Tata Altroz, the Indian carmaker’s newest premium hatchback has caught the fancy of buyers with its attractive styling and value proposition. For a short while, it was the only offering in its class that was available with a petrol and diesel engine, until the arrival of the 2020 Hyundai i20. With prices spread from Rs 5.44-9.09 lakh, the Altroz is available across a total of 23 variants, 11 for the diesel and 12 for the petrol (including optional packages). For a comprehensive breakdown of what you get in each variant, check out this story.
What are the engines on offer?
Powering the petrol Altroz is an 86hp/113Nm three-cylinder engine, and the diesel Altroz is powered by a 90hp/200Nm four-cylinder engine. Both engines are mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox, with no automatic option yet. Spec-to-spec, the diesel commands a premium ranging between Rs 1.2-1.5 lakh over the petrol, however, because it performs much more effortlessly compared to the petrol and it scores well on refinement, the diesel is our pick from the range.
Which is the Tata Altroz variant on a budget?
The XM+ for the petrol (Rs 6.60 lakh) or the XM RHYTHM pack for the diesel (Rs 7.89 lakh) makes a lot of sense if you want some premium features while keeping your pocket happy. For the money, both get electrically folding mirrors, a 7.0-inch touchscreen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, drive modes and a flat-bottomed steering with audio controls. The XM RHYTHM adds two speakers and two tweeters to the XM+’s two speaker setup, along with remote key entry and a rear camera.
Is it worth buying the Tata Altroz XZ variant?
Yes, absolutely. The XZ variant (Rs 7.59-8.79 lakh) might appear expensive when compared to the value for money XM+ variant, but your money goes a long way in terms of premium feel and features. Available on the XZ are dual-tone 16-inch alloys and projector headlamps, which add to the aesthetics, and small bits like the knitted roof liner, coloured MID, leather-wrapped steering and gear lever and ambient lighting, uplifting the feel-good factor on the inside. Then there are features like auto headlamps and wipers, cruise control, rear wiper and washer, climate control, engine start-stop button with keyless entry, rear AC vents, height adjustable driver’s seat, cooled glovebox and a lot more. The XZ(O) variant offers a dual-tone roof which is at a premium of Rs 16,000, to further enhance its appeal.
The Tata Altroz range is set to expand soon with the addition of a turbo-petrol engine option. Depending on Altroz turbo prices, our recommendation may require revision. Stay tuned.
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