Best CNG cars under 10 lakh rupees with automatic gearboxes

CNG cars in India are no longer just about saving money at the pump. In the segment under Rs 10 lakh, you can now pick between hatchbacks, a sedan, an SUV and even a 7-seat MPV running on CNG, with better cabins, dual or underbody tanks, and in one case, a factory automatic gearbox.

Only the Tata Punch offers a CNG automatic

The Tata Punch CNG, priced from Rs 6.80 lakh to Rs 10.67 lakh, is the only model on this list with an AMT option. It runs a 1.2-litre 3-cylinder engine that makes 73hp and 103Nm in CNG mode, has the widest variant spread of the lot, and its twin CNG tanks still leave usable boot space. The catch is that its top trims are the priciest here, edging past the 10 lakh mark.

Five CNG cars and their prices

• Maruti Suzuki Dzire CNG: Rs 8.11 lakh-Rs 9.11 lakh
• Maruti Suzuki Baleno CNG: Rs 7.77 lakh-Rs 8.67 lakh
• Hyundai Exter CNG: Rs 6.99 lakh-Rs 9.42 lakh
• Tata Punch CNG: Rs 6.80 lakh-Rs 10.67 lakh
• Nissan Gravite CNG: Rs 6.59 lakh-Rs 8.94 lakh

Power and torque figures differ quite a bit

The Dzire's 1.2-litre 3-cylinder makes 70hp and 102Nm on CNG, offered only on the mid-spec VXi and ZXi trims. The Baleno's 1.2-litre 4-cylinder is smoother, with 78hp and 98Nm, again limited to the Delta and Zeta trims; its Toyota twin, the Glanza, gets the same setup on the equivalent S and G trims. The Exter's 1.2-litre 4-cylinder makes 69hp and 95Nm but spans a wider set of variants, including well-equipped top trims. The Gravite is the exception: since its CNG kit is a dealer-level fitment that hasn't been homologated, Nissan hasn't released power or torque numbers for it, though that also means it's available across every trim.

Boot space depends on the tank setup

The Dzire and Baleno both use a single large CNG tank that still leaves some usable boot space. The Exter and Punch get twin tanks that don't eat up too much room either. The Gravite is the outlier here, its twin tanks in the boot leave no usable space at all, even though the cabin itself offers a flexible 7-seat layout.

Would you rather have the Punch's AMT gearbox or the Gravite's seven seats?