Shifting the narrative

Tata has launched India’s first ever CNG car with an automatic transmission and we got behind the wheel to find out if its actually a formula that works

The Tiago iCNG is the first hatchback in India to feature a CNG powertrain paired with an automatic transmission. This is a fairly important jump in the passenger CNG segment, as the cars in this segment have remained stagnant for a while now, but Tata is pushing for a big shift in the paradigm as it did with the introduction of its twin-cylinder CNG tech in its entire range which consists of the Tiago, Tigor, Punch and the Altroz.

Visually, the Tiago iCNG is a handsome car, with its smooth design aesthetic. Tata's recent slew of design updates haven't made it to the Tiago/Tigor yet, but the hatch doesn't look dated at all. To add to the charm, the Tiago can now be had in the Tornado Blue colour which is bright and quite eye-catching.

The interior layout is the same as before with no changes. The cabin gets a 7-inch infotainment system from Harman, which comes with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay and is connected to an eight-speaker audio system. The digital instrumentation is the same as before, with an extra digital gauge for the CNG tank readout.

As the automatic CNG Tiago is offered in the XZA+ trim there are plenty of features such as automatic climate control, rain-sensing wipers, automatic headlamps, auto-folding ORVMS, LED DRLs, 14-inch steel wheels, steering mounted controls and Type-C charging ports.