Tata Altroz: Petrol DCA vs i-Turbo vs Diesel | Which to choose?

Tata recently introduced an automatic transmission with its 1.2-litre petrol engine, available on the higher trims.

Tata Motors launched the Altroz premium hatchback in India a couple of years back. Since it went on sale the hatchback has received a few updates last year, including the addition of a new turbo-petrol engine and more recently the addition of a brand new automatic transmission system.

The 2022 Altroz premium hatchback now comes with a range of engine options, including two petrol and one diesel unit. While all three are offered with a standard manual gearbox, the base 1.2L NA petrol now comes with the brand's all-new DCA (Dual-Clutch Automatic) transmission as optional on the higher trims.

So, if you were to buy the Tata Altroz, which engine option would you pick & why?

Starting with the petrol versions, the Tata Altroz is offered with two petrol engines. The first is a 1.2-litre NA petrol engine producing 86 BHP @ 6000 rpm and 113 Nm @ 3300 rpm. The engine is paired with either a 5-speed manual or a 6-speed DCA transmission option.

Tata Altroz 1.2L Petrol MT

Over & above the weak power delivery of this motor, what also blunts its performance is the car's kerb weight. When driving around in the city, the Altroz doesn't feel energetic like the Baleno. Power on tap is strictly "adequate". The talking point is its driveability, not power. You can easily potter around in 3rd gear at 40 km/h with the engine revving at ~1,750 rpm. Make no mistake = it has enough poke to carry you around town with few gear changes, albeit in a relaxed manner.

Highway performance is rather ordinary; on the open road, you'll need to work the engine hard to get any kind of pep out of it. Problem is, there isn't much "go" even when you do, hence we suggest you move out of the fast lane and stick to the middle ones. The engine starts losing steam beyond 5,000 rpm and it gets quite vocal too.

Read the full review here.

Tata Altroz 1.2L Petrol DCA

The Altroz DCA is more of a cruiser on the expressway than an outright performer. It can cruise at 100 km/h in 6th gear with the tachometer reading ~2,500 rpm and at 120 km/h, the engine spins at just under 3,000 rpm. You will keep up with 100 km/h traffic on the expressway, although you will be working the engine hard. Floor the pedal and the DCT willingly takes the engine to 6,000 rpm (although we wish there were more revs to play with). Compared to the MT in which you have to vigorously work the shifter & clutch, here, the dual-clutch AT does all the hard work for you.

From a relaxed driver's perspective, the AT is well-matched to the engine. It's smooth & the response times are acceptable in most driving conditions.

Read the full review here.

Tata Altroz 1.2L Turbo-Petrol MT

The Altroz also comes with a 1.2-litre turbo-petrol unit which churns out 110 BHP @ 5500 rpm and 140 Nm @ 1500 - 5000 rpm and is paired with a 5-speed manual gearbox as standard.

In the city, the turbo-petrol variant has very good driveability. You won’t be using the gearbox excessively. It even cleared our 2nd gear speed breaker test easily. There is very little turbo lag. Throttle response is satisfactory and the car has no problem picking up speed from low revs. The healthy bottom-end makes the turbo-petrol Altroz an easy car to drive in the city.

The Altroz turbo-petrol cruises effortlessly on the highway. 100 km/h in 5th gear is seen at ~2,300 rpm, while 120 km/h is seen at ~2,800 rpm. High-speed stability is very impressive and you can calmly cruise at 120 km/h all day long. Solid, planted & confidence-inspiring is how I'd describe it. The steering also weighs up well at speed. Must say that Tata tunes its EPS better than HPS (hydraulic).

Read the full review here.

Tata Altroz 1.5L Diesel MT

The diesel version, on the other hand, comes in the form of a 1.5-litre unit producing 90 BHP @ 4000 rpm and 200 Nm @ 1250 - 3000 rpm. It is mated with a standard 5-speed manual transmission.

From idling revs & when you are just starting off from 0 km/h, the rpm needle takes its own sweet time to climb. While this isn’t an issue in regular driving, it will catch you out on stop-and-go inclines. If you stop in the middle of even a medium-level slope, you have to use the handbrake before getting going again, as it takes a lot of time for the revs to build up again. The throttle response from idling rpm is painfully dull. The turbo-diesel wakes up at ~1,500 rpm and is in its element as you near 2,000 rpm.

The best part about the Altroz diesel is the mid-range. Enjoy it and shift up at 4,100 rpm tops. The only times I pushed it beyond 4,300 rpm was when I was in the middle of an overtaking manoeuvre & needed those extra revs.

I will say that the engine sound is well-controlled. You can hear the diesel at 3,000 rpm, yet it is not loud/groaning/ugly at all. I actually liked the engine note & consider this to be one of the better sounding diesel.

Read the full review here.

Here's what GTO had to say on the matter:

The Altroz 1.5L Diesel is perhaps the best diesel hatchback on sale in India. I'd buy it even over the i20 Diesel, my earlier favourite. That engine + mature suspension + build + styling + 5 star safety make it an all-rounder.

However, I don't need a diesel as my urban running is low (thanks to all the test-drive cars) and I have other highway cruisers. If I buy an Altroz, it will purely be as a local city runabout and hence, it will be the competent in the city (but slow on the highway) Altroz DCA.

Here's what BHPian aquavivarium had to say on the matter:

Altroz diesel is the perfect city car, it's a driver's delight, city commuter and five stars safe.

There is no car in that segment which compares, sad Delhi NCR people shy away due to the 10-year diesel car life.

I would say with just two people you can take it on a trip around India. Feel the 1.5 diesel power and high power to weight ratio.

Here's what BHPian Small Bot had to say on the matter:

Voted for Altroz iTurbo MT as that makes the most sense for my requirements.

While Altroz diesel is by all accounts very impressive, I'll probably go nuts dealing with DPF issues with my frequent nasty-traffic daily runs. And I do not want to do an unnecessary frequent highway run or visit the local Tata ASS just to avoid it.

i-turbo seems ideal to me in terms of the power vs use-case balance.

Here's what BHPian Reinhard had to say on the matter:

I voted for the diesel Altroz too. It's a fantastic engine + chassis combination. True compact cruiser. Will just go on and on - on the straights as well as in the ghats. What a shame that we have hardly any diesel hatchbacks now, let alone fun to drive and safe ones. Altroz shines as one of the few stars. Sadly the sudden downturn in diesel sales means we will probably never see an AT Altroz. If there was one - I'd have replaced my Alto by now. The DCT NA somehow doesn't tick the right boxes for now given my existing garage.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.