Rising fuel prices mean more people are opting for CNG-powered cars or EVs. Tata Motors has been quick to jump onto both bandwagons and enjoys success with its innovations. A prime example is its ‘twin-cylinder’ technology that has liberated more boot space in its CNG-powered Tiago and Tigor, a typical pain point with CNG-fuelled cars. The twin CNG tanks though aren’t Tata’s only innovation though, as Tata Motors also pioneered ‘automatic’ versions of its Tigor and Tiago iCNG by employing automated manual transmissions.
We’ve just gotten our hands on the Tiago iCNG AMT, a hatchback we were curious about given that it’s the only hatchback in the country to run on CNG and have the option of an automatic gearbox. The Tiago iCNG AMT looks identical to other versions of the hatchback, meaning the biggest update is under the hood, which is the 5-speed AMT gearbox paired to the 1.2-litre petrol engine. The engine offers 86PS and 113Nm in petrol mode and 73.4PS and 95Nm in CNG mode, though the difference in performance is barely noticeable in city, while NVH levels are impressive, despite the three-cylinder engine.
The AMT gearbox is also fairly responsive, though quality of shifts could be smoother and more precise (in manual mode). The typical lag associated with AMTs can be felt at times too and clearly, this is a gearbox that’s more ‘at home’ in urban conditions. Overall, the gearbox feels relatively smooth and also features a manual mode that is useful when driving enthusiastically. When driving in the hills you do feel the need for more grunt from the engine, which further tells us this is a car aimed largely at city-dwellers, which is something it does a good job of.
The twin-cylinder setup at the rear adds weight, but Tata has tuned the rear suspension to maintain a ground clearance of 168mm, which is just 2mm less than the petrol Tiago. Ride quality is thus impressive over speed bumps and on broken roads courtesy the pliant suspension. Maneuverability is good besides which the car feels planted at speeds and I also like the steering response, though at times I was left wanting for a firmer suspension setup.
Prices begin from 7.9 lakh ex-showroom and go up to 8.9 lakh which is about `60,000 more than the manual CNG version. However, this additional expense brings the convenience of an automatic transmission and improved fuel efficiency. While the manual CNG boasts an ARAI-certified figure of 26.49km/kg, the AMT version boasts a higher 28.06km/kg, another feather in this impressive hatchback’s hat. That’s a win-win in our books!
