[sibi6613]

Hi all,

I have previously shared in a post about how I wanted to purchase a used Polo 1.0 TSI or a 1.2 GT TSI (had a budget of about 6-8L). My search for these beauties led me to a hard realization. Good 1.2 TSIs (2018/2019 with less mileage) were very hard to come by (I did not want to risk owning a DQ200 with 70k+ km on the odo) and a few of the newer 1.0 TSIs were crazy expensive for a used car (9-10L for a 2020 model). Since I'd be financing ~80% through a used-car loan, it made no sense for me to be paying the higher interest rates for a used, small car, when a new Altroz Turbo costs only 11L OTR (at a lower interest rate since it's a new car).

And thus began my search for a new car. I did a short test drive of the Altroz DCA (apparently there's not even 1 Turbo TD vehicle available in Coimbatore according to SGA Motors), and the first thought that came to me was 'Oh boy, this engine is a dud'. I've read about how the 1.2NA was slow and lethargic but I never imagined that our 12-year-old Ritz with an aftermarket LPG kit had a way better throttle response and accelerated more briskly. After about 1-2km, I lost interest in driving the car any further and returned to the showroom. This made me feel a bit sad for Tata, because I was genuinely looking forward to having the Altroz as my first ever car. Apart from the engine and the gearbox, I kinda liked the rest of the car though. I work in Bangalore, so I reassured myself saying that the Turbo is supposed to be much better and that might change my opinion.

Two days in, I was scrolling Spinny for used 1.0 TSI Polos and I came across a 2021 i20 Turbo petrol iMT. Hyundai was never even on my radar given their lower NCAP safety scores (my primary usage will be on the highways between Bangalore-Karur/Erode with limited usage in the city). I wanted to test the iMT because I've never experienced it before and I thought I might do a bit of competitive intel as well, w.r.t the Turbo petrol engine. After all, I was going to take a TD of the Altroz Turbo and it was going to be my first car!

But boy was I wrong! A 10-min of the i20 TD within Coimbatore's traffic had me smiling for a solid couple of hours! The iMT worked much smoother than I expected it to. It can take most situations thrown at it except for very quick shifts. I wasn't impressed by the GB enough to consider owning an iMT car, but I was definitely impressed by the Turbo Petrol! I'm sure it doesn't pull like the Polo does, but it still is VERY capable for our Indian roads! Though I liked the engine, I still wasn't sure if this was the car for me as I felt that the steering had a lot of deadzone initially and the it felt a bit disconnected. I've been researching about the i20 and the N-Line version of the car for a few days now and I am convinced that the N-Line is the car for me, owing to its stiffer suspension and better steering.

I am back in Bangalore and I stay in Bellandur. Checked out the N-Line version car in the Advaith Hyundai outlet in ORR and the car looks great in person (I wasn't really a fan of the Altroz for its looks - the rear looked a bit weird for my taste and the front reminded me of the Indica). Unfortunately, I wasn't able to take a TD of the vehicle as the customer who took it out for a TD just crashed the car as I was waiting in the showroom for him to come back

Now, here's the conundrum. The i20 N-Line DCT costs 15.3L OTR
I can maybe save ~20-30k by going for an insurance plan outside but it is still about 8-9L more than my original budget! I really, really like the car despite it costing so much and now I do not want to take a TD of the Altroz Turbo (I did put up TD requests on Tata's website and I'm yet to hear back from them even after 15 days). I can afford the i20 on my own but it is going to really stretch my wallet thin for the next few months (until there's an appraisal in Mar) but the Altroz will not be such a tight squeeze as it is ~4L cheaper on the road. I also haven't discussed the idea of buying a 15L car with my very budget-oriented family yet (my dad fitted an aftermarket LPG kit when petrol prices hit 100 per litre, what else can be expected ). I am also not sure about Tata's service levels with even more frequent service intervals (every 6 months/7500km vs i20's 12 months/10000km). Though the i20 is a 3-star rated car, it has ESP+TC which can prevent accidents from happening in the first place and an additional 4 airbags in the unfortunate event of a crash.

I have started going down into existential spirals asking myself questions such as how much this 4L is going to matter in 40 years' time or if will I regret choosing a car that does not excite me every day.

My heart yearns for the i20 N-Line DCT while my head says Altroz is a saner choice.

Looking forward to hearing from you folks about how I should be going ahead with my decision.

[GTO]

First thing you should do is test-drive the Altroz 1.2 Turbo. Without driving it, you'll never know what it's like for you. Me & Aditya took the car on a long test-drive and our review is here.

The Altroz Turbo is vastly superior to the weak 1.2 NA motor, but it is still a "warm" motor at best. The i20's turbo + DCT powertrain is fantastic, way better than the Altroz' turbo-petrol.

Both are premium hatchbacks & the best on sale. Personally, I like the Altroz more because of its "big car" feel, more mature suspension, solid build, 5-star safety rating, impeccable highway manners & stunning design.

I'd just put it down to MT vs AT. If I want an MT, I'd pick the Altroz. If AT, then the i20 DCT.

[SavoyWalrus]

This is a conundrum that I was in a year ago before I purchased the Altroz iTurbo. The price gap between the two cars was much too big in the end for me. Also, I wasn't really sure about the long-term reliability of the DCT or the IMT, and the usual issues that crop up with dual-clutch gearboxes.

The iTurbo and i20 Turbo are almost in two different categories despite both being premium hatchbacks. I've driven my car for 10k kms, most of which has been on the highway, and it performs pretty well over long distances.

Love the high-speed ride quality, space, fantastic AC, comfy seats, and the superb music system. Handling is pretty decent too, even though the steering can be a little dead at times. I've done quite a few 8+ hour trips and it's a brilliant place to be in. The power is nowhere near as explosive as the i20, but it does the job well enough either on the highway or the city. Torque down low isn't very great which means you'll have to shift a bit if you're in the city or the hills. I'm planning a remap which should sort out that issue.

Test drive the iTurbo, it has significantly more power than the NA Altroz and is a far superior car.

I've not encountered any issues so far and I'm pretty pleased with my decision.

[sibi6613]

Originally Posted by GTO

First thing you should do is test-drive the Altroz 1.2 Turbo. Without driving it, you'll never know what it's like for you.

And I am trying to get my hands on one and for some reason, Tata dealers have been unresponsive. My initial bad experience was with SGA Motors in Coimbatore and then KHT in Bangalore. The SA at SGA did not share the brochure/price list as promised on WhatsApp and now I do not even have his phone number to follow-up. KHT hasn't responded to my calls and requests put through the Tata Motors website yet. The only point of reference for the performance I have right now is the excellent review that you and Aditya have penned down along with other TBhp posts and online videos. And the sense that I am getting from all these sources is that it will not be as enthusiastic to drive as the N-Line (esp with the xp95).

Originally Posted by SavoyWalrus

Test drive the iTurbo, it has significantly more power than the NA Altroz and is a far superior car. I've not encountered any issues so far and I'm pretty pleased with my decision.

Thanks for the inputs, SavoyWalrus! I shall definitely take the iTurbo out for a spin before making my final decision. Congrats on your iTurbo! Happy mile-munching!

[SavoyWalrus]

Originally Posted by sibi6613

And I am trying to get my hands on one and for some reason, Tata dealers have been unresponsive. My initial bad experience was with SGA Motors in Coimbatore and then KHT in Bangalore. The SA at SGA did not share the brochure/price list as promised on WhatsApp and now I do not even have his phone number to follow-up. KHT hasn't responded to my calls and requests put through the Tata Motors website yet.

You can reach out to Tata customer support directly. Send them an e-mail, they respond pretty quickly and the dealers will then reach out to you. Tata dealers have to up their game quite a bit. They've been rather lax with their customer service. I bought my car from KHT, I could give you the contact of the salesperson I purchased it from on PM

You're right about it not being as enthusiastic as the N-Line, but when compared to the NA Altroz it's like an altogether different car.

[Kosfactor]

Its probably unconventional around here to suggest a Hyundai to someone who loves to drive - But times have changed, Hyundai has hired the sort of people who knows how to make it feel like a Hyundai (light controls, excellent NVH, soft ride etc) and yet perform very well on the road.

GDi engine - The actual on-road performance of a GDi and I`d include all their GDi models (KIA too) is excellent, very well tuned for Indian road conditions, you would not know that it is such a small engine while driving around.

My choice would be i20 - if you are ready for the asking price, it will stay with you for longer and you will get excellent value for the car when you are ready to upgrade.

[bijims]

In my opinion, if you want a safe car which is light on the pocket, the Altroz i-Turbo is the way to go, However, if you want a performance oriented car the i20 N-line DCT would be your best option.

I have a different opinion altogether, why not go for the standard i20 DCT, maybe the Sportz DCT trim, although not as feature packed as the Asta(O) variant nor as sporty as the N-line, it would definitely be a middle ground as far as price and performance are considered.

[revsperminute]

A rare scenario where a Hyundai is the more fun to drive car. I drove my friend’s Altroz Turbo and it was lukewarm at best.

N-line i20s are actually a lot of fun to zip around in. If you’re not doing too many highway runs (safety related concern), i20 is the way to go.

PS- I recently got to get behind the wheel of a Citroen c3. As barebones as it was, the car is a hoot drive. It also comes under 10L OTR.

[IshaanIan]

If an automatic is not an absolute must have, then is there any reason why you have not considered a used Abarth Punto/Avventura/UrbanCross? My family nearly bought one in 2017 when they were selling at massive discounts from the dealership. On the test drive I was blown away by the stability which in other Puntos always made the car feel hefty but the Abarth managed to feel light on its feet too with excellent torquey power delivery characteristics that let you potter about and give you ample overtaking ability all in the same gear, while also having a very maruti-esque light and progressive clutch with a not so slick but very well defined and easy gearshift. It really was the best Fiat had ever sold in our country in my opinion too bad it came too late. But still should be the top hot hatch choice I feel.

[greenhorn]

I drove both cars and the altroz is UNDERWHELMING. The i20 is fun with a capital F. I was very serious about the i10 grand with the 1.0T but ultimately both got rejected because of ncap ratings. But that i20 made me really really think twice. I might have bought it if i handnt been planning to emigrate in a few years.

The altroz iturbo is fast in the sense that it can achieve very good triple digit speeds and hold them all day. But it's acceleration was glacial. I ended up buying a pre owned etios and that feels peppier. Plus the altroz had an annoying lift off throttle jerk that i had put up with in my Indica turbo for 15 years. No way i was going to end up in another car which had the same issue.

Look at the kiger/magnite/Citroen 1.0t cars. The Citroen especially has been praised as fun to drive.

Alternately, keep looking in the used market. Current bunch of bs6 engines are just not enough. Heck buy a Honda City!

[sibi6613]

Originally Posted by bijims

I have a different opinion altogether, why not go for the standard i20 DCT, maybe the Sportz DCT trim, although not as feature packed as the Asta(O) variant nor as sporty as the N-line, it would definitely be a middle ground as far as price and performance are considered.

I did consider going this route, but when I test-drove the Turbo iMT, I felt that the steering of the standard i20 had a bigger dead zone in the centre than I like. It also did not give me enough feedback and confidence to even zip through the traffic.

Originally Posted by SavoyWalrus

I bought my car from KHT, I could give you the contact of the salesperson I purchased it from on PM

I have sent a PM! Would be very helpful if you can share the contact!

Originally Posted by Kosfactor

My choice would be i20 - if you are ready for the asking price, it will stay with you for longer and you will get excellent value for the car when you are ready to upgrade.

I am surprised that I am even considering a Hyundai! It was absolutely the least in my list. But I guess Hyundais do have come a long way, haven't they? Resale value is something that I did not factor into my decision so far. Thanks for bringing it up!

Originally Posted by revsperminute

A rare scenario where a Hyundai is the more fun to drive car. I drove my friend’s Altroz Turbo and it was lukewarm at best.
N-line i20s are actually a lot of fun to zip around in. If you’re not doing too many highway runs (safety related concern), i20 is the way to go.

PS- I recently got to get behind the wheel of a Citroen c3. As barebones as it was, the car is a hoot drive. It also comes under 10L OTR.

Thanks for the suggestion. I don't think I can take a gamble on a relatively newer brand in India on what's going to be my first and only car at the moment.

[bijims]

Originally Posted by sibi6613

I did consider going this route, but when I test-drove the Turbo iMT, I felt that the steering of the standard i20 had a bigger dead zone in the centre than I like. It also did not give me enough feedback and confidence to even zip through the traffic.

If that's the case, then the best option would be to follow your heart and go for the i20 Nline, it would definitely be a stretch in your budget, but getting a car you love will certainly feel worth it rather than lamenting for years because you compromised.

[buzzy_boy]

Just go with the i20 nLine DCT eyes closed. Reasons:

1. Automatic = less chances of getting fed up with a manual while driving in Bangalore traffic.
2. Better interiors than Altroz
3. Better to drive than the Altroz iTurbo
4. Generally, Hyundais are more reliable in the long run
5. A Tata petrol has poor resale value.

That said, the interest rates are going to go up in the near future. So, if the i20 is going to stretch your budget, better wait for 2 more years, and then buy it when you're more comfortable - check out GTO's thread about how a more expensive car might work out cheaper in the long run.

[MithunSathianat]

I was also in this same situation a month back. With just one back to back test drive with i20 dct and altroz dca i was fallen for i20 turbo dct. Altroz dca was struggling to climb a uphill with my foot fully pressed on A pedal whereas i20 behaved as its on road.
I felt its league ahead of altroz. Booked i20 asta turbo dct with no confusion.
Did not chose N Line because the exhaust note was constantly heard inside cabin.

[Sahil00090]

"I cannot suggest Altroz to someone who is looking for a Polo TSI, Period!"

i20 N line is my suggestion, yes, too much asking for a "Hatchback" but sadly prices won't decrease now (will increase only) so I would suggest to make the purchase soon, you might get some decent discounts in January starting as well.

I don't know but I am not at all inclined towards Tata's petrol engines. They are good for normal use but I believe you want some fun while driving so go with i20.

On a side note, after reading your thread a thought passed by to sell my 2021 Polo TSI (M) as I can get good value but I am really loving it, a conundrum for me as well?