Alternative fuels are quite popular in some cities and buyers with heavy running usually want to opt for CNG powered vehicles. With the rise in diesel prices, CNG is by far the cheapest way of personal transport. Recently Maruti Suzuki launched the CNG version of the Ertiga and now our reader Amey Thakur from Bangalore spotted a Chevrolet Enjoy CNG on test near General Motors’ R&D Centre. The American automaker is likely to launch the CNG powered Enjoy MPV by the end of the year, priced at around Rs. 50,000/- more than the petrol only model.
The on-test Chevrolet Enjoy CNG had a sticker on the rear windscreen which read ‘CNG.ESA.3069’. This equates to a CO of 3069 ug/m3 as per the latest emission norm for CNG and LPG vehicles. The engine powering the CNG model will be the same 1.4-litre SMARTECH petrol unit which produces 104 PS of power and 131 Nm of torque. In the CNG model, the output will be slightly lesser. With a CNG mode, the Chevrolet Enjoy MPV will be quite cheap to run as currently the petrol model returns an ARAI certified mileage of 13.7 km/l.
The Chevrolet Enjoy CNG caught on test was a lower trim with bare basic features. GM might be targeting the commercial market with the launch of the CNG model. Currently the Enjoy is priced at an attractive Rs. 5.59 lakhs (ex-showroom, Delhi). This price although introductory, hasn’t been hiked since launch even though GM is selling good volumes of the Chinese MPV. The Chevrolet Enjoy MPV has been constantly selling more than 2000 units per month, since it went on sale in India on 9th May 2013. A facelift has been launched in China but won’t make its way to our shores anytime soon.
