Tata Tiago iCNG AMT Review: Convenience at its finest

Ever since the inception of CNG vehicles, automobile manufacturers have generally offered them as an entry or a middle-level variant. Last year, Tata Motors decided to disrupt the CNG market by launching a fully loaded Altroz iCNG with a sunroof. The Indian car maker has now again managed to push the envelope by launching the Tiago iCNG Automated Manual Transmission (AMT). That’s right, it is the first CNG-powered hatchback that is mated to an automatic transmission. True, it isn’t a fully automatic transmission as it has an internally built clutch that the gearbox applies by itself, but it still manages to offer a clutchless pedal driving experience. 

We take a quick spin at the Tiago iCNG AMT and find out how the driving experience is.

Tata Tiago iCNG AMT Review: Behind the Wheel

We fired up the 1.2-litre petrol engine and moderate vibrations from the 3-cylinder woke us and the car up. The powerplant’s output remains identical to its CNG manual version, 72bhp and 93Nm in CNG mode and 85bhp and 113Nm when switched to petrol. Being an AMT, slight hesitancy can be felt in the first two cogs, but to be fair the jerkiness in the gear shift is not very pronounced. One has to adapt to the nature of the transmission by offering a gentle throttle response and not putting the pedal to the metal. The power delivery is fairly smooth if the hatchback isn’t pushed around in a hurry. On third gear, the engine feels more responsive and lively to take on the daily traffic snares in the city. 

Though there’s a difference of over 10bhp between CNG and petrol drive modes, Tata Motors has ensured there isn’t any compromise in the driving experience as the power response feels more or less. The Tiago iCNG AMT isn’t a hot hatch road runner, but it has enough juice to overtake the city and build up speed on the highway in a calm manner. In terms of performance, one can’t ignore the numbers. The Tiago CNG is one of the most powerful vehicles in its segment. 

Unlike other manufacturer’s CNG vehicles, the Tiago iCNG starts from CNG mode as default. With a single ECU, it smoothly shifts from CNG to petrol. 

 Tata Tiago iCNG AMT Review: Ride and Handling

Keeping in mind the additional weight of the twin CNG tanks, the Tiago ICNG weighs around 110kg as compared to its petrol version. To make sure that handling isn’t compromised, Tata Motors has made the suspension set slightly firm. Due to this, the ride comfort isn’t sacrificed either as it remains well cushioned, especially for the rear passengers. 

Tata Tiago iCNG AMT Review: Feature Laden

Like other Tata CNG models, the Tiago AMT also gets the smart twin-cylinder 60-litre CNG tanks that offer some boot space. The tanks are placed below the floorboard of the loading bay while the spare wheel is placed in the underbody. The other smart feature in the Tiago CNG AMT is the micro switch that shuts down the ignition when the fuel flap is open. In case of a gas leak, the system automatically switches from CNG to petrol mode. The Thermal Incident Protection function shuts down the CNG supply to the engine and releases gas directly into the atmosphere through a special nozzle. There is also a fire extinguisher placed beneath the front passenger’s seat.

The Tiago iCNG AMT is available in three variants — — XTA, XZA+ and XZA NRG. The top model comes packed with a 7-inch infotainment system, an 8-speaker music system, automatic climate control, rain-sensing wipers foldable ORVMs, automatic headlights, a tyre pressure monitoring system and a rear parking camera.

The Tata Tiago iCNG AMT is equipped with twin airbags in the front, an Electronic Brakeforce System (EBD) and an Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS), Corner Stability Control, ISOFIX and all seat belt reminders.

Tata Tiago iCNG AMT Review: Verdict

Tata Motors has launched two new colours, Tornado Blue in the Tiago and Grassland Beige in the Tiago NRG. Apart from the badging, there are no new updates from the design side. Moving on to the cabin, it also remains more or less the same except for the CNG button on the dashboard to change the modes. 

Starting from Rs 7.90 lakh to Rs 8.90 lakh, the Tiago CNG AMT version is exactly Rs 55,000 more than its manual’s variants, making it a value-for-money proposition as it gets a lot of comfort and tech features, offers more than adequate power for commuting and doesn’t compromise on ride quality or its handling prowess.