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Test drove the new Altroz Racer: How it compares to my Altroz diesel

19th June 2024, 09:04 by Ananth Iyer

After the end of my spirited 22 km test drive, the mileage was just 9.1 kmpl.

BHPian PrasannaDhana recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

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.

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.

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.