Maruti Suzuki launched the new-gen Swift in May 2024; however, it was not available with a CNG variant until early October 2024. We were among the first to take it for a quick test drive. With CNG prices constantly rising and Maruti charging a ₹ 90,000 premium for the CNG kit, is it worth buying the Swift CNG now? Let’s find out.
Maruti Swift CNG: Price and variants
The Swift CNG is available in three variants: VXi, VXi (O), and ZXi. The ex-showroom prices are ₹ 8.20 lakh (VXi), ₹ 8.47 lakh (VXi (O)) and ₹ 9.20 lakh (ZXi). This makes the Swift CNG ₹ 90,000 more expensive than its regular petrol manual variant.
Maruti Swift CNG: Driving Experience
The Swift is powered by a 1.2-litre, 3-cylinder petrol engine that produces 70 hp and 102 Nm of peak torque in CNG mode, paired to a 5-speed manual gearbox. The same engine also comes with the option of a 5-speed AMT gearbox in the non-CNG variant.
The car’s ignition can only be turned on in petrol mode, so make sure there is enough fuel stored in its 37-litre petrol tank. However, it quickly shifts to CNG mode (or vice versa) by pressing a button placed on the right side of the steering wheel. The engine runs quite smoothly for a 3-cylinder unit and delivers good low-end torque. It feels quite responsive for city traffic, and on open stretches of road, it’s easy to reach higher speeds. However, overtaking will require a bit of planning and downshifts.
The Swift’s ride is a little harsh, but comfortable for city roads. It also feels quite stable on unpaved roads. At 990 kg, the Swift CNG’s kerb weight is 65 kg higher than the Swift petrol, so it’s not as agile around bends as the regular car, but gets the job done.
Maruti Swift CNG: Mileage and running costs
The Swift CNG is extremely economical, with a claimed fuel economy of around 32.85 km/kg. Its 55-litre CNG tank has a capacity of around 9 kg, giving a claimed range of 295 km on a full tank. I drove the car during rush hours and on the highway, achieving a range of 250 km on a single tank. With CNG costing ₹ 75 per kg in Delhi, a full tank costs ₹ 675, which brings the running cost to ₹ 2.7 per km.
Maruti Swift CNG: Features
The Swift CNG is not available in the top-spec ZXi+ variant; however, the ZXi variant I tested comes equipped with LED exterior lighting, painted alloy wheels, a 7-inch touchscreen with wireless CarPlay and Android Auto, push-button start, auto climate control, rear parking sensors, 6 airbags, ESP and hill hold.
However, it misses out on front fog lamps, rear parking camera, boot lamp, cruise control and Arkamys audio tuning. Boot space is very small due to the CNG tank, with limited space to store small bags; Getting to the airport will be challenging unless you use the cabin space for luggage. The space-saver spare is also replaced with a puncture repair kit.
Maruti Suzuki Swift CNG: Should you buy it?
Swift CNG can be tricky to buy. While the low running costs are an advantage, you sacrifice boot space completely. With CNG costing only ₹15 to ₹20 less than petrol, and the gap getting smaller, the appeal of the CNG variants is fading away—especially in a car like the Swift, which already offers impressive fuel economy of 24.8 kmpl (MT) and 25.75 kmpl (AMT).
If you often drive within city limits and don’t need the boot space often, the Swift CNG is the right choice for you. However, there are more affordable CNG options in Maruti’s lineup for this purpose. If you want a Swift, it’s best to get it in the petrol model.
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