2025 Tata Altroz CNG first drive review — Better get the diesel?

The Tata Altroz has always been a good looking car. It is well-proportioned, exuberates just the right amount of aggressiveness, and has a contemporary character. But looks aren’t the only good part about it. It is, in fact, the best car in its segment when it comes to ride quality. Not that it does not have its misses, it does, of course. Take, for instance, the subpar NVH levels, or the spoilsport electronic glitches. 

While it did not really demand an update on the outside, the inside screamed for a redesign. And Tata has done just that, with the first thorough update for the Altroz hatchback — the 2025 Tata Altroz facelift. Here’s a review of the same, with focus on the petrol-CNG powertrain.

Tata Altroz facelift design changes

One of the key talking points of the Altroz — its design — has received a set of fresh tweaks that make it even more appealing. There are new headlamps with DRLs and ice-cube lights, conjoined by a rather stylish front grille. The housing for the fog lamps would remind you of larger Tata cars, and they come with integrated air ducts that aren’t just for show, but also channel cool air to the front brakes. 

The side profile features a new design for the alloy wheels, new ORVMs, and a different placement for the indicators. The front doors now get fancy-looking flush door handles, which aren’t too convenient to use in the real world. The rear doors have to do with c-pillar-mounted ones. 

Coming to the rear, the tail lamps now get a connected lightbar in the middle, sitting just above a bulged Tata logo. The brake lights double up as indicators, and you also get to see a rear wiper. The rear bumper has been made sharper to match the overall styling of the hatch, and the Altroz badging on the boot lid remains likeable, not too much in your face.

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New Tata Altroz interior and features

Stepping inside the cabin, you immediately notice the extended thigh support for all four seats, which actually add to the comfort. The seats in themselves are bolstered well and feel comfortable even over longer periods of time. Fit and finish levels seem to have gone a notch up, though there’s still quite a bit of room for improvement, especially considering that the Altroz is supposed to be a ‘premium’ hatchback. There were inconsistencies in the plastic fitment at various places, a loose cover in the centre console, and an ill-fitted door beading on the co-driver’s side. We hope that these issues are fixed on production cars.

There’s a mix of textures on the hard-touch materials on the dashboard, and there’s a new two-spoke steering wheel that feels really nice to hold, feels light in the city, and weighs up just well with increasing speed. The switchgear onboard the wheel felt flimsy though. There are all the usual bells and whistles such as 360-degree cameras, cooled glovebox, TPMS, sunroof, cruise control, ambient lighting, and more.

Speaking of the screens, you do not get the 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster on the CNG variants as the top-of-the-line Tata Altroz variant is only offered with the petrol DCT powertrain. The 7-inch unit in itself does not have much to complain about, leave for the tiny font size for the distance-time screen, and the fact that the blind spot monitors show up on the infotainment screen, blocking the Google/Apple maps. 

Ah, while we are at it, thanks to the weird shape for the ORVMs, the blind spot monitors themselves have a blind spot on the side, blocking a good chunk of the view. The 10.25-inch touchscreen unit that has been lifted from the Punch is a breeze to use, and the sound system is likeable, too. The doors have adequately sized cubby holes for water bottles and other stuff, but the baseless grab handles make the space unusable, which would have otherwise made for decent phone storage spaces. I would have also appreciated a physical button for the hazard lights rather than a capacitive one.

Tata Altroz CNG drive impressions

Coming to the meat of the matter — the powertrain. Among all the ones that are offered on the Altroz — and there are quite a few — the petrol-CNG is the least exciting one. But it isn’t meant to be exciting either, there’s the diesel for that. Low speeds are fine, but once you reach highway limits, the speedometer seems to freeze, and then takes considerable time to go further, number by number. The vibrations start getting more pronounced, especially in the driver’s footwell. You also hear a lot of wind noise, which, strangely, wasn't as problematic on the diesel car that we drove. High speed stability is impressive though. 

The tall biting point of the clutch makes city driving cumbersome, and newer drivers would take some time getting used to. There might be the possibility of an AMT being offered in the near future, though the folks from Tata were tight lipped about it. 

The compensating factor for the powertrain turned out to be the car’s ride quality. Tata has nailed the suspension setup, as is seen on other cars from the manufacturer as well. The car glides over undulations and transfers next to none to the cabin. That, along with the comfortable seats, provide for a pleasant commute. 

Tata promises impressive efficiency, though we did not get to test that during our rather short drive (we were busy enjoying the diesel). ARAI claims 26.90kmpkg, which should make up for the lethargic powertrain. All-in-all, if you’re picking the CNG just for the economy, then you should be well off. 

Should you consider buying the Tata Altroz CNG?

Sure, if all you want is economical commuting while being pampered with a plush cabin experience. The Altroz CNG scores well on the practicality quotient, especially with the boot space that gets freed up, thanks to the dual-cylinder configuration. While fit and finish levels aren’t the best in the segment, ride quality is. The aggressive styling also makes the hatch stand out. But if you’re keen on enjoying yourself and taking full advantage of the rather good dynamics and handling mannerisms of the Altroz, we would suggest you to pick the diesel instead. You won’t be disappointed. One concern that might bother you is the reliability, especially for the electronics. However, the Altroz happens to be the least problematic Tata car in this regard, though we cannot rule out the chances of things going south in the longer run, more so when compared to the established Tata Altroz rivals. And for that, we can only wish you the best. 

Also Read: Tata Punch AMT Review — What’s in a name?

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