Petrol, Diesel or CNG: Which Used Car Does Lucknow Prefer?

Lucknow is one of the most populous cities in India, which accounted for just 1.3% of India’s second hand car market. Some major car makers also have their manufacturing plants in UP.The bustling city has shown a preference for compact used cars while also witnessing growth in SUV sales from 2023 to 2024. 

There has also been a slight fall in used hatchbacks with the shift towards SUVs. The share of sedans consistent with over 20% buyers choosing used sedans. In Lucknow, the demand for diesel cars is higher compared to other cities with an average of 37% share over 2023-24. This trend is especially pronounced in the SUV segment. Here is a look into the fuel preferences of Lucknow in the pre owned car market.

Used Car Fuel Trends in Lucknow: Petrol Stays Ahead

The internal CARS24 sales data and the comprehensive CARS24 Gears of Growth report gives a greater insight into Lucknow’s used car sales. Here’s what we have.

Key Takeaways from the Data

• Petrol cars make up the majority of used cars sold in Lucknow with close to 60% share.
• Diesel cars maintained strong sales above the national trend with nearly 40% share.
• Sales of diesel vehicles saw a slight decline due to increasing costs and expected policy changes.
• Lucknow registered more than 3.6% share in CNG in 2024 although petrol and diesel used car sales remain strong.
• The share of petrol over diesel in Lucknow has seen a slight rise in 2024 compared to 2023.

Do Fuel Types Affect Resale Value In Lucknow?

Fuel types play a major role in the resale value of a car indeed. Over the past two years, more stringent emission regulations require diesel engines to have more expensive advanced emission control systems. While this has led to carmakers phasing out their compact diesel models in favour of petrol and even CNG vehicles, diesel used cars in Lucknow still maintain a strong market.

• Diesel remains popular in Lucknow’s second hand car market, even as new diesel models become less common, leading to steady depreciation.
• Due to their consistent demand and other factors including refinement and lower cost of ownership, petrol vehicles enjoy higher resale value.
• Used CNG cars have seen a steady demand in both 2024 and 2023 and made up a slightly larger share in 2024.
• Straying from the trend, diesel continues to dominate the used SUV market with a commanding share and also holds a significant presence in the sedan segment.

Body Style and Fuel Type: The Correlation

Hatchbacks were the most popular body style for second hand cars in Lucknow followed by SUVs which again outsold sedans in both 2023 and 2024. While the share of hatchbacks dropped by 2.6%, it was used SUVs that gained numbers with a 2.1% higher share year-on-year. Sedans maintained their market share in the UP capital.

Hatchbacks:

With the exception of one model, all new hatchbacks are sold exclusively with petrol engines, though some also offer CNG variants. Used hatchback cars in Lucknow have kept this trend going with a vast majority of sales being petrol. As with other cities, Lucknow has seen buyer preference tilt more towards petrol in 2024 compared to 2023. Used diesel hatchback car sales stood steady, with CNG gaining more share.

Sedans:

The best selling used sedans in Lucknow were narrowly petrol driven with demand for diesel sedans still very hot. Diesel cars offer better efficiency and there are several diesel powered sedans and compact sedans available. The demand for petrol sedans saw a gain of about 2.1%. Diesel sedans saw a 3.3% drop in numbers, while used CNG sedans witnessed a rise in market share.

SUVs:

Diesel SUVs absolutely dominated used SUV car sales in Lucknow in 2024 just as they did in 2023. Although, there was a 7.8% fall in share for diesel and an 8% gain in share for petrol in used SUV sales in Lucknow. The demand for used petrol SUVs was considerable with both Maruti Suzuki and Honda having plants in UP. You have to remember that this SUV sales data also includes MPVs, hence there is a larger percentage of petrol and CNG.

Why are Petrol Vehicles More Popular in Lucknow?

Petrol powered vehicles are the most popular choice across India but the gulf between petrol and diesel is closer in Lucknow. There are many reasons behind this other than outright cost. Here are some reasons why petrol and diesel vehicles are both popular in Lucknow:

• The lower fuel price and need for maintenance of used diesel cars makes them popular.
• Petrol cars are more refined, while diesel cars are more fuel-efficient. Both will be reliable and make for hassle-free ownership with timely service.
• Be it hatchbacks, sedans or SUVs, the majority of automatic variants are petrol. Those seeking convenience at a lower price point end up choosing a used petrol automatic car.
• Petrol as a fuel is also more widely available across India, which may not always be true for diesel and CNG.

Most Popular Used Cars in Lucknow, Fuel Wise:

While petrol continues to be the most popular fuel for used cars in Lucknow, buyers in Uttar Pradesh’s capital city have maintained a consistent demand for diesel cars as well. While it is used hatchback cars that dominate the numbers, SUVs and sedans have a good share of the market too. The Hyundai Grand i10 was the best selling used petrol car in Lucknow. The Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire and Wagon R were the best selling used diesel and CNG cars respectively.

Petrol Cars:

All the top five used petrol cars in Lucknow are hatchbacks. Surprisingly, the country’s bestseller, the Maruti Suzuki Swift, is only in second place with the Hyundai Grand i10 taking top spot in Lucknow. This shows that affordability, practicality and features rank high for used petrol car buyers in Lucknow.

Diesel Cars:

Used Maruti Suzuki cars lead the way in diesel as well with the Swift Dzire compact sedan taking the top spot. The Toyota Innova, a do-it-all car with the reputation for being the most reliable, is in second place. The Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza compact SUV and Swift hatchback take up the next two spots. The used Ford EcoSport SUV is a popular name and takes fifth place.

CNG Cars:

Used CNG cars in Lucknow saw consistently high double-digit sales with Maruti Suzuki taking the top four spots. The Maruti Suzuki Wagon R 1.0 and new Wagon R were the best selling CNG used Maruti Suzuki cars in Lucknow. The Alto and Celerio compact hatchback took the next two spots. The Tata Tigor was the only used CNG sedan model in the top five. Rivals have not yet been able to disrupt Maruti Suzuki’s monopoly in the CNG space. New Tata CNG models employ better packaging and also offer automatic variants.

With a share of about 1.3%, Lucknow’s used car market is a small percentage of the growing used car market in India—where new cars were outsold 10:13 by used cars. Lucknow has shown a steady preference for used petrol cars as well as used diesel cars, with CNG also seeing a higher share. The strong share of pre owned SUVs in Lucknow indicates that buyers are willing to invest in reliable and efficient vehicles.

Conclusion

Lucknow has seen a considerable share for diesel cars maintained but the growing share of petrol is evident. The arrival of alternative fuel sources including more affordable hybrid cars as well as electric vehicles coincide with stricter government regulations. The resultant change in perception has only boosted the sale of used cars. Petrol, thus, continues to be the fuel of choice.

Like most other used car markets, Lucknow continues to be driven mostly by petrol thanks to its wider availability as a fuel and the lower maintenance costs of petrol cars. However, second hand diesel cars in Lucknow continue to retain a strong share in the used car market.