This isn't the first time we've written a car ownership review. However, this one is slightly different as it includes the experience of a driver on a 3000 km journey in its petrol variant Tata Altroz XT. The owner bought Tata Altroz in March before the nationwide lockdown. At that time, the XT variant was available with a manual air conditioning (AC) option.
However, now the automaker provides automatic climate control in the XT variant.
The owner shared his experience with Vinod Singh Garkhal, owner of the YouTube channel Ridiculously amazing. Vinod recorded the video and uploaded it to his channel. Before talking about the trip, the sedan owner also explained why he opted for the Tata Altroz XT, which is the second premium model.
The owner had many options in mind before purchasing his car. He said his priority was safety and energy efficiency. In short, he wanted a car with low maintenance and high fuel consumption from a Maruti Suzuki car with high safety standards. Tata Altroz met most of its requirements.
Read also: Notice from the owner of Tata Altroz
Tata Altroz XT Long Trip Review
The owner traveled from Delhi to Bhagalpur which is about 1450 km on one side. He traveled with his family and the car was fully loaded. In addition, the total path consisted of both good and bad roads. The driver said road conditions near Bhagalpur and the UP-Bihar border were particularly bad. Most of the roads were muddy and the potholes filled with water.
The owner explained everything, how it affected the ride, mileage, comfort and whether there was enough ground clearance in this car. In addition, the driver encountered some problems, which we will discuss in detail.
AC problem in the car
As the owner had to travel a long way, he got the first service after only 700 km. However, the technicians had not updated the car's AC module and this resulted in an AC power failure after 150 km of driving. It also took a toll on the sedan's mileage. The owner said the car's fuel tank emptied just after driving 250 km.
Tata Altroz has a 37 liter fuel tank, which brings the mileage down to around 7 km / l. However, this was due to the faulty AC module. When he turned off the air conditioning, the engine performance of his Tata Altroz returned to normal.
In addition, the owner spoke of the improved service from Tata Motors.
Surprisingly improved Tata engine service
Those familiar with the automotive industry know that Tata Motors is often criticized for its after-sales service. However, in this case, Tata surprised the owner with its quality of service. When the owner reached his destination in Bhagalpur, he contacted the company and explained the big picture.
The automaker responded and got the job done right. According to the owner, technicians at the service center had to replace the entire air conditioner.
Mileage
Although the mileage of the sedan dropped significantly due to air conditioning issues, it improved on the way back to Delhi. According to the owner, his car was fully loaded with family members and their luggage. In addition, the road conditions were not good where he was traveling.
Additionally, he said the car was stationary for nearly 30 minutes due to traffic and the air conditioning was on during that time. After all these conditions, the car managed to generate a mileage of around 18.5 km / l according to MID (multi-information display).
Apart from that, we have also seen owners achieve mileage of up to 28 km / l with Altroz when traveling alone in better road conditions.
Suspension and ground clearance
According to the owner, the car's suspension is neither stiff nor soft, it is balanced. He said the rear suspension seems to be better than the front because he feels more comfortable in the back seats.
If we're talking about ground clearance, it's 165mm for Tata Altroz, which seems pretty low. However, after traveling on roads full of potholes, the owner said Altroz managed to maneuver smoothly without any scratches or damage to its base.
Low initial power
Unlike Maruti Swift's engines, which are quite punchy in terms of performance and acceleration, Altroz lacks the initial punch, the owner said. This power shift becomes evident in situations where the car is fully loaded. Otherwise, Altroz is fairly stable at high speeds.
Another reason for the Tata Altroz's relatively lower acceleration compared to the Maruti Suzuki is its weight. Due to the build quality of the Tata Altroz, it is quite heavy, but it protects you and gives you confidence at higher speeds. Also, when you're riding with less stuff, the acceleration lag can become hard to notice.
Conclusion
Everyone does a lot of research before buying a car. The final decision always depends on their most important requirement. Those who prefer cars that are fuel efficient, low-maintenance and with good aftermarket value usually choose Maruti Suzuki.
On the other hand, if your priority is high-end performance cars without any concern for their high maintenance cost, you can opt for Volkswagen or Ford.
If safety, build quality and high speed stability are your top priorities, then Tata is the best choice for you.
Whichever brand you choose, you will have to compromise on several points.
Anyway, share your take on the brand you will go with?