Nissan Magnite CNG vs Fronx CNG: Nissan has just thrown its hat into the affordable CNG compact SUV ring with the Magnite CNG, launched at Rs 6.89 lakh—and it’s gunning straight for Maruti’s popular Fronx CNG territory. With both cars targeting the same fuel-conscious Indian buyers, we break down how these two stack up against each other.
The Price Game: Nissan Starts Aggressive
Let’s get straight to the numbers that matter most to buyers. The Nissan Magnite CNG kicks off at Rs 6.89 lakh (ex-showroom) for the base Visia variant, while the range tops out at Rs 10.02 lakh for the Tekna+ trim. Meanwhile, the Maruti Fronx CNG starts at Rs 8.49 lakh for the Sigma variant. Right off the bat, Nissan’s got a Rs 1.6 lakh advantage at the entry level—that’s not pocket change in this segment.
The Magnite’s pricing strategy is pretty clever here. Nissan is offering the CNG kit as a dealer-level retrofit option that costs an additional Rs 75,000 over the standard petrol variants. This means you can walk into a Nissan showroom, buy a regular Magnite, and get it converted to CNG on the spot. The conversion is handled by Motozen, and Nissan’s backing it with a 3-year/1 lakh km warranty.
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Engine Specs: David vs Goliath
Under the hood, these two take completely different approaches. The Magnite CNG uses a 999cc, 3-cylinder naturally aspirated petrol engine that puts out 71 bhp and 96 Nm of torque. It’s the smaller, simpler setup—but don’t write it off just yet.
The Fronx CNG, on the other hand, packs a bigger 1197cc, 4-cylinder dual jet dual VVT engine making 76.43 bhp and 98.5 Nm. On paper, it’s the more powerful option, though the difference isn’t exactly night and day. Both get 5-speed manual transmissions—no automatics in the CNG game for either brand yet.
Mileage: Where Maruti Shows Its Experience
Here’s where Maruti’s years of CNG expertise really shine through. The Fronx CNG delivers an ARAI-certified 28.51 km/kg, while the Magnite CNG manages 24 km/kg. That’s a significant 4.5 km/kg difference in Maruti’s favor.
For context, if you’re doing about 1,000 km per month (pretty typical for urban drivers), that extra efficiency could save you roughly Rs 400-500 monthly on fuel costs. Over a year, that’s around Rs 5,000-6,000—money that adds up, especially for the cost-conscious buyers these cars target.
Features and Variants: More Choices vs Proven Formula
Nissan’s offering the Magnite CNG across six variants, giving buyers plenty of choice. The retrofit approach also means you get all the regular Magnite features without compromise—the CNG cylinder doesn’t eat into boot space as drastically as factory-fitted systems sometimes do.
The Fronx CNG comes in the Sigma variant with features like automatic climate control, ABS, alloy wheels, airbags, and power steering. Maruti’s also thrown in 10 color options for the Fronx, compared to the Magnite’s more limited palette.
Market Reality Check
There’s something worth noting about availability. The Magnite CNG is currently available only in seven states: Delhi-NCR, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Kerala, and Karnataka. Phase 2 expansion is planned, but that limits initial reach. The Fronx CNG, being a Maruti product, is available across the country through the extensive Nexa network.