The Tata Altroz is finally getting what one might call a proper face wash. Since its launch in January 2020, the car has been soldiering on with regular updates to the drivetrain and feature list, but nothing visual enough to make your neighbours turn twice. That changes on May 22, when the Altroz facelift officially bows in — and Tata has dropped a teaser to whet your appetite. Or at least raise one eyebrow.
What’s New (Visibly, Anyway)
Let’s start at the front — the Altroz facelift keeps the split-headlamp layout, but the units are now entirely LED. There’s a fancy new DRL signature that looks like a brow furrowed in concentration, which frankly matches the car’s situation in the sales charts. The bumper’s been tweaked with vertical recesses for the fog lamps, and the grille’s been redrawn to look a little more serious.
At the back, things get a bit more enthusiastic. New LED tail-lamps with a “T” motif are connected by an LED light bar. It sounds very ‘EV’, which seems to be the general direction. Even the new alloy wheels carry that clean, aerodynamic look that screams “range-optimised” — except, this isn’t an EV. Yet.
The rear bumper now gets a dual-tone treatment, and there are new flush-fitting, illuminated door handles, presumably for people who still enjoy discovering how to open doors.
Inside: Bigger Screens, Fewer Buttons?
We haven’t seen the full cabin yet — Tata’s being coy — but here’s what’s expected:
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New dashboard layout with soft-touch materials
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Updated seat upholstery with fresh colourways
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A larger 10.25-inch touchscreen, no longer reserved for the top-spec Racer
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New digital instrument cluster
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360-degree camera system
This should bring the Altroz closer to its better-kitted rivals in the tech department — a necessity, considering even scooters are starting to get touchscreens.
Under the Skin: No Surprises
Mechanically, everything stays the same. Which means five powertrain options, all carried forward:
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1.2l petrol (88 bhp, 115 Nm) with 5-speed manual or 6-speed DCT
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1.2l CNG (73.5 bhp, 103 Nm) with 5-speed manual
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1.5 l diesel (90 bhp, 200 Nm) with 5-speed manual
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1.2l turbo-petrol (120 bhp, 170 Nm) on the Racer, with a 6-speed manual
It’s still the only hatchback in India with a diesel engine. That might not mean much to urban buyers obsessed with “sunroofs” and “connected tech”, but for highway warriors and high-mileage folk, that’s a quiet reassurance.
Altroz vs The World
The Altroz facelift will continue to lock horns with the Maruti Baleno, Toyota Glanza and Hyundai i20 — all cars that have moved closer to compact SUVS in both price and presence. Unfortunately, sales in the premium hatchback space have been sliding faster than a teenager’s attention span, and the Altroz hasn’t been immune.
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Sales then: ~5,000 units/month (FY21-22)
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Sales now: ~2,000 units/month
Still, a visual refresh and a tech upgrade could nudge things in the right direction. Sometimes, all a car needs is a bigger screen and some light-up bits to feel new again.
The Bottom Line
The Tata Altroz facelift doesn’t promise any mechanical revolutions. But it does get sharper looks, more tech, and a clearer sense of identity in a shrinking segment. With diesel still in the mix, and that angry eyebrow lighting up the front end, it might find a few new fans.
Or at the very least, make people ask, “Hey, is that the new one?”
