8 Hatchbacks That Should Come With Stock CNG in India

No one could ever imagine that one day we would have to resort to CNG as our primary source of fuel. But due to the ever-increasing fuel prices, it seems that there might come a day when petrol and diesel will be equivalent to gold.

Nevertheless, this sudden increase in fuel prices has also left carmakers in jeopardy as it has not only impacted the publics pockets but this has also led to fewer sales for many carmakers. All of this has now led many Indian carmakers to rework their marketing and product planning in the country.

So much so that many of them have resorted to introducing stock CNG variants of their existing line-up. Here’s a list of 8 hatchbacks that should come with a stock CNG option

1. Tata Tiago
   

   

   Staring our list with the homegrown carmaker Tata who delighted us with the Tiago hatchback, which not only has been the first choice for many since its launch but is also India’s first car to get a 4-star safety rating on the Global NCAP safety index.

   It has been speculated that Tata is working on introducing a stock CNG variant as well featuring the same 1.2-litre petrol engine. Not too long ago spy shots of the Tiago sporting a CNG testing kit were also spotted cruising on Indian roads.

   However, the brand has yet to reveal the truth whether the Tata Tiago will be offered with a stock CNG option or is Tata just testing CNG compatibility with its cars.

2.  Maruti Suzuki Swift
   

   

   Following the footsteps of Tata is another Indian carmaker Maruti who has also started to test the number of its existing cars with CNG. Although for those of us who still aren’t aware of some facts, here’s one for you Maruti Suzuki is the only running brand in India to offer a line-up of stock CNG cars.

   Certain media reports and spy shots suggest that the brand could be planning upon adding 2 more cars to its CNG stock CNG line-up, The Swift and Dzire. Both the cars have been spotted testing sporting CNG testing kits. So, if Maruti is planning upon launching the Swift and Dzire CNG it should launch them soon in order to get the desired amount of sales.

3. Tata Altroz
   

   

   This is where the real list starts and here’s another one from Tata. Since its launch, the Tata Altroz has almost dominated the premium hatchback segment with its class-leading features and its 5-star Global NCAP rating. The hatchback has even managed to surpass the sales of the then segment leader the Maruti Suzuki Baleno.

   This has made the brand think of introducing the Altroz with a stock CNG option in order to make the car accessible to the general public.

4. Hyundai i20
   

   

   Next up on the list is the hatchback from Korean carmaker Hyundai with the i20 hatchback. The car which has been loved by youth since it was first introduced in 2008 acted as an active rival to the Maruti Suzuki Gets and since then it has been selling like hotcakes.

   This premium hatchback has also been awarded “The Car of the Year” 4 times in a row. As of now, Hyundai stock CNG line-up consists of only the Grand i10 Nios adding more products to the list could lead to higher sales numbers. If launched the Stock CNG variant of the Hyundai i20 will feature the same 1.2-litre Kappa Dual VTVT petrol engine and 1.4-litre U2 CRDi diesel engine. However, having to run on CNG will lead to less power output but it will surely be easy on the pocket.

5. Ford Figo
   

   

   Here we have a carmaker whose future in India is in serious jeopardy. It is non-other than the American carmaker Ford with the Ford Figo. Going by leading media reports Ford is in talks with other carmakers to takeover its India operation.

   Coming back to the topic, The Ford Figo is considered to be a very underrated hatchback despite having good mechanical features. However, due to its overwhelming cost, this car has not been that popular.

   Although introducing the car in a stock CNG variant could help the brand pour in some sales numbers and establish its place again in the Indian automobile sector.

6. Maruti Suzuki Baleno

   

   Ahh! This might be the perfect candidate to have a stock CNG on this list, The Maruti Suzuki Baleno. Since its launch in 2015, it has been sitting on the throne of the best selling hatchbacks in India. With its quirky looks, this bad boy has managed to build a cult of its own and has also been a priority for car modifiers.

   CNG or not the Maruti Suzuki Baleno has its own place in the automobile sector. Having such a car with a more affordable CNG variant might just add up to its already hyped popularity.

7. Toyota Glanza

   

   Closely following Maruti is the Japanese carmaker Toyota. The brand has also been deemed the copycat in the Indian automobile sector. Toyota introduced the rebadged version of the Baleno, the Toyota Glanza back in 2019 in hopes to mark its presence in the premium hatchback segment but sadly things took a different turn and Glanza turned out to be a big failure for Toyota.

   Although, having it in a stock CNG option could somehow improve its chances get in a few sales numbers.

8. Volkswagen Polo

   

   Last but not least is the Volkswagen Polo which has received no facelifts since its launch in 2009. Although the car has received a few cosmetic updates through time. Since its launch, this hatchback has managed to create its own fanbase. Many owners also feel that having one in a stock CNG would be a dream come true.