Tata Altroz Second Most Popular Premium Hatchback after Maruti Baleno

With the nationwide lockdown gradually receding, Indian auto manufacturers are slowly being able to increase their sales. While the progress is quite slow, it is steady. Carmakers are reporting decent sales numbers, which means that the market is on the path to recovery. Surprisingly, Tata Motors was able to sell a decent number of Altroz in May 2020, which made the car the second best-selling car in its segment after the top-selling Maruti Baleno.

During May 2020, Tata Motors shipped 1,379 units of the Altroz, hot on the heels of the Maruti Baleno, which sold 1,587 units. Tata Altroz is one of the safest cars in its class.. Tata had hoped that this could be the car’s USP, along with the plethora of segment-first features it had on offer. Sadly, sales were slow initially, and the sales slump made things even trickier. On the other hand, Maruti has almost never had any major trouble with the Baleno, at least in terms of sales. While the Maruti hatchback doesn’t have the same safety rating as the Tata, its tried and tested engines, spacious cabin, decent ride and several high-end features made it an instant hit among the Indian buyers.

Following the Altroz on the third spot is the Volkswagen Polo, which is another surprise. However, it must be mentioned here that these sales figures are from a time when many dealerships and production facilities were shut down for a good part of the month. Hence, the trends portrayed by these numbers could be short-lived. 

Tata Altroz First Drive (Hindi) | Detailed Review | IndianAutosBlog

Tata Altroz is available with two engine options. The first one is a 1.2-litre, naturally-aspirated, inline-3 petrol engine that is capable of producing 86 PS and 113 Nm of peak power and torque figures, respectively. The second option is a 1.5-litre diesel motor, which can generate 90 PS and 200 Nm. Currently, there is only a single transmission option available here, which is a 5-speed manual gearbox. IndianAuto had previously reported that Tata is working on a 1.2-litre turbo variant as well, with a 7-speed DCT on offer. This variant is also expected to hit the market soon.

As for the Maruti Baleno, it is powered by a 1.2-litre, naturally aspirated, inline-4 petrol mill, capable of belting out 83 PS and 113 Nm. The same engine is also available in a ‘Dualjet’ avatar, which makes slightly higher max power of 90 PS, while torque remains constant at 113 Nm. A 5-speed manual is available as standard, while a CVT automatic is offered as an option on select trims.