With a starting price of INR 6.09 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi), the new Tata Tiago iCNG is one of the most VFM and safest CNG offerings in the country right now. The Tiago iCNG directly takes on the rivals like the Hyundai Santro, Maruti Celerio, Hyundai Grand i10 Nios, Maruti WagonR, etc. Having said that, here is our Tata Tiago iCNG review that will help you know all the details about this new CNG hatchback in India.
What We Like
- It looks great and is extremely comfortable for its segment
- CNG offers cheap running costs
- Safest and most powerful CNG hatchback in India
What Could Have Been Better
- The engine lacks the refinement and smoothness that rivals offer
- Rivals still boast a premium cabin and better fit-finish levels
- Lack of enough usable bottle holders
Its Looks Better Now!
With the launch of the Tiago iCNG, Tata introduced a number of updates to the exterior styling. For starters, the car now gets new projector headlamps, a new chrome front grille and new LED DRLs. In addition to this, the buyers now get a new black exterior colour scheme that makes the Tiago a lot more premium and upmarket than before. Other changes include new chrome door handles, rear chrome garnish and stylish dual-tone wheel caps. In all, the Tiago definitely looks handsome and boasts some serious road presence.
The new black colour options give Tiago a completely new identity. No other major changes have been made to the design and the car continues to be offered with Duralloy wheels. Having said this, there are a few uneven panel gaps and fit-finish issues that could have been improved.
Same Good Looking Cabin
The Tata Tiago has always been one of the most comfortable offerings in the segment and gets even better now. With features like auto climate control, cooled glovebox, digital instrument console, and a 6-way adjustable driver's seat, the cabin offers an impressive experience to the buyers. Some of these features are not offered in other CNG hatchbacks. The seats are comfortable and accommodating but the space at the rear could have been better. Also, the rear passengers will miss adjustable headrests.
Having said this, while the visibility from the cabin is impressive, a few things could have been better. The front door pads don't have enough space to accommodate an average size water bottle while the centre console too gets small bottle and cup holders. On the upside, the cooled glovebox is big and deep while it also gets a dedicated tablet holder. The horn pad is wide and convenient to use.
While the dashboard looks great and has an ergonomically sorted layout, the fit-finish levels could have been better and so could have the quality of the plastics used. You will find enough rough corners here and there while the buttons in the centre feel slightly cheap. Rivals like the Hyundai Santro and the Grand i10 Nios offer a much better and premium cabin. Having said this, the ORVMs and the IRVM offer a good field of view and you will appreciate the LED cabin lamp in the centre in the longer run.
The new instrument cluster not only looks better but also offers a long list of features and information. On the right, it gets a fuel level indicator and CNG indication while a tachometer is seen on the left. The two stalks can be used to go through the various menus and options on the MID. Unlike the Altroz, the Tiago misses out on a colour multi-functional MID screen.
Also Read: New Maruti Celerio Vs Tata Tiago - Spec Comparison
It Is Powerful, But...
The new Tiago iCNG gets a 1.2-L Revotron Bi-Fuel engine. In its CNG avatar, this engine boasts a peak power and torque output of 73PS and 95Nm respectively, thus making the Tiago the most powerful CNG hatchback in India. While a five-speed manual gearbox comes as standard with this engine, Tata did say that they are ready with an automatic variant if the demand rises in the market. With the specs sorted now, in real life, while the performance is decent for CNG standards, what you will not like is the engine refinement and NVH levels.
Vibrations are prominent at idle but the engine does smooth out as it picks up pace. In addition to this, the engine does feel a little strained when pushed hard and screams for an upshift as it nears the redline. We also noticed slight jerks due to fueling issues when holding on to a fixed accelerator input but it is not very prominent and may go unnoticed by many. Having said this, for the daily commute, the Tiago CNG offers enough performance and you will appreciate the strong low-end. The car starts moving without any accelerator inputs and there is no major drop in performance once you switch the AC on.
The ABC (accelerator-brake-clutch) pedals are nicely spaced out and your left leg will appreciate the presence of a wide footrest. The clutch may not be the lightest for a petrol hatch but is easy to operate and your knees won't complain even after spending those long hours in the urban traffic jams. If you are used to the slick-shifting gearboxes of the Japanese and the Korean cars, you might find the 5-speed gearbox a little notchy but overall, the gearbox and clutch are easy to operate. The brakes offer a good bite and are progressive but initially feel a bit spongy.
You Will Like The Suspension Setup
What definitely comes as a surprise is the suspension setup that is being offered with the Tiago. While the suspension is soft enough to absorb almost all the undulations and bad roads, the driving dynamics too are impressive. No matter how bad the roads get, the occupants will not feel anything on the inside and Tiago's ride quality is definitely one of the best in the segment. The flat-bottom steering wheel not only feels nice to hold, but also offers a commendable response and weighs up decently as the speeds go up.
You will notice some body roll when the car is pushed hard but other than that, the car does have a good character and will keep the driving enthusiast in you happy. Unlike many of the rivals, the Tiago isn't lifeless and offers a responsive and communicative driving experience to the drivers. High-speed stability too is great and the car does not lose its composure when chucked into the corners at higher speeds. As mentioned before, the brakes offer great performance sans any drama.
Should You Buy One?
Why not! The Tiago CNG looks great, offers a comfortable cabin, has a long list of features, and has a powerful engine. The icing on the cake? The Tiago scored a safety rating of four out of five stars making it the safest hatchback in the segment. Having said this, the engine lacks the refinement that the rivals have to offer and the fuel economy too is not as good as few of its rivals.
No, We Are Not Over Yet!
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