[PrasannaDhana]

Today ended up being a busy day. After my routine work, I had an unplanned round trip to my wife's native, - Peravurani (250 km round trip). Started by 3 30 pm, the journey was welcomed by heavy rains. Reached back home by 8 30.



* The 1.5 diesel is a lovely mill. Fast as well as frugal. Enjoyed pushing the car for a while

* Cruise Control is a boon. Loved using it

* On the return leg of the journey, I drove continously for over 2 hours without a break. Right at the 120th minute mark, the car threw a " Take a break " prompt on the MID with Altroz front view and a coffee cup animation. It was lovely and actually made me realize I was driving without a break for 2 full hours.

* Stiff suspension has its advantages too, other than handling. The car does not bottom out on potholes easily. There were some instances where I had no other option but to drive through potholes. I was extremely slow into some big potholes, expecting the unbody to scratch, but not even once did it scratch

* Rear windshield and tailgate are a nightmare for people like me who love to have our cars obsessively clean always. Collects dust and muck like magic.

* After almost 7 hours of driving the Altroz today, on mostly state highways with bad roads, I would say that the altroz is comfortable. Sure, I wasn't as fresh and comfortable as I would have been on the Storme. But the altroz comes really close to the ciaz. Ciaz still beats it by a little margin when it comes to comfort. Coming close to ciaz in ride comfort is in itself is a big compliment

Reporting highest fuel efficiency so far in my ownership

Today's total driving was 320 km (304 km when I refilled the tank). Roads were 50% state highways with chances to maintain good highway speeds and 50% state highways where averaging 30 kmph will be hard.

The MID showed 21.7 kmpl



Actual fuel efficiency was a little higher at 21.85 kmpl. Which is the best average I have gotten in 25 days and 2550 km that the Altroz has been with me.



You might have noticed 16.11 kmpl in the previous tankfull. That is just me flooring the A pedal to glory whenever I could, with an excuse of DPF regeneration


A few pics from today












Lurking amidst the beautiful coconut farms



Altroz gets to have a few rest days tomorrow and the day after. My Storme and kwid have been untouched and they need some love too. Lol.

[PrasannaDhana]

IRA Connected Car Tech Experience

I had informed in the beginning that Tata messed up IRA connectivity credentials of my altroz with another customer's. Kaveri Tata did a good job of escalating it and the issue got resolved yesterday.

Since IRA has been touted as a sole differentiator in variants of Tata Punch (and possibly for the future cars too), I thought I could give a detailed user experience of the IRA.

IRA equipped cars have this black box(pun intended) underneath the front passenger seat. I think it is a TCM, which usually will be present only in AT/AMT cars. The dealer wanted this serial number to activate IRA. May be it is connected with the ECU (remote controls/immobilization).



Let's dive into IRA functions:

1. Remote Commands

IRA allows these 6 remote functions, from anywhere with your smartphone

* Distance to Empty (Range) display
* Head lights
* Hazard lights
* Horn

* Geofence -



You can set a boundary on the map, outside which, if the car goes, you will get an alert. Boundary can be set through radius (in km), either by preset values or you can set your customized value. Range can be as low as 1 km to as high as 100 km.

* Valet Mode - it is also a geofence, when you want to make sure the car hasn't gone too far from the parking



Valet fence Range - 500 meters to 4 km

2. Car Diagnosis

IRA runs a diagnosis and Let's you know the status of the following - EPS, Brake system, power train, airbags and the km left for next service due. Funny how it ignores Tata's 7500 km intervals and shows only the oil change intervals as next service due.

3. Navigation and Trip Recording

You can track the car's location, as well as use the navigation feature through "set a trip".

What interests me is the "Trip history". The car records every single bit of your movement Even if you drove something as small as 1 km, it will record its stats.

Once you click on it, it shows Planned trips (ones you navigated through "set a trip") and Unplanned trips.



And you can even see the data of each trip by clicking on them



It shows a lot of information -
Trip distance
Map view of the trip
Trip duration
Trip average speed
Trip top speed (GPS speed)
Trip driving analysis
Trip Start time and End time
The driving analysis is interesting and actually welcome. It studies your accelerator and brake inputs as well as gear changes. It gives a score out of 10.

For a guy like me with over 20 years and 6+ lakh km of driving experience without a single accident, my ego did not like the idea of an app evaluating my driving behavior at first. I should admit, I like it.

It did prevent me from doing pedal to metal today. There is also a small flaw. It does not reduce the score when the speed limit is exceeded. Or may be, if that happens only for a short while, it doesn't impact the score I guess.

Today's driving data :

My score stands at 9.1/10 from one day & 115 km of IRA tracking me



Also included was some DPF clog busting runs



Also notice the time fence



You can set a time limit and a speed limit, the IRA will give you an alert if the car exceeds that speed limit in that specific time duration. That being said, you will receive an alert if the car exceeds 120 kmph anyways, even without setting up any time fence. Fantastic feature if you let the drivers use your car.

Both the trip data recorder and time fence can make sure you know how your driver is driving your car.

You can also add emergency contacts, who will be alerted in case of an accident.

There is also an emergency SOS alert

4. Tribes

This function is what Tata calls "Tribes". It is like a forum of owners, where you get these stuff



You can connect with other owners and so on. I am least interested in the Tribes stuff, but like the leaderboard concept lol



They pick leaders based on distance, driving score and fuel efficiency. Honestly if IRA was active since the start of the month I would have been the 1st rank in distance My altroz is already 2800 km run.

5. Security

Best part of IRA is Security. The app alerts you if there is an intrusion in the car and also allows you to locate the car if it has been stolen.



You can also immobilize the car through the app, in case it is stolen



Conclusion

Is IRA useful? Absolutely!

Does it work? Totally!

Is it necessary?
In my opinion, I find the security features, navigation and Trip recording very useful. If you have a driver, the driving behavior analysis will be of great use. When Maruti can proudly advertise the "track my car" feature on TV ads, I think Tata hasn't marketed IRA enough.

With just an extra 45,000 rupees the XZ+ variant gets IRA Connected CarTech, 10 inch TFT instrument cluster, premium leatherette seats, frameless wipers, Auto Up/down in driver's window, rear fog lamp & express cool feature over the XZ variant

If you are looking to buy an altroz, get the XZ+ over XZ or even XT. It is worth the extra money spent.

[Adzo69]

Is this available on the BS6 Tiago AMT ?

[PrasannaDhana]

Originally Posted by Adzo69

Is this available on the BS6 Tiago AMT ?

I think it is available only from Punch onwards.

[chaksjr]

Originally Posted by Adzo69

Is this available on the BS6 Tiago AMT ?

They are not available in the Tiago/Tigor twins. Available Punch onwards, as correctly pointed out by Prasanna.

[busydrive]

Thanks for the review. Very helpful. I am contemplating between Punch Accomplished and Creative. Accomplished has all that I need but I cannot have IRA on that which seems to be good feature specially from safety point.

[rd18]

Originally Posted by PrasannaDhana

IRA Connected Car Tech Experience

They pick leaders based on distance, driving score and fuel efficiency. Honestly if IRA was active since the start of the month I would have been the 1st rank in distance My altroz is already 2800 km run.
.
.

With just an extra 45,000 rupees the XZ+ variant gets IRA Connected CarTech, 10 inch TFT instrument cluster, premium leatherette seats, frameless wipers, Auto Up/down in driver's window, rear fog lamp & express cool feature over the XZ variant

If you are looking to buy an altroz, get the XZ+ over XZ or even XT. It is worth the extra money spent.

Thanks for the detailed review on iRA. Very less info available on the web about it, and limited marketing/sales executive knowledge on the subject.
It will help new buyers decide.

The other owners are soon going to see your name forever at the top of leaderboard, given your daily run.

Right now, XZ+ absolutely worth it like you detailed.

At my time, XZ was well worth itself. I do get iRA sticker on start-up on music system screen.
It also shows "Driving Score" albeit out of 5 which make me wonder whether my XZ has iRA (limited functionality) or just not exposed via app.

[PrasannaDhana]

Originally Posted by rd18

The other owners are soon going to see your name forever at the top of leaderboard, given your daily run.

Right now, XZ+ absolutely worth it like you detailed.

At my time, XZ was well worth itself. I do get iRA sticker on start-up on music system screen.
It also shows "Driving Score" albeit out of 5 which make me wonder whether my XZ has iRA (limited functionality) or just not exposed via app.

My bad, that leaderboard showed weekly stats. That guy drove 2600 km in a week! Damn.

I am not gonna be anytime there on the leaderboard for distance I am sure People drove 6-7k km every month on that leaderboard.

My regular usage is gonna be 3000-4500 km monthly. Might be even 2500 km if I put storme and kwid to use more often.

XZ was absolutely VFM before August 2021. Tata still gave the TFT instrument cluster and leather wrapped steering in XZ that time. The cluster was the only reason I went ahead with XZ+

Regarding driving score in XZ, all models from XT get it on the 7 inch infotainment screen. There is another app called Connectnext which shows all car related data. Your driving score can also be seen there (for out of 5)

XZ+ owners don't get that feature in the Connectnext app. It's only through IRA Driving behavior score.

[sachin_cs]

This won’t look out of place even in a Tata motors calendar, I think it’s time Tata should contact you for Altroz photoshoot.

Also, we share quite similar cars in our garage. Your brother had Rapid, I drive one. You have a white Kwid, I recently picked RXT in Bronze. Last year my sister got Altroz Midtown grey and you’ve picked lovely Downtown Red.

[Meph1st0]

Originally Posted by PrasannaDhana

With just an extra 45,000 rupees the XZ+ variant gets IRA Connected CarTech, 10 inch TFT instrument cluster, premium leatherette seats, frameless wipers, Auto Up/down in driver's window, rear fog lamp & express cool feature over the XZ variant

Thanks for the detailed review of IRA. Choice of XZ+ variant seems to be a non-brainer over XZ. The geofence and valet mode are very useful from a security perspective.
On a lighter note looks like you tried cleaning the DPF filter in the top gear itself. You may want to mask those speeds

[PrasannaDhana]

Originally Posted by sachin_cs

This won’t look out of place even in a Tata motors calendar, I think it’s time Tata should contact you for Altroz photoshoot.

Also, we share quite similar cars in our garage. Your brother had Rapid, I drive one. You have a white Kwid, I recently picked RXT in Bronze. Last year my sister got Altroz Midtown grey and you’ve picked lovely Downtown Red.

Haha, that photo was aided by a nice sunset and the reflection from the pond ahead.

Many similarities with the garages as you have said. Kwid is one nice package too. Very purposeful and value for money too.
.

Originally Posted by Meph1st0

Thanks for the detailed review of IRA. Choice of XZ+ variant seems to be a non-brainer over XZ. The geofence and valet mode are very useful from a security perspective.

Thanks
I usually do 90 kmph on 4th gear (cruise control) for the DPF regeneration. I drive a lot on highways and there are certain stretches where I just could not stop myself from going all out. Lol.

One month with Altroz diesel

So it has been one month and to sum up how I feel - Totally Satisfied

The car has been idle for about 4 days owing to 2 days of heavy rains and storme doing duty for a 500 km round trip in one of the days and the Kwid taking care of another 150 km another day.

Total km driven- 3225 km



The trip data is for the November month's usage (2 more days to conclude). The total odo is from 28th Oct to today. That is 100 hours of driving a month including the time spent on Storme and Kwid. More reason to be physically active with so much time on the driver's seat.

Overall Actual Avg FE- 19.12 kmpl



The last tankful of 410 km was driven very enthusiastically. I mean, I had fun
Even then the Altroz returned 17.89 kmpl

The steering and suspension are stupendous around curves. Lovely! Thoroughly enjoyed 140 km of curvy rural roads today. Pudukottai to Pattukottai stretch through Alangudi is blissful.

https://youtu.be/B-U_iKhTB88

Even on highways, it sticks to the lane at highway speeds and there is no need for constant inputs to the steering to keep it in the lane(my ciaz and storme had to be given frequent small inputs to stick in the lane around curves).
The engine note, though audible beyond certain RPM at highway speeds, is sporty and personally I like it. A small sample of the engine note at 3000+ RPM can be heard at the later part of this clip

https://youtu.be/PpJC7zl56Q8

The 1.5 diesel is very punchy and can be very fast. Personally feel that Altroz should have had Nexon's 108 bhp 250 Nm tune. It would have been an Enthusiast's delight.

To be honest, this little Tata exceeds my expectation of fuel efficiency. Flat out or gentle, there is a solid 8 kmpl difference between what my Storme gives and what the altroz returns. That is massive!




The Altroz gets crazy dirty at the rear windshield and tailgate areas. I am not exaggerating. One 50 km drive and you will find it looking like it had gone through a desert.
But the good part is, this little car looks stunning nevertheless.







Those wheels look beautiful even when dirty






30 days and 3k km of usage has left me completely accustomed with every part of the car






After traveling in my friend's Scross today, I got reminded of that plush ride of my Ciaz, which is the only thing I miss in the Altroz. Altroz sits between Polo and Rapid when it comes to suspension stiffness.



That 165 mm ground clearance has been adequately put to test, and the car has not scraped even once so far.



Has good presence even besides the huge Isuzu



Signing off from November

[arghadeep13]

Even I have booked the Altroz XZ+ iTurbo. Just wanted to check if the car can be locked or unlocked using IRA. the IRA brochure does mention this but wanted your view on the same.

[chaksjr]

Reading your ownership thread makes me want to book one straightaway and not even consider any other options. Having said that I would only get a petrol and that would take away most of the good things you have mentioned about the Altroz, haha

Either way, it is a beautiful car and the looker of the lot in its segment.

Hoping you have a long and happy ownership with this beauty!

[quattroa4]

What a car and what a review ! Very nice !
Regarding your comment that it gets dirty too much from behind , I would like to suggest to install the after market mudflaps which are a little longer and wider then the original once. The Sparco mudflaps are really good and will enhance the looks of the car also.

[AZT]

Absolutely beautiful. All else aside, Tata sure knows how to make aesthetically pleasing cars.