The Altroz Racer is expected to rival the Hyundai i20 N Line.

According to a recent leak, Tata Motors is likely to launch the Altroz Racer next month. The sporty hatchback will go on sale in early June.

The Altroz Racer first broke cover at the 2023 Auto Expo. It was revealed once again at the Bharat Mobility Show earlier this year.

The Altroz Racer is expected to lock horns with the Hyundai i20 N Line. It features a sporty exterior in a dual-tone colour scheme with racing stripes and black alloy wheels.

Inside, the Altroz Racer will get a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system, along with features like ventilated front seats, a 360-degree camera, a voice-activated sunroof and 6 airbags as standard.

Powering the Altroz Racer will be the 1.2-litre, 3-cylinder turbo-petrol engine from the Nexon. It produces 118 BHP and 170 Nm and is likely to be paired with a 6-speed manual gearbox.

Source: @durgapaln

The speed limit for cars on the Samruddhi Mahamarg is 120 km/h and it is possible to maintain the same comfortably.

BHPian Mgdoodler recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Blue Rocket had plans for 2023, which 2023 decided were not to come to fruition. On charts was to travel to Khar Dung La and Kanyakumari sometime between June and Sept 2023 but due to some personal circumstances all long-distance plans were abandoned. Or so we thought.

Thanks to my cousin, who was marrying the love of his life in her city in Dec 2023. Invitations were issued and the plan initially was to make a quick visit to Kolkata for a couple of days for the event itself which then turned into a week’s solo drive to Kolkata and back… and in the end, turned into a 15-day holiday with Blue Rocket travelling through 6 states and the rest of my family flew to Kolkata for wedding festivities.

As per my usual practise Blue Rocket was serviced and a checkup done 15 days before my travel and I drove it for a couple of short excursions around Mumbai.

Plan was to take the Mumbai – Nagpur – Sambhalpur – Keonjhar – Kolkata route through central India while going and return via Konark - Vishakhapatnam - Chhattisgarh - Hyderabad - Mumbai. This was my first time driving any of these routes and my first time meeting the Bay of Bengal. As with most of my long-distance drives, this was just Blue and me all the way. FYI Blue Rocket is a petrol, manual i-turbo Altroz.

Day 1- 1/12/2023 Friday

This was a day I was looking forward to the most, the opportunity to drive on the Samruddhi Mahamarg. I have already driven on the Trans Haryana and enjoyed it and was looking forward to a similar experience.

Left home at 6:45 am - much later than the planned 5:30 am, but I was ok with it as there was a mild fog and starting later allowed better visibility. Travelled across Mumbai via the SCLR and eastern express highway leaving the city behind at Thane, but not the traffic, roads were jammed due to diversions and the first couple of hours were tedious. First stop was to fill fuel at Padgha. Tank filled and the drive started towards Kasara ghat which I would be driving on for the first time and it was a good drive. Stopped for a quick breakfast at 10:30 at a restaurant after Ghoti Bhudruk at 150 kms from Mumbai and 7 kms before Bharvir entry into the Mahamarg.

The mahamarg is wide, well planned and mostly a comfortable drive. Speed Limit for cars is 120 Kmph and it is possible to maintain the same comfortably. Heavy vehicles are few and keep to the middle and left lane. It was a pleasure to drive on this route. I stopped at approximately halfway at around 3 pm for a fuel refill and bio break. I also stopped at about 1.5hrs of driving on the mahamarg for a quick photo session with Blue being the model. As you can see the weather was lovely with blue skies and fluffy white clouds – a perfect winter day for a drive and the road is practically empty.

Road surface could be better and more functional rest stops are required. Hopefully, these requirements will be fulfilled soon.

It was later in the day after 4:30 pm and as we neared Nagpur, I encountered some truck traffic in the fast/overtake lane and middle lane at the same time blocking the road. But it was not for long.

Crossed Waifal toll naka at 5:30 PM, having covered 600 kms in approx. 6 hours with a 20 min break.

Winter and travel towards the east meant that the sun set earlier and it was already dark as we exited the Expressway and made our way to the night stay – Hotel Pride near the airport metro.

Reached and checked in at 6:30 pm. Covering 814 kms in little less than 12 hours.

The day had not ended though. After a quick catch-up with work, I headed towards the nearest Haldirams at Ajni Square. Travelled by metro for 4 stops and exited just outside Haldirams. My last meal had been a protein bar along with a yoghurt smoothie at 3 pm and now I feasted on Dahi Puri and hot Rajma Chawal.

Dinner done I took the metro back to my hotel and turned in for an early night.

Continue reading about Mgdoodler's road trip for BHPian comments, insights and more information.

Appreciate the promptness of the Tata service centre in getting it fixed.

BHPian W.A.G.7 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

So, after many days of carefree driving, we suffered the first gremlin. En route to home on 5th April, my wife realized that the radiator fan was running constantly and even after switching off the car, the fan would continue to run for a minute or so. This was strange because we hadn't seen this behaviour. Realizing something was amiss, she drove the last 9-10 km slowly, without the air conditioner and also not exceeding 40-45 kmph. This turned out to be a blessing. After the car cooled down in the night, we opened the coolant reservoir lid to check on the coolant level, and it was bone dry. Then we opened the radiator cap as well, and another heart-in-the-mouth moment - there was barely any coolant. This was alarming, a powerful torch and 2 minutes later, we discovered all the coolant splattered on the innards. There was a big puddle of blue coolant.

We called Garve Tata service centre and they advised us to bring the car slowly to the service station, after filling in regular water in the coolant reservoir and the radiator. Again, I appreciate their promptness in arranging for an appointment. Also being a Friday helped, as there was less load on the service centre. A job card was created and they inspected the innards. They realized that the coolant hose was cracked and the rubber cap had a hole in it. The coolant was spilling out from the rubber cap.

They kept the car on Saturday and replaced both the coolant hose and rubber cap. In the evening, the car was ready, yet they kept it under observation for a day more, just to see if there were any other leaks. Thankfully no other holes or cracks were seen.

We received back the car on Sunday - with replaced coolant pipes and new coolant filled in. Thankfully the car was cleaned nicely this time. The total bill came to 515/- which is okay. I mean we came nearly an inch from blowing up the engine (due to lack of any coolant), so the charges don't mean much as compared to what we would have to pay for replacing a heat-damaged engine. For a change, I would like to thank my wife for observing the fan running... That's because ladies usually aren't automotive-oriented (exceptions are there of course) and wouldn't usually notice such things. But she did, and her promptness in driving back slowly most likely saved the day for the car. Additionally, the twin-tone horn was fixed, as the lower tone was not sounding intermittently.

Another lesson learnt - turn down the music and keep an eye and an ear on the car! Some pictures below from the episode...

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Have you purchased a used four-wheeler from Spinny? Later, have you purchased extended warranty directly from the brand for your pre-loved vehicle?

BHPian akshaybndlsh3 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

I purchased a pre-owned Altroz 2021 XE BS6 Petrol from Spinny in September 2023 with ~15k KM on the odometer. After the purchase, I opted for 3 years extended warranty from TATA.

Recently I had got 1st major service done at ~20k KM on odometer (All 3 free services were done by previous owner). I have some queries related to this service:

1. Total cost for this service was 12000/- which is much higher than what I expected. Is it normally around this for 1st major service & what should be expected future service costs (Attached invoice)

2. There was a problem with AC recirculation unit & actuator was replaced to fix this. However, it was not covered under warranty. But later on I read in another post that someone got actuator replaced under warranty.

Is there any place where I can check parts covered under extended warranty & what are my options if I was wrongly charged for actuator

3. There is a leakage in AC suction pipe which needs replacement & price quoted is 5500/-. I refused to get it done for now as price seemed very high to me & as per SA this was also not covered under warranty.

Anyone has idea how much this part should cost & if it should be under warranty.

Click here to read what BHPians have to say about this.

Fuel efficiency on the highway is 15-18 km/l. As for the Tata service, it is really a hit or miss.

BHPian Max5414 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Greetings Bhpians,

I'm thrilled to share my two-year journey with my cherished Tata Altroz Turbo Edition, which has now clocked an impressive 18,000 kilometers. To provide some context, I've previously owned the Elite i20 Petrol and currently also have a Nissan Magnite Turbo Manual variant. In this recount, my primary comparisons will be drawn between these two cars.

In 2021, I set out to find a new car within a budget of 10 lakhs, with a willingness to stretch it to 12 lakhs if needed. My key criteria were exceptional build quality, spacious interiors, and good performance.

The initial contenders included the Ford Ecosport TDCI. Despite its solid build and impressive engine performance, rumors of Ford's potential exit from India and the prospect of a facelift caused some uncertainty. The back seat was a bit cramped, but not a deal-breaker. With a promise of delivery within 10 days and assurances about Ford's continued presence in India, the Ecosport remained a contender.

Next on the list was the Tata Nexon 1.2 Petrol. With a 5-star safety rating, robust build, and satisfactory fit and finish, the Nexon impressed. The 1.2 turbo petrol engine delivered decent city performance, with a fun sports mode for quick overtakes. However, a waiting period of 3-4 months for the XZ Plus variant made us explore other options.

Considering the budget constraints, the Hyundai Creta was a bit beyond reach. Having already owned an Elite i20, the focus shifted to exploring other Tata offerings.

Enter the Tata Altroz. While we initially settled on the Nexon, the lengthy waiting period prompted us to check out the Altroz, particularly the Dark Edition Turbo variant. Surprisingly, the dealer had one in stock and ready for immediate delivery. After a thorough pre-delivery inspection and VIN verification, the Altroz 1.2 Turbo Dark Edition found its place in my garage.

Here's to two years of driving joy with the Altroz, a decision that aligned with my preferences and provided a seamless ownership experience.

Pros:

• Balanced Performance: The 1.2T engine delivers commendable driveability and satisfactory performance, striking a good balance on the road.
• Looks: Altroz catches the eye with its stunning exterior, complemented by a solid build that adds to its allure.
• Interiors: Step inside to experience a pleasant interior adorned with quality components and ample space for a comfortable ride.
• Space Management: The Altroz boasts one of the largest boots in its segment, offering a generous 345-litre storage capacity.
• Mature Road Manners: Displaying maturity on the road, Altroz excels at highway speeds, ensuring a stable and composed driving experience.
• Top-Tier Safety: Achieving a 5-star NCAP safety rating, the Altroz prioritizes your safety with features like dual airbags, CSC, and a rest break reminder. Solid build and construction compared to almost all competitors in this category.
• Music System: Elevating the driving ambiance, the Harman 8-speaker ICE stands out as one of the best audio systems in its segment.
• Feature-Rich: Packed with impressive features like auto headlamps & wipers, cruise control, leatherette seats, and an adjustable armrest, Altroz caters to the modern driver's needs.

Cons:

• Awkward seating entry, thick A-pillar design.
• No wireless Android Auto or Apple CarPlay.
• Mediocre paint quality.
• Short service intervals at 7500 km or 6 months.
• Headlights, especially low beam, are just average.
• Tata ASS is a hit or miss.

Engine Performance:

I went for the turbo version because I wanted a decently powered car – 107BHP and 140NM torque. It handles a heavy load well, and you can smoothly drive at low speeds. The engine is strong at 1800 to 2400 RPM. It's not as quiet as some other engines, but it's a good mix of power and efficiency. Sports mode is enough for most of the cases.

Steering, Clutch, and Gearshifts:

The steering is light and gets a bit heavier as you speed up. It gives decent feedback. The clutch is super light. Gear shifts are mostly smooth, except for 1st and Reverse gear which sometimes need a bit more effort.

Braking:

At first, I thought the brakes weren't great, but they get better with more use. In the morning, the brakes feel sharp for a bit, but it's not a big issue.

City/Highway Driving:

It's easy to drive in the city or on the highway. The car feels sturdy, and the suspension handles bad roads well. It's a bit firm at slow speeds, but you'll get used to it.

Interior and Music System:

The music system from Harman is good, with clear sound from 4 speakers and 4 tweeters. More bass would be nice. Inside, there's plenty of space for your stuff. Some things could be put together better, but it's not a big problem. When I connect the audio system via Bluetooth, there's a 2-second delay, but it gets fixed when I connect to Android Auto, and the sound quality also improves. Radio reception is poor but I don't use it so ignored it.

Fuel Efficiency:

I'm getting around 10 to 12 kmpl (tankful to tankful) in the city and 15-18 kmpl on highways. I drive mostly in the city, about 75% of the time.

Service Experience:

I bought my car from a Tata dealership in Coimbatore. At first, the general service experience was average. However, things turned nightmarish when my car got into an accident, causing significant damage to the passenger-side doors. The impact was severe, and I was advised to replace both doors and the back bumper.

We filed an insurance claim, and they ordered the necessary parts, giving us a timeline of 2-3 weeks for the repairs. Unfortunately, what was supposed to take a few weeks ended up dragging on for two months. During this time, there was a lack of communication from the service center. I had to consistently reach out for updates.

Every time I called, they provided excuses such as staff being on leave, power outages, and even running out of paint stock for my specific dark edition, which needed a separate order. This lack of transparency and constant follow-up on my end made the overall service experience quite frustrating.

When I finally went to pick up my car after the repairs, I noticed that it was covered in dust. To my surprise, they were asking for an additional 5000 rupees for both interior and exterior cleaning. The problem was on their end, as they left the car unattended for so long with the windows open, leading to the dust issue.

They did a sloppy job with the repairs. When I picked up my car, the doors were jammed, and they weren't closing or opening properly. The locks and power windows were also not working. Exhausted and lacking the strength to argue, I took my car and left, planning to take it to another service center in Coimbatore.

I immediately took the car and gave it outside to a detailing mafia store for a thorough cleaning and got it cleaned. I am happy that the dealership in question was closed by Tata. They were lethargic and incompetent.

After reading Google reviews, I decided to give my car to SGA Tata for repairs. I explicitly mentioned all the problems, but to my dismay, they returned my car without fixing any of the issues. The service manager called for feedback, and I expressed my frustration about the unresolved problems.

He requested me to send the car back, promising personal attention. After some days, I sent the vehicle again, and this time they properly addressed and fixed all the issues before returning the car.

Driving Experience and Visibility:

The car is comfortable to drive, seats are also height adjustable for a better view. It's not too soft or too firm, but could use better side support. Visibility is mostly good, but the front pillar might block your view a bit. You'll get used to it quickly, though.

I've taken my car on many trips to places like Ooty, Munnar, Kodaikanal, Rameshwaram, Madurai, Allepy, and Kumarakom, and it has never let me down on the road. All the drives were comfortable. The only issue I faced was occasional screen jittering, but other than that, no problems.

Finally some images of my Black Beast

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Open opinions, suggestions and the analysis are based on 2 years & 32,000 km of ownership.

BHPian SpeedBird recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

I own a Tata Altroz XZ 2021 manual transmission non-turbo model. After driving the vehicle for 2+ years with 32,000 km on the odometer, I believe I am qualified to give an in-depth analysis and opinion on this vehicle to such an extent that no developers/testers of this car ever went before. Therefore, here are my honest and open opinions/suggestions to the Altroz engineering and development team-One thing I realize here is that Tata engineered its new generation software with the knowledge of its acquired company Jaguar's code and with a strict Make in India concept. With TCS/Tata implementing the above blend, it has led to some serious oversights in key features' front end and a huge lack of testing their features.

Before starting, I want to mention that the Altroz XZ 2021 and Altroz XZ 2020 are significantly different. They have done a hidden cost cutting due to global chip shortage and Make in India restrictions and the dealers don't inform this for some reason. For example, the instrument cluster is changed from TFT to Analog, but in test drive vehicles, they still have TFT clusters. This is very misleading!

Keeping the above fact in mind, I will be highlighting around 40 problems and oversights in Altroz XZ 2021 model:

Instrument cluster:

• The cruise control set speed is not displayed in the cluster. When I asked this question to the dealership, they said it was displayed. When I asked them to show it, they had no answer. So they sent out a driver to check, and then they realized that it was not displayed anywhere. When I raised a support case with this issue, the support staff said it would be escalated to the engineering team and later said that it could not be added. This is a very simple software change, I myself being a software developer, know how simple it will be.
• No indication of the headlights on/off and fog lights on/off. In the manual, it clearly says that the status of both headlights and fog lamps will be displayed in the instrument cluster. But it's nowhere present.
• Huge difference between TFT and analogue cluster, but the price difference is just 10k. When the dealership realized that the cluster was different, they panicked and offered me an on-spot 10k discount. When I asked for the TFT cluster and offered to pay whatever extra for the same, the support representatives and engineers said it was not possible. So why is it not possible? Weren't the XZ before August 2021 coming with TFT clusters? So why not install one in my vehicle? This leads to the following question:
• Can't replace my analogue with the TFT cluster. Modern cars have every unit in a plug-and-play format, so why isn't it possible to plug in TFT instead of analogue? The physical dimensions of both the clusters are the same. The only explanation that I can find here is that they have replaced the ECU altogether. Now if they are making this, they should be clear while giving out test drive vehicles with older and better ECUs with the same model name and number. The service people scream out if we plug in an OBD2 scanner to the OBD2 port, but they go ahead and change the ECU itself without telling the customers and brand it under the same model.
• Gear display mystery: Any child who has the basic knowledge of how manual cars work will tell which gear is the car being driven on. But Altroz shows a different (lower) gear when we press the clutch a little and drive. If we put the car in neutral while the car is moving at normal speed, the gear shows as 5th gear cause RPM is idle and speed is more (which happens in the case of higher gears). Basically what they have done is that they have mapped the RPM, speed, and clutch press position and programmed a formula to determine the current gear. This being the case, makes the gear display feature itself useless.
• The buttons of "set" and "mode" are near the cluster itself and not on the right steering mounted buttons. If it was a pure analogue cluster like the old timers, I agree that the physical pressure from our finger is required to reset the trip and that button press should be kept close to the cluster. But this is all going to the ECU. So why are they sacrificing customer comfort by keeping them in such a place where I have to get my hands inside the ring of the steering wheel to operate them and keep the right steering mounted button as dummy buttons?

Infotainment system:

• First things first, they should remove the "fast" word in the Harman infotainment system branding immediately. Cause it is anything but fast.
• Bluetooth has a latency of more than 1 second.
• Touch response is extremely slow and sometimes dangerous to operate even while driving in slow-moving traffic.
• They have eaten away the infotainment system buttons! Where did they go? Do they even know how critical those buttons were for customer comfort? The issues it causes deserve a whole new set of questions as stated below:
• How does the co-passenger change the volume while using Android Auto? Do they expect them to use the steering wheel volume control while the driver is driving? Or do they even know what I am talking about? Let me explain: Android auto takes up the whole screen and the on-screen volume icons will go away(of course they haven't tested this in their labs). So how do you control the volume? They said that the infotainment system consists of all the options that these buttons were offering. But will they be so while using Android Auto? Not!
• How do I quickly switch between Android auto and infotainment system home screen? You may say to go to the infotainment system home screen every time to change the volume and then go back to Android Auto. But how easy is that? And how will the co-passenger know about all these? Won't they just be looking for a volume button?
• How do I power on the infotainment system without powering on the vehicle itself? There was a way to do it before. They were boasting about the "1 hour power on" feature. How do you activate that without the infotainment system power-on button?
• How do you turn on the infotainment system? They should realize how ridiculous it sounds to a naive person, to hear that the power on/off button of a system is inside the display of the system itself. Yes, you read it correctly. It's like a smartphone without a physical power button.
• The current trip meter resets after even less than 1 second of power off of the vehicle (basically immediately after ECU off) How do I save fuel in between signals while it resets the current trip readings every time I turn off the engine? I am a car guy and would like to have analytics. Either give an engine cutoff switch that doesn't switch off the ECU while turning off the engine or find a way to keep the statistics as it is for a few seconds cause there are chances that we may be at a traffic signal and will start the car momentarily.
• The option to switch on DRL goes away after turning on the headlights. Why can't I keep the DRL running alongside the headlights? it's not against the law. I have seen Harrier, Safari, and Nexon do it.

Idle start-stop system(ISS):

• This is a very good technology in theory and implemented properly in other company cars. But Tata's implementation has so many issues:
• Battery SoC checks at 85% for ISS activation. This is a nonsensical number. It triggers rarely cause it's highly impossible to maintain such a high battery level all the time in situations where the car is used once a week or so. Other brand cars have 50% which is good enough or a better battery. We can easily start the Altroz without any engine hiccup whatsoever even when the battery low icon is displayed. I have tried that myself.
• Battery SoC value not displayed anywhere. The trigger of ISS is highly unpredictable and makes it scary and panic when it triggers all of a sudden out of nowhere and turns off the engine. It is very irritating. So if an indication of the battery SoC were given anywhere, we would at least be aware as to when it triggers.
• No option to permanently turn off the ISS. Along the same line, when I turn off the ISS with that button provided on the right-hand side button cluster, it turns back on at the next vehicle start.
• Autostart due to the ISS happens unexpectedly. Due to cabin temp, due to low battery, and whatnot, the engine starts unexpectedly. Now when the vehicle turns off due to ISS, at least they should give the driver the freedom to turn it back on when they need it. Or if the AC is on, the outside temperature is warm, etc, don't turn off the vehicle in the first place. That will save more fuel than turning it off! Instead, they have coded these nonsensical checks everywhere which are completely unnecessary. Checks like steering should be straight, movement of the vehicle should be >10kmph for the ISS to activate, etc, which causes the feature to be useless in crowded traffic cities of India like Bangalore.
• ISS doesn't trigger back if you stop again before crossing 10kmph or if the steering angle is not straight.
• ISS autostart/clutchstart turns off the active cruise control. This is some weird connection between two seemingly unrelated systems.

Engine Start/Stop button:

• No way to turn off only the engine and not the instrument cluster+ECU. Similar to how ISS does it, considering how ISS is useless as stated above, is there a way that I can take things into my own hands to save some fuel? Turns out there isn't. A long press of the button won't do it.
• The engine stop button turns off the instrument cluster as well. They could have hooked the ECU switch-off logic to the driver door open trigger or have had a 30-second delay or something It's as simple as that.
• Accessories mode (amber light mode on engine start stop button) is useless. This mode doesn't do anything. To me, both the off and accessories modes are the same. Cause except for the window controls, nothing is on. No infotainment system, no instrument cluster, no fog lamps, etc. Why is there even a mode like that if it doesn't do anything significant?

Right-hand aft button cluster:

• This includes ISS off, front fog lights, rear fog light (which again is taken out in XZ after August 2021), and one empty poverty button.
• Fog lights button has auto cut-off. It turns off every time I turn off the headlights and it is expected to work in this way only. But it doesn't come back up again when I turn on the headlights again. There is an unnecessary auto cut-off in the ECU code for this, probably a copy of the code from Jaguar.
• No rear fog lights.
• The buttons aren't lock-type but are push-type/toggle-type. The best solution to the above-mentioned fog lights issue and also the permanent ISS off issue is to make them lock-in buttons rather than push buttons. But they prefer IT parts profit over customer comfort and satisfaction.
• Senseless logic and relations between headlights, DRL, and fog lamps. Here is that deadly blend of Jaguar code implemented by TCS/Tata engineers without any background knowledge of the same. They seem to have rectified this mistake in their EV vehicles, but the fix has not been pushed to 2021 petrol/diesel models.
• Eco/Sport mode button lowers the music volume. I shift a lot between the modes on the flow in highways to optimize the mileage. I know that's how it is supposed to be used. Now I don't want to hear that voice confirmation (cause it's already shown in the cluster). Moreover, I don't want my ongoing music to lower its volume just for this thing. So I disabled the voice alerts and muted the notification sounds completely. But still, your code lowers the volume for no reason.
• Eco/sports mode state doesn't get saved. One thing I realize here is that they don't have a state machine that saves the current state of vital pieces of information. Fog light status, eco/City/sport mode status, ISS off status, AC settings status, etc. These are critical data modes that need to resume after I start my car again.

HVAC system:

• I don't have much to say here, but there are a couple of things that irritate here as well
• While in auto mode, the fan speed isn't displayed in the notification tab of the infotainment system. When in auto mode, the amber light on the auto button is on, which is enough to tell that AC is in auto mode. But they are showing it again in the infotainment system in place of the fan speed. I have to toggle the "AC" button to get it out of the auto mode to get the display of the fan speed. This I have to do every time, again no state saving here!
• During the hot season, there is no way to get the AC to operate in semi-hot mode cause the "HI" option causes too much heat and the 30°C still causes the temp to drop below 25°C. We cannot maintain that ideal temperature in a hot and humid season.

Wiper stick and indicator/light stick:

• There are no issues as such here, but room for innovation is present here. The logic of the auto wiper speed is messed up. Either it wipes too fast or too slow. The speed change knob doesn't cause much difference. That being said, during a mist, we have to clear the screen manually. To do that, the option of mist is below the "off" state of the wiper. So to activate the mist option, we have to go to the "off" state, activate the mist, and then again keep it in auto state.
• Why not have a mist state on the back push of the stick along with the down push of the stick? Some cars have this implemented and it's such a simple solution!
• Auto wiper logic may need a revisit.
• Similar to the mist logic suggested, giving a low beam pass also will help. We all know about the high beam pass which can be given by pulling on the indicator stick. But what about when the lights are already in high beam? Why not give an option for a low beam to pass on the push of the stick while in a high beam? Volkswagen, Skoda, Ford, etc have this feature implemented in their cars and it's very useful.

ECU power restrictions:

• I am well aware of the BSVI norms. However, the implementation of the same in Tata vehicles is a little extreme.
• 2nd gear sometimes jerks rather than avoiding it as per BSVI norms.
• Power on 2nd gear is sometimes highly restricted (especially during high AC) during some critical signal light take-off times which creates a lot of panic in high traffic behind.
• Engine cutoff at 165kmph. When the vehicle has a dial of 220kmph and the aerodynamics of the vehicle is capable of crossing 180kmph, the speed is restricted to 165kmph at 4200 rpm. What's the use of such good aerodynamics if the speed is restricted like this? I know that turbo engines have 180kmph restrictions. So why not the same on non-turbo engines? And no one told me this during the purchase of the vehicle, nor it's mentioned anywhere in the manual. I got to know this from the service people.
• OBD2 data extraction of cruise control set speed and battery EoC values. If they provide this data, we can poll this through apps like Torque or any of the OBD2 apps and get the required information. But like all other car manufacturers, they have kept this information hidden and haven't displayed it in the cluster as well.

Miscellaneous

Keyless entry:

• The trunk unlock button after the trunk is closed keeps the ambient lights and cabin lights on for 10 minutes. When we press that button, as per manual, the trunk can be opened without the key being close to it. Fine, but there is no indication whatsoever or wherever. And you know what happens after we close the trunk? Everything looks alright as expected per the manual, but the ambient light and the cabin lights remain on for the next 10 or so minutes.
• Door lock mechanism: I have a colleague who was fond of Tata Punch but decided not to go for it cause he has a two-year-old kid. If you had ever driven an Altroz or a Punch you would instantly know why. Yet you didn't do anything about it.
• Volkswagen Polo has a safety implementation wherein all the doors, including the driver door, remain unopenable while the speed crosses 40kmph. This is one such example of a half-cooked feature that ends up compromising safety.
• Left bank due to transmission mounted on the left-hand side: This information I obtained from the service station. When I realized that the vehicle was always banking left at high speeds, they said it was because of the transmission weight on the left-hand side.
• No engine killswitch is provided for the vehicle but upon holding the engine start-stop button for 3 seconds turns off the engine and cluster and brings the vehicle to the useless accessories only (amber) state: In certain car blogs, it is stated that the reason for not providing a kill switch in cars is that the running engine provides electrical power for steering and brakes, therefore engine needs to be all the time while the car is in motion. If this was the reason for not providing a kill switch, then why is this "dangerous" 3-second button hold engine cutoff feature that we can trigger at high speeds? If they can allow this feature, they should allow a killswitch as well to compensate for their broken ISS logic so that we can actually save some fuel in reality!
• These 40+ questions and pointers are clear proof that the project managers, the engineers, and even the testers of the Altroz team haven't even driven and properly tested the vehicle they are engineering. This is the sad reality of the Altroz which many of us are driving out there!

That being said, I would also like to highlight a handful of unique and good features in this car:

1. Aerodynamics is excellent, but the ECU nulls it all out.
2. Auto increase in RPM while slowly releasing the clutch at 0-10kmph speed without pressing the accelerator (also known as "creep" feature): Very helpful while hill climbing and in bumper-to-bumper traffic.
3. Auto open/close side view mirrors while unlocking/locking.
4. The ambient light tone is unique and excellent.
5. Retaining the traditional position of horns(on either side of the steering wheel) and not keeping it at the centre: Must be required and very useful in a country like India.
6. Exceptional backend programming for features such as cruise control, ABS, etc: But lack of proper front end nulls it all out!

Tested and working solutions to a few of the problems mentioned:

• While changing the cruise speed, better to hold the "+" and "-" instead of tapping the button. Holding it makes the speed rise steadily and right where you stop holding the button, the speed stabilizes. Also, better to memorize the set speed before cancelling the cruise.
• Infotainment buttons can be bought at the Tata service for around 6k and a local modification shop in a metro city can help you with cutting out the centre dashboard where the buttons will be placed. The wiring harness is already present for the XZ variant so it's plug and play. I have successfully performed this modification on my car and it works perfectly fine.
• Install a kill switch! - This is how I did it after a year of research and consulting a trusted Tata service person who has been very helpful to me. This will only work for the Petrol variant: Pull out the Ignition coil fuse from the engine fuse bay which is next to the battery. It's a 15A fuse. This will cut the current flow to the spark plug and cease the engine. One should be very careful here since Altroz has a BS6 phase 2 engine which monitors the slightest voltage variations throughout the vehicle and ceases the engine. During the installation process, I faced the ignition coil circuit malfunction error and had to clear the fault code through the Torque app to start the engine again. Therefore, use only "8 gauge wire" (not more, not less) and take as much less wiring as possible since the more the length of the wire, the more the resistance and voltage drop. ALWAYS use an inline 15A fuse. You will get the fuse holder in local shops. Break open a spare fuse and solder the fuse probes onto the ends of the wire to plug them into the fuse bay and use an SPST/SPDT toggle switch for the kill switch. Where to install the switch inside the dashboard is up to you. I have driven at good speeds on expressways, and on village roads with extreme bumps and vibrations, and have reached the 6k RPM limit, have operated the vehicle with full AC, and lights, and in steep climbs, all of them after installing the kill switch and it hasn't failed a single time. The kill switch also adds a safety mechanism against thieves (there was one video that surfaced showing a Tata safari being stolen at night where the Car's security alarm didn't go off upon breaking into the car and only went off when the thief started the ECU by joining starter wires. A complete lack of security reliability from Tata forces us to find our own safety solutions here! In such cases, the kill switch will provide you with precious time to stop the theft as the car won't start when the kill switch is in the off position!).
• The kill switch kind of overcomes this problem as well. Imagine switching off the vehicle for a traffic signal and when you start it again, the drive mode resets, the fog lamp goes away, and AC settings reset. With a kill switch, you are not shutting down the ECU, thus maintaining all these states as it is. Therefore, only use the start-stop button to turn off the engine when you reach your destination plan to lock the vehicle and use the kill switch to "pause" the vehicle.
• General helpful information to the audience: The car comes with an OBD2 port from where we can extract the telemetries of the ECU. All we need is an OBD2 Bluetooth dongle. We can get it from Amazon for around Rs.500 and the Torque Pro app which is available in Play Store for Rs.250. The paid version has so many useful features and is worth the money. We can write scripts to trigger a certain voice message or a tone on receiving certain values from certain PIDs and all we need is basic coding knowledge for the same. The app only polls the data and cannot modify any data, so it's completely legal under the law.
• No matter how good a vehicle is, just a couple of bad pointers are enough to ruin it. And I have listed 40+ of them. I am really not sure what kind of engineering and development work went into this vehicle in between, which started ruining the features of Altroz one by one in the name of cost-cutting. And if at all they are doing cost cutting, why not properly inform the dealership so that we can make proper decisions while investing in a vehicle? We might have gone for the XZ+ model or for a better car either within Tata or other brands. At least we should be given that transparency. For them, it's just another sale, but for a few customers, it's a dream to own a car!

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

In case you can install even a basic 15A home charger, you should also consider the Punch EV. The entry-level variants fall within your budget and it'll be an ideal city commuter.

BHPian drive1987 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

I'm in the market place with a tight budget of 12 Lakhs (absolutely no stretching) for an automatic sedan. I need your expert advice/s please.

P.S: Strictly not looking at the used car market. The car has to be brand new.

Your responses would be highly appreciated, many thanks in advance!

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

Honda Amaze CVT is the best suited to your requirements. It's an all-rounder budget sedan & that smooth CVT is its USP in a sea of jerky AMTs.

In case you can install even a basic 15A home charger, you should also consider the Punch EV. The entry-level variants fall within your budget and it'll be an ideal city commuter.

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

At present, you have only a few options in this segment and price range, they are:

1. Tata Tigor XZA Plus Leatherette Pack

Priced at 10.50 lakhs OTR Bangalore, the Tigor offers reasonable performance owing to 1.2 litre 3-cylinder petrol producing 85 bhp of power and 113 Nm of torque, it comes mated to a 5-speed AMT (which although not best-in-class, gets the job done). It has a strong suspension and a good low-speed ride. The 4-star GNCAP rating is another positive and ensures safety is taken care of. However its drawbacks are fit, finish, and quality levels, as well as poor ASS in many cities. Moreover, its competitors offer a more spacious cabin. Now as regards offers on this model, you get discounts to the tune of 30k on the 2024 models and much higher discounts on leftover MY 2023 stock

2. Hyundai Aura SX Plus 1.2 AMT

At 10.70 lakhs OTR Bangalore, the Aura offers large seats, an airy cabin, and a general sense of space, the car is feature-loaded as well, with excellent quality fit, and finish levels. Service, spares, and resale aren't an issue either due to Hyundai's strong presence in the market. The 1.2 Litre 4-cylinder motor is smooth and offers adequate power (82 bhp) and torque (114 Nm) which improves driveability, although mated to an AMT, The Aura's AMT is best-in-class and offers the smoothest driving experience among all AMTs. The only major drawbacks are its bouncy ride and poor GNCAP score (2 stars). Offers for this month include discounts of upto 20k.

3. Maruti Dzire ZXi Plus AGS

The Dzire is long overdue for a facelift, and it should come out this year too, along with the new Swift facelift. If you are willing to wait, it will be worth it\

However, if you need a car now, then the Current Dzire ZXi Plus AGS at 11.30 lakhs OTR Bangalore is a good car for the money with a 1.2L 4-cylinder Dual Jet engine mated to a 5-speed AGS (AMT). The car is one of the most spacious in its class with adequate head, leg, and shoulder room. Ride quality is good and absorbent. After-sales network and resale is the best owing to being a Maruti. However, it has begun to look a bit dated and fit, finish isn't class-leading. Moreover, the 2-star GNCAP rating doesn't inspire confidence. Offers on this model are upto 32k this month.

4. Honda Amaze Elite Edition CVT

The Honda Amaze Elite Edition CVT costs exactly 12 lakhs OTR Bangalore and is perhaps the best sub-4-metre sedan in this segment right now, however, it is also due a facelift this year and is worth the wait. Despite the same, the current model is a great choice with the best-in-class CVT, big boot, cabin space, 10-year warranty, 4-star NCAP safety rating, etc. The 1.2L 4-cylinder IVTEC is an excellent engine producing 89 bhp of power and 110 Nm of torque. Moreover, the Honda Amaze Elite Edition gets some visible changes on its exterior including an Elite Edition badge, boot spoiler with built-in LED, front fender garnish, and anti-fog film on ORVMs, along with a host of features like TPMS, front armrest with a sliding function, tyre inflator, and Elite Edition-specific seat covers and illuminated scuff plates. Moreover, Honda is offering Upto Rs 92K Benefits (Inclusive of Upto Rs 30K Cash + Rs 15K Exchange Bonus + Corporate & Loyalty) on MY 2023 stock and around 50k benefits on MY 2024 stock.

Of the Above, it's the Amaze that I would recommend, owing to its rock-solid reliability and overall better packaging and safety credentials

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

It would be Honda Amaze any day. I have owned a Honda Jazz and Honda City (sold recently) and I can vouch for its superb drive quality and suspension. The 1.2 ltr CVT is the same as the one on the Honda Jazz and its extremely smooth to drive. The gear shifts are hardly noticeable and rarely do you use the S Mode barring couple of occasions on the highway.

Amaze is due for a facelift and the rendering on various websites shows the car in a completely new design and looks beautiful if that's how the final production spec looks like.

Go for the Honda Amaze if you are looking at the completely fuss free and hassle-free ownership

Here's what BHPian Vkap257 had to say on the matter:

I would go on a limb here and propose Ciaz delta AT variant.

Everything better with reasonable equipment and no-nonsense ownership. Though it's slightly expensive and definitely over your budget. If you can stretch, do check it out.

Here's what BHPian mgastor2022grey had to say on the matter:

I'd like to differ from others and suggest to you the I20 1.2L IVT. Great car, at 11.XX L and way more fun to drive than the Amaze. Test drive this and the N-Line before making a decision. Trust me, great mod potential (for the N-Line) and amazing features along with spacious interiors will seal the deal for you. All the best for getting your dream steed

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

Honestly, as other's have suggested Amaze is a amazing car (pun intended) but I would suggest you to once visit the Tata showroom and look and TD the Altroz, the Altroz is in a different league compared to all the other cars in your budget in regards with the amount of space available and the build quality it offers. Plus with discounts I am pretty sure you can negotiate the highend variant XZA(S) DCT under your budget. Plus I think only Altroz gets the sunroof in comparison to all the other cars suggested in the budget.

Read BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Primary requirements were for the car to be safe, compact, comfortable, Value for Money & with easy ingress/egress.

BHPian PrassannaDhana recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Need

A tertiary car to be chauffeur driven for dad. He might drive it occasionally.

Requirements

• The car should be Safe, Compact, Comfortable, Value for Money & with easy ingress/egress
• Usage: 10,000 km annually
• Budget: INR 10 lakhs (+/-) 1 lakh

Which car is the Punch replacing?

The erstwhile 2016 Renault Kwid 1.0L MT

Ownership thread link

Options considered: Nothing but the Punch. No other small tallboy hatchback under 10L was as safe and comfy

Variant: Adventure Rhythm

Transmission: Manual

Colour: Atomic Orange

OTR Cost: INR 9.1 lakhs, Discounts of 43k, Effective OTR was INR 8.67 lakhs

Booking & Delivery

I booked the Punch on 12th December 2023. I visited the yard to check if there were any available stocks of Orange Punch in Adventure Rhythm variant. 3 were available of which 2 were AMT and 1 was MT. The MT was already allotted to someone else.

So I had to wait for a fresh factory dispatch. The car arrived on 29th December. VIN number was sent to me as soon as the car was invoiced from the factory. It was manufactured on 1st December and billed to me on 24th December.

I did a small pdi on 2nd January.

After PDI

There was a very small paint chip near driver door, which I asked them to touch up before delivery. I didn't happen as they didn't have the exact atomic Orange shade paint. I didn't mind, given it was a very small chip.

I decided to get RTO done in first week of Jan. I also decided to get a number of my choice. Delivery was taken on 4th January 2024.

Delivery was a pleasant experience, as always with Kaveri Tata. Everyone from sales team including the AGM and GM joined the occasion. Kaveri Tata CEO Mr. Sibi wished me over the phone. I have had very good service from Kaveri Tata on both my 2 previous purchases - Safari Storme Varicor 400 in 2018 and Altroz diesel in 2021. I have also received excellent after sales and service from them

Pics during delivery

With the baap of the garage - Storme

Family tradition - Church visit right after delivery

2018 - Safari Storme Varicor 400

2021 - Altroz 1.5 diesel

I couldn't find the pic of 2021 celerio. Somehow that car never appealed to me.

2024 - Punch 1.2 N/A

Hope I replace my beloved Safari Storme in 2027 with the last batch of diesel SUVs to be sold in the country  .

I got the car with 29 km on odo. It was 9 km on odo when I did the PDI. RTO trip clocked another 20km.

Car was bought for dad. But it's another tradition at my home, that any new car will be with me until run in is complete (till 1000 km).

At my place, with another 5 star alfa arc car - The Altroz 1.5 turbo diesel

Continue reading BHPian PrassanaDhana's report of his Punch for more insights and information.

Along with the engine oil, oil filter and brake fluid, the coolant was replaced too as Tata Motors recommends doing so at 60,000 km.

BHPian PrasannaDhana recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

60,000 km Service

I did the 45000 km service at 444xx km. I had a weightlifting injury in mid-November which led me to be in bedrest for 3 weeks. Naturally, Altroz usage had come down totally. The car has run less than 1000 km in the last 40 days.

Odo is at 59,300 km. I sent the car for 60,000 km service today.

Engine oil, coolant (Tata recommends coolant change at 60,000 km), brake fluid and oil filter were replaced. Cabin air filter was cleaned. Wheel alignment and balancing was also done. Brake cleaning was done too. Total damage to the wallet was INR 10,176.

While washing the car last time, I noticed the alloy wheel central cap of the front RHS wheel had gone missing. Replaced it today during the service.

Service bill

Post service pics

The car is as good as it was new. No issues to report.

On a different note, I have a good news and a bad news to share.

Bad news is that my Safari Storme was involved in a minor accident - a Govt bus rear-ended it while moving from a signal stop. More details to be given in my Storme ownership thread once the car is back from repairs. No injuries to anyone.

Good news is that I decided to fill the vacant spot left after selling one of my beater cars last year - the Kwid 1.0 - with a small but safe car. More so after the Storme accident, Dad has been using the Celerio. I decided to retain the Celerio as a pure city beater car and buy a new small car for Dad. Booked a Tata Punch in Orange shade.

See you all until the next update.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

The insurance survey report says to repair the car, which came as a surprise because considering the damage, I expected it to be declared as a total loss.

BHPian nemodotme recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Finally, on 20th October 2023, I bought my first car - a pre-owned red Tata Altroz DCA. Last Sunday I got the RC book, and the very next day Cyclone Michaung hit Chennai.

I was fairly sure that nothing would happen but slowly the water kept rising and by Tuesday morning, my car was in 30 inches of flood water almost to the dashboard. I could see water inside the glove compartment and center gear console.

It is heartbreaking and I am sad.

The insurance surveyor's initial survey asked for the vehicle to be repaired (which was surprising since this was level C and should have been a total loss).

I got someone from the Tata workshop to see my car but both the steering and front wheel were locked and they couldn't fix it.

Now the only option was a tow that has a wheel skate/dolly/trolley/freewheel that is added to the front wheel and moved to the open area where it can be towed on a flatbed.

I purchased a wet vacuum and heat gun and cleaned and dried it to the best of my ability. I didn't want my car to just sit there in the flood gunk and rot till I got it towed to the workshop.

After a lot of hassle, I got a private tow and spent 5k to drop the car at a Tata workshop.

The front wheel seems to be locked due to the gear (not due to the brake), trying to move the vehicle the front wheel was moving a couple of inches and was stopping causing a slight shake in the engine. This is related to gear / transmission?

What are the parts that might have been damaged (Transmission ? + electronics modules like ABS, Airbag etc) which I need to insist on replacing to ensure reliability?

I would be extremely grateful if someone could guide me in this.

Thank you.

Here's what BHPian VellVector had to say about the matter:

Looking at the level of the water, it would be safe to say that the water level was sufficient to flood the transmission and a good portion of the engine bay.

Ask the ASC to include in their estimate:

• A new engine and transmission assembly (the surveyor will ask for the oil to be drained in front of him to confirm the entry of water).
• All the electronic modules (ECU, ABS, interiors, entertainment, etc.)
• Brake calipers
• Wire harnesses
• Starter / Alternator
• Fuel pump / actuators
• Entertainment system - Speakers, things like that
• Air Conditioning
• Airbags (if the water level was that high)
• All the switches and other things that may have been affected
• Seats (the insurance company won't agree to this - they will ask the ASC to clean them)

Basically, get everything possible added to the estimate. Anything that the insurance company asks you to repair instead of replace ask the ASC to give a written guarantee that it can be repaired and will be in warranty. If they can't do that for any part ask them to tell the surveyor that the brand cannot repair that part.

Depending on the surveyor there may be a few rounds of these discussions before the vehicle is declared a total loss.

Here's what BHPian Habanero City had to say about the matter:

Please do not attempt to move the car or crank or push start any flood-damaged cars as it will get hydrolocked which seems to be your case.

This would cause severe damage to the engine, especially the connecting rod.

Based on your report, the car seems to have suffered extensive water damage and would be better to scrap it.

Please negotiate with the insurance company and the service center about this.

Here's what BHPian porsche_guy had to say about the matter:

It seems that you did not release the shift lock for the transmission. I am surprised that even the RSA person did not notice or know about this. Next time onwards, for any AT car that needs to be towed, do always follow this process so as to not risk damaging the transmission. I feel you should send strong feedback to the people at Tata Motors to better train their technicians about this. Anyway, attaching the instruction page from the Altroz owners manual for manually releasing the shift lock.

To be honest, with a flood-damaged vehicle, it is tough to accurately assess the extent and intensity of damage. You will only truly get an idea once the car is opened up. Nasty surprises should be expected. That said, a basic idea of the work required can be found on many threads on this forum such as this one - Restoration Report: Flood-affected Toyota Etios.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.