Tata Altroz vs Renault Fluence [2014-2017]

The Tata Altroz Racer, as the name suggests, is a racier version of the standard hatchback with a more powerful engine, cosmetic changes, and additional features. Here is our first drive review of it.

The Fluence has a difficult job. It lies in a segment of the market that covers a range of nearly ten lakh rupees. At the bottom end are the likes of the Honda City and Hyundai Verna, that offer more legroom and gizmos than ever before. At the other end lies the Skoda Superb – and these are only the sedans. We haven’t considered the Maruti Ertiga and Honda Mobilio, and the cars that are generating the most sales in the price bracket: the SUVs. Sure, one of the most successful is from the Renault stable itself, but that only makes the Fluence’s job harder. How, then has Renault managed to update the Fluence to battle a shrinking segment?

This is the new CNG variant of the Tata Altroz. It joins the CNG portfolio of the carmaker, alongside the Tiago and Tigor. Its prime competitors are the Maruti Suzuki Baleno and the Toyota Glanza which are also offered in CNG versions but fewer variants; the Altroz CNG can be had in as many as six variants. Does this and the new segment-first features make it any good? We find out in this review.