We put these two popular compact SUVs to the test to find out which is more efficient.
Tata Motors has broadened the Nexon’s appeal with the iCNG version, which sells alongside its turbo-petrol, diesel and electric iterations. Priced between Rs 9 lakh and Rs 14.60 lakh, the iCNG is offered across a wide price band. Uniquely, it is the only offering in the market which marries a turbo-petrol engine with CNG (compressed natural gas), and comes paired with a 6-speed manual transmission.
To find out how efficient the Nexon iCNG is in the real-world, we compare it to its direct, well-established rival, Maruti Brezza S-CNG, that’s priced between Rs 9.29 lakh and Rs 12.09 lakh.
- Neither car is equipped with auto engine stop/start or drive modes
- Top-spec Nexon is 143kg heavier than Brezza
- Nexon gets a 60L CNG tank, while Brezza’s is 55L
The Nexon iCNG with its turbo-petrol+CNG combination along with a 6-speed manual transmission is claimed to deliver 24km/kg, whereas the Maruti Brezza S-CNG with its 1.5L naturally aspirated petrol+CNG combination and 5-speed manual is claimed to deliver 25.51km/kg. In our city fuel efficiency test, the Nexon returned 13.4km/kg, while the Brezza’s 20.4km/kg came across as rather impressive. Notably, in stop-go conditions with constant on-boost and off-boost scenarios the Nexon’s turbo-petrol mill takes a toll on its efficiency. Further, there isn’t an auto engine stop-start tech or an Eco drive mode to keep a check on gas consumption.
On the highway, both cars achieved an efficiency closer to their respective claimed figures. The Nexon delivered 23.7km/kg while the Brezza delivered 25.5km/kg. The Nexon’s sixth gear makes it an easy-sipper while cruising on the open road, spinning at around 2300rpm at 100kph in sixth gear; the Brezza’s engine spins at around 2900rpm in fifth gear. However, the Brezza’s 1.5-litre unit is inherently more efficient, and its lighter kerb weight of 1255kg (Nexon’s is 1398kg) helps deliver taller fuel efficiency.
Autocar India’s fuel efficiency testing
CNG tanks are trickier to fill, and there are several variables particularly ambient temperature and pump pressure, so we didn’t opt for our standard tankful to tankful methodology. For our real-world test, we emptied their CNG tanks, and filled each of them with 2-kilograms of CNG. Then, we drove them within urban confines till they ran out of gas. We repeated the process for the highway test. Throughout the drive, these cars were driven in CNG mode only.
Tyre pressures were maintained based on the manufacturer’s recommendation. These cars are driven on fixed city and highway loops in and around Navi Mumbai, maintaining certain average speeds. Throughout the tests, there is only one person in each car who runs the aircon and other electricals, such as the audio system, indicators and wipers, when required, just like a regular user would. Periodic driver swaps further neutralise variations in driver patterns. We take pride in our testing data, which isn’t merely consistent, but also gives users an accurate indication of what they can expect in the real world.
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