AltrozAltroz i-Turbo

Overview

The Altroz is the hatchback that stopped pretending small cars have to feel small. The body sits wide across the road, the doors close with a solidity buyers notice before they notice anything else, and the five-star Global NCAP adult score with six airbags fitted as standard is still the argument this segment is measured against. The 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol makes 86 bhp and 113 Nm, enough for a 20 kmpl claim in this catalogue and, more importantly, a ride that settles at 110 km/h instead of buzzing at it.

Two things beyond the crash score do the quiet selling. The 345-litre boot is at the top of the hatchback range and swallows a family weekend without the parcel shelf being argued over, and the i-CNG variant lets a high-mileage driver cut running costs without leaving the safety shell behind. The AMT automatic is the city-friendly option: shifts are unhurried, but at a standstill in traffic you stop thinking about the clutch entirely.

The case against is one of space and polish rather than substance. The rear bench is comfortable but narrower than a Baleno’s for three adults, the cabin trim is well fitted yet visually plain next to the flashier rivals, and Tata’s service network, while extensive, is less uniform than Maruti’s in smaller towns. Buy the mid or top manual for the value, the AMT if the commute is brutal, and treat the CNG as a fleet decision made with arithmetic rather than the heart.

• Five-star Global NCAP adult score
• Six airbags standard on every variant
• 345-litre boot and an i-CNG option