June 2023 - Tata Altroz CNG Variants Explained - Which One To Buy?

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What Are The Pros And Cons Of Tata Altroz CNG?

The pros or advantages of 2023 Tata Altroz CNG are:

• The only CNG car in India with a 5-star GNCAP safety rating
• The only CNG car in India with a sunroof
• 210 litres of boot space is best for any CNG hatchback — across all price points
• Ability to start directly on CNG and run even if the petrol tank is empty
• Better torque rating than the Baleno and Glanza; its torque also peak at a much lower RPM than the rivalling Japanese CNG hatchbacks
• Well-equipped for its class as it offers CNG in higher variants also

The 2023 Tata Altroz CNG has the following shortcomings or problems:

• Lower variants get skinny 165-section tyres with 14-inch wheels
• On the flip side, larger, 16-inch wheels may adversely impact the drivability with the CNG powertrain because of higher rotating mass
• A 6-month interval for service centre visits is too short for keeping the warranty intact; 1 year/10,000km is the industry standard
• Stripped down base XE variant misses out on several must-have features while the XM Plus offers poor value for money
• No cruise control even in higher variants

Update (June 5, 2023): This article was updated with the Tata Altroz CNG launch prices and buying recommendations.

What Is The Price Of Tata Altroz CNG Variants?

The Tata Altroz CNG is available in a total of 6 variants. Its ex-showroom prices range from Rs. 7.55 lakh and go up to Rs. 10.55 lakh.

Compared to the normal petrol engine, the CNG variants cost Rs. 95,500 to 1.03 lakh more. For this higher price, you obviously get lower fuel costs but you also get a fairly usable boot space of 210 litres. All other CNG hatchbacks make you sacrifice on the boot space as the cylinder takes up a lot of cargo volume.

Also Read: Auto Expo 2023: Tata Solved Boot Space Problem With CNG Cars

For another Rs. 32,000 - 40,000, you can get the diesel powertrain. It also has lower fuel costs but unlike CNG powertrains, instead of lowering the performance, the diesel engine offers better performance. Besides a full boot space, the diesel powertrain also has a longer range with each tank full. Meanwhile, with the CNG, you may have to frequently wait in queue for a gas top up.

So, it’s another alternative worth considering if you’re going with the Altroz CNG for its lower running costs. If you’re seriously considering the diesel powertrain of the Altroz instead of the CNG, then there’s something worth evaluating. Since diesel engines take much longer to warm up than CNG or petrol engines. So, it’s not suitable for you if you drive short distances with frequent start/stops.

New Tata Altroz CNG XE - Base Model Standard Features

The base XE variant of the Tata Altroz CNG only comes with the 1.2L CNG-petrol bi-fuel engine and a manual transmission. It costs Rs. 7.55 lakh (ex-showroom) and and gets the following notable features:

• Front power windows
• Umbrella holder
• 14-inch steel wheels
• Tilt steering

*Expected

The base variant seems doesn’t get several must-have features like:

• Height-adjustable driver seat
• Music system
• Rear power windows
• Remote central locking
• Rear parcel tray
• Wheel covers
• Day/night inside mirror
• TPMS

Considering the lack of several must-have features, we’ll suggest you skip the base model of the Altroz CNG even though it gets an attractive price tag.

Tata Altroz CNG XE Vs XM Plus Variant - Price, Feature Comparison

The next variant in line for Altroz CNG buyers is the XM Plus. It costs Rs. 8.40 lakh and it’s Rs. 85,000 pricier than the base XE CNG variant of the Altroz.

It offers the following additional notable features:

• 7-inch touchscreen
• 4x speakers
• Steering-mounted controls
• Power mirrors
• Rear parcel tray
• Rear power windows
• Remote central locking
• Larger 16-inch steel wheels

Even in this variant, you don’t get several must-have features like:

• Height-adjustable driver seat
• Rear camera
• TPMS
• Day/night inside mirror

The Altroz CNG XM Plus variant gets some must-have features while also skipping a few. Moreover, it offers poor value for money and barely justifies about half the upgrade cost in terms of value. So, we can’t recommend this variant either. Consider stretching your budget for a higher variant to enjoy a decent ownership experience and get better value as well.

New Tata Altroz CNG XM Plus Vs XM Plus S Variant - Price, Feature Comparison

After the XM Plus, we have the XM Plus S variant, which costs Rs. 8.85 lakh (ex-showroom). It’s Rs. 44,500 pricier than the lower XM Plus variant.

It adds the following notable features:

• Auto headlamps
• Auto wipers
• Shark fin antenna
• Sunroof

You may miss the following must-have features in the XM Plus S variant:

• Front armrest
• Rear AC vents
• Rear washer wiper
• Rear defogger
• Day/night inside mirror
• Height-adjustable driver seat
• TPMS

While this variant also doesn’t quite justify the value for money but because of the inclusion of high-value and good-to-have features like sunroof, it offers better value than the lower variants. If you absolutely can’t stretch your budget any further, then this is worth buying. But, if you can, then we’ll strongly suggest you go for the XZ variant.

New Tata Altroz CNG XM Plus S Vs XZ Variant - Price, Feature Comparison

The XZ variant comes after the XM Plus S trim. With an ex-showroom price of Rs. 9.53 lakh, it’s Rs. 68,000 more expensive than the lower XM Plus S variant.

It gets the following notable features over the XM Plus S trim:

• Halogen projector headlamps
• Auto AC
• Rear AC vents
• Day/night inside mirror
• Rear camera
• Front fog lamps
• Rear washer wiper
• Rear defogger
• Cooled glovebox
• Front and rear armrests
• LED DRLs
• Keyless entry with push-button start/stop
• Height-adjustable driver seat
• 16-inch alloy wheels

Besides the cruise control, sunroof and TPMS, there’s barely any feature you might miss in the Altroz Z variant.

If you’re interested in a variant of the Altroz CNG with a good number of features but without the sunroof, then the XZ is the perfect choice. It also justifies 95% of the incremental cost over the base variant with features. However, for better value for more upmarket and good-to-have features, considering stretching a bit more for the XZ Plus S variant, which earned out top recommendation and the best value-for-money rank.

2023 Tata Altroz CNG XZ Vs XZ Plus S Variant - Price, Feature Comparison

The XZ Plus S variant is the next in line after the XZ trim. It costs Rs. 10.0 lakh and its price is Rs. 47,090 higher than the XZ variant.

It adds the following features over the XZ:

• TPMS
• Wireless phone charger
• Sunroof
• Dual-tone black roof
• Shark fin antenna

Tata aren’t offering the cruise control with the Altroz CNG in any variant. If you frequently drive on the highways, then this is one feature, you might miss in the Altroz CNG.

Most of the features of the XZ Plus S variant are good-to-have at best. At least on the value front, the perceived value of the features of the XZ Plus S exceed the incremental cost over the base variant. So, it is our top recommendation for all Altroz CNG buyers.

2023 Tata Altroz CNG XZ Plus S Vs XZ Plus OS Variant - Price, Feature Comparison

The XZ Plus OS is the top model of the Altroz CNG. It costs Rs. 10.55 lakh (ex-showroom) and is Rs. 55,000 pricier than the lower XZ Plus S variant.

It offers only 3 notable features over the XZ Plus S variant:

• Air purifier
• Leather upholstery
• Telematics

In this trim, you may only miss the cruise control. However, it doesn’t offer any must-have features. So we’ll suggest you go with the lower XZ Plus S variant and add these features as accessories. Overall, it’ll cost you less as you save on the 1% TDS, considerably lower registration costs (in states where it’s applicable) and the cost of adding these features as accessories is likely to cost less than Rs. 55,000. Since these are strictly good-to-have features, if you’re going with the lower XZ Plus S variant won’t have to compromise in terms of ownership experience either.

If you don’t want to add any aftermarket accessories, then it’s worth noting that the XZ Plus OS variant completely justifies cost over the base variant with the additional features. So, it’s worth buying if you don’t mind the additional cost for perfect, factory finish.

Which Variant Of The Tata Altroz CNG Should You Buy?

Among the lower trims, the base XE variant is too basic for a car costing more than Rs. 7.50 lakh (ex-showroom). Even if you accommodate the higher XM Plus variant, you are grossly overpaying for the additional features. Keeping the value factor in mind, we’ll suggest against buying the XM Plus variant too.

The XM Plus S variant is also an expensive upgrade overall from the base model. But, it justifies the incremental cost because of the addition of a sunroof, which is a high value feature. If you can’t stretch your budget any further, then XM Plus S is worth buying.

For buyers not interested in a sunroof, the XZ variant is an easy recommendation for offering a good value for money and a lot of useful features. If sunroof is important to you, then the XZ Plus S is an even better option as it excels on the value front. It’s also our top recommendation for all Altroz CNG buyers.

The XZ Plus OS has a slightly lower value score compared to the XZ Plus S. Moreover, it offers good-to-have features, which are easy to add from the aftermarket or you can get them as a dealer-level accessory. So, you should buy this variant only if you don’t mind compromising a little on the value front for a perfect factory finish.

What Are The Engine Specifications Of The Tata Altroz CNG?

In the B2-segment, the Altroz is the only hatchback to offer the CNG bi-fuel powertrain besides the Baleno and Glanza twins. It makes 73.5PS of power when running on CNG and 103Nm of torque. Its power output is lower than the Baleno and Glanza but its torque output is higher. On the mileage front, we don’t expect it to beat the Baleno and Glanza.

*Estimated

You can use our Fuel Cost Calculator to see how much any petrol, diesel or CNG car will cost to run based on the latest fuel price in your city.

Fuel Cost Calculator in India

What Are The Dimensions Of The 2023 Tata Altroz CNG?

In terms of dimensions, the Altroz CNG is about as long as the Baleno and Glanza but it's also marginally wider and taller. The most notable feature of the Altroz CNG is its 210-litre boot space. Baleno and Glanza CNG have a large CNG cylinder in the boot, which eats up into the cargo volume. The exact trunk space of the Baleno and Glanza CNG variants is not announced and we expect it to be a lot lower than that of the Altroz CNG.

*Estimated

Find out how you can get the best mileage or fuel efficiency from your car:

10 Tips To Get Better Mileage From Your Petrol, Diesel Or CNG Car

What Are The Colour Options Of The Tata Altroz CNG?

The 2023 Tata Altroz CNG is available in the following 7 exterior colours:

• Gold
• Red
• Light blue
• Dark blue
• White
• Grey
• Black

Note: Here is a quick look at our length-based segmentation of cars to give you an idea of how we are classifying cars based on their size.

You can read more about vehicle segmentation at the following link:

Car Segments Explained - With Body Styles And Examples