Petrol or Hybrid or CNG Car. Best Fuel Choice for Car in 2023

Car Buying Calculator basis Average Monthly Driving of 500 to 1000 to 1500 to 2000 Kms a Month. Is it Petrol or Hybrid or CNG Car for Maximum Savings

Petrol or Hybrid or CNG Car in 2022

Buying a car is an important decision - not only it reflects taste, style, aura and top of it the convenience - but it also is a big financial decision - thanks to high ownership cost of cars in India. However, before making a Purchase Decision - its important to choose and consider :-

• What do you give Most Importance to ? Performance or Boot Space or Mileage ?

• What is your Average Running. Is it in City or Highway or Maximum Local Usage ?

• Are you seeking performance or ready to compromise loss of power in CNG by having Lower Running Cost

Answer is

When Should not go for CNG

1. If you seek Boot Space for Luggage then do note that CNG Cylinder leads to almost filling up of 80% Boot Space in Hatchback and near around 60% in Sedan Cars. So if you seek boot space for carrying out luggage then CNG may not be ideal for you. Exceptions are:- New Age Tata iCNG Cars including Upcoming Tata Punch iCNG, Altroz iCNG which were shown in Auto Expo 2023 having twin cylinder technology with considerable boot Space

2. CNG is for people who love relaxed Drive. Been there is Power Loss to tune of 15% due to CNG - dont expect much for Enthusiastic Drivers. Only if love Relaxed Drive then go for CNG

3. If you do Frequent Long distance trips of more than 300 Kms then CNG has limited range and most of the highways still do not have provision for CNG Filling

4. CNG Refilling Center are heavily jammed in Delhi due to relative limited stations and network. So if dont want wait times for refilling CNG then may avoid

Anyhow - you choose - think of your monthly running - ownership costs - Vehicle Performance - NVH Levels - so that you can make up the best buy

Fuel Prices n Mileage in India

Below are Present Prices of Fuel in Delhi

» Petrol: Rs 95 / Litre

» CNG: Rs 80 / Kg to 90 /Kg (Average Rate of Commercial CNG in most of the cities)

Average Running - 500 Kms / 1000 Kms / 1500 Kms / 2000 Kms a Month

Below is higher amount to be paid for buying Hybrid, CNG over Petrol Car (upfront cost price difference)

Costing

» Buying a Hybrid Car means extra outflow of Rs 4 Lakh to 5 Lakh over Petrol Car

» CNG Car Costs good Rs 1.4 to 1.5 Lakh higher over the Petrol Car in terms of ownership cost

Lets Take Realistic Scenario of Using a Car in City Use Condition where most of the Vehicle Owners use

So it will depend on your Average Yearly Usage. If your Average yearly City Usage Running is 5000 Kms then :-

Car Buying Feasibility Purchase (Petrol or Hybrid or CNG Car)

» Less Driven Cars: If Running Less than 500 Kms a Month (5000 to 7000 Kms in a Year) - Its Viable to choose Petrol Car without giving a second thought to it.

» For Average Driving: For Running in between 800 to 1000 Kms a month (10,000 to 12,000 Kms a year) - in 2023 it would still be Petrol Car only, as CNG Car upfront recovery going to take in almost 5 yrs which is no less and will also lead to compromised boot space, performance of car from day 1 along with additional time taken to refill CNG Gas. If CNG prices increase further it would take even longer time to refill

» For Moderate Driving: Monthly Running of 1200 to 1400 Kms (15,000 to 16,000 Kms a Year) - CNG is Ideal and can help in recovering in 

» For High Running: Hybrid is recommended if your average running is 2000 Kms or more in a month (i.e 20000 Kms or more in a year) - it will save you good Rs. 50,000+ a year in terms of fuel costs and with Hybrid on, you will never repel to cover long trips without thinking about Petrol cost much.

Pros & Cons (Fuel Type)

Lets know the Pros and Cons of buying a Petrol Car against Hybrid or CNG Fuel in India