Tata Altroz Automatic DCA Review: Most Affordable Dual Clutch Automatic? | Full Specifications
At slow-moving speeds, the dual clutch automatic performed really well and in the city, we can see people liking it as a form of convenience. Read the full review below.
We remember driving the Altroz two years back and we clearly stated a need for an automatic variant with the car. The premium hatchback segment is more than just about mileage or space as styling, features and convenience takes a bigger preference when the consumer spends so much on a hatchback. The Altroz has been successful due to its looks, high safety rating and value positioning while now an automatic will only increase its appeal further.
However, before we talk about its driving experience, we should discuss its specifications. The Altroz DCA gets a dual clutch automatic and that is being offered as an option with only the 86 bhp 1.2l petrol and not the turbo or the diesel. The decision to not provide the DCT with the turbo petrol is due to price as that would have pushed the price of the car much higher than 10 lakhs for sure. Anyways, DCT or a dual clutch automatic is an interesting choice since only premium cars come with that and other than its rival, the i20 from Hyundai, other cars at this price point come with standard torque converter automatic or CVT or AMT.
The full form of DCT means it has two clutches, one for even gears and one for odd gears. That means better shift times and better mileage when compared to other automatics. It is therefore a type of gearbox for performance driving and that makes the Altroz DCA, the most affordable dual clutch automatic on sale since the price tag is below the 10 lakh mark for even the most expensive Altroz DCA variant. Tata Motors claims that the gearbox has been tested for our road conditions and climates while it gets tech like active cooling, machine learning and shift-by-wire.
Hence, while the DCA looks impressive value on paper, a drive in city traffic and a small highway run showed more about the car. The gearbox starts off very smoothly and in city traffic, the gear shifts were responsive and not jerky with no lag. At slow moving speeds, the dual clutch automatic performed really well and in the city, we can see people liking it as a form of convenience. Even more so because the engine is not very powerful. The Altroz manual 1.2l standard requires some downshifts due to the lack of a bottom end torque which the automatic removes.
The dual clutch simply makes driving easier and more relaxing. Sudden overtakes and instant response is also pretty good if only there is a tiny bit of hesitancy when you put your foot down. For most everyday city driving conditions, the Altroz DCA simply works. We would have liked paddle shifters but manual shifting via the lever does the job and comes in handy for highway use and occasional overtakes. Out on the highway, I appreciated the Altroz DCA more since it adds to the driving experience. It will cruise well and while a turbo petrol DCT would have been nice, this does the job.
In terms of mileage, it is not very far behind from the manual and 10-12kmpl would be expected. A crucial factor we need to mention is that the Altroz DCA uses a wet clutch and that makes it more reliable than a dry clutch plus less prone to heating issues. Tata Motors have worked hard to remove heating issues and while there is no heating indicator, we drove it in peak traffic during the hottest part of the day for hours with no issue. A longer test should answer more but for now, this dual clutch seems robust for our roads and use.
Other bits? The auto park mode is handy since it engages park mode if the driver forgets to do so and gets out of the car. The new Opera Blue colour makes the Altroz even better looking too. Available in XM+, XT, XZ, and XZ+ variants, the Altroz DCA is around a lakh or so more than the manual. To us, it makes it worth it since it makes your life much easier and more relaxing with so much traffic on our roads. It makes sense to spend the extra money plus it is also reliable for our conditions. That said, the engine continues to be a bit weak and the turbo petrol would have made it more fun plus more expensive too. All things considered the Altroz DCA is a welcome addition and makes for a good value automatic car purchase.
What we like- Gearbox shift quality, affordable pricing, looks
What we do not- Dual clutch automatic not offered with turbo petrol
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