Tata Altroz - All You Need To Know

Tata Altroz Introduction

The Tata Altroz has been one of the most long-anticipated vehicles in India. Even before its launch, almost all the news and stories related to this vehicle have become headlines of automobile websites once they surface online. Whatever they are, the name announcement, the teaser release, the official debut have managed to catch the Indian auto customers’ attention. At the 2019 Gevena Motor Show, the home-grown auto manufacturer unveiled five products including the production-spec Tata Altroz which also succeeded in taking the whole car community aback.

First making its official debut at the 2018 Auto Expo under the concept model: the Tata 45X, the hatchback was eventually named as the Altroz after a seabird named Albatross which symbolizes speed and agility. The official name announcement of the car took place on February 25, 2019. For the people who are considering buying the upcoming car, we have compiled in the below Tata Altroz review everything you need to know about this premium hatchback.

The Tata Altroz broke its cover at the 2019 Gevena Motor Show which took place several months ago.

Also read - 8 Upcoming Tata Cars in India – Tata Altroz To Blackbird

Tata Altroz Design Review

The Tata Altroz will be based on the ALFA (Agile Light Flexible Advanced) platform. With a modular, flexible and lightweight characteristics, the new platform enables the Altroz to have numerous body styles and powertrain options consisting of petrol, diesel and electric. This platform which is able to evolve into a wide range of modern vehicles in a short development cycle is expected to underpin other Tata vehicles including the upcoming SUVs, MPVs, sedans, hatchback as well as EVs in the future.

Moreover, the upcoming Altroz will be the second vehicle to be manufactured by the brand to come with the Impact 2.0 Design Language after the Tata Harrier. This means that the home-grown automaker has the intention of bringing the city car design with an emphasis on everyday mobility and connectivity.

Exterior Review

An athletic posture, a sporty silhouette and sharp cut lines will lend the Tata Altroz a contemporary and angular appearance. The car will get a fashionable front with dual thin polishing unswept headlamps with LED DRLs, a stylish large grille and a big bumper which houses large fog lights.

The Tata Altroz will feature a stylish front.

The side profile will be equipped with piano black ORVMs integrated with indicators and door handles which will be mounted on the pillars. Noteworthily, unlike the concept model which runs on fashionable two-tone 5-spoke alloy wheels, the latest spy images have revealed the production-spec model’s one-colour 16-inch alloy rims. Moreover, the car will feature wide wheel arches and a bold character line which runs across its body which contribute to the sporty design of the vehicle.

The large wheel arches and the bold character line on the side profile will lend the hatchback a sporty design.

In the rear, it will have smooth and shiny wrap-around tail lamps, black stripes on the boot lid and a spoiler which will be mounted in the roof. All of these features will add to the glamorous on-road appearance of the Altroz.

The rear will be equipped with polishing taillights and a roof-mounted spoiler, etc.

Interior Review

The Tata Altroz is expected to come with an all-black 7.0-inch floating touchscreen infotainment system with several golden accents and a layered design. This system will support Android Auto and Apple CarpPlay connectivity. Just as the Tata Harrier, the Altroz will be packed with a semi-digital instrument cluster. The two-tone grey-and-black flat-bottom driving wheel will get a breakthrough in terms of design. The dashboard will get widespread chrome garnish. Other features such as the air-cooled glove box, rear air conditioner vents, smart start/stop push button will also be provided by the home-grown automaker in its upcoming premium hatchback.

The Tata Altroz will be packed with a wide range of top-notch features.

The driver seat will have height adjustment feature; the rear seats will get amber legroom and headroom. The car also will also come with headrest which can be folded so that more luggage space can be provided. Moreover, high-quality materials will also be offered to give the hatchback a premium feel. All of these features will help ensure a comfortable and convenient journey for both the driver and the passengers.

The rear seats of the Tata Altroz will get spacious legroom and headroom.

Safety features

The Tata Altroz will be packed with a wide array of safety features which can ensure a safe journey for all the occupants of the car. These include dual front airbags, ABS with EBD, seatbelt alert for driver and co-driver, parking assist with rear sensors and camera, speed warning, ISOFIX child-seat anchorage. Tata also aims to achieve the 5-star safety rating for this premium hatchback, making it the second made-in-India car to receive this title after the Tata Nexon.

Also read - Tata Altroz Could Become The Safest Premium Hatchback In India

Tata Altroz Specifications

Dimensions

The Tata Altroz will be 3,988 mm long, 1,754 mm wide and 1,505 mm high with a 2,501 mm wheelbase and a 341-littre cargo space. It will not be the most amber car in the segment with the view restricted by the high window line. However, the large boot space will ensure that you can bring a great amount of luggage with you.

Engine and transmission

The upcoming Tata Altroz is expected to keep under its hood two gasoline and one oil burner. All of these will comply with the stricter BSVI-emission standards. Two petrol motors consist of a 1.2-litre naturally aspirated unit which is borrowed from the Tata Tiago and a 1.2-litre turbo one. While the former can produce a maximum power of 85 PS against a peak torque of 114 Nm and will be available in the low-spec variants, the latter can generate a more impressive power/torque output of 102 PS/140 Nm and will implement the power provision duties on the higher trims.

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As mentioned above, the all-new Altroz is also likely to receive its power from a 1.5-litre diesel unit carried over from the Tata Nexon. This motor will be detuned to churn out a lower power of 91.25 PS and also a lower torque. The transmission duties on the premium hatchback will be undertaken by only a 5-speed manual transmission at launch with the automatic version being introduced later.

The Tata Altroz is expected to be offered with multiple engine and transmission options.

The Tata Altroz will have a claimed average mileage of 15 to18 kmpl in the city and 22 to 25 kmpl on the highway. The real mileage figure can slightly vary, depending on various factors such as the vehicle’s kerb weight and the road conditions, etc.

Since the ALFA platform also allows Tata to develop an all-electric version of the Tata Altroz, which was also debuted at the Geneva Motor Show and is expected to be launched in 2020. As revealed earlier, the electric Altroz will have a travel range of 250 km - 300 km per charge and takes about 60 minutes to be charged to 80%.

Thanks to the flexible ALFA platform, the all-electric version of the Tata Altroz can also be developed.

Tata Altroz Price and Competition

The Tata Altroz is expected to be priced in the range from INR 5.5 lakh to INR 8.5 lakh. In this price range, it will directly compete against the Hyundai Elite i20, Maruti Baleno and Honda Jazz and the once it is launched in the Indian auto market.

Tata Altroz Review Verdict

Being the second Tata models to feature the Impact 2.0 Design Language after the Tata Harrier, the all-new Tata Altroz will bear some resemblance to its elder sibling; however, it will come with some unique features. The upcoming premium hatchback will also feature a modern cabin with a wide range of top-notch features. Having said that, the most unique selling point of the Tata Altroz could be its multiple engine and transmission options. With a quite aggressive price, the Altroz is anticipated to become a formidable competitor in the Indian hatchback segment.

Also read - Tata Harrier Test Drive Review

However, it will also come with some minus points, which will give it disadvantages against its rivals such as the limitations of the only manual gearbox available with the long-awaited AMT unit being introduced at a later stage. Furthermore, the 3-cylinder petrol motor is perhaps not as refined as the 4-cyl gasoline burners on its rivals. Refer to the table below for a summary of the pros and cons of the upcoming Tata Altroz.