Tata Altroz Review
Car Tested: Tata Altroz; Road Test No. 1149; Test Location: Jaisalmer
Price OTR Mumbai: Rs. 6.25 – 11.10 lakhs
The Altroz gets a new perspective to the premium hatch segment
Since the Tiago, Tata Motors have consistently launched new products, covering key segments. However, there was a vacancy in Tata’s portfolio for a premium and upmarket hatch. Now though, Tata is all geared up to launch the Altroz – the company’s answer to the likes of Maruti Baleno, Hyundai i20 and Honda Jazz. It packs in great style and promises some substance. We have got the roads of Rajasthan to find out if Altroz has what it takes to be a truly capable hatchback.
The combination of chrome & black elements give the Altroz a sleek look
Exteriors – Tata Motors has churned out some smart-looking products in the recent years and the Altroz follows that suit. It has an edgy, futuristic and handsome design that looks less conventional than all its rivals. The front looks sleek and is characterised by the handsome looking end-to-end chrome strip. The traditional smiling grille looks prominent as a result. The flat and tapering bonnet makes the stance of the Altroz quite sporty.
The Altroz looks premium and has great road presence
The Altroz’s modern & futuristic design helps it stand out among its competition
The numerous cuts and creases along the side gel well with the design and the strong shoulder line make a statement. The thick slab of black below the window line may not be to everyone’s tastes but it makes the Altroz look poised, particularly when paired with the red shade. The alloys look smartly done too. At the rear, there is a prominent black element with the ‘Altroz’ badging atop. The edgy boot and the 3D effect tail light look the part too.
Customers can personalise their Altroz with four custom packages
Overall, this is one of the best looking Tatas on sale currently. There is a level of fineness and maturity to the design, normally reserved only for more expensive cars. Customers can also choose between Luxe, Rhythm, Style and Urban custom packages for exterior and interior accessories.
The cabin feels very upmarket with soft-touch plastics
Interiors – The highlight here is the 90-degree opening doors which allow for effortless access into the cabin. We found the height of the Altroz to be perfect further enhancing ingress and egress. Once inside, the cabin is voluminous and airy. We love the multi-layered dashboard and the chunky steering wheel. Altroz also features the Harrier-like part-digital, part-analogue instrumentation with clear graphics and legible font. Tata has also used distinct textures on the dashboard.
The Altroz comes loaded with all the modern features and equipment
The feature-loaded cabin combined with the 90-degree opening doors give the Altroz a premium & spacious feel
Tata has loaded the Altroz with all the necessary features. Top-end XZ variant gives you climate control, ambient lighting, cruise control, steering mounted audio controls, rear armrest, push-button start and a 7.0-inch touch screen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system is good to use and the sound system has great clarity. However, LED headlights, auto-dimming IRVM is sorely missing.
The rear seats can seat three passengers comfortably
Space is sufficient in the front and the seats are very supportive. There is a good range of adjustment both for the seat and the steering wheel. The backseats offer great legroom and headroom seems decent. The tall and well-shaped headrests make it comfortable for long journeys. It also features rear AC vents.
One can increase the 345-litre boot by folding the rear seats
The interior is very practical and spacious with supportive seats
Storage spaces are ample and the 345 litres of boot space is good enough for your typical airport run. It can extend to 665 litres if you fold down the rear seats.
The Altroz comes with BS6-compliant petrol and diesel engine options
Performance – The Altroz is offered with both petrol and diesel engine options and both of them are BS6 compliant. The 3-cylinder naturally aspirated 1.2-litre petrol engine produces 86 PS and 113 Nm of torque. This motor doesn’t have that satisfying pull that the K-Series petrol engine offers. The Revotron is refined and smooth for a 3-cylinder unit but the power is just average and is decent for sedate city performance. The Altroz is a relatively heavy car too for this three-pot motor. We expect Tata to offer a JTP version eventually with a more powerful turbo petrol motor.
The diesel engine is very torquey and fun to drive
The petrol motor is extremely refined but feels underpowered for the Altroz
The 1.5-litre Revotorq 4-cylinder diesel, on the other hand, is quite fun to drive. The oil burner is a bit noisy and gets loud at high RPMs. After the initial lag, the mid-range offers fantastic pulling power and you’ll have fun riding on the meaty torque band out on the highway where the Altroz diesel loves to stretch its legs. There is no sudden surge of power but a linear yet strong pull from the diesel engine.
The Altroz comes with two driving modes – Eco and City
The engines come with Eco and City modes. Most of the time you will find yourself driving in the City mode because Eco mode is very lethargic, which is meant to be used on the highway. We wish they could offer a Sport mode as well.
Both engines come mated to a slick shifting 5-speed gearbox
Though not that refined, the diesel engine has a superb mid-range and offers linear power delivery
Tata Motors is not offering an automatic transmission option initially with the Altroz. Both the engines come with a 5-speed manual transmission. This gearbox is very smooth to operate and with a light clutch, it is very convenient to drive in the city. We expect the petrol engine to offer 12-15 km/l in real-world conditions while the diesel should offer 15-19 km/l.
The steering feels light in the city while weighing up on the highway
Driving Dynamics – The Altroz is based on an all-new ALFA (Agile, Light, Flexible & Advanced) platform. It comes with an electronic power-assisted steering which feels feather-light at low speeds. It is very convenient for manoeuvring in congested areas. The steering weighs up consistently as the speed increases, which gives you good confidence at high speed. The handling isn’t too sharp but it is predictable and the feedback could have been better. However, the ride quality is excellent and we believe it is the best in its segment.
The Altroz feels stable and composed at high speeds
If comfort is your goal, the Tata Altroz offers the best ride quality in its segment
The Altroz feels very mature to drive as the ride is comfortable at low speeds and is very flat and stable at high speeds. There is no unnecessary vertical movement or sharp thuds when you hit a bad patch of road. Good high-speed stability along with strong braking power makes the Altroz a great highway hatchback.
Tata has equipped the Altroz with dual front airbags and ABS
Safety – Tata is equipping the hatchback with ABS, dual front airbags, ISOFIX, rear parking sensors, seatbelt reminder and high-speed warning as standard. Tata cars have a good safety record and we believe the Altroz should be no different.
The Altroz has raised the bar for premium hatchbacks
Verdict – The premium hatchback segment has got a new contender and rivals need to worry about it. The Tata Altroz is a tastefully designed hatchback with premium looking interiors, spacious cabin and well equipped package. The petrol motor could’ve been more powerful but the diesel packs good punch. What we really appreciate about the Altroz is its mature driving dynamics. It is missing out on an automatic transmission at the time of the launch, which could’ve really made a big impact. However, if priced well, the Altroz can grab a huge chunk of market share in its segment.
The Altroz also gets the new instrument cluster from the Harrier
What’s Cool
* The design looks fresh and doesn’t look inspired by any car
* The interiors look pleasant with good quality plastics
* The ride quality is the best you can get in this segment
* The diesel engine offers good performance
What’s Not So Cool
* 3-cylinder petrol engine feels underpowered
* There is no auto-dimming rear-view mirror
* No LED headlights even in the top-spec trim
* No automatic transmission on offer currently
Alternatives: – Maruti Suzuki Baleno, Toyota Glanza, Hyundai Elite i20, Honda Jazz, Volkswagen Polo
The top-mounted rear door handle gives the Altroz a sporty look
Tata Altroz Specifications
* Engine: 1199cc, 3-Cyl, Petrol BS6 | 1497cc, 4-Cyl, Diesel BS6
* Power: 86 PS @ 6000 RPM | 90 PS @ 4000 RPM
* Torque: 113 Nm @ 3300 RPM | 200 Nm @ 1250-3000 RPM
* Transmission: 5-Speed MT | 5-Speed MT
* Fuel Consumption: 12-15 Km/l | 15-19 Km/l
* Fuel Type: Petrol | Diesel
* Tyre Size: 195/55/16 (Front & Rear) | 185/60/16 (Front & Rear)
* Suspension: McPherson Strut (Front), Twist Beam (Rear)
* Brakes: Disc (Front), Drum (Rear)
* Safety: 2 Airbags, ABS with EBD, ESP, ISOFIX
Tata Altroz Dimensions
* Overall length x width x height: 3990 mm X 1755 mm X 1523 mm
* Wheelbase: 2501 mm
* Ground Clearance: 165 mm
* Boot Space: 345-litres
* Turning Radius: 5.0-metres
* Fuel Tank Capacity: 37-litres
* Kerb Weight: 1036 kgs | 1150 kgs
Will you consider the Tata Altroz over the Maruti Suzuki Baleno?
Further Reading –
Tata Altroz Video Review
Tata Altroz Video Review [Hindi]
Testers’ Note:
[wp-review id=”246749″]