India’s three popular mid-size SUVs will soon be offered with the CNG fuel options including Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara, Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder and Hyundai Creta. In fact, bookings for the Toyota Hyryder CNG have officially been commenced at an initial sum of Rs 25,000. It’s likely to be the first model in its segment to be offered with a factory-fitted CNG kit. While the Vitara and Hyryder CNG models are slated to hit roads next month (i.e. December 2022), the Creta CNG is expected to arrive in early 2023.
The Maruti Grand Vitara CNG and Toyota Hyryder CNG will come with the 1.5L, 4-cylidner K15C petrol engine paired to a 5-speed manual gearbox. With the CNG kit, the SUVs will deliver a fuel efficiency of 26.10km/kg. The same powertrain offers a claimed mileage of 26.32km/kg on the Maruti XL6 CNG. In CNG mode, the setup will deliver power close to 88bhp and 121.5Nm of torque. In its standard form, the petrol mild hybrid unit pushes out a peak power of 103bhp and 136Nm of torque.
While the Toyota Hyryder CNG will be available on the mid-spec S and G trims, the Maruti Grand Vitara CNG could be made available across all variants. Save for the CNG badge at the rear, no changes will be made to design and interior of the SUVs.
The Hyundai Creta CNG is expected to be offered with the 1.4L GDi turbo petrol engine and a 6-speed manual gearbox. In CNG mode, the power and torque output will be lower than the standard petrol unit. The latter returns a claimed power of 138bhp and 242Nm of torque. The Creta’s CNG version might offered with its facelift model that will make its India debut at the 2023 Delhi Auto Expo. The biennial automotive event will take place in January in Greater Noida.
