Tata Tigor iCNG AMT Review: Convenience meets Efficiency

In metro cities, if one were to opt for the cost-effectiveness of CNG cars, one would have to relinquish the convince of automatic cars, for CNG cars are not offered with automatic transmissions. Such has been the case – that is, until now. Shattering the limits of this choice between the two, Tata Motors has introduced not one but two CNG cars equipped with automatic transmission – the Tiago and Tigor. We spent half a day with the latter to find out if it truly lives up to the hype.

Tata Tigor iCNG AMT Review: Step on It

As soon as I got the keys to the Tigor iCNG AMT, I wasted little time getting behind its wheel. Now, on its own, not much changed in the Tigor, but more on that later. The transmission on offer here is a 5-speed AMT (automated-manual transmission), which means that essentially, it is the same as the 5-speed manual on offer, but in the former, gear shifting and clutch action are taken care of by actuators. Step on the pedal, and the Tigor moves forward with ease. All you need is light throttle inputs to get around residential areas, and if you tread lightly, the gear shifts are remarkably smooth and quite intuitive. When pushed, the Tigor iCNG responds with a linear power curve, propelling you towards the red line, but the AMT takes a bit of time while shifting here, accompanied by the characteristic head nod. 

On the highway, the Tigor cruises comfortably at highway speeds. However, the kick-down effect of the transmission seems somewhat lacking. While attempting a quick overtake or even pressing the throttle urgently, the transmission refuses to shift down two gears immediately, and by the time it does, the overtaking opportunity disappears. This underscores the fact that the Tigor AMT, when running on CNG, prefers to be driven with a light foot.

To get a sense of the performance disparity, we tested the Tigor in petrol mode. And one thing immediately became evident – the difference between the petrol and the CNG mode is discernible right from the get-go. While the power delivery remains linear, you do feel an added dose of torque propelling the tacho needle towards the red line with a tad more vigour in petrol mode. While the issue concerning the kick-down effect persists in petrol mode, it improves ever so slightly. Talking about things that get ever so slightly better. The NVH levels are slightly better in petrol mode, especially while cruising at triple-digit speeds. The difference, however, isn’t quite noticeable while driving in the city.

The Tigor AMT also features a manual mode, which allows you to take control over gear shifts. If you want to hurry things up a bit, then the manual mode is your best bet. The lever falls to hand quite easily, and shifts are immediately, albeit with a slight jerk. So, it’s advisable to stick to the automatic mode for normal driving and switch to the manual mode when you are in a bit of a hurry.

Tata Tigor iCNG AMT Review: Anything else?

Tata has introduced a new colour option for the Tigor called Meteor Bronze, which is also the colour of the car you see here. A new colour called Tornado Blue has also been introduced for the Tiago. Apart from these changes, both the Tigor and Tiago continue to be the same as before.

Tata Tigor iCNG AMT Review: Verdict

So, the only major update is the introduction of an automatic transmission, for which Tata is asking for about Rs 60,000 more than the price of the manual CNG variant of the Tigor. The pricing remains competitive, particularly considering that the Tigor’s price is still under Rs 10 lakh (ex-showroom). To add some context, the AMT will make moving those CNG lines in rush hour a more comfortable experience as constant clutching in and out won’t be required. While a few more cosmetic updates would have refreshed its design, even without them, the Tigor iCNG AMT is quite a compelling package for an everyday city car and is likely to appeal to those looking for both the cost-effectiveness of CNG and the convenience of automatic transmissions.