Tata Aeris Petrol Vs CNG: Complete Running Cost & Financial Breakdown

Tata Motors has introduced the Aeris subcompact sedan as a replacement for the Tigor in the country. The sub-4m sedan arrived with refreshed styling, a dual-screen digital cabin, 6 standard airbags, and a segment-exclusive dual-cylinder iCNG technology. Offered with both 5MT and 5-AMT options, the Tata Aeris presents a clear choice for budget-conscious sedan buyers: Petrol or CNG?

While the CNG variant comes with a higher upfront price tag, it promises substantially lower fuel bills. This article gives you a financial breakdown of running costs, mileage differences, boot space and the breakeven distance required to recover your money.

Upfront Price Difference

 
Tata Aeris CNG variants comes at a premium of approximately Rs 1 lakh over their corresponding period manual and AMT counterparts.

Performance and Efficiency Specs
 

 
Both powertrains uses Tata’s 1.2-litre, 3-cylinder Revotron petrol engine, but output and fuel efficiency figures differ between fuel modes:

Running Cost & Savings Calculation

Assuming an average fuel price of Rs 96.50 per litre for Petrol and Rs 76.00 per kg for CNG:

Cost Per Kilometre:

Aeris Petrol: Rs 96.50 divided by 19.2 kmpl = Rs 5.02 per km

Aeris iCNG: Rs 76 divided by Rs 26.49 km/kg = Rs 2.87 per km

Direct Running Cost Savings: Rs 2.15 per km saved by driving on CNG

 
Breakeven Analysis: When Do You Recover the Rs 1 Lakh Premium?

To recover the Rs 1 lakh (ex-showroom price premium + Rs 10,000 additional taxes / insurance on CNG), one need to save Rs 1.10 lakh in fuel costs.

Required Driving Distance: Rs 1.10 lakh divided by Rs 2.15 / km saving = 51,160 km

 
Practicality & Utility Trade-Offs

While the CNG saves running costs, there are practical considerations between the two powertrains:

Boot Space Efficiency: the Aeris petrol version features a 419-litres of boot. The CNG uses Tata’s twin-cylinder technology mounted beneath the luggage floor, preserving a usable 227-litres of boot space.

AMT Driving: the Aeris offers a CNG AMT variant, which brings clutchless driving convenience to low-running-cost CNG commuting.

Direct CNG Start: the Aeris iCNG can be started directly in CNG mode without forcing the engine to turn over on petrol first, saving small amounts of petrol during cold starts.

Which One Saves More Money for You?

Buy the Tata Aeris Petrol if your total driving distance is less than 10,000 km per year. At low mileage, it will take over 5 years to recover the 1 lakh upfront premium.

Buy the Tata Aeris CNG if you drive more than 14,000 km per year or use the vehicle for highway commuting. You will be able to recover the upfront price premium within 2 to 2.5 years.

Also See - CNG Has Overtaken Diesel in India: Can It Become the New Diesel?