Hyundai to launch CNG Bayon SUV in early 2027 without losing boot space

Hyundai will launch a CNG version of its Bayon SUV in January 2027, marking the first midsize SUV in India to run on compressed natural gas. The CNG model will retain the 1.5‑litre four‑cylinder MPI engine used in the petrol Bayon, but power is expected to drop to about 100 PS and torque to roughly 125 Nm. It will be paired with a six‑speed manual gearbox; an automatic option has not been confirmed. Hyundai says the gas tanks will sit under the floor of the boot, preserving the Bayon’s 505‑litre cargo space, the same layout it uses on the Exter Hy‑CNG Duo. The petrol Bayon currently offers a 115 PS, 143.8 Nm engine with both manual and iVT automatic choices, and has sold over 600,000 units across Hyundai’s Creta and Seltos lines. Rivals such as the Maruti Victoris, Grand Vitara and Toyota Hyryder already sell CNG variants that produce about 87.8 PS and 121.5 Nm and use five‑speed manuals. Those models claim around 27 km per kilogram of CNG, a benchmark the Bayon will need to meet. Pricing for the Bayon ranges from Rs 9.99 lakh to Rs 17.99 lakh for petrol trims, and the CNG version will sit at a higher price point. The SUV is available in seven trim levels – HX2 through HX10 – and Hyundai may roll the CNG option across select or most of these variants.

Context

CNG‑powered SUVs are gaining popularity in India as fuel prices rise and emissions rules tighten, and preserving boot space is a key buyer concern for compact crossovers.