Tata Altroz iTurbo review, road test

The Tata Altroz is arguably the most stunning-looking hatchback on sale in India, and there’s a lot more to like underneath its skin. It is spacious and practical, it’s fairly well-equipped, and the real ace up its sleeve is its fantastic ride and handling balance. What’s more, the Altroz has proven its mettle in terms of crash safety, securing five stars in Global NCAP tests. Its new turbo-petrol engine is a much improved, zingier alternative to the naturally aspirated petrol. But it isn’t perfect and the iTurbo falls short on counts such as smoothness, refinement, performance, as well as fuel efficiency, especially when viewed in the light of its competition. Having a not-so-smooth manual gearbox and the absence of an automatic option don’t help its case either. But consider the turbo strictly for what it is – the better petrol Altroz, and you will see value in this proposition, and it is certainly worth the premium it commands over the naturally aspirated version.