Tata Tiago iCNG AMT Review: Convenience Vs Cost

Can the AMT justify the added cost to a budget sensitive buyer?

If you are looking to buy a family car with CNG, the Tiago is one of the best options in the market. It offers good looks, a full set of features and appropriate power for the daily commute. And  now, Tata has fixed the two biggest challenges with CNG cars: the absence of boot space and an automatic transmission. 

However, that has come with a higher asking price: Rs 50,000 over the Rs 95,000 premium that existed for CNG powertrain. Does this make the CNG experience more premium and mainstream? Or is the asking price making the whole ‘CNG’ benefit redundant?

Boot Space

The Tiago’s one large 60-litre CNG tank that can hold up to 10 kg of CNG has now been replaced by two smaller cylinders with the same capacity. These cylinders are placed closer to the boot floor, which opens up a lot more boot space than before. The boot can now carry an overnight suitcase, a duffle bag and a laptop bag together. But that's not all; Tata has even managed to squeeze in a spare tyre under the boot floor for emergencies. This packaging is quite clever and should be adapted by other manufacturers as well.  

How is it to drive?

The Tiago iCNG often makes you question whether you’re actually driving on CNG; It is that good! It starts up on CNG and not petrol and there is no extra noise, vibration or feedback from the engine that’s usually felt when running on the natural gas. Start to drive and it offers plenty of power for maintaining 50-60 kmph and overtake cars doing those speeds as well. The engine only feels stressed and not giving the expected acceleration at higher revs, where it starts to respond like a typical CNG car lacking power. Hence, overtakes on the highway will need some planning but inside the city limits, you will never feel the need to switch to petrol. 

Now, with the AMT, the Tiago iCNG has become an even better car to drive. This AMT is among the best ones on any Tata car yet. The upshifts are relatively quick and the shift logic and tune is on point. It keeps you in the power band, and while the downshifts are not as quick, they are still smooth as the gearbox usually holds you in a higher gear to keep the momentum going. Be it CNG or petrol, Tata has managed to tune the AMT such that it works effortlessly with both fuel options. Overall, the AMT is our recommendation if you are looking for added convenience in the city. 

Price Vs Running Cost Dilemma

Now, we come to the important bit. Why are you planning to buy a CNG car in the first place? The answer is a low running cost. But if the purchase cost is increased, how much time will it take you to recover it. Let's do some math. 

Given that you are paying Rs 95,000 more over the petrol AMT for the CNG AMT, and are getting a Rs 2.45/km lower running cost, it will take you roughly 38,000kms to recover additional purchase cost. Running your car for 50 km per day, it will take you slightly over 2 years to recover this extra cost. 

Verdict

Tata has succeeded in making the Tiago a strong contender for those looking for a family hatchback. It has looks, a good set of features, is comfortable, and is available with a variety of powertrains including electric. With the first ever AMT along with a CNG and its brilliant execution, that wide appeal has only become wider. 

However, while the Tiago CNG AMT is a brilliant daily driver, it has become more expensive with the automatic, begging the question whether it is worth the reduction in the running cost. The answer is up to you. If you drive over 50km a day, then it will still be more economical to run for a 5-6 year ownership period. However, if you are running closer to 20km per day, getting the petrol AMT will be a wiser economical decision.