The Drive Report: Tata Tiago CNG AMT

It’s the first time the Tiago iCNG model has been equipped with an AMT transmission

Tata Motors’ move of adding more premium features to its CNG portfolio while simultaneously reducing the prices of its base-level EV model means the customer has a wide variety of choices when looking for a budget hatchback. It’s the first time the Tiago iCNG model has been equipped with an AMT transmission. It’s also the first time that both the CNG and the electric models are nearly identically priced.

The base price of the Tata Tiago iCNG AMT is Rs 7.89 lakh (ex-showroom). For this you get a spacious, if slightly barebones hatchback with two pedals and a tried-and-tested 1.2-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine making 86hp on petrol power and 72hp in CNG mode. The base Tiago EV now costs Rs 7.99 lakh (ex-showroom), for which you get a 19.2 kWh battery and 110 Nm of instantly delivered torque. Game, set, match.

Interestingly enough, while Tata Motors EV sales have seen steady year-on-year growth, having sold 69,153 units in CY2023 and 43,451 units in CY2022, the brand claims to have sold more than 1.3 lakh CNG vehicles in the same 24-month period. For those on a shoestring budget, the appeal of a manual, CNG Tiago is strong, given that it is cheaper. But with the convenience of an AMT thrown in, the question is, should you really pick it over the base-level EV?

While Tata Motors EV sales have seen steady year-on-year growth, having sold 69,153 units in CY2023 and 43,451 units in CY2022, the brand claims to have sold more than 1.3 lakh CNG vehicles in the same 24-month period

The AMT in question…

Continues to be sluggish. Compared to the twist-and-go convenience of the EV’s single-gear transmission, the hesitant, bare-bones nature of the AMT comes across as technological anachronism, best left behind. However, once you take into account the obvious and only benefit of an automatic CNG model – the absence of range anxiety – the AMT starts to look appealing.

The first thing you notice when you sit inside the car, apart from the 7-inch touchscreen, is the sticker on the driver’s door panel. The absence of a “parking” mode on the AMT means that you have to keep it in neutral while firing up the engine. This is a safety measure so the car won’t start unless you do this. There’s a CNG button on the dash, along with a backlit logo on the instrument cluster telling you when CNG is being used instead of petrol. The benefit of the Tiago CNG is that it can be started in CNG mode, unlike other rival CNG models 72hp is certainly not enough to make a car peppy, but the Tiago iCNG does manage to get up to speed, although it does like to make a bit of a racket, courtesy the AMT gearbox. It emits a loud noise, working through the cogs with considerable reluctance which takes some getting used to, especially during overtaking maneuvers. If you want a more predictable upshift, it’s better to slot it sideways and use the manual mode, although that too is only marginally better.

The first thing you notice when you sit inside the car, apart from the 7-inch touchscreen, is the sticker on the driver’s door panel.

The AMT is best suited to slow-speed driving although, make no mistake, the Tiago is still more powerful than the other popular CNG vehicles – the Celerio and the WagonR. And despite not having a Global NCAP safety rating for crash-worthiness, you can take it as a certainty that it outperforms its rivals on that front as well. What you will notice, however, is the AMT’s tendency to let the car roll back on slopes, even in “D” mode, causing you to heel ‘n toe your way out of a spot. In areas like this where the AMT’s “built-on-a-budget” nature becomes most apparent.

Still, the Tiago CNG feels quick for a CNG car, offering almost petrol-like performance. And should you find yourself on the highway, running low on CNG, the Tiago iCNG switches to petrol mode automatically. And there’s remarkably little difference between the two modes as far as performance goes. Softly sprung, the Tiago remains a very comfortable car to drive over battered roads, in any guise, be it CNG, petrol or EV.

What you will notice, however, is the AMT’s tendency to let the car roll back on slopes, even in “D” mode, causing you to heel ‘n toe your way out of a spot.

Storage, safety, mileage and more

On both these metrics, the iCNG lags behind other versions of the Tiago. The large 70L CNG tank takes up most of the space, leaving only enough for two large duffel bags. This is despite Tata Motors trying to use as much spatial ingenuity in the placement of the cylinder. So while you won’t have range anxiety if you undertake any interstate journeys, you will have to compromise on the amount of luggage you can carry. As for the safety front, as mentioned earlier, the iCNG model does not have a Global NCAP rating yet, so it's fair to assume that the petrol and EV version are safer.

The large 70L CNG tank takes up most of the space, leaving only enough for two large duffel bags. This is despite Tata Motors trying to use as much spatial ingenuity in the placement of the cylinder.

This top-spec variant does get more equipment than the base-spec EV version. For example, you get a 7.2-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (wired connectivity), front dual airbags, ABS and pesky seat belt reminders even when the rear seats aren’t occupied.

Interestingly enough, on the mileage front, Tata claims that the iCNG AMT is more fuel efficient than the manual, returning an ARAI certified 28.06 km/kg as opposed to 26.49 km/kg. While this continues to be less than the mileage offered by the likes of the Celerio CNG (35.60 km/kg), it’s still the best performing, most well equipped CNG hatchback in the market.

Verdict

When it comes to powertrain refinement, energy efficiency, crash safety, ease of driving and storage the Tiago EV absolutely blows its iCNG counterpart out of the water. It’s also cheaper to run. However, its limited range means that you are getting a vehicle you will hesitate to drive out of city limits. The Tiago iCNG AT is for those who are looking at it as their sole vehicular purchase. A car that isn’t tethered to a patchwork infrastructure, particularly in India’s rural belt where steady electricity supply and charging infrastructure continue to remain woefully patchwork.

If you intend to drive long distances on a daily basis and don’t have access to easy charging, you will find a frugal-but-feature-rich daily driver in the Tiago CNG AMT. If charging isn’t a concern, the EV is the car for you.