a 1.2L turbocharged engine that produces 98.59 bhp and 170 Nm of torque and a fuel economy of 26.99 km/kg in CNG mode. With prices starting from Rs 8.99 lakh (ex-showroom), the Nexon CNG stands out for being the most powerful and the only turbocharged CNG SUV in the market.

The Hyundai Exter CNG is a micro SUV equipped with a 1.2L engine tuned for CNG use, producing 68.05 bhp and 95.2 Nm of torque and a fuel economy of 27.1 km/kg. Positioned as an urban crossover, the Exter CNG starts at Rs 7.50 lakh (ex-showroom), offering an economical option in the entry-level SUV segment.

Rounding off the list is the Tata Punch CNG, available from Rs 7.29 lakh (ex-showroom). It is powered by the same 1.2L engine as the Exter but delivers slightly more power at 72.3 bhp and 103 Nm of torque and a fuel economy of 26.99 km/kg in CNG mode. The Punch CNG also uses Tata’s dual-cylinder layout to offer more boot space.