Maruti Suzuki has announced the Baleno CNG AMT premium hatchback in India at a starting price of Rs 8.32 lakh (ex-showroom).

It is the first premium hatchback in the Indian market to come with a factory-fitted CNG powertrain with a factory-fitted automatic transmission.

Price and variants

The CNG AMT option will be on offer in two trims:

Delta CNG AMT: Rs 8.32 lakh (ex-showroom)

Zeta CNG AMT: Expected to be around Rs 9.32 lakh (ex-showroom) as per the existing CNG-manual price ladder.

This AMT option will be around Rs 40,000 above the respective CNG-manual variants, in line with Maruti’s automatic premium.

This adds the CNG AMT to Baleno’s powertrain options, which now comprise petrol manual, petrol AMT, CNG manual, and CNG AMT.

Engine, performance, and mileage

Baleno CNG AMT continues to use Maruti’s tried-and-true 1.2-litre Z12E three-cylinder petrol engine with S-CNG technology:

70 hp (around 69-70 bhp)

102 Nm

5-speed AMT transmission

Claimed mileage: 34.47 km/kg (CNG-AMT)

This is 0.86 km/kg higher than the CNG-manual version, due to optimised AMT gear ratios and tuning, despite peak power and torque figures remaining the same.

In real-world city driving, you can expect lower mileage figures depending on traffic, AC use, and driving habits, but the AMT transmission should help keep the engine revs in a healthy range with its stop-go-friendly nature.

Features and equipment

The CNG AMT variants are expected to carry over most of the equipment grade-wise of their CNG-manual counterparts:

Delta CNG AMT variants typically come with:

9-inch SmartPlay Studio+ touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

Automatic climate control

Steering-mounted controls

Keyless entry with push-button start

6 airbags, ESP, hill-hold, rear parking sensors and camera (depending on variant)

Zeta CNG AMT adds on:

Connected-car tech (Suzuki Connect)

Ambient lighting, leather-wrapped steering, and additional comfort features

Possibly more driver-assist tech if it aligns with the 2026 facelift spec.

The AMT gearbox provides the benefits of creep function, auto hill-hold, and easier city driving, especially useful in heavy traffic where constant clutch work can be tiring.

CNG layout and practicality

Maruti retains the boot-mounted 55-litre water-equivalent CNG cylinder, as opposed to an underbody tank:

The spare wheel is also located in the boot, reducing the amount of usable boot space compared to petrol-only variants.

There is a dedicated fuel-change switch on the dashboard to toggle between petrol and CNG, as well as CNG-specific instrumentation.

For buyers who regularly carry full loads or go on long-distance trips with luggage, this is a trade-off for the lower running costs of a CNG.

Why this matters for buyers

First automatic CNG premium hatch: Until now, buyers who wanted both CNG and automatic transmission had to make a compromise with either a manual CNG car or a petrol automatic. With the Baleno CNG AMT, that doesn’t apply in the premium hatchback segment.

Lower running costs + convenience: CNG already slashes fuel costs significantly; getting an AMT adds convenience without sacrificing economy, especially for daily city commuting in heavy traffic.

Great value proposition: At Rs 8.32 lakh onwards, the Baleno CNG AMT undercuts many petrol-automatic rivals while offering similar or better real-world cost-per-km.

How it compares to rivals

Currently, there are no direct CNG-automatic rivals in the premium hatchback space:

Hyundai i20, Tata Altroz, Volkswagen Polo (discontinued), and similar cars all offer petrol automatics but not factory CNG.

CNG options in this segment (if any) are limited to manual transmissions, making the Baleno CNG AMT a unique choice for buyers who want both technologies.

This positions the Baleno CNG AMT as a default choice for:

Ride-hailing drivers who want to reduce fuel costs and enjoy easier driving

Families who want a comfortable city car with low monthly fuel bills

First-time car buyers who want to prioritise total cost of ownership over outright performance.

Who should buy the Baleno CNG AMT?

The Baleno CNG AMT makes the most sense if:

You drive 1,000 km or more per month, where CNG savings start to make sense.

Your daily commute is in heavy traffic, where an automatic transmission is helpful.

You want a spacious, well-equipped hatchback with good safety features (like 6 airbags and ADAS on higher trims) and low running costs.

If you rarely drive in traffic or have a low monthly run, a petrol AMT or CNG manual could be more cost-effective depending on your local CNG availability and fuel prices.

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