Ownership
Petrol, diesel or CNG: which pre-owned car actually saves money?
12 August 2026 · 5 min read
Everyone has an opinion on fuel type. Very few have a spreadsheet. Here is the short version for someone driving about 1,200 km a month.
Petrol makes sense below roughly 1,000 km a month: lower purchase price, cheaper servicing, and the widest choice in the pre-owned market.
Diesel starts winning past 1,500 km a month, but only if the car is under eight years old — the ten-year NCR rule and higher maintenance eat into savings fast.
CNG is the quiet winner for city commuters, provided you accept a smaller boot and the occasional queue. Factory-fitted CNG holds resale value far better than aftermarket kits.
Our advice: pick on usage, not on pride. The cheapest car to own is the one that matches your actual week.
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