Tata Nexon CNG: Tata Nexon has been one of the most successful compact SUVs in India, thanks to its unique styling, an exhaustive safety kit, and value for money packaging.
Tata Motors takes this strong base and offers a factory-fitted CNG variant of the Nexon as well, providing an alternative fuel solution at a time when the demand for more affordable, more economical and more eco-friendly transport, without compromising on the all too appropos growing trend of the cut and thrust of the SUV segment, is gaining traction.
Tata Nexon CNG: Market Background and Strategic Importance
The Nexon CNG will have huge significance because over the last couple of years factory-fitted CNG systems have gained great acceptance in smaller vehicles in the Indian automotive landscape but use cases have never crossed towards the SUV segment where it remains conspicuously absent.
This extension into the compact SUV space recognizes the changing market dynamics toward SUV body styles, as well as the financial implications that make alternative fuels appealing to value-oriented buyers.
For Tata Motors, the Nexon CNG ticks several important boxes — it extends the successful Nexon platform into new customer segments, it adds to the company’s alternative fuel portfolio and it may well give Tata Motors a first-mover advantage in a segment that not even the major players have factory offerings for (so far).
CNG Operation Adaptations in Engineering
Since CNG works differently, a lot of engineering effort needs to be done to switch a petrol engine to work on CNG.
The Nexon CNG does come with Tata’s 1.2-liter Revotron petrol engine which has been modified to be bi-fuel and run on petrol and CNG.
By running on CNG, this three-pot turbocharged unit develops around 73-75 horsepower and 140 Nm of torque—numbers that mark a loss of about 25% of power compared to petrol-only operation.
The engine gets hardened valve seats, altered valve timing and beefed-up pistons to account for the distinctive combustion of natural gas.
The engine management system has separate programming for each fuel type, ensuring performance and efficiency are tailored to the fuel in use.
There are cylinder tanks in the cargo area of the CNG storage system, which supply around 60 liters water capacity.
This installation can always take a chunk of luggage space, dropping it from the standard 350+ liters available to approximately 230-250 liters, a significant loss but one with more than reasonable expectations for most urban users who trade running cost savings for maximum cargo capacity.
CNG system specific safety features include leak detection with automatic isolation, thermal sensor detection of heat, and a microswitch that prevents engine starting if the fuel lid is open.
Compared to aftermarket conversions, these factory-engineered systems can deliver superior integration, reliability, and safety.
Design and Exterior Features
The Nexon CNG continues to sport the same iconic styling that has played a major role in its success on the outside.
It shares the standard Nexon’s “Humanity Line” front grille, split headlamp set-up and coupe-like roofline.
The CNG variant gets different badging and an extra filler cap for the CNG inlet, but nothing else to give it away.
This visual consistency is a thoughtful strategy from Tata Motors, which wants the CNG version to be seen as equal to its ICE counterparts — as opposed to its contemporaries, whose alternative fuel variants sport a visibly different or de-contented design.
Interior and Features
On the inside, the Nexon CNG has retained most of the features from the petrol variants, though a few bits have been altered due to the change in powertrain.
Cabin gets 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with smartphone connectivity, automatic climate control in higher trims, and the safety features that helped the Nexon earn a five-star Global NCAP safety rating.
In the cabin, the most significant change is the introduction of a fuel selection switch located near the gear lever for switching between petrol and CNG operation.
It has a dedicated CNG level gauge in the instrument cluster to provide real-time information about the remaining gas quantity.
For CNG vehicles, the trip computer functions on the infotainment system also build in CNG-specific information.
The rear seats are still split folding, so some cargo flexibility remains if you don’t need to carry a full house.
This considerate engineering displays Tata’s determination to functional usability even with the extra burden of carrying the alternative fuel system.
Driving Experience
Tata Nexon CNG- While the Nexon CNG drives slightly differently to the petrol Nexon, the difference is solely in the manner in which it delivers power.
Linearly, immediate acceleration is a little more muted, torque peaks at higher RPMs. With the CNG equipment adding an extra ~100-120 kg, it also affects dynamics, sacrificing slightly on directional-change speed, and a bit of body-roll through corners.
But these differences are largely academic for typical urban usage patterns. The steering, however, retains the light effort that makes it easier to maneuver the car in the city, and the suspension tune continues to prioritize comfort over sportiness, which makes sense considering our roads.
The mandated, slightly stiffer rear spring settings are offset by the higher weight of the CNG system, and actually make its behavior through road irregularities at highway speeds a bit more stable.
Ownership Economics
Tata Nexon CNG- The basic economic equation, which is the primary driver for most consumers who buy CNG vehicles.
The Nexon CNG is priced about ₹90,000-1,00,000 more than equivalent petrol versions — a considerable amount that residing on the car has to cover up with operational savings.
The cost per kilometer in CNG mode is about 40–50% lower as compared to petrol at standard fuel prices.
For an owner driving about 1,500 kilometers a month, this means possible monthly savings of ₹3,000-4,000, or a payback period for the extra purchase price of about 24-30 months.
Tata Nexon CNG:
The Tata Nexon CNG is a well-conceived evolution of a successful compact SUV platform to integrate alternative fuel technology.
Instead of compromising on the Nexon’s successful recipe to create a CNG variant (often the outcome of gas-based powertrains, it is avoided due to the lack of performance),
Tata has kept all the aspects that made the Nexon stand out in competitive price brackets, and supplemented them with the fuel economy of using CNG.
With fuel prices going through the roof and growing environmental concerns, factory-fitted CNG vehicles like the Nexon will likely gain further ground and command a larger market share, especially in cities with a robust gas distribution apparatus.