Buying a car in 2026 is not as simple as choosing a brand. The real confusion begins when you must decide which fuel type is the most economical and practical for your lifestyle—electric, petrol, diesel or CNG. Each has its own strengths, weaknesses and cost factors that can significantly impact your wallet over the next five years.

To make this comparison accurate and fair, we will evaluate all four fuel types using one common car model: Tata Nexon. Since Nexon is offered in petrol, diesel and electric, and Tata already sells CNG cars in the same engine class, this gives us the most realistic cost comparison.

Let’s break down the actual cost of ownership for someone who drives 50 km daily, which becomes 90,000 km in 5 years.

1. Upfront Price in 2026

The first expense is always the purchase price. Here are realistic 2026 prices:

Even before running the car, the EV is already the most expensive, while CNG is the most budget-friendly to buy.

2. Fuel Efficiency & Rates Used for Calculation

These are realistic 2026 values based on current growth trends.

3. Daily Running Cost (50 km/day)

Tata Nexon EV

• Consumption: 50 ÷ 6 = 8.3 kWh

• Cost: 8.3 × ₹8 = ₹66/day

Tata Nexon Petrol

• Consumption: 50 ÷ 14 = 3.57 litres

• Cost: 3.57 × 105 = ₹375/day

Tata Nexon Diesel

• Consumption: 50 ÷ 20 = 2.5 litres

• Cost: 2.5 × 95 = ₹238/day

Tata Nexon CNG

• Consumption: 50 ÷ 26 = 1.92 kg

• Cost: 1.92 × 90 = ₹173/day

Conclusion: The EV is the cheapest to run, while petrol is the most expensive per day.

4. Running Cost for 5 Years (90,000 km)

Here EV wins easily. Petrol burns the deepest hole in the pocket over long distances.

5. Service & Maintenance (5 Years)

EVs have fewer moving parts, no oil changes, and almost no major engine wear—hence the lowest maintenance.

6. Total Ownership Cost (5 Years)

This includes:

✔ Upfront Buying Cost
✔ Running Cost (90,000 km)
✔ Maintenance

Tata Nexon EV – Total Cost

• Upfront: ₹14,50,000

• Running: ₹1,18,800

• Service: ₹18,000

Total: ₹15,86,800

Tata Nexon Petrol – Total Cost

• Upfront: ₹11,00,000

• Running: ₹6,75,000

• Service: ₹32,000

Total: ₹18,07,000

Tata Nexon Diesel – Total Cost

• Upfront: ₹13,00,000

• Running: ₹4,27,500

• Service: ₹45,000

Total: ₹17,72,500

Nexon CNG – Total Cost

• Upfront: ₹12,50,000

• Running: ₹3,11,400

• Service: ₹28,000

Total: ₹15,89,400

7. Which Variant Is the Cheapest Over 5 Years?

Ranking from cheapest to most expensive:

CNG – ₹15.89 lakh (WINNER)
EV– ₹16.86 lakh
Diesel– ₹17.72 lakh
Petrol – ₹18.07 lakh

EV is the cheapest to run, but the high upfront cost.

8. Real Human Analysis — Which Should You Buy?

If you drive 50–100 km daily → EV or CNG

1. EV gives the smoothest drive, lowest running cost.

    

2. CNG gives the lowest total ownership cost.

If you do frequent long highway trips → Diesel

Diesel Nexon gives strong torque, better cruising ability, and the second-lowest overall cost.

If your usage is low (less than 500 km/month) → Petrol

Petrol Nexon is the simplest, least expensive to maintain, and perfect for city users who don’t drive much.

If you want the “best value for money overall” → CNG

Even though Nexon doesn’t directly come in CNG, Tata already produces similar CNG powertrains—so the comparison is valid. For budget-minded buyers, nothing beats CNG’s balanced cost structure.

9. Final Verdict (Practical Buyer’s Guide)

Final Conclusion

In 2026, choosing between EV, petrol, diesel or CNG really comes down to your driving habits. If you only look at running cost, the EV seems unbeatable. But when you look at total 5-year ownership, CNG actually wins the race by a massive margin.

However, if you want refinement, zero vibration, and future technology, the EV is still the most satisfying to drive.

Each fuel type has its own personality—just choose the one that matches your lifestyle, not the trend.