OMG! WHY'S IT CNG?

The Tata Altroz iCNG powertrain lacks "Punch" and could have done with a bit more kick.

- GAVIN RODRIGUES

The Tata Altroz has been around since 2020, and though its handsome design has remained ever so timeless, its interior has needed a slight update to help get with the times. So Tata has taken the opportunity to launch the all-new iCNG and give it a much-needed update that will be available to all variants and powerplants. The launch of the iCNG came as a surprise. Given its lower asking price and its more price-conscious clientele, I’d imagine Tata would aim to launch a CNG variant of the Punch.

So with some optimism, I flew to Goa to drive the all-new iCNG. Apart from a new little badge on the boot, there is no way one can tell it’s a CNG. The aesthetics remained ever so athletic and charming and looked handsome as ever in the shade of midnight blue. However, once you step inside the Altroz, you notice all the more significant changes. For starters, you now get a sunroof which does make the cabin feel more premium ever so slightly. You also get a new air purifier and a wireless charging tray that adds to the quality, and you also get leatherette on the interior to spice up the proposition.

We’re used to seeing CNG vehicles usually sold as the base variant and rarely the top variant. Tata aims to break that barrier and has spec’d the Altroz with top-spec goodies. This also means top spec pricing; while the base variant of the Altroz iCNG starts at about Rs. 7.55 lakh, the variant we’re driving costs nearly 3 lakhs more. For that money, you get the features mentioned above and the existing features that Tata breaks down with each variant. The main talking point about the Altroz iCNG is the addition of CNG to this model and also the clever tricks Tata has pulled to make the iCNG as practical as any CNG could aim to be.