🧪 At a glance:
The ₹100 petrol era has birthed many things — anxiety, EMIs, and memes — but Nissan just gave us something better: the Magnite CNG at ₹6.89 lakh (ex-showroom). For those who want SUV looks, turbo torque, and still drive past petrol pumps without crying, this is your chance.
It’s India’s most affordable turbo SUV with factory CNG, and it doesn’t look like a three-wheeler trying too hard. If your WagonR CNG has ever made you feel like a peasant in traffic next to a Brezza, this… this is redemption.
🛠️ What’s new in the Magnite CNG?
Spec | Details |
---|---|
Base Price | ₹6.89 lakh (ex-showroom) |
Engine | 1.0-litre Naturally Aspirated Petrol |
CNG Fitment | Motozen-approved, dealer-fitted |
Power Output | ~67 bhp (CNG) |
Mileage (Claimed) | 23–25 km/kg (TBC) |
Transmission | 5-speed Manual only |
Boot Space | Gone. RIP suitcases. |
Warranty | 3 years / 1,00,000 km |
CNG Kit Cost | ₹74,999 (on top of ex-showroom) |
States Available | Delhi-NCR, UP, Haryana, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Kerala, Karnataka |
Yes, you’re paying extra for a tank that takes your boot hostage — but who needs luggage when you’re saving ₹4/km?
💸 Price Breakup by Variant
Variant | Petrol Price | CNG Price |
---|---|---|
Visia | ₹6.14 lakh | ₹6.89 lakh |
Visia+ | ₹6.64 lakh | ₹7.39 lakh |
Acenta | ₹7.29 lakh | ₹8.04 lakh |
N-Connecta | ₹7.97 lakh | ₹8.72 lakh |
Tekna | ₹8.92 lakh | ₹9.67 lakh |
Tekna+ | ₹9.27 lakh | ₹10.02 lakh |
👀 The Tekna+ CNG costs ₹10 lakh. For ₹2,000 more, you could buy an iPhone 15 Pro. But will an iPhone save you ₹1.5/km on fuel? Exactly.
🧠 Why This Matters: The Great Middle-Class Migration (to CNG)
Maruti ruled CNG like it was the East India Company — Alto, WagonR, Celerio, and now even Brezza and Ertiga.
But with Nissan entering the scene, the monopoly is over.
What makes this special:
- This is an SUV. Not a tin can.
- It’s got a turbo option (albeit not for CNG… yet)
- It’s not embarrassing to be seen in.
- Mileage + muscle + ₹10 lakh cap = magic
While Maruti is busy charging ₹12 lakh for a Grand Vitara that sneezes out 21 kmpl, Nissan is saying: “Hold my gas.”
🧪 The Tech Breakdown
Let’s get nerdy:
- The 1.0L NA engine is retained for the CNG variant. No turbo-CNG Frankenstein (yet).
- It produces around 67 bhp and 91 Nm in CNG mode — not sporty, but enough for city sprints and tier-2 flexing.
- The 5-speed manual is your only transmission. No CVT, no AMT, no headache.
- The CNG kit is developed by Motozen, government-approved, and installed at the dealership, not in a shady shed behind a tyre shop.
🎯 Who’s This For?
- Office-goers who’ve had enough of Ola Surge Pricing
- First-time buyers looking for something cooler than a Dzire Tour S
- WagonR drivers going through SUV envy
- “I want mileage but also want alloy wheels” crowd
- Uber Premium ka chhota bhai
🚙 CNG SUV Comparison Chart
Model | Starting Price | CNG Mileage (Claimed) | Boot Space Left? | Turbo Option? |
---|---|---|---|---|
Nissan Magnite CNG | ₹6.89 lakh | ~24–25 km/kg | Minimal | Petrol Turbo only |
Tata Punch CNG | ₹7.23 lakh | 26.99 km/kg | Meh | No |
Hyundai Exter CNG | ₹7.52 lakh | 27.1 km/kg | Okay-ish | No |
Renault Kiger CNG | ₹6.99 lakh | TBA | Same as Magnite | Petrol Turbo only |
Verdict? Magnite has the best badge-to-price ratio, even if it loses the luggage war.
🧃 Real-World Concerns (That Nobody Talks About)
- Boot’s Gone: You can fit a pillow, a broken umbrella, and one emotional burden.
- CNG Fills are Still a Pain: Expect long queues unless you live in Gujarat or NCR.
- No CVT = No Lazy Driving: You gotta work those gears, bro.
- CNG Stations in Tier-3? Your town might still be getting JioFiber.
📣 Nissan’s Statement (Paraphrased Because We’re Honest)
“This launch reaffirms our commitment to make mobility greener, more accessible and budget-friendly.”
Translation: “Maruti was making too much money. We want in.”
📈 EduInvesting Take
🧠 “This is the car Maruti should’ve made… but Nissan had nothing to lose, so they made it first.”
- It’s cheap.
- It’s clean fuel.
- It’s not ugly.
- It’s backed by a brand that once made the GT-R and now makes GST-R (get it?).
This is Nissan’s attempt to get serious in India. For a company that sells fewer cars annually than Hyundai sells in a weekend, this might be the Alt+F4 moment for its dying Excel sheet of sales.
🛑 Risks & Red Flags
- Nissan’s after-sales service isn’t exactly Tata-level
- No automatic = lost customers in cities
- Factory CNG = cleaner than retrofits but still not as optimized as Maruti’s dual ECUs
- Boot crisis is real. Don’t even think about airport runs.
🔮 Final Thought
If you ever wished your WagonR CNG had biceps, this is it.
The Magnite CNG may not change the world, but it might change how India’s middle class buys its first car in 2025 — with mileage, muscle, and a monthly EMI that doesn’t feel like a personal loan.
✍️ Prashant Marathe
🗓️ Published: May 29, 2025
📎 Tags: Nissan Magnite CNG, Turbo SUV India, Budget SUV 2025, Cheapest CNG SUV, Maruti rival, EduInvesting