oi-Dennis Abraham James
The
corner
of
the
Indian
car
market
powered
by
CNG
has
always
been
chock
full
of
compromises,
some
greater
than
others
but
still
compromises…
Customers
had
to
choose
between
power
and
mileage,
boot
space
and
more
CNG
and
of
course,
the
ever-present
fear
of
having
a
compressed
metal
cylinder
filled
with
methane
sitting
just
behind
the
passenger
seats.
But
those
were
compromises
the
Indian
CNG
car
following
had
gotten
used
to
as
well.
That
was
until
Tata
Motors
decided
to
upend
that
sorry
cart
of
compromises
with
its
new
twin-cylinder
tech
at
Auto
Expo
2023.
So
is
the
new
Tata
Altroz
iCNG,
the
sign
of
a
new
era
of
CNG
in
India
or
is
it
just
more
compressed
methane
escaping
into
the
atmosphere
that
isn’t
bovinely
exhausted?
We
got
behind
the
wheel
of
the
all-new
Tata
Altroz
iCNG
in
Goa
to
find
out
just
how
much
the
premium
hatchback
had
changed
with
compressed
methane
running
through
its
veins…
Tata
Altroz
iCNG
–
Is
It
Really
More
Practical?
The
Tata
Altroz
is
one
of
the
better-looking
hatchbacks
currently
running
on
our
roads
today
and
the
visual
changes
for
the
CNG
version
are
almost
non-existent
except
for
the
iCNG
badge
on
the
tailgate.
The
changes
on
the
inside
are
also
nearly
nonexistent
as
well,
except
for
the
new
CNG
button
on
the
central
console
that
lets
you
know
which
fuel
you’re
using.
The
voice-activated
single-pane
roof
is
a
first
for
any
CNG-powered
hatch
in
India.
Otherwise,
the
new
Altroz
iCNG
comes
packed
with
all
the
bells
and
whistles
the
petrol
version
of
the
hatch
comes
with.
Top-spec
versions
of
the
Altroz
iCNG
come
with
features
like
automatic
headlights
and
rain-sensing
wipers,
a
7-inch
touchscreen
infotainment
system
with
Tata’s
iRA
smartcar
setup
and
support
for
Android
Auto
and
Apple
CarPlay.
Other
features
on
the
top-of-the-line
Altroz
iCNG
include
a
wireless
phone
charger,
air
purifier,
leatherette
seat
upholstery
and
dual-tone
alloy
wheels.
The
biggest
change
in
terms
of
design
and
practicality
is
seen
when
you
open
the
tailgate
and
gaze
into
the
bowels
of
the
boot.
Tata’s
twin
30kg
CNG
cylinders
take
up
space
under
the
floor
of
the
boot.
Yes,
the
Altroz
iCNG’s
210-litre
boot
is
smaller
than
its
petrol
counterpart’s
345-litre
unit.
However,
before
you
all
start
picketing
my
office
tabletop
and
complaining
about
leading
you
on
about
the
compromises
in
the
introduction
to
this
piece,
210
litres
is
a
lot
more
than
having
no
space
at
all
with
a
regular
60kg
compressed
CNG
tank.
So
while
the
CNG
tanks
may
have
gobbled
up
the
underfloor
storage
area,
diminishing
the
available
volume
of
space
by
135
litres,
the
Altroz
iCNG’s
210-litre
boot
is
more
than
enough
for
the
grocery
and
mall
shopping
runs.
Tata
Altroz
iCNG
–
Has
The
Engine
Snoozed
Off
&
Just
How
Safe
Is
It?
The
Tata
Altroz
iCNG
is
based
on
the
firm’s
1.2-litre
naturally
aspirated
3-cylinder
revotron
engine.
When
drinking
down
petrol,
the
engine
produces
87bhp
and
115Nm
of
peak
torque.
When
inhaling
lungfuls
of
compressed
methane,
the
engine
output
dips
from
87bhp
to
72.4bhp,
while
torque
is
down
by
12Nm
at
103Nm.
Power
is
still
sent
to
the
front
wheels
via
a
5-speed
manual
gearbox.
To
allow
the
engine
to
function
without
having
to
catch
its
breath
every
time
one
of
the
fuel
tanks
drops
low.
The
new
smart
ECU
automatically
shifts
between
petrol
and
CNG
on
the
fly.
The
new
ECU
switches
between
fuels
on
the
go
while
ensuring
the
best
efficiency.
The
new
ECU
also
allows
the
Altroz
to
start
off
the
daily
drive
in
CNG
mode.
Filling
up
the
tanks
is
also
a
quick
job
thanks
to
the
special
nozzle
fitted
to
the
Altroz.
Also
seen
is
a
small
micro
switch
that
shuts
off
the
fuel
to
the
engine
when
it
detects
the
fuel
filler
cap
opening.
The
Altroz
will
vent
the
CNG
into
the
atmosphere
if
a
thermal
issue
is
detected.
Other
safety
features
include
the
usual
array
of
airbags,
ABS
with
EBD,
Brake
Sway
Control
and
Sorner
Stability
Control
among
many
more
systems
that
keep
those
inside
the
cabin
safe
and
secure.
Tata
Altroz
iCNG
Driving
Impressions
–
Has
The
Drive
Been
Compromised?
The
short
answer
and
the
one
most
Altroz
iCNG
owners
will
say
is
no.
The
loss
in
power
and
torque
isn’t
really
felt
until
you
start
pushing
the
premium
hatchback
to
its
limits.
Despite
the
large
difference
on
paper
between
the
petrol
and
CNG
modes,
the
hatchback
offers
more
than
adequate
performance
in
the
city
when
running
on
natural
gas.
However,
if
you
find
yourself
low
in
the
rev
range
when
running
on
CNG
in
a
gear
higher
than
second,
we
recommend
shifting
down
if
you
need
to
get
back
into
the
powerband
urgently.
Switching
between
petrol
and
CNG
modes
happens
automatically
when
fuel
levels
are
low.
However,
drivers
can
switch
between
the
modes
by
just
tapping
the
CNG
button
on
the
dash.
The
new
Altroz
iCNG
can
start
journeys
in
CNG
mode,
which
is
quite
a
big
plus
point
over
its
rivals
from
Tata
and
Hyundai.
The
suspension
setup
of
the
iCNG
has
been
stiffened
compared
to
the
petrol
version
of
Altroz,
especially
at
the
rear
to
handle
the
weight
of
the
two
cylinders.
While
this
helps
ensure
the
Altroz
iCNG
does
not
drop
down
due
to
the
extra
weight,
going
over
bumps
and
ruts
can
be
problematic
for
your
back.
The
steering
is
the
same
as
the
petrol
model
and
provides
more
than
adequate
feedback.
At
higher
speeds,
the
wheel
weighs
up
quite
nicely
which
is
rather
reassuring.
The
braking
performance
from
the
disc
brakes
at
the
front
and
the
rear
drums
is
more
than
adequate
for
the
Altroz
iCNG.
However,
using
the
brake
pedal
itself
can
be
a
bit
cumbersome
thanks
to
its
close
proximity
to
the
clutch.
NVH
levels
inside
the
cabin
are
quite
manageable
for
the
most
part.
The
only
annoyance
comes
when
the
three-cylinder
runs
higher
into
the
rev
range.
Final
Thoughts
About
The
Tata
Altroz
iCNG
The
Tata
Altroz
iCNG
brings
about
the
savings
of
switching
to
CNG
to
the
Altroz
premium
hatchback.
Its
innovative
twin-cylinder
setup
ensures
that
owners
can
still
use
the
boot
while
the
onboard
safety
systems
ensure
that
you
can
run
on
compressed
methane
without
worrying
your
head
off.
Add
in
the
fact
that
the
Altroz
iCNG’s
in-city
performance
is
quite
similar
to
the
petrol
version,
and
the
only
way
you’ll
feel
the
need
for
petrol-powered
speed
is
on
the
highway.
Overall,
the
Tata
Altroz
iCNG
is
the
least
compromised
CNG-powered
car
we’ve
driven
in
a
while
and
that
is
what
makes
it
such
an
attractive
option,
especially
with
a
starting
price
of
Rs
7.55
lakh
(ex-showroom).
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