SMOOTH OPERATOR

The Tata Altroz gets turbo power, but does that make it a hot hatch?

- Aditya Upadhyaula

It’s a little odd that we don’t have more performance hatchbacks on sale in India isn’t it? I mean, they’re the best way to get power, handling and practicality in an affordable package. As I naively ask this question, Tata Motors already knows the answer to it. It’s JTP division tried to do exactly that, but saw few takers for its hot hatchbacks.

Coming to the Altroz, Tata’s latest premium hatchback has a whole lot going for it. It’s a feature-packed, spacious car that also happens to be one of the safest cars on the road today. On the power front, however, its petrol engine left something to be desired. That’s where this new iTurbo variant comes in. It now gets the three-pot turbo-petrol engine from the Nexon, albeit detuned slightly. Instead of 118 bhp and 17.4 kgm, it now makes 108 bhp and 14.2 kgm.