Tata Altroz Review

The All new Tata Altroz

What is it?

Tata has entered the premium hatchback segment with The Altroz. It has got a radical design and a decent list of features. It is Tata’s answer to the other market giants like Maruti Suzuki, Volkswagen, Hyundai, Toyota, etc. The 5- 10 Lakh segment has got heated like never before. Altroz directly competes with Maruti Suzuki-Baleno, Hyundai-Elite i20 and the oldest Volkswagen Polo.

Pros :

1.Probably the most stylist looking hatchback of the lot
2.Five Star G-NCAP safety rating
3.Feature loaded and specious cabin
4.Best in class ride and handling.

Cons :

1. Petrol engine could give with bit more boost.
2. Need better steering response and less suspension noise.
3. Pricing could have been a bit more aggressive.
4.Cabin insulation is lacking.

Exterior overview:

Frontside:

This time around designers at Tata managed to keep a balance of the sihoutte conventional to please the conservatives , while dialing in radical and detailed elements  to keep the design nerds happy. The first thing to be noticed is the raised headlamps and grille forming a layer over the bumpers. This touch gives the muscular bonnet a even more attaractive look.
The black panels on the front are finished in piano black, which easily gets scratched.  The headlamps are also just projector units, not LEDs and the less  detailed DRLs are also a drawback.  

 

Sideview:

The muscular look is also carried through the sides with a handsome stance. The flared muscular wheel arches also adds to it’s character. The piano black contrast is also carried in the window line, OVRM and the roof. The design looks even cleaner with the door handles tucked away next to the window.
This design also pose a difficulty to open rear doors, this takes a bit more effort than usual and might take a bit of time to get used to.

 Rearview:

At the back, the theme of the sharp creases continues with the taillamps forming another plane over the bumpers. And because this entire panel is blacked out, the taillamp cluster isn’t visible and the lights seems to be floating in the body at night.
The tail lamps too miss on getting LEDs.

COLOURS AVAILABLE:

High-Street Gold

Downtown Red

Avenue White

Midtown Grey

Harbour Blue

Interior Overview:

The Altroz impresses even before getting in. The doors , both front and rear open a full 90 for easy ingress and egress. This ability has been dialled  in the Alpha Arc platform. On getting in , close the door and it shuts with a solid thud.

90 degree opening doors

Let’s just start things off from behind the wheel. The steering is possibly the most impressive bit of the interiors. The wheel comes with flat bottom as standard and is also wrapped in premium leather. It is also fitted with audio, infotaiment, calls, instrument cluster and cruise control buttons. The instrument cluster is partly analog and partly digital. The instrument cluster too is a fancy 7-inch display with a lot of details like music controls, navigation directions, drive modes  and even gets various themes.

Flat-bottom steering

The dashboard also has been designed quite  impressively. The grey upper portion holding the centre console and hides ambient lighting under it is also a nice touch. Below it is a silver satin finished layer whish also adds up to the premium look. Follwed by which is a grey plastic layer which is not upto the mark. The light and dark grey fabric upholstery on the seats also adds to the airy cabin.

The centre console  packs a 7-inch touchscreen unit similar to the previously launched Nexon. The unit is fortunately not laggy and even works smoothly with Android Auto and Apple Carplay. The Centre console in aslo fitted with the climate control buttons in one corner and also a few bit of physical buttons to make operations a bit more intuative while driving. The voice commands also works fairly good and in nowhere frustrating.  The other features also include a height adjustable driver’s seat, automatic headlamps,rain-sensing wipers, rear wiper and washer, 6 speakers, power windows with auto-down on driver side and engine push button start stop.

Infotaiment Screen

In terms of space, you get a decent amount of legroom as you can tuck your feet under the driver’s seat. Knee room is ample too, but the headroom might become an issue for taller occupants. The underthigh support does feel a bit lacking but the cushioning is soft and will make for a comfortable long distance drive. Overall visibility remains good as well, even with the sharply raked windows.

Performance

The Altroz packs two BS6 engine options. The petrol is a 1.2-litre 3-cylinder unit whereas the diesel is a 1.5-litre 4-cylinder unit. Both come with a 5-speed manual transmission. Let's start things off with the petrol.
 
The block is the same as the Tiago but has been heavily worked on, including a VVT (Variable Valve Timing) system and new exhaust components to make it BS6 compliant. While the emissions are now under control, it has taken away from the drama of a petrol engine. It feels crude to push and the three-cylinder clatter remains present throughout the rev band. The refinement doesn't feel anywhere close to what the segment has to offer. The power deliver is liner and smooth. This will be helpful in the city as it offers a smooth drive, not overwhelming you at any point. It is capable of being a good city dweller and will be more than capable of keeping you comfortable in bumper to bumper traffic.
 
However, the lack of power and punch is evident. The engine is slow to rev and even at higher revs, doesn't feel sporty. This becomes more prominent on the highways. You will have to downshift a couple od gears to make a quick overtake or to hit a gap in traffic. This wouldn't have been a problem if the transmission were crisp enough. But it feels clunky and the shifts feel loose. This could be partially down to the Altroz weighing 1036kg kerb. For reference, the Baleno Smart Hybrid petrol weighs 910kg.
  
A tick that the petrol engine has in its belly is auto engine start-stop. And if my memory serves me right, this could be the first affordable car to get this feature without any hybrid tag. You also get an ECO mode which dulls down the throttle response, in turn improving efficiency. The official figure haven't been revealed yet. We eagerly wait to drive the 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol engine and the DCT automatic transmission which will be launched later in 2020.
 
The diesel engine, in comparison, is more versatile. The refinement is still not upto the mark of the segment but it does offer a good city drive. There is ample torque at lower revs band and hence making overtakes or hitting gaps can be done easily with minimal throttle inputs. The turbo surge is also kept under control and gives just the right push for some quick overtakes. But as you start to push, the engine starts to feel more gruff. The power delivery beyond 3000rpm is not linear, and comes and goes in spikes. Gear shifts here are better than the petrol but still lack positive clicks. Overall, despite its limitations, this is the engine to pick if you are looking for more versatility.

 

Ride and handling

This it could easily be the most impressive part of the Altroz. It manages to deliver an impressive balance between grip, handling and suspension setup. The Altroz manages to cushion occupants well from the surface. Be going over speed breakers or potholes, the suspension manages to take care of them on its on with the occupants hardly feeling it working. It is quiet as well and you can only feel a mild thud in the cabin you go over something nasty, like a level change. It settles nicely after a bump as well, which will help you stay comfortable for longer journeys in the car. The same composure is maintained over highways as well.

This comfort hasn't come on the cost of handling either. The car remains flat through turns and doesn't make the driver nervous. The steering feedback does leave you wanting more but still, you won't feel the lack of confidence even in spirited driving. In fact, this could be the best suspension vs handling setups in the segment. This is reassuring as the same can now be expected from the sedan and SUV that will be based on this platform.

Boot Space

The Altroz comes with the second largest boot in the segment (after the Honda Jazz), measuring an impressive 345-litres. The boot floor is big and can easily take up larger suitcases. But you do not get a 60:40 split here and that means you will have to compromise the rear seats for extra space. Nonetheless, folding the seats opens up 665-litres of space, which is quite a lot.

 

With rear seats up

Rear Seats folded

Safety

In terms of safety kit, the Altroz gets dual front airbags, ABS with EBD, cornering stability control, ISOFIX child seat mounts and rear parking sensors as standard. Also the cars feel solid and well built, like Tatas of the recent past.

For any further information visit: Tata Altroz Variants - Compare Altroz Variants - XE, XM, XT, XZ+ (tatamotors.com)