Tata Altroz Racer vs i20 N-line: Battle of sporty hatchbacks

Tata Motors finally launched the Tata Altroz Racer in the Indian market. The hatchback was first showcased at the 2023 Delhi Auto Expo and then later at this year’s Bharat Mobility Expo. The Altroz racer is essentially a much sportier version of the regular variant and will feature a powerful engine, cosmetic tweaks, updated interior with new features and more.

The sportier Altroz will directly go up against the Hyundai i20 N-line. In this article, let’s compare the Altroz Racer with the i20 N line in terms of price difference, dimensions, features, powertrain and specifications.

First let’s directly compare the engine, the i20 N line is powered by a 1.0-litre, 3-cyl, turbo petrol engine with 120 hp of power and 172 Nm of torque. Gearbox options include a 6-speed manual or a 7-speed DCT. The i20 N line additionally gets a twin-tip sportier exhaust note, stiff suspension setup, and all-wheel disc brakes over the regular i20.

The Tata Altroz Racer gets a 1.2-litre, 3-cyl, turbo petrol engine with 120 hp of power and 170 Nm of torque. Gearbox options include only a 6-speed manual gearbox. There’s no automatic gearbox option or any suspension or steering updates. However, it gets a sportier sounding exhaust system.

Comparing the pricing and variants, the i20 N line is offered in two variants – N6 and N8 with prices starting from Rs 9.99 lakh and going up to 12.5 lakhs (both prices Ex-showroom). The Altroz Racer is offered in three variants R1, R2 and R3 with prices starting from Rs 9.49 lakh and going up to 10.99 lakhs (both prices Ex-showroom).
The i20 N line measures 3995 mm in length, 1775 mm in width, 1505 in height and a 2580 mm wheelbase. The Altroz Racer measures 3990 mm in length, 1755 mm in width, 1523 mm in height and has a wheelbase of 2501mm. The i20 N line is 5mm longer, 20mm wider, and has a 79mm longer wheelbase than the Altroz Racer. Both SUVs have a similar ground clearance and get 16-inch multi-spoke alloy wheels.

Moving inside, the i20 N line gets an all-black interior with subtle red accents and N Line badging on the seats and steering wheel. It also gets red ambient lighting, a metal finish on the pedals and an N Line-specific steering wheel and gear lever. In terms of features, the hatchback gets a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and OTA updates, a digital instrument cluster, wireless phone charging, reverse camera with sensors, automatic headlamps, cruise control, automatic climate control, electric sunroof and a 7-speaker Bose sound system. In terms of safety, it gets 6 airbags, three-point seatbelts with seatbelt reminders for all passengers, a Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), electronic stability control (ESC) and hill assist control.

Talking about the features in the Altroz Racer, a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster, connected car tech, ventilated seats, 360-degree camera, a heads-up display and a voice-assisted sunroof, automatic climate control, wireless charging, cruise control, parking sensors and more.