Complete Guide to Buying a Tata Altroz

The Tata Altroz is one of the most competent and popular premium hatchbacks in India. Well, if you’re wondering, the premium hatchback story started back in 2005 when Maruti Suzuki Swift was launched in India. By definition and as the name suggests, premium hatchbacks offer a premium experience with better powertrain options and upmarket features that you expect from a segment above. Over the last decade, the premium hatchback segment has evolved and moved forward in terms of pricing. Presently, the segment comprises the Maruti Suzuki Baleno, Honda Jazz, Hyundai i20, and the Tata Altroz. 

Out of these hatchbacks, the Tata Altroz is a relatively new name and it was first launched in 2020. Despite that, the Altroz is one of the strongest hatchbacks in the segment and it stands out from the rest for various reasons including styling. It is powered by three engines – a 1.2-litre petrol, a 1.2-litre turbo petrol, and a 1.5-litre diesel engine. Gearbox options include a 5-speed manual and a 6-speed DCT. It is also the only diesel premium hatchback available today. There’s a lot going for Tata’s premium hatchback and if you are confused about whether you should put your money on one, here’s a definitive guide on the Tata Altroz and everything you need to know about it:

Tata Altroz Specifications

Why you should consider the Tata Altroz

There are many reasons why you should pick the Tata Altroz over the competition. But to make this guide more definitive, here are the three main reasons why the Altroz might be perfect for you: 

The Only Premium Hatchback With A Diesel Heart

es, the Tata Altroz happens to be the only premium hatchback in India with a diesel engine under its hood. Thanks to strict RDE emission norms, most modern diesel engines have been phased out of the market as they don’t comply with the regulations. Tata’s 1.5-litre diesel engine is compliant, making it the only powertrain available in the premium hatchback space today. The Hyundai i20 was another car to offer a diesel engine, but presently this variant has been discontinued. 

The 1.5-litre Revotorq diesel engine in the Altroz is a turbocharged unit that puts out 90 PS and 200 Nm of torque, both respectable numbers for a diesel engine. It is a 4-cylinder unit and Tata claims the engine can deliver 23.64 kmpl, making it a good hatchback for inter-state trips. Although hybrids have taken over diesel engines, the highway munching ability of a diesel engine still remains unmatched. So, if you want a premium hatchback and you are strictly looking at diesel options, the Altroz is your only option and a pretty good one as well.

Ride Quality

Tata Motors have always been known for finding the right balance between ride and handling with their cars. It has done the same with the Altroz, which rides well over broken roads. The hatchback irons out almost everything that Indian roads offer and it is solid and stable at triple digits speeds. Furthermore, the Altroz is also a great handling hatchback with a brilliant chassis. Show it some tight corners and the Altroz shines. There is a hint of firmness to the ride but it flattens out as the speed increases like any good suspension setup. Overall, this is a hatchback that can deliver some thrills and be a competent and sure-footed highway cruiser.

Safety

We do know that Tata has covered all the basics when it comes to safety with the Altroz. But, all of this was put to the test when the Altroz was crash tested by Global NCAP. The hatchback not only passed with flying colours, but also scored a full 5 marks making it the safest hatchback in its segment. It scored 5 stars in adult occupant protection and 3 stars in the child occupant protection category. In the test, Altroz’s structure and the footwell were rated stable and the hatchback offered good head and neck protection for adults. 

Why you should not consider the Tata Altroz

It is hard to find fault in a car such as the Tata Altroz which gets many things right. However, there are still two reasons why you should look at the alternatives

Lacklustre Engines

The Altroz is powered by three engine options – two petrol and one diesel engine. Since it is the only diesel option in the segment, there is no competition there. But moving on to the petrol engines, the output figures of both engines are not class-leading and they can feel modest in contrast. Out of the two, the 1.2-litre turbo petrol puts out good numbers – 110 PS and 140 Nm mated to a manual gearbox. However, this engine does not feel as sprightly as the competition and never comes across as exciting. Even the DCT gearbox is not blisteringly fast in comparison to the competition.

Missing Features

Being a premium hatchback, the Tata Altroz comes loaded with good equipment such as automatic headlamps, wipers, connected car tech, ambient lighting, and cruise control. The competition, especially the Hyundai i20 is leagues ahead when it comes to features as it offers some nifty kit like the sunroof, premium sound system, air purifier, fully digital cluster, and a whole host of extra connected car features.

Tata Altroz Variants

You are definitely going to have a tough time picking a variant as the Altroz is available in more than 25 variants across the three engine and gearbox options. The hatchback is priced from Rs 6.44 lakh to Rs 10.40 lakh (ex-showroom). 

Tata Altroz Variant to buy

As we said, since there are more than 25 variants to choose from it is hard to pick just one variant here. Going by the engine options, if you prefer the petrol+automatic combination, the Altroz XZ (O) i-Turbo makes for a strong case with a price tag of Rs 9.00 lakh. If the diesel is what you prefer, all the variants are well-priced and we do suggest the XZ diesel as it strikes a good balance between value and features. If it is the petrol+manual you are looking for, our pick would be the more affordable XT variant priced at Rs 7.89 Lakh. It might lack some features but it sure comes at a great price that is hard to resist.

Tata Altroz Warranty & Service Cost

Tata previously offered a standard warranty of 2 Years/ 75,000 km for all its models but has increased it to 3 Years/ 1 lakh km across the range. This means the Altroz also gets these benefits and will be covered for 3 years. This can also be extended to one or two years by opting for an extended warranty package. As for the service cost, an estimated service cost for the Tata Altroz comes to Rs. 31,358 for the first 5 years. 

Final Thoughts

The Tata Altroz is undoubtedly one of the best premium hatchbacks available today. If you still want a diesel hatchback that can deliver good fuel economy and help you munch long distances, the Tata Altroz is a solid choice despite it being the only car that can do it at this price point. The petrol versions are equally good and the turbo variants provide enough power to keep you happy while not affecting the fuel economy by a huge margin. In summary, the Tata Altroz is the safest hatchback you can buy today and an excellent premium offering that delivers the best balance between value for money, performance, and features. It is highly unlikely you can go wrong with the Tata Altroz.