Upcoming CNG Cars: Kia Clavis to Toyota Glanza

Seven upcoming CNG cars headed to India, including Kia Clavis CNG and Toyota Glanza facelift CNG. We break down running costs and pick the best buys.

A Maruti Suzuki showroom in Pune once ran a quiet experiment. It parked two identical Dzires side by side, one petrol, one CNG, and let walk-in customers guess the monthly fuel bill for each. Almost nobody guessed the gap correctly. The CNG variant came in at roughly half. That single laminated sheet of paper sold more CNG cars that month than any brochure. That story explains why the CNG pipeline refuses to dry up, even as electric cars hog headlines. Seven new CNG models are queued for launch over the next year or so, spanning hatchbacks, sedans, and SUVs. Here is what is coming, what it will cost to run, and where we think the smart money goes. ## Why CNG Still Makes Sense In 2025 Electric vehicles get the press. CNG gets the buyers. The numbers keep making the case for families who drive 1,000 to 1,500 km a month and do not want to think about charging cables, apartment society approvals, or battery replacement costs eight years down the line. A quick running-cost comparison, using Delhi pump prices as a rough benchmark: | Fuel | Price (approx) | Cost per km (small car) | |---|---|---| | Petrol | Rs 95/litre | Rs 6.5 to 7.5 | | Diesel | Rs 88/litre | Rs 5 to 6 | | CNG | Rs 75/kg | Rs 2.5 to 3.5 | | Home charging (EV) | Rs 8/unit | Rs 1 to 1.5 | CNG loses to home-charged EVs on pure running cost. It wins on everything else: no range anxiety, no charger hunt, a five-minute refuel, and a factory warranty that covers the bi-fuel setup. For a household with one car and no private parking with a plug point, CNG remains the pragmatic middle path. The catch, and we will keep saying this, is the boot. A CNG tank eats luggage space. If you regularly carry four people plus airport-sized bags, test that boot before you sign. ## The 7 Upcoming CNG Cars ### 1. Kia Clavis CNG The Kia Clavis is the one we are watching hardest. Positioned between the Sonet and Seltos, this compact SUV has been spotted testing with a CNG badge, and Kia has been unusually open about wanting a bi-fuel option in its India lineup. Expect the same 1.0-litre turbo-petrol or a 1.2-litre naturally aspirated unit paired with a factory CNG kit, likely on the mid and top variants rather than the base. Why it matters: Kia has never sold a CNG car in India. If the Clavis CNG lands with a proper warranty and a usable boot, it becomes the first genuinely premium-feeling CNG compact SUV. Hyundai's Exter CNG and the [Tata Punch CNG](/auto/blog/tata-s-6-new-cars-including-evs-what-buyers-need-to-know) suddenly have company that wears better interiors. ### 2. Toyota Glanza Facelift CNG The Toyota Glanza facelift CNG is the least surprising entry on this list, and that is a compliment. The Glanza is a rebadged Maruti Baleno, and the Baleno already sells with a factory CNG option. Toyota adding CNG to the Glanza is simply filling in a checkbox that buyers have been asking about for two years. Expect the proven 1.2-litre DualJet engine with the same CNG tune Maruti uses, which returns around 30 km/kg. Toyota's dealer network and service pricing are the real draw here. If you want Maruti's fuel economy with Toyota's showroom experience, this is your car. ### 3. Maruti Suzuki Swift CNG The new-generation Swift launched on petrol only, and the CNG version has been the obvious next step. Maruti has not confirmed timing, but the Swift CNG is about as certain as sunrise. The current Swift CNG returns roughly 32 km/kg, and the new platform should hold or slightly improve that. This will be the default choice for first-time CNG buyers. Cheap to buy, cheap to run, and every mechanic in the country knows how to service it. ### 4. Tata Punch CNG (Updated) Tata already sells the Punch iCNG, but an updated version with the company's newer twin-cylinder tank layout is expected. The twin-cylinder design frees up boot space, which was the Punch CNG's weakest point. If Tata brings that update, the Punch becomes a far more liveable small SUV for families. ### 5. Hyundai Exter CNG (Variant Expansion) Hyundai launched the Exter CNG with a single variant. Expect more trims, including an automatic-friendly option and better feature distribution. The Exter CNG's 1.2-litre engine is smooth, and Hyundai's CNG tune is one of the better ones on the market. ### 6. Maruti Suzuki Fronx CNG The Fronx sits on the Baleno platform, so a CNG variant is mechanically straightforward. Maruti has been slow to confirm it, but dealer chatter and test mule sightings point to a launch within the year. A Fronx CNG would give buyers a crossover-styled option without the running costs of the 1.0-litre turbo. ### 7. Honda Amaze CNG Honda has been the holdout. The Amaze is a strong sedan, but without a CNG option it has been losing fleet and family buyers to the Maruti Dzire CNG. A factory CNG Amaze would be Honda's most sensible move in years. Nothing is confirmed, but the company has hinted at expanding its bi-fuel lineup. ## What We Recommend If you are shopping in the next six months, here is our honest take. **Best overall pick: Toyota Glanza Facelift CNG.** You get Maruti's fuel efficiency, Toyota's service network, and a sedan-adjacent hatchback with a usable boot. For a family upgrading from a WagonR or Swift, this is the least risky CNG purchase on the list. **Best if you want an SUV: Kia Clavis CNG.** Wait for it. If Kia prices it within Rs 1 lakh of the Punch CNG and keeps the boot usable, it will be the most desirable CNG compact SUV in the country. **Best budget pick: Maruti Suzuki Swift CNG.** Nothing else comes close on purchase price plus running cost plus resale. Boring answer, correct answer. One rule we would apply to all seven: buy the CNG variant only if your daily commute is at least 40 km round trip. Below that, the premium you pay for the CNG kit takes too long to recover, and you lose boot space for nothing. ## FAQ ### Is CNG safe in a rear-end collision? Factory-fitted CNG tanks are built to withstand far more pressure than they ever see in normal use, and they sit inside a reinforced cradle. Aftermarket kits are where safety standards get murky. Stick to factory CNG. ### How much does a CNG kit cost compared to a factory CNG variant? A factory CNG variant typically costs Rs 70,000 to Rs 95,000 more than the equivalent petrol trim. Aftermarket kits run Rs 40,000 to Rs 60,000 but void your warranty and often fail emission tests. The factory option is worth the extra. ### Can I drive a CNG car on petrol only? Yes. Every bi-fuel CNG car runs on petrol when the gas tank empties, and most switch automatically. You will lose some power on CNG, usually 10 to 15 percent, which you notice most on highways with a full load. The CNG story in India is not glamorous. It is a spreadsheet story, and the spreadsheet keeps winning. Seven launches in a year is not a trend. It is a market telling manufacturers what it actually wants. ## Related on this site - [Bajaj's Rs 1.1 Lakh Small Car: Can It Disrupt the Indian Market?](/auto/blog/bajaj-s-rs-1-1-lakh-small-car-can-it-disrupt-the-indian-market) - [Maruti Suzuki vs Hyundai: Which New Launch Should You Wait For?](/auto/blog/maruti-suzuki-vs-hyundai-which-new-launch-should-you-wait-for) - [Kia Sorento, BMW 7 Series & More: September 2026 Car Preview](/auto/blog/kia-sorento-bmw-7-series-more-september-2026-car-preview)

Upcoming CNG Cars: Kia Clavis to Toyota Glanza

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