Tata Altroz Facelift Review: A Fresh Face with Familiar DNA

The Altroz has been around for 5 years now, it’s only now that it gets a proper facelift? Was Tata Motors sleeping? Well, not really. Over the span of five years, Tata Motors kept giving the Altroz little doses like launching the iTurbo in 2021, the DCA automatic came in 2022, the iCNG in 2023 and then the Racer in 2024. But a proper facelift was still overdue.

Tata Altroz Facelift Review: Design

For me, the Altroz was always a good-looking hatchback, blending a mix of mature yet funky design, and this new one, though, takes things a step further.

That weird wedge shape the older Altroz had is less prominent now. This little opening seems like the Altroz is a kid and forgot to wipe off that milk moustache. Looks really weird, honestly. Another weird part. WHY DOES IT HAVE BLACK WHEELS? None of the trims has silver wheels. What is the obsession? Do you guys prefer only black wheels, or do you also want to see some silver wheels? Let us know in the comments. 

And it is also the second car from Tata Motors to get these flush-fitting door handles. Can you guess which is the first one? 

Another victim of the full lightbar at the rear of the industry is the Altroz, and this trend should die down soon. Why not bring back vertical taillamps like the ones from the Indica?

Tata Altroz Facelift Review: Interior

Basic design is still very Altroz, but certain elements have changed. Too many crisscross patterns going on, which makes it confusing. It’s also the latest Tata to have this touch-based AC control panel, and a lot has already been said about it, so I’m not going to get into it. 

The seats are shared with the Punch EV, but here you have this extending thigh support, which makes it so much more comfortable. The seats are somewhat similar to what you see in the Punch EV, but Tata Motors claims the seats have better cushioning. And you also have extending under-thigh supports, which should help in long journeys.

The back seat is also pretty good, like that extended under-thigh support in the front seats. You also have it in the back seat, and really, my legs are quite comfortable. The driving seat is set to my position,
I'm almost 5’11” and I have enough knee room, and there's a decent amount of headroom too. The seats are a little hard, but they're not really uncomfortable.

We first saw this 10.25-inch infotainment screen in the Altroz on the Racer last year, and it’s like all the other Tata Motors’ cars; it’s quite responsive and smooth. Well, the Altroz also gets a 10.25-inch virtual cluster, but we don’t have that in this particular car right now, so I’ll show you an image on the screen right now. And it was kind of obvious that the Altroz facelift gets the new Tata steering wheel, and you’re right, it does. 

Tata Altroz Facelift Review: Safety

The Altroz was one of the first hatchbacks in India to get a 5-star rating from Global NCAP, and Tata is confident the new one will too, despite the stricter testing norms GNCAP has now. Tata has improved the structure of the Altro,z and it now also comes with six airbags as standard. So, when are the new results expected? Soon! Very Soon!

Tata Altroz Facelift Review: Performance

Engine options haven’t changed either. It still has the same 1.2-litre petrol, CNG and a 1.5-litre diesel engine on offer. Still gets the 5-speed manual and 6-speed dual-clutch auto but has a new 5-speed AMT. More on that in a bit, but does it still drive the same?

Well, this diesel feels kinda the same as the previous. No surprise since it's virtually unchanged. It's still the only diesel hatchback we have in the market so kudos to Tata Motors for keeping it alive. Keep the engine between 1500 and 3000 rpm to get the most out of it. But, too much of the diesel clatter seeps into the cabin, and that’s a problem from before, which continues with the facelift. The 5-speed manual continues to be part of the Altroz, but the gearshifts are still rough and notchy. 2nd to 3rd is tediou,s and though light, the travel of the clutch is longer than the rivals. Some adjustments should have been made.

We've also driven the CNG, and again, it's quite similar to what it was. Still feels strained if you try to overtake or are trying to climb an incline. Still starts in CNG mode directly, which is great. But it doesn't show distance to empty when you're driving in CNG mode, but has it for petrol. Why? Isn’t that a simple software update? Was it difficult to give it to both modes?

For the first time, the Altroz gets a 5-speed AMT, which Tata Motors claims is new, but it’s only new to the Altroz. While it’s been tuned slightly for the Altroz, not much has been changed. The diesel still doesn’t have DEF, and with the new stricter norms coming in, it remains to be seen if this engine will make it to the next cycle. 

Tata Altroz Facelift Review: Ride and Handling

So it now has Tata's new steering wheel too, which honestly could have had a better design. The buttons are too close to your hand and while turning, you can accidentally press them. What surprised me the most is how comfortable the ride is. It's quite supple, handles bumps with ease, but of course, the trade-off is a little bit of body roll if you're trying to have fun. The suspension setup is also unchanged from before. The new seats do a good job of soaking up some of the bumps, too. It also has good lumbar support, and after driving for a long time, I'm not feeling tired.

Tata Altroz Facelift Review: Price and Variants

It’s a Tata, and of course, there are plenty of variants to choose from. In fact, it has 22 variants, in true Tata fashion. But still not as many as some of the other Tatas, looking at you, Nexon. 

Following the trend, the Altroz also gets a new variant naming system, called smart, pure, creative and accomplished. Surprisingly, there's no AMT or DCT with the CNG or the diesel. Is it coming? It might if you guys demand it enough. Would you like to see a diesel or CNG automatic in the Altroz? Let us know in the comments. 

The Altroz still continues to face the Maruti Suzuki Baleno, Toyota Glanza and Hyundai i20 in the premium hatchback segment. It’s on par with the i20, in terms of features, but as I said, the Altroz is the only one to get a diesel engine and the i20 is the only one with just a petrol engine. The Baleno’s starting price is lower by 19 thousand rupees than the Altroz, the Glanza’s is the same and the i20 is 62 thousand rupees more expensive. But the Altroz is the most expensive at the top-end, 39 thousand rupees more expensive than the top-spec i20. The Baleno and Glanza’s top-end variants don’t even cross the 10 lakh rupees mark. 

Tata Altroz Facelift Review: Verdict

Should you get one? Sure. It’s a good car, it drives well, it’s the only diesel hatchback, but there are a few downsides to it. There’s no automatic for the CNG or diesel, and the lack of any performance in the CNG is a big issue. But it still has good potential to become successful if only Tata could figure out a few niggles in the car. 

Photography by Anand Malepu