TATA ALTROZ DCA

Does Tata's new dual-clutch automatic gearbox make the Altroz the pick of the auto non-turbo hatches?

- SIMRAN RASTOGI

There's good enough reason to be reasonably excited about the debut of a new an automatic gearbox for Tata's there's only been the option of an AMT at the affordable end, so far, needing you to go up to something like the torque converter 'box in the Harrier/Safari if you wanted a "proper" automatic. Add in the fact that this new gearbox is a dual-clutch auto, and of the wet-clutch variety which is better suited to our driving conditions, along with a host of other tech and expectations are, understandably, quite high!

Leaving aside the fact that we'll see it in other affordable Tatas eventually, its debut comes in the Altroz, though the fact it mated with the 1.2-litre 3-cylinder with 86PS and 113Nm (and not the 110PS/140Nm iTurbo motor) does dull that excitement somewhat, on the other hand, its pricing undercuts even the CVT on the Hyundai i20 1.2 NA, and comes very close to the new Maruti Suzuki Baleno 1.2 NA with, yes, an AMT - and these two cars are arguably its closest rivals. That said, the 2022 Tata Altroz DCA would really have to be terrible to have you look the other way. Fortunately, it isn't...

What's the tech in the gearbox?