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The demand for CNG-powered vehicles in the Indian market remains consistently high, especially among buyers who prefer large family cars with low running costs. For a long time, the Maruti Ertiga was the top choice in the MPV segment for such customers. However, Kia has made the competition more interesting by releasing the Carens and Carens Clavis with factory CNG kits.

The starting price of the Kia Carens CNG is 12.12 lakh rupees, directly competing with the Ertiga ZXI CNG variant. Although the price difference between them is small, there are significant differences regarding the engine, size, features, and practicality. This raises the question of which of these two CNG cars is the more worthwhile purchase.

The Kia Carens CNG is available only in the premium variant (O) at a price of 12.12 lakh rupees. Meanwhile, the Maruti Ertiga CNG is available in two modifications—ZXI and VXI. The Ertiga ZXI CNG is priced approximately 12,000 rupees lower than the Carens CNG. Furthermore, the Ertiga VXI CNG costs 10.94 lakh rupees, which is 1.18 lakh rupees cheaper than the Kia Carens CNG. Thus, from a budget perspective, the Ertiga VXI CNG appears to be the more economical option, while the prices of the Carens CNG and Ertiga ZXI CNG are very close.

Comparing dimensions, the Kia Carens CNG is larger than its competitor, the Maruti Ertiga. The Carens measures 4,540 mm in length, 1,800 mm in width, and 1,708 mm in height. The Ertiga measures 4,395 mm in length, 1,735 mm in width, and 1,690 mm in height. Both cars are designed for seven passengers, but the Carens offers a longer wheelbase—2,780 mm, compared to 2,740 mm in the Ertiga, making the Carens wheelbase about 40 mm longer.

This means the Carens cabin is more spacious, allowing passengers more room inside. The Carens is equipped with 16-inch steel wheels, whereas the Ertiga uses 15-inch alloy wheels. Kia India claims that the Carens is the first in its segment with 16-inch wheels, which helps it navigate rough roads more easily.

Both MPVs are fitted with a 60-liter CNG tank. However, the tank placement affects the luggage space differently. In the Kia Carens CNG, the tank is located inside the trunk, causing the standard trunk volume of the Carens to decrease from 216 liters to 116 liters. The Ertiga has a standard trunk volume of 206 liters, but after installing the CNG kit, there is virtually no free space left in the trunk. This could be an important factor for families who frequently carry many items.

In terms of engine, the Kia Carens CNG has an advantage. It is equipped with a 1.5-liter four-cylinder atmospheric petrol engine, which generates 94.7 hp and 123 Nm of torque in CNG mode. The Ertiga CNG engine, on the other hand, produces 86.6 hp and 121.5 Nm. Consequently, the Carens CNG provides approximately 8 hp more power and 1.5 Nm more torque. Additionally, the Carens is equipped with a 6-speed manual transmission, while the Ertiga has a 5-speed manual gearbox. Both cars use front-wheel drive.

What about fuel consumption? For any large MPV, fuel efficiency is an important issue. Maruti Suzuki states that the Ertiga CNG can achieve a mileage of about 26.11 km/kg. Kia India has not yet provided official information on the fuel consumption of this MPV. However, it is expected that this MPV will have a consumption of at least 22 km/kg. The real range will only be known once the car hits the road. Both cars also have a 45-liter petrol tank and a 60-liter CNG tank capacity.

Google has been hit with a substantial fine of 403 million euros, equivalent to $463 million, for breaching strict European Union privacy regulations related to the improper handling of user location data. The bloc's supervisory authority determined that the company acted unlawfully, unfairly, and non-transparently when managing personal data through the location accuracy feature in the Android mobile operating system.

The Irish Data Protection Commission reported that its investigation found Google improperly or unfairly processed location data within the 'Web & App Activity' settings for users, which tracks search and browsing history, as well as in the 'Location History' service, which displays visited locations via mobile phones.

Regulators also concluded that the company violated the principles of lawfulness, fairness, and transparency when processing personal data in the 'Location Accuracy' feature in Android. Ireland serves as the lead regulator for Google across the 27-member EU, as the American tech giant's European headquarters is located in Dublin.

The investigation, which began six years ago, examined the company's adherence to EU privacy rules, known as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), from its entry into force in 2018 until February 2020. In response, Google stated in a submission: 'This case relates to historical policies that have since been updated. Since 2019, we have significantly improved our practices and launched robust tools to simplify location data management.'

Regulator representatives emphasized that location data is a type of personal data collected by Google and can be used to determine an individual's location. Deputy Commissioner Graham Doyle noted: 'Location data can be both beneficial and harmful to individuals. It can significantly enhance the usefulness of online services, but it can also reveal a substantial amount of information about a person, including information that is inherently private.'

This fine represents the fourth largest privacy violation penalty issued by the Irish supervisory authority, which had previously imposed larger fines on TikTok and Meta, including a €1.2 billion fine for Meta. The regulator announced that it still has three other ongoing investigations concerning Google.