Tata Altroz [2020] XZ Plus (S)

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Altroz [2020]
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Variant

XZ Plus (S)

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Rs. 9.20 Lakh

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Tata Altroz [2020] XZ Plus (S) Review

The Tata Altroz Racer, as the name suggests, is a racier version of the standard hatchback with a more powerful engine, cosmetic changes, and additional features. Here is our first drive review of it.

What is it?

The Tata Altroz Racer, as the name suggests, is a racier version of the standard hatchback with a more powerful engine, cosmetic changes, and additional features. This signature orange with black accents is a good-looking colour combo, but the white-black and grey-black combinations look better. I don't have qualms in mentioning that differently styled alloys would have been a refreshing update instead of the darker shade. Also, the racing lines livery could have been optional.

The 'Racer' doesn't have drool-worthy styling, although the updates have been tastefully done. It gets new side skirts and an extended spoiler on the roof to add to that 'racy' appeal. Then, a 'Racer' badge has been provided on the front fenders to differentiate it from the regular Altroz. There are blacked-out badges and an 'i-Turbo+' badge on the tailgate to denote a more powerful engine under the hood.

Is the cabin of the Altroz Racer any good?

The Racer is based on the standard Altroz but with improvements in terms of features. So, getting in and out is still a breeze thanks to the wide-opening doors and high roof clearance. You'll be greeted by a roomy cabin with good-quality materials inside. There is good all-around visibility and a nice sense of spaciousness, and the driving position is comfortable too. All controls are within easy reach and there's ample storage space throughout.

The second row offers comfortable seating for two adults with enough space to squeeze in a third person if needed. Even for someone of my height (5'8”), there's sufficient knee room, shoulder room, headroom, and a nicely reclined backrest for a relaxed ride. The leatherette seats up the premium feel inside the all-black cabin and the ambience has changed thanks to orange dashboard highlights, including the accents and orange lighting.

The new features on board the Altroz Racer include a nice high-resolution 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment, which supports wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Then, there's a fully digital instrument cluster, which is very exhaustive in terms of information and yet clear to read. The car also comes equipped with amenities such as automatic AC with rear vents, cruise control, and an eight-speaker sound system. Its safety kit includes six airbags, electronic stability control, ABS with EBD, and a five-star GNCAP rating. However, the entry-level R1 variant misses out on the front grille-mounted camera for the 360-degree camera with blind view monitor, seven-inch fully digital driver’s display, wireless phone charging, air purifier, and a voice-activated sunroof that the top-spec R3 Racer variant gets.

Nevertheless, automatic climate control, rear vents, rear defogger, and a rear wiper with a washer are standard features. Right from the entry-level R1, the Racer boasts leatherette seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel, and a front sliding armrest. The R3, in addition, gets first-in-the-segment ventilated front seats, which customers looking for a premium hatchback will appreciate.

Is the Altroz Racer good to drive?

The Tata Altroz Racer uses a 1.2-litre turbo-petrol engine that we've seen on the Tata Nexon. It makes 118bhp and 170Nm of torque and only comes mated to a six-speed manual transmission. Tata's product development team mentioned that the air intakes are from the standard Altroz, but otherwise, the powertrain is from the new Nexon and helps up the game in terms of performance. The dual-tip exhaust, which you see in the pictures, provides a sportier note compared to the regular version of the hatchback. It's not loud but puts a mild smile on your face every time you rev it.

The thing that I was concerned about was the engine performance but I’m glad Tata Motors has worked on it in comparison to the i-turbo. And when I say that, I don't just mean the power output, pops and bags, or even the 0-100kmph sprint times. It's the driving feel from a properly tuned engine with good power delivery and impressive throttle response. The older Altroz i-turbo didn't manage this well but the carmaker has now made amends with the Altroz Racer. The power delivery in this i-turbo+ feels linear, lacks flat spots, and doesn't feel jerky.

With the new hydraulic clutch, the action at the pedal is quick but the gear shifts still feel notchy. The automatic could have eliminated this and we hope the carmaker will introduce a DCA with this soon. Nevertheless, thanks to the readily available torque from lower rpm, the car gets going without having to make frequent gearshifts. It allows you to rev till around 5,500rpm where it gets noisy and feels unrefined. However, you'd mostly be at low rpms as the turbo lag isn't prominent. It easily does 80kmph in fifth gear at around 2,000rpm and 100kmph in the same gear at 2,500rpm with high-speed cruising easily doable. The claimed 0-100kmph sprint is 11.3 seconds, but Narain (who co-developed the car) managed to do it within 10.15 seconds.The product team mentioned there is no major change to the suspension and handling of the Racer as compared to the Altroz.

There remains a slight firmness at low speeds but still deals with our uneven road conditions without a fuss. The ground clearance with the side skirts continues as is at 165mm, again, not scraping anywhere we went. On the race track, Narain gave it the stick, yet the body roll remained well within limits, and the Racer remained planted even at triple-digit speeds. The responsive steering has been calibrated for a connected feel, is light, and weighs up nicely at high speeds. Though more than three lock-to-lock turns continue, it is quick to respond and doesn't add to the effort while parking the car. Furthermore, the carmaker hasn't equipped the Racer with rear discs and despite that the existing set-up manages confidence-inspiring braking.

Should you buy the Altroz Racer?

The Racer is a go-faster version of the Altroz and provides buyers with more than outright performance, drivability, and on-road stability. The positives of the Altroz, such as the spacious cabin, compact footprint, safety, and more, continue with more delightful features. The entry-level R1 variant of the Altroz Racer is priced at Rs. 9.49 lakh (introductory ex-showroom, pan India), the R2 costs Rs. 10.49 lakh, and the top-spec R3, Rs. 10.99 lakh. So, it's not very expensive, and in fact, undercuts its direct rival the Hyundai i20 N Line by a margin. It is a good hot hatch proposition for enthusiasts and premium car buyers alike.

Pictures by Kapil Angane

Specifications & Features

Specifications
Features

Specifications
Features

Specifications

Engine & Transmission

Mileage - Owner Reported

18 kmpl

Engine

1199 cc, 3 Cylinders Inline, 4 Valves/Cylinder, DOHC

Engine Type

1.2 L Revotron

Fuel Type

Petrol

Max Power (bhp@rpm)

87 bhp @ 6000 rpm

Max Torque (Nm@rpm)

115 Nm @ 3250 rpm

Mileage (ARAI)

19.33 kmpl

Driving Range

715 km

Drivetrain

FWD

Transmission

Manual - 5 Gears

Emission Standard

BS6 Phase 2

Idle Start/Stop

Yes

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Dimensions & Weight

Capacity

Suspensions, Brakes, Steering & Tyres

Features

Exterior

Braking & Traction

Safety

Overspeed Warning

1 beep over 80kmph, Continuous beeps over 120kmph

Emergency Brake Light Flashing

Puncture Repair Kit

NCAP Rating

5 Star (Global NCAP)

Blind Spot Detection

Speed Assist System

Impact Sensing Auto Door Unlock

Anti Theft Alarm

Height Adjustable Seat Belt

Clutch Lock

Airbags

2 Airbags (Driver, Passenger)

Rear Middle Three Point Seatbelt

Rear Middle Head Rest

Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)

Child Seat Anchor Points

Yes

Seat Belt Warning

Yes

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Comfort & Convenience

Air Purifier

Umbrella Storage in Door

Yes

Roof-Grab Handle Front

Fuel Fillers Lid

Creep Function

Parking Ticket Holder

Noise Levels

Driver Rear View Monitor (DRVM)

Roof-Grab Handle Rear

Air Conditioner- Automatic/Zones

Automatic Climate Control

Front AC

Single Zone, Common Fan Speed Control

Rear AC

Vents Behind Front Armrest

Third Row AC Zone

Heater

Yes

Cigarette Lighter

Vanity Mirrors on Sun Visors

Co-Driver

Cabin Boot Access

Yes

Anti-glare Mirrors

Manual - Internal Only

Parking Assist

Reverse Camera with Guidance

Parking Sensors

Rear

Cruise Control

Yes

Headlight and Ignition on Reminder

Yes

Keyless Start/ Button Start

Yes

Steering Adjustment

Tilt

12V Power Outlets

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Lighting

Sequential Turn Indicators

Illuminated Logo

Stop Lamp

Headlights

Halogen Projector

Automatic Headlamps

Yes

Follow Me Home Headlamps

Yes

Cornering Headlights

Active

Taillights

Halogen

Daytime Running Lights

LED

Fog Lights

Halogen

Ambient Interior Lighting

Footwell Lamps

Puddle Lamps

Cabin Lamps Position

Front

Light on Vanity Mirrors

Reading Lamp

Glovebox Lamp

Yes

Headlight Height Adjuster

Yes

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Locks & Security

Doors, Windows, Mirrors & Wipers

Scuff Plates

Optional

Inside Rear View Mirror (iRVM)

Power Windows Position

Front & Rear

One Touch Down

Driver

One Touch Up

Driver

ORVM (Outside Rear View Mirrors)

Both Sides

Adjustable ORVMs

Auto Folding

Turn Indicators on ORVMs

Rear Defogger

Yes

Rear Wiper

Yes

Exterior Door Handles Finish

Body Coloured

Rain-sensing Wipers

Yes

Interior Door Handles Finish

Silver

Door Pockets

Front & Rear

Bootlid Opener

Electric Tailgate Release

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Entertainment, Information & Communication

Infotainment Control Types

Voice Assistant

Whatsapp and Text Readout

Android Auto

Yes

Apple CarPlay

Yes

Infotainment Screen Size

7 inch

Touch-screen Display

Yes

Display Screen for Rear Passengers

Integrated (in-dash) Music System

Yes

Speakers

Tweeters

Subwoofer

Steering-mounted controls

Yes

Voice Command

Yes

GPS Navigation System

Yes

Bluetooth Compatibility

Phone & Audio Streaming

AUX Compatibility

Yes

AM/FM Radio

Yes

USB Compatibility

Yes

Wireless Charger

Yes

Head Unit Size

Not Applicable

iPod Compatibility

Yes

Internal Hard Drive

SD Card Compatibility

DVD Playback

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Mobile App Features

Storage

Seats & Upholstery

Rear Parcel Tray

Driver Seat Adjustment

8 way manually adjustable (seat forward / back, backrest tilt forward / back, headrest up / down, seat height up / down)

Front Passenger Seat Adjustment

6 way manually adjustable (seat forward / back, backrest tilt forward / back, headrest up / down)

Active headrest

Second Row Seat Adjustment

2 way manually adjustable (headrest up / down)

Seat Upholstery

Fabric

Leather-wrapped Steering Wheel

Yes

Leather-wrapped Gear Knob

Yes

Driver Armrest

Yes

Rear Passenger Seat Type

Bench

Ventilated Seats

Ventilated Seat Type

Interiors

Dual Tone

Interior Colours

Black and Grey

Rear Armrest

Yes

Folding Rear Seat

Flat

Split Rear Seat

Split Third Row Seat

Front Seatback Pockets

Yes

Headrests

Front & Rear

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Instrumentation

Instantaneous Fuel Consumption

Yes

Navigation On Instrument Cluster

Outside Temperature Gauge

Instrument Cluster Screen Type

Analogue - Digital

Trip Meter

2 Trips Electronic

Average Fuel Consumption

Yes

Average Speed

Yes

Distance to Empty

Yes

Clock

Digital

Low Fuel Level Warning

Yes

Door Ajar Warning

Yes

Adjustable Cluster Brightness

Yes

Gear Indicator

Yes

Shift Indicator

Heads Up Display (HUD)

Tachometer

Analogue

Report incorrect features

Manufacturer Warranty

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Reviews

5.0/5
(4 Ratings) 1 Reviews
Tata Altroz XZ Plus (S)
I Purchased Tata Altroz from Trupti motor.Dark edition is not only premium car but also class a part and demanded. It has a Premium look with 5 star safety, comfortable driving, better stability and control, super sound system, good boot space. Have all power windows.It give Mileage 19+ after 3rd service, decent maintenance cost. But Cons-suction valve damage frequently.Sometimes lacks power while over taking.
Rating Parameters(Out of 5)
5
Exterior
5
Comfort
4
Performance
4
Fuel Economy
5
Value For Money
About the Reviewer
Purchase New
Driven ForFew thousand kilometers
6
4

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