Tata Altroz

Tata is not new to hatchbacks. It has the Tiago, its electric avatar, and we can’t forget the Indica which wasn’t just Tata’s, but India’s first fully indigenous passenger car. But in 2020, the Indian carmaker decided to take it up a notch by entering the premium hatchback segment with the Tata Altroz (first seen as the Tata 45X Concept). This hatchback quickly became popular with its sporty design and feature package, and this year, we got its much awaited facelift.

I drove the new Altroz, both diesel and petrol variants, and have also experienced its rivals. While the Altroz doesn’t necessarily set segment benchmarks, what it has to offer is a good balance for most buyers.

With the facelift, Tata made the Altroz look up to date and on par with its SUV lineup. But what I like the most is that Tata decided to upgrade the Altroz’s design instead of sharing the design language of its SUVs.

At the front, it gets slim LED DRLs, LED headlamps are now sleeker and you can easily spot individual lighting elements. Both headlamps are connected via a gloss black panel which gives the face an end-to-end connected nose. Fog lamps are placed lower on the bumper and you can see some sharp creases which helps it get a sporty look.

One odd element is the small grille opening under the Tata logo which looks like a small mustache. It also gets a fairly large black grille which sits on top of a slim body coloured bumper.

The side profile looks similar to the pre-facelift version but gets two major changes. First is the front flush fitting door handles which gives it a more polished look, and second is the new all-black design of the 16-inch alloy wheels. The overall silhouette and the C-pillar mounted rear door handles remain unchanged.

These 16-inch alloy wheels do look good from a distance, but once you get closer you notice how shiny they are, and more than alloys they appear to be styled steel wheels. Some might like the design while some might not. Lower variants of the Altroz get 16-inch steel wheels with covers and mid-spec variants get 16-inch dual-tone styled steel wheels.

The rear profile also looks similar to the pre-facelift version with its large gloss black panel, but the Altroz now gets connected LED tail lamps to follow the market trend. The bumper here is chunky and just like the front the rear also gets some sharp lines.

Tata is offering the Altroz in five shades: Pristine White, Pure Grey, Royal Blue, Ember Glow, and Dune Glow. Out of all these shades, the Royal Blue and Ember Glow colours standout the most. But I wish Tata had offered some more quirky colour options like Yellow or Green.

Now, Tata has done a great job with this new design, and it certainly looks modern. The sporty characteristics still exist, and there is nothing that can make it polarising. This design is appealing to most people, especially considering the outdated designs of some of its rivals.

But, there are some consistency errors . During my experience, the left DRL stopped working for a while and the connected element of the tail lamp flickered. Both of these issues have been seen in previous Tata models. The boot lid and the rear doors both have noticeable panel gaps which are not nice to look at.

So while the design is impressive and it makes the Altroz stand out not only in its segment but also in Tata’s lineup, there are still some issues that need to be addressed.

Design & Quality

The cabin theme of the new Altroz has remained the same dual-tone black and beige like the previous version, but Tata has completely revamped the dashboard design. The overall dashboard shape is still similar, but it has multiple layers and different design elements.

Tata has used new plastics with smooth, textured, and soft finishes. There is a new steering wheel with an illuminated Tata logo, and you can spot some gloss black elements on the AC panel and the centre console. However, due to these multiple elements and converging lines, the dashboard looks a little busy and does not carry the clean design of Tata’s other models.

As far as cabin quality is concerned, Tata has offered some consistency with the choice of nice materials. All the plastics feel nice to touch, even the textured ones, the buttons on the steering wheel and centre console are solid, and the AC vents have some weight to them. You also get leatherette padding on the steering wheel and gear knob for a more premium feel.

However, the button for the sunroof is flimsy, the room lamp feels loose, and while the door pads have fabric padding, it is very thin which makes you feel the plastic inside. The quality of these elements do not fit inside this cabin, and if improved, this cabin’s fit and finish will have nothing to complain about.

Front Seats

Getting in and out of the Altroz is extremely easy as all four doors open to a full 90 degrees. The seat is also placed at a normal height which makes ingress and egress effortless for most people. Taller passengers might have to struggle a little by bending their necks while getting inside, but for most people it will not require any additional effort.

The seats are finished in a dual-tone beige and off-white fabric and have a slim chrome strip on the seat back. These seats look good, you might think they’re leatherette if looked at from a distance, but the light theme is bound to get dirty very quickly.

Once you sit in the driver’s seat, the first thing you’ll notice is the extended underthigh support, which Tata has provided on both front and rear seats. The overall space provided is enough for taller passengers and the front seats provide good support. The headrests are also big enough to provide good support.

All the buttons are in reach of the driver and passenger, and the front armrest is long enough to provide good support.

The steering gets title adjustment and height adjustable driver seat is offered as standard, which makes it easy to find your ideal driving position. For an average sized adult (around 5’8”) frontal visibility will not be an issue, but for a 6-footer, the sunshade and part of the roof will get in the line of sight, which can reduce visibility. Rear visibility is decent as expected in any hatchback.

Rear Seats

At the back, there is space only for two passengers, and fitting three will result in an uncomfortable seating position for all. The middle passenger sits upright due to the bulge in the seatback and there is no middle headrest. Here, there is a decent amount of headroom for an average-sized adult, but a taller passenger will occasionally feel his/her head scraping the roof. 

The underthigh support is great due to the bulge in the seat base, and the knee room and footroom is also acceptable. However, for a taller passenger (6-foot tall or above), knee room will be less and their knees will be very close to the front seats.

We’d recommend only two people sit in the back and enjoy the centre armrest. It also gets rear AC vents with a split so both rear passengers can be ventilated.

The outside visibility from the rear seat is great and the lighter theme makes the cabin feel airy. But, the front headrests are large, and at the highest position of the driver seat, the headrest touches the roof, which leaves no space, limiting the overall frontal visibility.

Storage Options

With the Altroz, you get all the storage options you need in a car. All four doors get 1-litre bottle holders where the front ones get a dedicated umbrella holder and some space on the side for additional items.

Front passengers get a large glovebox with multiple shelves, two cupholders in the centre armrest, a tray next to the steering wheel, and a small cubby in the front armrest. Rear passengers get two cupholders in the centre armrest and seatback pockets.

Charging Options

In terms of charging options, the front passengers get a 12V socket, a USB port, and a 65W type-C fast charging port. Rear passengers only get a single 65W type-C port.

This cabin is definitely a step up compared to the older one, and offers a better deal in terms of design, quality, and seat comfort. But there is still room for improvement in the fit, finish, and overall ergonomics.

Features

A major upgrade in this facelift came in the form of a modern and extensive feature list, and there isn’t any major miss. 

Tata has also added dual 10.25-inch screens, one for the infotainment and one digital driver’s display. The touchscreen has a clear resolution, large icons, an easy to use interface, and it ran lag free in my experience.

It also supports wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, both of which work seamlessly. This setup is paired with an 8-speaker sound system which offers a crisp sound experience at normal volumes. But at high volumes, the sound clarity takes a hit.

Next to the touchscreen is the 10.25-inch digital driver’s display which relays all the drive info in a neat and clean manner, but the font could have been bigger. It also has neat graphics, you can use navigation on this screen to avoid looking at the touchscreen, and it shows you the feed of the blind view monitor. There are multiple themes as well, and navigating between settings is also easy.

You get a single-pane sunroof in this cabin which can be operated via voice commands and it brings extra light into the cabin.

The automatic climate control comes with an express cool function, which, as suggested by the name, cools down the cabin quickly. This is especially useful for when the car is parked for a long period of time in the sun. It also rolls down the windows to speed up the process.

There’s ambient lighting on the dashboard which adds more premiumness to the cabin and it changes based on the drive modes as well. But you only have limited colours to choose from.

Lastly, Tata has offered a 360-degree camera which runs lag free, there are no frame drops, and the quality is acceptable even in low light conditions. This feature also brings a blind view monitor which displays the feed of the blind spot on the driver’s display while indicating.

However, in lower variants, the blind view monitor’s feed is displayed on the touchscreen, which covers the entire screen and you can’t use the display even for navigation when this feature is active.

The standard safety kit of the Altroz includes 6 airbags, electronic stability program (ESP), ABS with EBD, rear parking sensors, and ISOFIX child seat anchors.

With the higher variants, features like rear defogger, auto headlamps, rain sensing wipers, a 360-degree camera, and a blind view monitor get added.

Pre-facelift Altroz was crash tested by Global NCAP in 2020 where it secured a 5-star crash test safety rating, and we expect the new one to achieve the same.

With this facelift, there have been no changes in the boot space. You still get a 345-litre boot which has enough space to keep four cabin-sized suitcases and a few office bags. Due to the shape of this boot, large suitcases are not easy to fit, which is why we recommend you use smaller cabin sized trolleys.

If you want to carry more luggage, the rear seats can be folded down, but there is no 60:40 split. In the CNG variants, you get just enough space to keep two cabin-sized suitcases.

The boot lip is not so high, so it does not require much effort to load or unload your luggage.

With the Altroz, there are three powertrains and two engine options. It gets a naturally-aspirated (NA) petrol engine that also comes with a factory-fitted CNG kit, and it is the only hatchback in its segment to offer a diesel engine.

While the petrol engine is available with three transmission options, where the AMT has been added with the latest update, the diesel and CNG engines only come with a manual transmission.

1.5-litre Diesel

This is a well-refined engine as per diesel standards which means you won’t feel many vibrations in the footwell or on the steering wheel. However, during hard acceleration or while driving on elevation, this engine becomes very loud.

City Performance

There is a decent amount of low-end torque which means you easily cruise around in the city without the need to change gears frequently. It also allows you to easily tackle bumper-to-bumper traffic. 

Power delivery is smooth, there is no sudden pickup, crawling is easy, and the progressive power delivery allows you to speed up quickly. You can easily perform overtakes and you’ll get a relaxed driving experience in the city.

However, with a slightly hard clutch, changing gears frequently will be tiresome, and we wish Tata would have added at least an AMT for convenience.

Being a diesel unit, it also offers good fuel efficiency as you can easily get around 12kmpl in the city.

Highway Performance

Highway drives with the diesel engine are nothing out of the ordinary. You have enough power to overtake others at cruising speeds, but beyond 80-90kmph, overtakes will require you to downshift so that you can maintain momentum.

Here as well power is delivered smoothly with little to no jerks, and you can easily get to triple digit speeds. Fuel efficiency on the highways can reach up to 18 kmpl.

1.2-litre NA Petrol

This is a 3-cylinder engine and it’s apparent when you start it up, especially when the engine is cold. There are some vibrations that can be felt in the pedals and gear lever and it’s not nearly as smooth as the 1.2 litre petrol engines you get in the Hyundai i20 or Maruti Suzuki Baleno. However, it does offer good usability and ease of driving. 

City Performance

It is not as easy to drive in the city as the diesel, but still it has enough to manage daily commutes. You will have to work the gearbox a fair bit in smooth flowing traffic, but the light clutch will definitely prevent it from feeling cumbersome.

Just like the diesel, you have enough power to overtake others around you, and it can also handle bumper-to-bumper traffic with ease as it can crawl smoothly.

But, just like the diesel, this petrol engine also gets very loud under load, and the lack of cabin insulation brings a lot of noise inside.

Here, you get the option of an AMT, which adds driving convenience without asking for too much of a price jump. But being an AMT, gear changes are slow, jerky, and it can hamper your driving experience.

If you don’t want that to happen, you can go for the DCT, which changes gears quickly, without giving you a very noticeable jerk, and when needed, it offers timely downshifts to perform quick overtakes.

Inside the city, you’ll be able to get a fuel efficiency of around 9-10 kmpl.

Highway Performance

This engine feels just a tad bit underpowered on the highways when compared to the diesel. Acceleration here is smooth, and you can easily get to cruising speeds of 80 kmph. But beyond that, getting to 100 kmph will take some time.

Even during overtaking, you’ll need some planning if you’re driving at speeds over 80 kmph especially with passengers on board. Overtaking at cruising speeds is fairly easy.

Fuel efficiency on the highway will be around 15-16 kmpl.

1.2-litre NA Petrol + CNG

The performance of the CNG powertrain is similar to that of the petrol and you won’t feel the drop in power inside the city. However, it will be slightly louder under load compared to the standard petrol.

On the highway, the difference in drive experience is more noticeable as acceleration will be slower, you’ll need to downshift to carry speed on flyovers, and overtakes will require planning.

You should pick this if you drive in the city a lot as you’ll be able to get a better fuel efficiency with CNG.

Ride Comfort

The ride comfort of the Altroz left us with just one small complaint. It can easily go over small potholes and speedbreakers and even larger bumps do not translate much movement inside the cabin. On poorly built roads, it remains calm and limits any side to side movement of the passengers. On highways, you will feel small cracks and uneven patches, but they won’t hamper your comfort.

The only thing I did not like was the suspension’s noise, which was heard inside the cabin quite often, and it can be irritating.

Handling

Altroz is a comfort focused car, which are generally not so good at handling, but the Altroz provides a good balance between both. It remains stable during sudden lane changes, and even while taking sharp turns, it does not make you lose confidence. The car may not be aimed at driving enthusiasts, but Tata’s engineers have built a car that’s definitely capable of doing justice to more powerful engine options!

• The Tata Altroz is being offered in 7 variants: Smart, Pure, Pure S, Creative, Creative S, Accomplished S, and Accomplished + S.

• Diesel is offered with the Pure, Creative S, and Accomplished S variants.

• You can get CNG with all variants save for the top-spec Accomplished + S.

Smart

• Typical base variant with halogen projector headlamps, 16-inch steel wheels, LED tail lamps, but gets flush-fitting door handles.

• Gets an all-black cabin, Tata’s new two-spoke steering wheel, and black fabric seats.

• Basic features are offered like all power windows, manual AC, and keyless entry.

• Safety package includes 6 airbags, ESP,  ISOFIX anchors, and rear parking sensors.

• Comes with only petrol and CNG powertrain options.

Pure

• Gets the option of an AMT with the petrol engine and is also the entry level diesel variant.

• The exterior gets LED headlamps and 16-inch steel wheels with black wheel covers over the base variant.

• Comes with a dual-tone black and beige cabin theme where the black seats get brown design elements. 

• Features include height adjustable driver seat, cruise control, auto AC, auto folding ORVMs, and steering mounted controls.

• Gets an infotainment package with a 7-inch touchscreen and a 4-speaker sound system.

• Safety kit gets additional features like a rearview camera, rain sensing wipers, auto headlamps, and an anti-glare IRVM.

Pure S

• Only gets an electric single-pane sunroof and a shark fin antenna over the Pure variant.

Creative

• Gets LED DRLs and 16-inch dual-tone styled steel wheels as part of exterior upgrades.

• Cabin gets beige fabric seats, soft touch door pads, leather wrapped gear knob, and premium plastic inserts on the dashboard.

• Feature additions include a push button start stop, ambient lighting, one touch down driver window, and front and rear 65W type-C chargers.

• The infotainment system gets a 10.25-inch touchscreen with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

• Safety kit is improved with the addition of a 360-degree camera.

Creative S

• Only gets a single-pane electric sunroof.

• Comes with the option of a dual-clutch automatic transmission with the petrol engine.

Accomplished S

• Gets connected LED tail lamps, 16-inch alloy wheels, and LED cornering headlamps.

• Cabin gets height adjustable rear seat headrests, rear central armrest with cupholders, and one touch up driver window.

• Feature additions include a wireless phone charger, an 8-speaker sound system, and a 7-inch digital driver’s display.

• Safety kit gets a tyre pressure monitoring system.

Accomplished + S

• Adds a 10.25-inch digital drivers display and customisable audio modes.

• A blind spot monitor gets added to the safety kit.

• Only available with a petrol DCA powertrain.

CarDekho Recommends

• Pick the one-above-base Pure variant if you’re on a budget. It covers all the basics, gets a decent infotainment package, a good safety kit, and the option of both petrol AMT and diesel manual. Spend extra for the Pure S variant if you want a sunroof.

• Creative variant feels the most value for money as it offers a good-looking design, a premium cabin, good features, and the option of a DCA with the “S” variants.

• Go for the Accomplished S variant if you want better features, as it gets almost all the equipment of the top-spec variant at a lower price.

The Tata Altroz is a sensible choice for small families that want a good looking, well-equipped and practical car. It’s also a smart option for young professionals who want something stylish and strong on tech. However, it could’ve offered a more refined petrol engine, better interior fit/finish quality and a more niggle-free experience. Addressing this potential for improvement will make the Altroz go from an option you should consider to a car you can’t ignore.

Other Options To Consider

Maruti Baleno/ Toyota Glanza

Reasons To Consider

• Better petrol engine experience

• Better rear seat space

Reasons To Ignore

• Less features

• No diesel engine option

Hyundai i20/ i20 N Line

Reasons To Consider

• N Line gets a turbo-petrol engine

• Good feature list

Reasons To Ignore

• Average safety package

• No diesel engine