KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- Tata Altroz Racer launched at Rs. 9.49 lakhs
- Gets turbo petrol engine from Nexon line-up
- Pros and Cons explained
The Tata Altroz Racer Edition has been launched at Rs. 9.49 lakhs and enters the niche segment of the Hyundai i20 N-line. While these 2 battle it out for a tough space, there are certain things you must check out before you make up your mind to go for the Tata Altroz. Let's look at 5 Pros and 3 cons that this new performance hatchback brings. But before that, make sure to join our 91Wheels WhatsApp Group community of petrolheads to never miss out on any updates from the automotive world.
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Pros
1. Value For Money Deal
The Tata Altroz Racer comes in 3 variants, R1, R2, and R3. The pricing kicks off at Rs. 9.49 lakhs and considering the things that the R1 trim offers, this makes a very lucrative and value-for-money deal. Interestingly, this one is even better equipped than the top model of the regular Altroz. For starters, you get modern amenities like an 8-speaker system, rear AC vents, auto headlamps, rain-sensing wipers, fog lamps, ambient lighting, 6 airbags, and much more.
2. 5-Star Safety With 6 Airbags
Tata for some time now has been synonymous with robust safety, thanks to a multitude of full house of GNCAP safety stars with Harrier, Safari, and more. The Altroz Racer is yet another 5-star rated hatchback that makes it a standout in the segment, complemented with 6 airbags as standard. If you are looking for a perfect marriage of performance and safety, this is the one for you.
3. Spacious Interiors With Doors That Just Sit 'Right'
The Tata Altroz Racer comes with a spacious cabin for a comfortable drive for the occupants. While the black interiors might not exude the actual sense of it, there is something more to it than just meets the eye. Open the doors and you will be greeted by a 90-degree wide opening doors that makes the ingress and egress a breeze. Moreover, if you have elderly passengers in the backseat, it makes a lot more sense.
4. Feature Loaded: Ventilated Seats, 360 Camera, & More
Tata has hit this one out of the park with the tech on offer. While it is a very well-equipped model, it enriches the segment with some of the features only seen with the higher segments. It comes with ventilated seats, ambient lighting, an air purifier, a wireless charger, and any more. This makes it a very convenient place to drive on long stretches.
5. Sporty Exhaust Note With Dual Tip Set-up
What do you need from a performance car apart from the extra punch? The typical sporty grunt. With its tweaked dual-tip exhaust, the Altroz Racer makes sure that along with the power, it also sounds like a typical sports car., which is an essential touch that has not been missed.
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Cons
1. No Automatic Option
No car is a perfect car that has it all, and every car is a perfect car if it suits your needs. This is true for the Altroz Racer as well. While you get a peppy engine, brimmed-up tech list, 5-star safety, and much more, there is still a big omission hidden. It is the non-availability of an automatic transmission. This feels like a big miss when rivals like the i20 N Line & Fronx Turbo offer it as an option. However, you can expect an auto gearbox in the future if the demand suggests so.
2. Engine Refinement Could Be Better
When stacked against its arch rivals, the Tata Altroz Racer feels like there is room for more refinement. The powertrain has been borrowed from the Nexon and we had the same thought with it as well. Don't take us wrong, this mill is a performer and does not disappoint at all, but with a little more refinement, it would have smoked the competition out with this one. However, the difference is evident only when you push the pedal to its full range.
3. Longing For Better Paint Scheme And Graphics
The Racer Edition is distinguished by a blacked-out roof and bonnet with dual racing stripes adorning both these portions. Whil it does the job of getting the message across, we hoped for something more on the sides along with some kind of tweaks in the regular stripes. Not asking for any overdone graphics job, but it feels that it is asking for just slightly more of the play around.
Verdict
Tata Altroz Racer is one solid player in the hatchback segment. Although it belongs to the niche performance segment, it has a solid name in the hatchbck space in general. While the pros and cons are a part of every model, this weighs heavy on the pros and the cons are not a deal-breaker to the point of outright changing your mind. Expect for the automatic transmission ofcource, it that is a key filter for your next ride.
