Tata has combined the ease of an automatic transmission with the economy of CNG in the Altroz, and the Altroz CNG AMT costs 8.70 lakh rupees. Because of this, this premium hatchback is the only one in its class in India to have a CNG system and an automatic transmission installed at the factory, and is aimed directly at city drivers.
Why this launch matters for everyday buyers
Usually, how much it costs to run a car is what city commuters think about most, but CNG has typically meant giving up convenience. Tata solves this problem with the Altroz iCNG by adding a 5-speed automatic to it. Importantly, Tata hasn’t limited CNG to the very basic models – something many people have complained about with other cars.
You can get the CNG AMT version of the Altroz in almost all of the trim levels, right up to one below the highest. This means customers can have good fuel economy without losing out on comfort or the latest technology, which isn’t what you get with competing cars that only offer CNG on the cheaper versions.
Variants and prices
Tata has rolled out multiple CNG AMT trims to broaden choice. Here are the official ex-showroom prices in India:
– Accomplished S: Rs 10.77 lakh
– Creative S: Rs 9.82 lakh
– Creative: Rs 9.57 lakh
– Pure S: Rs 9.00 lakh
– Pure: Rs 8.70 lakh
This range of choices, from good value to very well equipped, means the Altroz CNG AMT will appeal to both people buying for themselves and companies buying a lot of cars.
Powertrain, efficiency and practicality
The engine under the hood is the 1.2-litre three-cylinder engine from the petrol Altroz, but now with a twin-cylinder CNG system fitted at the factory. When running on CNG it produces 73.5 horsepower and 103 Newton-meters of torque, while petrol gives 88 horsepower and 115 Newton-meters.
The 5-speed automatic is the same one found in the petrol Altroz and is there to make driving in stop-start traffic less tiring. Tata has managed to put both CNG tanks under the floor of the trunk, so you still have a useful 210 litres of space for luggage. For comparison, petrol and diesel Altroz have 345 litres.
Tata allows the car to start when running on CNG and to switch between fuels smoothly with one electronic control unit. The intention is to make it good for everyday driving in Indian cities, rather than focusing on impressive statistics.
Feature spread and cabin tech
As you go up the trim levels, you get more equipment. The Altroz Accomplished S with the CNG AMT comes with LED headlights and taillights, a sunroof, a 10.25-inch touchscreen for the infotainment system, a 7-inch screen for the driver, wireless phone charging, interior mood lighting and 16-inch alloy wheels.
Safety is still a major strength. The Altroz is built on Tata’s ALFA platform and has a 5-star safety rating from Bharat NCAP for the petrol, diesel and CNG versions. It includes six airbags, Electronic Stability Program, ISOFIX child seat fittings and parking sensors as standard, and higher versions get a 360-degree camera, tyre pressure monitoring, automatic headlights and LED fog lights.
Positioning against rivals
Cars like the Toyota Glanza and Maruti Baleno only offer CNG on the basic models, but Tata’s approach places the Altroz CNG AMT right in the middle of the premium hatchback market. This means people can get cheaper running costs, nice features and an automatic gearbox all at once, which you can’t do with other cars at the moment.
For people deciding between how much they’ll spend on fuel each month and how comfortable their drive is, the Altroz iCNG AMT significantly reduces the usual downsides of CNG. It’s clearly for city people who want a simpler journey without having to do without features.
Bottom line for prospective owners
If you’ve been waiting for a premium automatic CNG hatchback, the Altroz CNG AMT is the only one you can currently buy. Priced between 8.70 lakh and 10.77 lakh rupees, it is the first in its class to offer this convenience, has a good safety record and lots of features, and also thinks about how much the car will cost to fuel.
