[vattyboy]

Originally Posted by PrasannaDhana

Moreover, Creta 1.5 diesel does 0 to 100 in 11.7 seconds, not 10.5

It does 0-100 kmph in 10.5 secs. I tested myself many times and here is the video for reference-

https://youtu.be/iOuWs3Lqt-E?si=XI8TmBrzHgc13E6G

Seltos with the same engine do it in 10.8 secs

https://youtu.be/Juzj4epZCAA?si=FirZ7ueZZtZwRAtr

[PrasannaDhana]

Test Driving the Altroz Racer

I did a small 20 km test drive of the altroz racer on the highway.



Thanks to Mr. Jagadesh TL & Mr. Asokan GM of Kaveri Tata for promptly offering the Altroz Racer for Test drive.

What I liked :

* Driveability - It is a very tractable engine with good low end grunt. The turbo lag is minimal.

* Decent Performance - The 1.2 turbo is a very decent performer. It makes the Altroz Racer a perfect car for someone who enjoys the highways. Earlier, if you want an altroz to do fast highway driving, it had to be the diesel engine. Now customers have another choice. I read the top speed was limited to 165 kmph. Even the 5th gear feels like overdrive gear and makes the top end progress duller than the 4th.
Altroz racer performance will be more than sufficient to >90% of the population.

*Good NVH at normal highway cruising- 100 kmph at 2000 rpm, you don't hear the engine in the cabin. It does get louder post 3000 rpm.

* Impressive Driving dynamics- the car handles beautifully around curves. The alfa arc platform provides excellent high-speed stability and the car hugs the lane around curves even at triple digit speeds. The steering weighs up beautifully with speed. Brakes are also effective and sufficient, though only the front gets disc brakes.

All that being said, I really didnt feel that the steering or the suspension has been tuned over the regular altroz. It felt exactly the same as my diesel altroz. It might also have felt so because the diesel engine is heavier and mine runs on a wider 195 section continental UC6.

* The Usual Pros : 5 star Global NCAP rating, now even better with 6 airbags, enjoyable 8 speaker Harman Kardon ICE, decent cabin space, interior quality(for the most part), loaded with features on par with the segment best.

What I didnt like :

* Clutch & Gearbox - The clutch felt inconsistent. I stalled the car moving from standstill at a red signal. The point where it engages takes time to get used to and if you aren't careful the car jerks forward aggressively. City driving will be irritating until you get used to the clutch biting point.
The gearbox is notchy. Even notchier than the 5 speed MT TA5260 gearbox of the Altroz diesel. For normal, regular commuting one wouldn't feel that the Gearbox isn't adequate. If you are in a mood to drive enthusiastically, you will definitely find the gearshifts unpleasant. The VAG 1.0 TSI mated to their slick 6MT gearbox should have been the benchmark to Tata. The clutch and gearbox takes away the driving pleasure from a rather impressive car which performs well and handles great!

* Noise insulation- The engine sounds sporty when driven enthusiastically. But one would get tired of the engine noise which is clearly audible inside the cabin. While driving fast, the Altroz Racer is as noisy as the Altroz diesel!. Wind noise is also audible beyond 90 kmph. The 1.2 turbo petrol isn't rev happy at all!! The Polo 1.0 TSI in contrast, loved to be revved.

* All black interiors- I understand that it is made all black to look sporty, but it also creates an illusion of making the cabin look less spacious than it is. Moreover the shiny black portions on the dash will be dirt & fingerprint magnet that would require daily effort to keep clean.



* Headroom in R2 and R3 variants - the sunroof is a hit feature and everyone wants it in their new cars today. But it reduces the headroom by more than a solid inch. At full seat height, I couldn't sit straight without my head brushing the roofliner. I had to reduce seat height by much, to avoid my head brushing above.



I stand at 6'2. Of you are someone taller, make sure you have enough headroom before finalizing on the R2/R3 variants. I have no such issue with my altroz diesel, even at the tallest driver seat height setting.

* New full TFT speedo console - It looks good and crisp. But on the move, it is difficult to read. My altroz gets a digital console that is much easier to read on the go. The new one might take some time to get used to.

Originally Posted by GTO

I can't wait to drive it. While 0-100 times are important, to me, driving pleasure is derived from the "overall package" and this seems like a car I'd love. Can't wait to drive it.

Absolutely agree!

My Verdict as a Diesel Altroz owner with 65,000 km experience with the car -

The Altroz Racer is a very capable car that has been overhyped & judged with over-exaggerated expectations from the Automobile journos & Auto enthusiasts alike, nation-wide. The sole reason for that is because Tata decided to call this car Altroz Racer.

If an enthusiast drives the car with 'Racer' aspirations, aiming to set the road on fire or to win drag races or set records in the quarter mile, he/she will be disappointed. Altroz Racer is a car that needs to be seen and driven as a perfect budget family hatchback that is safe, feature-laden, spacious, good looking (sans the stripes) while having adequate power coupled with very impressive handling.

This car should be seen as "Altroz Iturbo+" instead of Altroz Racer. This is no "NLine Killer" nor a hot hatch, nor the next Polo GT.

As an overall package, the Altroz Racer gets a big from me. There is no other car in that price range that provides such a well balanced package of performance, handling, features and safety!


As for my needs, my altroz diesel still makes more sense with better top end performance and absolutely better fuel efficiency. Altroz Racer and Altroz diesel have identical performance in the midrange.

While driving sedately the altroz racer returned 15.6 kmpl.



After the end of my spirited 22 km test drive, the FE was just 9.1 kmpl. Actual T2T Fuel Efficiency will be even lesser.



Many people stay away from BS6 diesels as their city usage is higher and DPF issues can be irritating. For those, Altroz Racer is a good alternative for the Altroz diesel.

PS: A DCA mated to this engine will be a perfect city & highway car! Tata, please launch the Altroz Racer with DCA & the 1.5L Revotorq diesel in Nexon tune.


With my 2+ tonne Storme Varicor 400 which is just a second slower to 100 kmph than the Altroz Racer. I liked how Altroz Racer looked in person, even with the stripes on it. The pure grey shade looks like nardo grey and will definitely stand out.

[PrasannaDhana]

Originally Posted by vattyboy

It does 0-100 kmph in 10.5 secs. I tested myself many times and here is the video for reference-

I was referring to VBOX timings done by Autocar.

[GS2323]

Slightly off topic but why are these 100-bhp odd engines pegged as performance variants in premium-hatchbacks, is it too much too expect a 100-bhp odd engine at a slight premium to these 1.2 NA engines these hatchbacks have borrowed from lower segments (Yes, the Altroz makes around 120, but the performance is closer to what a 100 bhp offers, hence the generic classification).

We also know that this engine -gearbox option is not mighty expensive - starts of at around INR 8 lacs in Nexon, a vehicle which is 200 odd kgs heavier.

Hyundai too seems to think that their 1.0 T-GDI is so special that they should offer it in the N-line only, heck, Maruti is even worse, do not offer the 1.0 turbo with Baleno, they think it has to be offered in a vehicle having unnecessary high premium over the Baleno & that too only in the higher variants

[buzzy_boy]

Well, if Tata were aiming to create a hot hatchback, they should have put the Nexon engine into a Tiago.

They did just that with the Tiago JTP - which incidentally is a fantastic car. Heck, they even gave it custom tyres. However, it did not sell well.

With the Racer, Tata seems to be aiming at people who are not true enthusiasts. These people want something different, and something to show off in an office car park. This positioning makes the lack of an automatic gearbox option even more confusing.

To me, the racer seems to be a neither here nor there car. Waiting to take a good long test drive to see if it's worth the salt.

[2000rpm]

I just cant get over the color. Anything else is just secondary.

I think this car looks super ugly!

[lemedico]

Two questions to Tata:
1. Since the stripes are decals, you should have had multiple options for designs, colours or even deletion.
2. Are the orange dash inserts, and the orange stripes on the seats + mats carried over to the cars with the white and other body colours? If yes, it's just not right.

This is an okayish car. It feels a bit 'chappri' and KTM like at first glances. Tata, you did a stellar job with the JTP cars earlier. You have not taken any inspiration from it the second time around.

[vattyboy]

Originally Posted by PrasannaDhana

I was referring to VBOX timings done by Autocar.

Autocar has posted a 0-100 test of the Altroz Racer on Instagram according to the speedometer and it has done it in 12.05 sec. If the Vbox test is done on it then it will reach 13 sec territory.

There is no denying the fact that 120 horses in Altroz don't perform in real life.

[PrasannaDhana]

Originally Posted by vattyboy

There is no denying the fact that 120 horses in Altroz don't perform in real life.

Agreed. I just denied Creta diesel doing 0-100 in <11 seconds as claimed by you.

[vattyboy]

Originally Posted by PrasannaDhana

This car should be seen as "Altroz Iturbo+" instead of Altroz Racer. This is no "NLine Killer" a hot hatch, or the next Polo GT.

If an enthusiast drives the car with 'Racer' aspirations, aiming to set the road on fire in drag races or set records in the quarter mile, he/she will be disappointed. Altroz Racer is a car that needs to be seen and driven as a perfect budget family hatchback that is safe, feature-laden, spacious, good looking (sans the stripes) while having adequate power coupled with very impressive handling.[/i]

Perfectly said. Thanks for sharing your observations.

After seeing and reading all the reviews, My choice will be the 1.5L Diesel in Altroz as it offers strong performance and very good mileage.

[Kosfactor]

Originally Posted by naveen.raju

Well, my diesel SUV is quicker than this?

This definitely needs a better engine and somebody please do something about the exhaust. It looks like a jugaad. Definitely lacks the quality.

Loved the Grey shade with those stripes. Tweak it a bit and it would perfect. As of now, I will skip this, pay little more and get the i20 N-line.

They have switched over from engine to Motor perhaps in terms of R&D , next version will be Altroz Racer eV2.

The number of times i20 NLine is referenced by media and just about everyone else, I think even Hyundai must be feeling a bit embarassed about the lack of marketing they have done for their own car.

[yshvj]

I don't exactly like this car but i like the interior treatment a lot, maybe should have carried something similar to the exterior as well. I feel the front bumper should atleast get a bumper skirt or splitter. Performance is fine for a 10L Rupee car and looks like a well rounded package on paper. What i do feel could have been better is the gearshift quality. In a manual it makes a lot of difference (if not all) in the driving experience. Running behind acceleration and top speed numbers is not enthusiastic. If it's something that delivers a good experience then it is worth a shot.

[VW2010]

My Verdict as a Diesel Altroz owner with 65,000 km experience with the car -

The Altroz Racer is a very capable car that has been overhyped & judged with over-exaggerated expectations from the Automobile journos & Auto enthusiasts alike, nation-wide. The sole reason for that is because Tata decided to call this car Altroz Racer.

If an enthusiast drives the car with 'Racer' aspirations, aiming to set the road on fire or to win drag races or set records in the quarter mile, he/she will be disappointed. Altroz Racer is a car that needs to be seen and driven as a perfect budget family hatchback that is safe, feature-laden, spacious, good looking (sans the stripes) while having adequate power coupled with very impressive handling.

Thanks, Prassy. After seeing the media reviews I am of the conclusion that we have arrived at a point where these media reviews are not meant for the forum members who at least have some passion for their rides but for potential buyers who want to hear from some random influencer or drivers who have no clue about driving a petrol car or using a manual car.

It is very disappointing to go through each of the videos and realize, they are driving it like a cab. Each of the media representatives do not know how to drive this car and I am sticking with that take.

Prassy feedback has more information from a driver's perspective and this is what I am trusting than the influencers trying to sell mangoes in this media drive.

[greenhorn]

If someone wants a fast car, a punch ev can do 0-100 in 9.5, and a Nexon in 8.9 seconds.

Is it worth throwing money at a ICE car to win the acceleration contest when both better power and speed are available in other models?

[klassics45]

Originally Posted by VW2010

Thanks, Prassy. After seeing the media reviews I am of the conclusion that we have arrived at a point where these media reviews are not meant for the forum members who at least have some passion for their rides but for potential buyers who want to hear from some random influencer or drivers who have no clue about driving a petrol car or using a manual car.

Prassy reviews are better than any reviews anywhere online.

Diesel altroz was impressive with handling and steering feedback, this petrol version should at-least help people who are looking for better performance on petrol.