Apply for Instant Loan

Download Our App

Apply for Instant Loan

Download Our App

Play Store

Apply for Instant Loan

Download Our App

Arrow Arrow
CNG vs Petrol vs Diesel

Purchasing a four-wheeler is a major financial decision resonating with the buyer's lifestyle. It requires a significant investment that you can finance with a car loan. However, before finalising the purchase of a car, choosing the fuel type is one of the most significant factors affecting the decision. While petrol, diesel, and CNG are the most popular options, your choice can primarily affect its running cost, maintenance charges, fuel economy, etc.

After price, fuel type is the most critical determining factor when buying a car. Besides performance, it also influences the car's environmental impact and running costs. While all three fuel options have pros and cons, the final choice depends on your priorities and requirements, including technology, mileage, seating capacity, etc. In the following sections, we will compare CNG vs petrol vs diesel vehicles to help you make a better choice.
Read Also: 10 Used Cng & Automatic Cars Under 2 Lakhs in India 2023

To Avail Used Car Loans
Apply Now

Which Car is Better: CNG, Diesel and Petrol?

Parameter Petrol Diesel CNG

Car Price

Cheaper than diesel and CNG cars

Expensive than petrol and CNG cars

Expensive than petrol cars but cheaper than diesel cars

Fuel Price

Highest

Lower than petrol, higher than CNG

Lowest

Mileage

Lowest

Higher than petrol, lower than CNG

Highest

Running Costs

Highest

Lower than petrol, higher than CNG

Lowest

Environmental Impact

Exhaust carbon monoxide

Produce carbon emissions

CNG is a combustible fuel and exhausts clean emissions

Fuel Availability

Easily available at every petrol station

Easily available at every petrol station

Limited number of CNG refilling stations

Life Expectancy

Lower than diesel

Higher than petrol

Similar to petrol

Performance

Good performance and better pick-up than CNG and diesel

Slower pick-up but good performance afterwards

Lower power generation than petrol and diesel

Comfort

Refined petrol engines have low NVH (Noise, Vibrations, Harshness), providing the most comfortable drives.

Less refined with higher NVH

Similar to petrol engines

Boot Space

Ample boot space

Ample boot space

Limited boot space because a CNG cylinder consumes a lot of space in the boot

Read Also: Electric Car vs Petrol Car - Which One is Better for You?

Advantages and Disadvantages of CNG, Petrol and Diesel Cars

Before finalising which car is best petrol or diesel or CNG, looking at their advantages and disadvantages is helpful. Here’s an overview.

Advantages and Disadvantages of CNG Cars

Pros of CNG Cars Cons of CNG Cars
  • Lower running cost than petrol and diesel cars due to cheaper CNG price
  • More fuel economy than petrol and diesel cars
  • CNG cars do not cause global warming because they do not emit pollution-causing carbon emissions.
  • Most CNG cars allow you to switch between petrol and CNG during the drive.
  • High maintenance costs due to CNG kit
  • Lower comfort and performance than petrol and diesel cars
  • Low fuel tank capacity, resulting in limited driving range
  • CNG cylinder takes a lot of boot space
  • CNG refilling stations are not so widely available compared to petrol and diesel stations
  • CNG kit installation makes the car more expensive

Advantages and Disadvantages of Petrol Cars

Pros of Petrol Cars Cons of Petrol Cars
  • Cheaper than diesel and CNG cars
  • Lower NVH levels, resulting in a smooth and comfortable driving experience
  • Faster pick-up results in a stable power output
  • Lower maintenance costs
  • Easy fuel availability after every few km
  • Fuel price is higher
  • Lower high-end performance and torque compared to diesel cars
  • Emit carbon monoxide, contributing to air pollution


Advantages and Disadvantages of Diesel Cars

Pros of Diesel Cars Cons of Diesel Cars
  • Lower running cost than petrol cars
  • Better top-end performance, making them ideal for drives on highways
  • Longer life expectancy than petrol cars
  • Higher fuel efficiency than petrol cars
  • Diesel cars are more expensive than petrol and CNG cars.
  • High NVH levels, making the drives a little jerky, noisy, and uncomfortable
  • Diesel engines are not as refined as petrol engines
  • Higher spare parts, service, and maintenance costs

Which Type of Fuel Affects the Environment?

When selecting fuel for your car, it's important to focus on its environmental impact. Amongst CNG vs petrol vs diesel vehicles, CNG is the cleanest option in regards to greenhouse gas emissions. It creates fewer carbon emissions than petrol and diesel engines, making it the ideal choice for those wanting a cleaner fuel. Petrol is also a clean fuel, producing more greenhouse gases than CNG. And diesel is the most polluting option, generating high carbon fumes and particulate matter when burned.

Keep in mind that a car's emissions can vary depending on several factors, so it's essential to maintain your vehicle to ensure it's running efficiently regularly. Ultimately, choosing CNG over petrol and diesel can significantly reduce your carbon footprint.
Read Also: 10 Best High Mileage Diesel Car - Top Picks and Reviews

Maintenance Charges for Petrol, CNG and Diesel

Cars with petrol engines are the cheapest to maintain due to easily accessible and affordable spare parts. Conversely, cars with diesel engines have more complex components, making the price of spare parts more expensive. Overall, maintaining a diesel car is costlier than a petrol car.

CNG cars have bi-fuel petrol engines, allowing you to drive the vehicle with the option of CNG or petrol fuel. You can switch between the two fuel options during the drive to get the best of both worlds. However, the CNG kit installed in it makes its maintenance more expensive.

Since these cars have both mechanisms, you must maintain both to keep the vehicle in good condition. They will require more frequent checks to spot any leaks or malfunctions in the system. Hence, the overall maintenance charges for CNG vehicles are higher than for petrol and diesel cars.

How to Determine Which Car is Best?

Determining which car is the best is not a one-word answer. The final choice largely depends on your requirements, preferences, budget, driving needs, etc. Below are a few key points you must remember when comparing CNG vs diesel vs petrol.

  • If you want a car with good overall performance, high durability, lower fuel consumption, and lower running costs, go for a diesel car that provides all these benefits.

  • If you wish for a cheaper car with the smoothest rides, easy fuel availability, faster pick-ups, low NVH levels, and lower maintenance needs, opt for a petrol car.

  • If you are looking for a car with lower running costs, more fuel economy, and low carbon emissions, purchase a CNG car.

CNG cars have become popular car options for daily commutes at low running costs. Moreover, they are eco-friendly and do not pollute the environment. So, you can take out your car every day without feeling guilty.
Read Also: 10 Best High Mileage Petrol Cars in India You Can Buy in 2023

Conclusion

From the above information, you must have deducted several crucial things about the various fuel options: CNG vs petrol vs diesel. While CNG is the cheapest and most eco-friendly, it has lower power and acceleration than its petrol and diesel counterparts.

On the other hand, petrol cars are expensive, and diesel cars have high NVH levels. Whichever car type you decide to buy, finance it with a new or old car loan to avoid paying its price upfront. Hero FinCorp offers the lowest interest car loan with flexible repayment terms and favourable terms and conditions.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is CNG better than petrol?

CNG is better than petrol in terms of mileage, fuel efficiency, environmental impact, etc.

2. Why is CNG preferred over petrol or diesel?

Many people prefer CNG cars over petrol and diesel due to lower running costs, lower environmental impact, and more fuel economy.

3. Is CNG risky in cars?

It is a myth. CNG has a higher ignition temperature, making it less dangerous than petrol and diesel.

4. Why do people prefer petrol over diesel?

Many people prefer petrol over diesel for smoother operation, less noise, and more fuel economy.

5. Is diesel bad for your health?

Exposure to diesel fumes might lead to critical health conditions like heart and lung disease, asthma, and other respiratory diseases, especially in the elderly and children.


To Avail Used Car Loans
Apply Now
Did You Know

Disbursement

The act of paying out money for any kind of transaction is known as disbursement. From a lending perspective this usual implies the transfer of the loan amount to the borrower. It may cover paying to operate a business, dividend payments, cash outflow etc. So if disbursements are more than revenues, then cash flow of an entity is negative, and may indicate possible insolvency.

Exclusive deals

Subscribe to our newsletter and get exclusive deals you wont find anywhere else straight to your inbox!