Where the CNG cylinder goes
A large share of the intercity cabs between Pune and Mumbai run on CNG, for a sound commercial reason: the gas costs much less per kilometre than petrol or diesel. For an operator driving 300 km a day, that difference is the business.
The gas is stored at high pressure in a cylindrical steel tank. In a hatchback or sedan, which is most CNG cabs, that tank is mounted in the boot floor.
The tank is round and rigid, and it sits exactly where the flat floor of the boot used to be. What is left is a shallow, oddly shaped space around a steel curve. A 28-inch check-in case that would have lain flat now has to be balanced on the cylinder, wedged in at an angle, or left out. Two large cases in a CNG sedan boot is often optimistic, and four will rarely fit.
Booking sites that publish bag counts list CNG sedans at 1 to 2 bags, which matches what the cylinder leaves behind. Most passengers find this out at the doorstep, with a flight to catch.
Dzire CNG boot space: what the figures say
The Dzire is one of the most common cars you will be sent when you book a CNG sedan cab. Maruti Suzuki's specifications page lists the Dzire's boot at 382 litres, and it does not give a separate figure for the CNG version (we checked on 19 October 2026). On the CNG car the cylinder sits in that boot, so part of the 382 litres goes to the tank.
How many bags fit in a Dzire CNG, then? We have not loaded one ourselves, so we will not give you a number. Litres are a poor guide anyway, because a round tank in the middle of the floor wastes more space than its own volume. If you are booking a CNG sedan for an airport run, ask the operator for a bag count, in 23 kg check-in cases, before you confirm.
Is a CNG car good for a long drive?
Mechanically, yes. CNG cars run the Expressway every day and the fuel is cheap. Two things matter more on a 150 km trip than in the city. The first is the boot, as above. The second is range: a full CNG cylinder usually covers less distance than a full petrol tank, so some drivers stop to refill on the way. A CNG car also pays the ₹320 Expressway toll, which some quotes add at the end of the trip.
CNG vs electric cab: where the battery sits
An electric car stores its energy in a flat battery pack built into the floor under the cabin. The boot keeps its original depth and its flat floor.
Our cheapest car is the Citroën ë-C3 electric, at a fixed ₹2,700 between Pune and Mumbai with the toll included (₹0 for an EV). It seats 4 and takes 2 large check-in bags plus 2 cabin bags, with only luggage in the boot. Four people sharing it pay ₹675 each.
With more than 2 check-in bags, book the Kia Clavis EV at ₹3,800: with 4 people and its third row folded it carries 4 check-in plus 4 cabin bags. Our cab luggage space guide has the bag count for every car we run.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a CNG car good for a long drive with luggage?
On running cost, yes, which is why so many intercity cabs use CNG. On luggage it is weaker: the cylinder sits in the boot floor, and booking sites list CNG sedans at 1 to 2 bags. For a Pune–Mumbai airport run with full check-in bags, a car with an empty boot matters more than the fuel.
What is the Dzire CNG boot space?
Maruti Suzuki lists the Dzire's boot at 382 litres on its specifications page and gives no separate figure for the CNG version (checked 19 October 2026). On the CNG version the gas cylinder sits in the boot, so part of that space goes to the tank. We have not loaded a Dzire CNG ourselves, so we do not quote a bag count for it.
How many bags fit in a CNG cab?
Booking sites that publish bag counts list CNG sedans at 1 to 2 bags. The cylinder takes the flat floor of the boot, so a large 23 kg case often has to sit on top of it or at an angle. Ask the operator for a bag count before you book an airport run.
CNG vs electric cab: which is better for an airport run with bags?
The electric cab, if luggage is the worry. An EV battery sits under the cabin floor, so the boot keeps its full shape. Our Citroën ë-C3 takes 2 check-in plus 2 cabin bags for ₹2,700 fixed, Pune to Mumbai. It also pays ₹0 at the Expressway toll plazas, where a CNG car pays ₹320.
Does Orbitmiles run CNG cabs?
No. We run three electric cars and one petrol-electric hybrid, the Innova Hycross. None of them has a gas cylinder in the boot.
Sources
- Maruti Suzuki, Dzire specifications page (marutisuzuki.com), boot space, checked 19 October 2026
- Orbitmiles bag counts: our own loading of each car, as listed in our fleet data