2026 Maruti Suzuki Brezza LXI CNG: First Impressions

I recently took a close look at the Maruti Suzuki Brezza facelift in its entry level LXI trim, with the factory-fitted CNG version.

It is aimed squarely at buyers who want low running costs without giving up practicality.

Here are my first impressions, focused only on what this base CNG variant offers.

Exterior Design

The Brezza facelift brings subtle but noticeable design updates, especially at the front.

While the halogen projector headlamps carry over unchanged, it now sports a revised bumper with silver inserts and a slightly tweaked design for the grille, with a gloss grey finish. The fog lamp housing is placed higher up, and is now a circular, round unit unlike the rectangular one on the pre-facelift model.

The sides carry black cladding with a silver inserts and 16-inch steel wheels with full wheel covers. Body-coloured door handles and ORVMs with turn indicators are standard, though there are no roof rails on this variant.

At the rear you get LED tail lamps, a roof-end spoiler and shark-fin antenna. Black skid plates complete the look. It still looks like a proper compact SUV and does not feel overly basic from the outside.

Overall, the major visual differences from the pre-facelift Brezza are limited to the front.

It is nearly impossible to identify this car as the facelift from the side and the rear, especially in the 1.5-litre petrol and CNG variants.

Also Read - New Maruti Suzuki Brezza LXi Base Model Explained
 

Interior

Step inside and the cabin looks basic, but functional.

You get a black and brown theme on the dashboard, with a flat-bottom steering wheel. There is no factory-fitted infotainment system or speakers on the LXI, though provision is given to get them installed later. The instrument cluster is analogue with a multi-information display.

Practical touches include all four power windows (driver side with auto up/down), electrically adjustable (not foldable) ORVMs, rear AC vents, a manual day/night IRVM and a 12V power outlet at the front.

The overall material quality is typical Maruti, with hard plastics in most places, but the fit and finish feel consistent and everything is built to last.

The front fabric seats offer good support even over long journeys. Rear seat space is usable for two adults with reasonable knee room, though three abreast will feel tight on longer trips.

Shockingly, there are no headrests on the rear seats, which is both a comfort and safety compromise.

Boot space is a big plus on this facelift CNG model. No more cylinder eating into the boot, as thanks to the new underbody dual-cylinder CNG tank, you get the full 328 litres of luggage capacity, the same as the petrol versions.

Though, the spare wheel has been done away with for a puncture repair kit, across all variants. It remains to be seen whether Maruti offers it as an accessory like they recently did on the Victoris.

Also Read - Maruti Victoris VXI Strong Hybrid: First Impressions
 

Engine and Performance

The LXI CNG is powered by the familiar 1.5-litre K15C four-cylinder engine that runs on both petrol and CNG.

In CNG mode it produces around 86-88 bhp and 121.5 Nm of torque. It is paired exclusively with a new 6-speed manual gearbox. ARAI claims 26.9 km/kg on CNG, which should translate to strong real-world economy for city and highway use.

I have not driven the car with this powertrain combination yet, so detailed notes on performance and fuel efficiency will follow later.

However, from known behaviour of this powertrain, expect adequate power for daily commuting, with the engine becoming a bit vocal under hard acceleration or when fully loaded. The switch between petrol and CNG is seamless, and the car typically starts on petrol before moving to CNG.

Additionally, the availability of a sixth gear should significantly aid highway cruising and efficiency.

Safety

Safety equipment on the LXI CNG is reassuring for the price.

You get six airbags as standard, electronic stability program (ESP), hill-hold assist, ABS with EBD, rear parking sensors, ISOFIX child-seat anchors, seat-belt reminders for all occupants, central locking, and an engine immobiliser.

As stated before though, the omission of rear headrests is a safety compromise as well, leaving the rear passengers vulnerable to whiplash injuries in case of an impact.

The Brezza facelift has earned a 5-star Bharat NCAP rating. Higher trims add cameras and ADAS, but the base CNG already covers most of the essentials well. Though, it is worth noting that the variant tested was the ZXI+ 1.5L automatic, which does get rear headrests.

Competition

Direct compact SUV rivals to the Brezza with a CNG include the Tata Nexon, Renault Kiger, and Nissan Magnite CNG variants.

Out of these, only the Nexon comes with a factory-fitted twin-cylinder setup with 321 litres of boot space, while the Renault and Nissan come with dealership-fitted units.

The Brezza scores with Maruti’s widespread service network, the new underbody CNG layout that preserves full boot space, and a refined four cylinder petrol engine.

Also Read - Best CNG Cars With Big Boot Space
 

Should You Buy One?

For those seriously considering the Brezza CNG, this LXI trim in specific is best avoided unless you are on a very tight budget, and the CNG is an absolute must-have.

While it gets the basics right, it feels quite stripped for daily use. There is no touchscreen, no speakers, no automatic climate control and several other everyday conveniences are missing.

Spend some more and move up to the VXI CNG. The price difference is around Rs 65,000, and for that you get a meaningfully better package.

Additional features over the LXI CNG include a 7-inch touchscreen with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, Arkamys-tuned speakers, steering-mounted audio controls, Suzuki voice assistant, automatic climate control, height-adjustable driver’s seat, adjustable headrests on the outer rear seats, rear defogger, fabric door armrests and front seat-back pockets.

These make the cabin far more liveable for everyday driving.

If CNG is your priority and your budget allows a small stretch, the VXI CNG is the smarter and more complete choice.

Maruti’s after-sales network is another strong and obvious reason to consider it.

Once we get proper driving time we will update with real-world mileage and ride impressions, but on paper and first look, the Brezza CNG is a sensible, no-nonsense choice for budget-conscious families who do high kilometre runs.