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Battle of the Turbo-petrols: Tata Altroz Racer vs the competition

1st July 2024, 15:02 by Kanad Kalasur

This is a poll to choose amongst Tata Altroz Racer, Hyundai i20 N Line, Maruti Suzuki Fronx Turbo, Citroen C3 Turbo and others. Which turbo-petrol car would you buy?

BHPian Ripcord09 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

What you'll like:

1.2L Turbo-Petrol offers good driveability & satisfactory performance
We love the Altroz's overall design. Has a solid build too
Well-priced for what it offers
Nice interior with good quality parts & adequate space
Accommodating 345-litre boot is among the biggest of the segment
Mature on-road behaviour, including at highway speeds
5-star NCAP safety rating! Safety package includes six airbags, 360-degree camera, blind view monitor etc.
Enjoyable Harman 8-speaker ICE. One of the better audio systems in this segment
Impressive kit (auto headlamps & wipers, cruise control, air purifier, wireless charging, ventilated leatherette seats, sunroof, ambient lighting...)

What you won't:

Not really a hot hatch. Performance is fair, but not explosive. 0-100 in 11.3 seconds
Turbo-petrol is only offered in the Altroz Racer. Limited colour choices and those racing stripes won't be to everyone's liking
No automatic gearbox option in a market that loves its ATs
Notchy gearshift takes away some of the fun of driving
Only one drive mode - Sport. A city mode would have provided a smoother drive in traffic (it is jerky at low speeds)
Suspension has a firm edge at low speeds
Service visit every 6 months / 7,500 km (1 year / 10,000 km is the norm today)
Some missing features (auto-dimming IRVM, full size spare tyre, split-folding rear seat...)
Tata's after-sales service quality is a hit or miss. Remains a gamble

What you'll like:

Aggressive styling with distinctive touches that set it apart from the garden-variety i20
Punchy 1.0 turbo-petrol motor with 118 BHP on tap
Firm yet compliant suspension coupled with a weighted steering + paddle shifters + fruity exhaust note that make the i20 N Line fun
Tasteful N Line-exclusive steering wheel, gear selector, red accents etc liven up the interior
Feature-rich equipment list includes cruise control, LED projectors, voice-activated sunroof, wireless charging & more
Spacious cabin with a 311 liter boot makes this a practical yet fun-to-drive car
Price premium over the regular i20 is totally justified by the additions & improvements
Safety kit = ESP, 6 airbags, rear disc brakes, Blue Link SOS, Hill Assist…

What you won't:

Although well-priced in relation to the i20 Asta variant, it is still an expensive hatchback
1.0L DCT variant shows initial lag. Even otherwise, it’s not as explosive as VW’s 1.0 Turbo
Some misses such as auto wipers, split folding rear seats…
You absolutely need a tyre upgrade. The OEM rubber gives up easily
This 3rd-gen i20’s styling can be polarizing, unlike the more neutral previous generation cars
Dual-clutch ATs have had a troubled reliability record in India
More of a warmed-up hatchback in terms of power & handling, rather than a “hot hatch” like an Abarth Punto

What you'll like:

Smart looking crossover with sharp & attractive styling
Feels better built than some other Maruti cars
1.0L Boosterjet turbo-petrol engine is quick and has minimal turbo lag. Driveability is satisfactory
Smart Hybrid system ensures excellent fuel efficiency. ARAI = 20.01 to 22.89 km/l
Nicely tuned suspension glides over small bumps, potholes and road imperfections
User-friendly cabin with loads of space! Can easily seat 5 adults (unlike many competitors)
Long feature list includes LED auto headlamps, LED DRLs, cruise control, 9-inch touchscreen HU paired with an Arkamys sound system, 360-degree camera, head-up display, rear A/C vents, wireless charging, footwell lighting, tilt & telescopic steering adjustment, connected car features etc
Safety kit includes 6 airbags, 3-point seatbelts for all, ESP, traction control, hill-hold assist and ISOFIX
Maruti’s excellent after-sales service, wide dealer network & fuss-free ownership experiences

What you won't:

On the inside, it’s almost identical to the regular Baleno. Differentiation should’ve been more
Quality of some plastic parts and fabric upholstery is mediocre
1.0L turbo-petrol although quick, is not exciting enough for enthusiasts
308-litre boot is among the smallest in the segment
No diesel option like some rivals
Rear seat’s under-thigh support is lacking for taller passengers
A few missing features like sunroof, TPMS, rear armrest, drive modes, auto wipers and front parking sensors
Lesser height means, despite the smart styling, it doesn’t have the road presence of typical crossovers

What you'll like:

Striking design! Very funky, yet likeable at the same time
Good-looking cabin that is practical too
Fast 1.2L turbo-petrol is genuinely fun-to-drive, while the 1.2L naturally-aspirated engine offers excellent driveability
6-speed MT is slick and light to operate. Definitely one of the better gearboxes in the segment
Sorted suspension offers a very good ride & handling package
Compact size and light controls are perfect for the urban environment
10-inch touchscreen with wireless Android Auto & Apple CarPlay is excellent to use
Lots of customization options and accessories to make your car truly unique

What you won't:

Missing plenty of features = electric ORVM adjustment, IRVM dimmer (not even manual), climate control, rear wiper & defogger, reversing camera, alloy wheels, tachometer!
Just 2 variants at launch (no true top variant)
No automatic transmission on offer - a big miss when ATs are rapidly gaining popularity in India
Quality of cabin materials doesn't feel great; cost-cutting is pretty evident in certain areas
Some ergonomic issues like the placement of rear power window switches, unusable rear headrests…
1.2L NA petrol’s highway performance is mediocre; 5-speed MT is notchy too
Cabin width makes the interiors suitable for 4 adults, not 5
Long-term reliability & after-sales service quality are big unknowns; dealer network is tiny

What you'll like:

The Magnite looks really good…that handsome face is a head-turner
Sheer value-for-money pricing. Turbo-petrol with a proper AT under 10 lakhs!
Peppy performance from the Magnite’s 1.0L turbo-petrol engine
Smooth well-tuned CVT in a sea of jerky AMTs. Has Sport and L modes too
Healthy legroom for rear passengers. Space packaging is brilliant
Impressive kit (cruise control, LED headlamps, rear air-con vents, 360-degree camera, wireless charger, wireless Android Auto & Apple CarPlay)
205 mm of ground clearance is more than enough for any kind of bad roads
Safety kit includes ESP, TPMS, ABS, EBD & hill start assist
Base variant also gets reasonable kit, including a rear wiper. It’s not poverty-spec

What you won't:

Stiff & basic ride quality. You feel each and everything on the road
The Magnite is built to a cost and it does show, especially in the budget-grade cabin
Lower variants’ 1.0L naturally-aspirated petrol is a boring, unimpressive engine
Clunky, firm MT gearshift & a clutch pedal that has more weight than it should
No diesel option available on the Nissan Magnite
Cabin is narrower than some competitors. Narrow width makes it best for 4 adults
Missing features such as an auto dimming IRVM, full-size spare tyre…
Doesn't have the finesse or quality of premium crossovers like the XUV300, Sonet etc.
Nissan's tiny dealership network & lousy after-sales quality