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2025 Tata Altroz Facelift Review - Back With A Bang
The year was 2019. The world had not heard the word COVID and massive car shows were still a thing in Europe. It was under these circumstances that Tata Motors revealed the all-new Altroz premium hatchback, the production-spec version of the 45X concept that was unveiled at the 2108 Auto Expo.
Then came the pandemic which was followed by new emission norms. Tata kept the Altroz updated, tweaking its engines to meet stricter emission norms and introducing the iCNG and Racer variants to keep the hatch relatively fresh.
However, as the rest of Tata's lineup continued to grow with the introduction of newer models or big refreshes, the Altroz seemed to be left to its own devices even as rivals continued to change and evolve. Now, Tata has finally pulled the trigger and given the Altroz, the mid-life facelift update that it needed.
So just exactly what has changed in the new 2025 Tata Altroz facelift? We drove the Tata's premium hatchback offering in Bangalore to find the answers...
2025 Tata Altroz Facelift Review - A Revised Exterior Design - Sharp & Sporty
One glance at the new 2025 Tata Altroz Facelift and the changes to the exterior are very evident. The entire front end has been thoroughly revised, featuring new LED headlights with eyebrow-style DRLs, linked by a slimline grille with a smaller Tata badge.
The lower section of the front bumper houses the rectangular LED fog lamps on its edges and features an air dam in the centre. Most of the lower section of the front bumper is made of a black plastic material while the lower lip and some of the sides are finished in the colour of the car.
The sides of the Altroz remain largely unchanged, with the most notable updates being the new 16-inch alloy wheels, seemingly inspired by those on some of Tata's latest EVs. Another standout feature is the illuminated flush door handles.
The rear section of the Altroz facelift is where we see signs of more extensive changes. The most significant of these changes come in the form of the horizontal T-shaped LED taillights that are connected by a light bar.
The Tata badge sits beneath this while the Altroz badging, now smaller than before, sits lower on the tailgate. The lower section of the bumper is a sporty dual-tone setup that reflects the one found at the front. It also plays host to the reversing light.
2025 Tata Altroz Facelift Review - Revised Interiors - Premium & Feature Packed
Step inside the facelifted 2025 Tata Altroz and the changes are even more in your face. If you've been inside the Tata Curvv, then the changes to the dashboard will look rather familiar.
The new Altroz features a brand-new 10.25-inch driver's display, which can also function as the screen for maps and the blind spot monitor. Positioned in front of the driver's display is a two-spoke steering wheel with an illuminated Tata badge, along with controls for the infotainment system.
The 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment display is better integrated with the rest of the three-tone dash. It supports wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay and also hosts Tata's IRA connected car setup. The infotainment screen is paired with a four-tweeter and 4 speaker setup for the sound system.
Other highlights of the Altroz's dashboard include the touch controls for the climate control system, a height-adjustable driver's seat, a cooled glovebox, rear AC vents, 65W USB-C charging ports for both the front and rear, a wireless phone charger, and a voice-activated sunroof. The seats are comfortable though those on the taller side will find the rear headroom lacking.
The 2025 Tata Altroz continues to sport a host of safety features. The safety gear includes six airbags, ESP, ABS with EBD, ISOFIX mounts for child seats, and more. The Altroz also comes equipped with automatic headlights and windshield wipers, cruise control, TPMS, and a 360-degree camera.
2025 Tata Altroz Facelift Review - The Mechanical Bits - Mostly Unchanged
The facelifted Tata Altroz carries over all of the powertrain options from its predecessor except for the Racer variant and its turbocharged petrol engine. The naturally aspirated 1.2-litre petrol engine continues to push out 86.8bhp and 115Nm of peak torque. The engine is offered with 5-speed manual and AMT gearboxes as well as a 6-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
The CNG version of the same 1.2-litre NA engine pushes out 72.5bhp and 103Nm of peak torque. The CNG version of the 2025 Tata Altroz facelift is only offered with a 5-speed manual transmission.
Finally, there is the turbocharged 1.5-litre diesel engine, the only diesel offering in the segment. The Altroz's diesel engine produces 88.76bhp and a chunky 200Nm of peak torque. The Altroz diesel is offered with a 5-speed manual gearbox.
The facelifted Altroz measures 3,990mm in length, 1,755mm in width, and 1,523mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2,501mm. It offers 165mm of ground clearance and a 5-metre turning radius. The boot provides 345 litres of storage in the petrol and diesel variants, which is reduced to 210 litres in the CNG version to accommodate the twin CNG tanks. The facelifted Altroz hatch rides on 16-inch alloy wheels shod with 185/60 tyres. The spare wheel is a 14-inch space saver shod with 165/80 rubber.
2025 Tata Altroz Facelift Review - How Does It Drive?
During our few hours with the Altroz, we got to test out both the diesel and iCNG variants of the car. The diesel is still the same detuned version of the engine found on the Nexon, while the iCNG option still allows you to start in CNG mode.
While there is still a bit of turbo lag under 1,800rpm, the oil-burning Altroz is quite easy to live with once you're past that mark on the rev counter. And once you're on the highway, the Altroz diesel settles in and cruises quite happily at the highway speed limit (80-100km/h).
Switching over to iCNG variant, the difference in power between CNG and petrol modes remains quite noticeable. While Tata claims to have tuned the CNG mode for slightly better low-end torque, it felt no different than before. The engine continues to be somewhat rattly, takes its time to build up speed, and revving it out isn't an option, as the top-end remains relatively flat.
The clutch continues to be light on both versions of the updated Altroz, though sticking the car into gear can be a problem sometimes. The brake pedal is also quite light and progressive to use which makes bringing the Altroz to a halt quite a smooth experience.
The ride and handling of the Altroz remain strong points. The car feels stable at high speeds, and when shown a corner, it is eager to turn-helped by a steering setup that weights up nicely at speed. While the ride of the Altroz did feel a bit stiff when we drove it over some of Bangalore's rougher tarmac (cough potholes cough), overall, the ride was quite comfortable.
2025 Tata Altroz Facelift Review - Verdict & Final Thoughts - Back With A Bang
When the Tata Altroz first debuted in 2019, it captured the attention of both buyers and rivals. Although it may have seemed overlooked during Tata's aggressive focus on electric vehicles, the facelifted 2025 Tata Altroz has once again brought it back into the spotlight.
The 2025 Tata Altroz facelift looks sharper and sportier than ever on the outside. Its interiors have taken a significant step forward, thanks to some generous borrowing from the parts bin of higher-segment cars.
Thanks to all these add-ons and the fact that the 2025 Altroz facelift remains the only car in the segment to offer a diesel engine, the updated premium hatchback from Tata is undoubtedly a car you should shortlist if you're looking for a vehicle in this category. The Tata Altroz diesel is the one we'd recommend (at least until the Racer returns), although we do wish Tata had paired it with an automatic gearbox.
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