After two years of launch, Tata Motors have finally introduced automatic in their Altroz hatchback. DCA (Dual Clutch Automatic) comes in 4 variants, gets new colour option and incorporates number of segment first technologies.
The exterior of Altroz DCA are exactly similar to the outgoing variant. Opera blue is the new colour option here. It will be available even in Dark range while other paint schemes are Downtown Red, Arcade Grey, Avenue White and Harbour Blue.
Like the exterior, the cabin theme and equipments are also carry forwarded except for the obvious automatic transmission in place of manual counterpart.
Feature list is also same as before with top equipments inlacing rear ac vents. Connected car technology, semi digital instrument cluster, ambient light, 7” touchscreen setup and more.
| NA Petrol | Turbo Petrol | Diesel | |
| Engine | 1.2 L 3 Cylinder Revotron | 1.2 L 3 Cylinder Revotron | 1.5 L 4 cylinder Revotorq |
| Displacement | 1199 cc | 1199 cc | 1497 cc |
| Power | 85 BHP | 108 BHP | 89 BHP |
| Torque | 113 NM | 140 NM | 200 NM |
| Transmission | 5 Speed MT / 6 Speed DCT | 5 Speed MT | 5 Speed MT |
| Fuel efficiency | 19.05 kmpl / 18.18 kmpl | 18.13 kmpl | 25.11 kmpl |
DCA is available with NA petrol unit while the i-Turbo and diesel engine have choice of only manual transmission. Claimed mileage of Altroz DCA is 18.18 kmpl which is 0.87 kmpl less than manual counterpart.
Altroz DCA packs in some additional equipment like wet clutch with active cooling technology, best suited for hot weather conditions and in bumper-to-bumper traffic.
It also boasts machine learning which compares performance of car with the ideal parameters and simultaneously adjusts the transmission.
To ensure jerk free and quick gear shifts, it also features segment first shift by wire technology, which means completely electronic without the use of any shifter cables.
Self healing mechanism is another interesting feature of this gearbox which has a self healing setup apart from standard filtration to clear out dust which could otherwise affect the performance of transmission.
Last feature on the list is Auto Park Lock which is meant to automatically engage the parking mode in case the driver forgets to do so and comes out of the car. It does this by detecting the absence of the driver (no seatbelt, no pedal active, engine on and door open).
Tata Motors offers DCA in Altroz in XM+, XT, XZ, XZ(O), XZ+ model. Here is the 1.2 L petrol manual and automatic variant wise pricing:
| Automatic Variant | Price (Ex Showroom) | Corresponding MT variant | Price (Ex Showroom) |
| XM+ DCA | Rs 8.10 lakh | XM+ | Rs 7.03 lakh |
| XT DCA | Rs 8.60 lakh | XT | Rs 7.53 lakh |
| XT Dark DCA | Rs 9.06 lakh | XT Dark | Rs 7.99 lakh |
| XZ DCA | Rs 9.10 lakh | XZ | Rs 8.03 lakh |
| XZ (O) DCA | Rs 9.22 lakh | XZ (O) | Rs 8.15 lakh |
| XZ+ DCA | Rs 9.60 lakh | XZ+ | Rs 8.53 lakh |
| XZA+ Dark DCA | Rs 9.90 lakh | XZ+ Dark | Rs 8.83 lakh |
Price difference between MT and DCA is Rs 1.07 L (Ex Showroom). The direct rival to Altroz DCA is Hyundai i20 DCT. Other competitors are Baleno & Glanza AMT, Jazz CVT and Polo AT.
You can wait for our detailed drive review of Altroz DCA which will go live on March 30.
After the launch of Tata Altroz DCA, the carmakers plans to bring petrol iteration of Harrier and Safari, long range Nexon EV in the coming months.