Tata Nexon CNG

CNG mileage and running cost

Tata claims 26.99 km/kg for the Nexon iCNG, a figure sourced from the brand's own savings calculator page. Autocar India's independent city testing returned 18.55 km/kg — meaningfully lower, as expected from a turbocharged engine under stop-go conditions. On a highway run, the same test recorded 204 km on 7.5 kg of CNG, which works out to roughly 27.2 km/kg, closely matching the claimed figure in free-flowing conditions.

At typical CNG pump prices in metro cities, the running cost advantage over petrol is substantial. Even at the real-world city figure of 18.55 km/kg, the Nexon CNG costs significantly less per kilometre than its petrol sibling. The 60-litre twin-cylinder tank (two 30-litre cylinders) gives a theoretical CNG-only range of over 500 km at highway efficiency, with the 44-litre petrol tank as a backup.

The Nexon CNG gets offers of up to ₹60,000 in September 2026 (discount of ₹10,000, intervention offer of ₹25,000, and scrappage benefit of ₹25,000), which further reduces the effective acquisition cost and shortens the payback period versus the petrol variant.

CNG kit, tank, and boot space

The iCNG system is entirely factory-fitted on the Tata production line — not a dealer-installed aftermarket kit. Tata uses twin 30-litre cylinders (60 litres total) positioned under the luggage floor, which is the key engineering decision that keeps the boot usable. The result is 321 litres of boot space with the CNG system in place, compared to 382 litres on petrol and diesel variants — a reduction of 61 litres, but the floor remains flat and the spare tyre stays in its original location.

The iCNG kit includes a modular fuel filter, a single advanced ECU managing both fuels, Direct Start in CNG mode (no need to start on petrol first), and automatic switching to petrol when CNG runs out. CNG-specific safety features include leak detection sensors, a fire protection device, thermal incident protection, and a microswitch that prevents the engine from starting during refuelling.

It is worth noting that several features available on petrol variants are absent on the CNG: multi-drive modes (Eco/City/Sport), cruise control, iRA connected vehicle technology, E-Call and B-Call emergency services, and the subwoofer. Buyers who prioritise connected car features or drive-mode customisation should factor this in.

Performance on CNG

The Nexon CNG is the only compact SUV in India to pair a turbocharged engine with a factory CNG kit. In CNG mode, the 1.2-litre three-cylinder produces 73.52 kW (approximately 100 PS) and 170 Nm of torque from 2000 rpm — figures that lead the segment by a wide margin. The Maruti Brezza CNG, the closest rival, makes just 88 hp and 122 Nm in CNG mode from a larger but naturally aspirated 1.5-litre engine, giving the Nexon a 12 hp and 48 Nm advantage.

The 6-speed manual gearbox is the only transmission option across all CNG variants. The extra ratio compared to the Brezza's 5-speed unit helps keep the engine in its power band, which is particularly useful given that CNG reduces peak output relative to petrol mode (88.52 kW petrol vs 73.52 kW CNG). Autocar India noted that the CNG setup does not significantly affect drivability or performance in everyday use.

The turbo's torque delivery means the Nexon CNG pulls cleanly from low speeds without the flat mid-range that naturally aspirated CNG cars often exhibit. Ground clearance of 208 mm — the highest in the compact SUV segment — is unaffected by the CNG system.

Cabin, space, and tech

The Nexon's interior is shared across petrol, diesel, and CNG variants, with the same layered dashboard, twin 10.25-inch screens (infotainment and digital instrument cluster), and capacitive touch climate controls. The 10.25-inch HARMAN infotainment system supports wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The digital cluster includes driver attention assist and navigation display.

Front seats are broad and supportive; rear legroom is generous for the segment. The panoramic sunroof (voice-assisted, with tilt function) is available on S and PS sub-variants within the CNG range. Rear headroom is unaffected by the sunroof. The CNG variants go up to the Creative persona, so features like ventilated seats, JBL audio with subwoofer, and iRA connected technology (70+ features) are not available — those are reserved for petrol and diesel Fearless variants.

Other cabin highlights available on mid-to-top CNG variants include a wireless charger, cooled glovebox, HD 360-degree surround view system with front parking sensor, blind view monitor, auto-dimming IRVM, and rear defogger. The grand floor console with leatherette armrest and premium three-tone dashboard are present across the range.

Safety and ADAS

The Tata Nexon holds a 5-star Bharat NCAP rating, confirmed for adult and child occupant protection (applicable for petrol and diesel trims active as of May 2026). Six airbags are standard on every variant, including the base Smart CNG — a segment-leading commitment. Electronic Stability Program (ESP) is also standard across the range, as are 3-point ELR seatbelts for all seats and ISOFIX mounts.

ADAS (Front Collision Warning, Autonomous Emergency Braking, Lane Centering, Lane Departure Warning, Lane Keep Assist, High Beam Assist, Traffic Sign Recognition) is available only on the Fearless+ PS DCA petrol variant and is not offered on any CNG trim. CNG buyers do get the HD reverse parking camera, TPMS, auto headlamps with rain-sensing wipers, and front fog lamps with cornering function.

CNG-specific safety additions include a leak detection system, fire protection device, thermal incident protection, and a microswitch that keeps the car switched off during refuelling — a meaningful safety net that aftermarket CNG kits typically do not provide.

CNG variants and pricing

The Nexon CNG range spans seven variants, all with the 6-speed manual gearbox, priced from ₹8.30 lakh to ₹13.42 lakh (ex-showroom). The entry Smart CNG at ₹8.30 lakh is the most affordable factory-CNG compact SUV in India. The range progresses through Smart+, Smart+ S, Pure+, Pure+ S, Pure+ PS, and Creative CNG at the top.

The Smart persona gets steel wheels and fabric seats; Pure+ variants add alloy wheels, a digital cluster, reverse camera, and panoramic sunroof options; the Creative CNG at the top adds climate control, wireless charging, blind view monitor, and the 360-degree camera system. The Creative CNG is priced at ₹13.42 lakh, which is ₹2.1 lakh more than the equivalent Brezza CNG top variant — a premium that reflects the turbo engine, larger tank, and richer feature set.

How it compares

The Maruti Brezza CNG is the Nexon's most direct rival in the factory-CNG compact SUV space. The Brezza uses a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated engine (88 hp, 122 Nm in CNG mode) with a 55-litre tank and a 5-speed manual, priced from ₹9.17 lakh to ₹11.46 lakh. The Nexon CNG undercuts the Brezza at entry (₹8.30 lakh vs ₹9.17 lakh) but is pricier at the top end. In Autocar India's real-world mileage test, the Brezza CNG returned 5.3 km/kg more than the Nexon in the city and 1.8 km/kg more on the highway — a meaningful efficiency gap that partly reflects the Nexon's heavier kerb weight and turbocharged setup.

The Hyundai Exter CNG and Tata Punch CNG are smaller sub-4-metre rivals with naturally aspirated engines and lower power outputs. The Nexon CNG's 170 Nm torque figure in CNG mode is unmatched in the segment. For buyers who do not have reliable CNG access, the petrol Nexon with the 7-speed DCT is a strong alternative, though it costs more and loses the running-cost advantage.

Who should buy it

The Nexon CNG makes the strongest case for urban and semi-urban buyers who have a CNG station within a reasonable distance of their home or workplace and cover 1,500 km or more per month. The turbo engine's torque advantage makes it the most performance-oriented CNG compact SUV available, and the factory fitment means the full manufacturer warranty applies without caveats. The twin-cylinder boot packaging is the best solution in the segment for buyers who need luggage space.

Buyers who need an automatic gearbox, ADAS features, connected car technology (iRA), or the top Fearless persona's premium kit should look at the petrol variants instead — none of these are available on the CNG. Similarly, buyers who prioritise outright CNG efficiency over performance may find the Brezza CNG's real-world numbers more compelling at a lower top-end price.