Tata Altroz

The Tata Altroz, the flagship hatchback in the Indian carmaker’s lineup, slots in the premium hatchback segment. Starting at a price of Rs 6.60 lakh (ex-showroom), the Tata Altroz offers versatility with multiple powertrain options and comes in nine distinct variants. In a recent update, Tata has enhanced the standard version of the Altroz by incorporating features previously exclusive to the Altroz CNG variant. These additions comprise sought-after amenities like a sunroof, wireless phone charger, and an air purifier.

The Tata Altroz is a premium hatchback priced in the Rs 6.5 lakh to Rs 11 lakh price bracket. Based on Tata’s new AlfaARC platform (that is also found in the Tata Punch), the Altroz should be considered if you want a well-built, spacious hatchback. 

Given its price, the Tata Altroz competes against rivals such as the Maruti Suzuki Baleno, Toyota Glanza, and the Hyundai i20. For a similar price you could also choose to look at vehicles with an SUV-like body style such as the Tata Punch, Renault Kiger and the Nissan Magnite.

The Tata Altroz first made its debut in 2019. Since then, Tata has added an automatic version (DCA) and a CNG version. Let’s take a look at what the Altroz has to offer.

Looks

Tata’s Altroz will make everyone notice — that’s for sure. The design is modern, sporty and has quite a few interesting details that will have you appreciate it. From the front, the Altroz looks confident and powerful. The width of the car is evident and the large projector headlamps with the connecting grille add to the feeling. A wide band of chrome underlines the headlights and the grille. The bumper gets a clean design, with foglamps and daytime running lamps (DRLs) integrated neatly into one unit. 

From the side, you will notice that the roofline drops down a little towards the rear. The highlight here is the large garnish below the windows, finished in gloss black. You will also like the design of the 16” alloy wheels and the muscle in the fenders. Do note that the base model of the Altroz gets small 14” steel wheels. 

Interestingly, Tata Motors has placed a tiny side indicator on the front quarter panel. All its rivals have indicators mounted on the side mirrors itself. Another neat detail at the side is the hidden door handle, placed near the rear window instead of the door. This helps give the Altroz a clean side look. 

The rear is dominated by a large gloss black panel that connects the tail lamps. It makes the windscreen look larger than it really is, adding to sense of size. There’s prominent ‘A L T R O Z’ branding on the boot as well. If you pick the Turbo, CNG or automatic versions, you will additionally see i-Turbo, i-CNG or DCA badging here.

Interiors

First and foremost, all doors of the Altroz open 90°. This will be helpful for those with elders in the family and also for those who might be using a wheelchair. The height of the seats from the floor is neutral and will not require much effort to get into/out of. 

Once seated it’s the design of the dashboard and the quality of materials that will impress. The dashboard has multiple ‘layers’ finished in different colours such as grey, off-white and black that give it a premium look. Tata has used a nice texture for the dashboard and door pads. Even though everything you touch is made up of hard plastic, there’s a nice feel to it. The flat-bottom steering wheel, the twin displays and the cool blue ambient lighting all work together to give the Altroz’ cabin an upmarket feel. 

The front seats are supportive, and even those with heavy builds will be comfortable here. However, the cushioning is a bit soft, which might not be to everyone’s liking. Also, the steering adjusts only for tilt and not for reach. Another issue is that the pedals and the steering wheel are not in an exact straight line, forcing you to have a slightly crooked driving position. 

The interior is very practical, though: offering plenty of storage options. You'll find umbrella and bottle holders in the doors, two cup holders, a center storage area, a front sliding armrest with storage, and a spacious 15-liter cooled glove box.

Talking about the rear seats, space is ample even for six footers. Only those who are taller will feel a slight issue with headroom. There’s enough footroom under the front seats for you to comfortably place your feat. The Altroz’s width means seating three people in the rear is not a big issue. If you choose to have two occupants, you can use the central armrest. 

Occupants get rear AC vents and a 12V accessory socket. However, the quality of the plastic used for the AC vent controls isn't quite good. Additionally, it would have been better if there was a USB port in the rear.

Boot Space

The Altroz has one of the largest boot in its class, measuring 345 liters. The storage area is spacious and can accommodate large suitcases comfortably. However, there is no 60:40 split for the rear seats, so you'll need to sacrifice the rear seats for extra storage. Nevertheless, when you fold down the seats, you get a generous 665 liters of space, which is quite impressive.

Features

From a features standpoint, there’s not a lot missing in the Altroz. The top-spec version of the Altroz gets a long list of convenience and feel-good items, including: 

Tata Motors offers a 7” touchscreen that offers Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The screen now feels outdated and small, and the interface does not feel modern. However, the 8-speaker music system paired with this screen is fantastic. If you enjoy listening to music, the Altroz will not disappoint. 

There’s another 7” screen in the instrument cluster. While the implementation is neat, the fonts and warnings are a little small to be read on the move. The screen clarity here could’ve been better. You will feel this especially after experiencing the new 10.25” displays that are available in the new Nexon/Harrier. 

Safety

When it comes to safety features, the Altroz comes with dual front airbags, ABS with EBD, cornering stability control, ISOFIX child seat mounts, and rear parking sensors as standard. Additionally, the car feels sturdy and well-constructed, similar to recent Tata vehicles.

The Altroz received a full five star rating from GlobalNCAP. Do note that the car was tested under the old protocol. Going forward, we hope to see Tata Motors offering 6 airbags as standard for the Altroz as well.

Performance

Tata Motors offers a choice of a 1.2-litre petrol, a 1.2-litre turbo petrol and a 1.5-litre diesel engine. The non-turbo engine is available with a 5-speed manual and a 6-speed dual-clutch automatic, whereas the the turbo petrol is available with only the 5-speed manual. Interestingly, the Altroz is the only diesel hatchback you can buy in the segment, and is available with a 5-speed manual. The non-turbo engine is also offered with a CNG option in select variants. Let’s take a look at the performance

1.2-litre Petrol

Like most three-cylinder engines, this engine feels a bit rough and noisy. Both Maruti/Toyota and Hyundai offer four-cylinder engines that are much better when it comes to refinement. That said, the power delivery is consistent and smooth. This is great for city driving because it provides easy and gradual acceleration, without making the driver feel overwhelmed. It's well-suited for navigating through stop-and-go traffic.

On the downside, there's a noticeable lack of power and excitement. The engine is slow to respond and doesn't provide a sporty feel, especially when driving on highways. To overtake or find gaps in traffic, you'll often need to downshift a couple of gears. If you foresee a lot of highway usage, it would be better to pick either the turbo-petrol or the diesel engine. 

i-CNG 

The CNG version has lesser power and torque compared to the petrol version. To our relief, the significant difference in the numbers on paper doesn't result in a major difference in performance. If you primarily drive within the city, you'll appreciate the cost savings of using CNG. 

Accelerating to speeds above 100 km/h feels very slow, and even when you're in fourth or fifth gear, acceleration from these speeds isn't particularly fast. Passing other vehicles will require careful planning, and at times, it's better to switch to petrol to get the job done. When faced with steep uphill roads, you'll often need to downshift to first gear unless you have enough momentum. In these situations, using the petrol power is a better choice. These challenges become even more pronounced when you have a full load of passengers and a full trunk.

DCA (Altroz Automatic)

The automatic provides a smooth and responsive driving experience, especially for city commuting. When you release the brakes, the initial acceleration is smooth and seamless. The Dual-Clutch Transmission (DCT) offers quick gear changes, and the gear shifts are jerk-free. When you drive calmly in traffic, the gearbox quickly shifts to higher gears, and you might not even notice it happening. When you need a bit more speed, downshifts happen promptly.

Tata has done well to tune the shift logic. It can tell when you're cruising in a relaxed manner and will upshift early to maintain a smooth drive. It also recognizes situations where you're overtaking or driving uphill, so it keeps you in a lower gear for better acceleration. You can manually control the shifts if you want, but in everyday driving, you won't often find a need to do so. Tata claims an efficiency of 18.18 kmpl with the automatic, which is about 1 kmpl less than the manual. However, the convenience and smoothness of the automatic transmission make this trade-off worthwhile.

1.5-litre Diesel

Tata Motors is using the same 1.5-litre diesel engine from the Nexon, in the Altroz. However, there’s a difference in the power output and the gearbox. As you would expect, the diesel engine makes a lot of sound and you can feel vibrations as well. 

From a city driving point of view, it’s fairly easy to manage. The clutch is light and there’s enough torque to make in-city commutes and overtaking very easy. We wish the gear shifts were slightly better though. On the highway, the engine remains calm and composed at 100kmph, under 2000rpm. 

An upside of this engine is its fuel efficiency. If usage is very high and frequently on the highways, we would recommend the diesel Altroz. Else, it’s better to stick to petrol. 

Ride and Handling

The ALFA Arc platform used in this car shines when it comes to handling and ride quality, providing a nice balance of both. It remains stable while taking corners, and offers appreciable body control. 

Even though the suspension is set on the firmer side, it handles minor road imperfections on smoother roads with not much movement. Broken roads too are dealt with comfortably and the large ground clearance means you don’t have to worry about scraping the car anywhere either. 

High speed stability is acceptable and you should have no problems covering long distances in the Altroz. 

Verdict

The Altroz scores high on several counts. It has a great design, is spacious, well-built and is proven to be safe. There are no real misses in terms of features, but a richer infotainment experience will make it even better. Tata is also offering a wide range of engine/gearbox/fuel options, letting you choose an Altroz based on your requirements.