Automatic transmissions are slowly becoming the favoured choice for four-wheeler buyers in India. To benefit from demand, carmakers are adding these gearboxes to as many models in their line-up as possible. Tata’s latest is its sub-four metre Tigor. When first introduced, the car impressed many with its styling and interiors. This car can now be had with the AMT transmission that is seen in the Tiago. But, like in the Tiago, this gearbox can only be had with the 1.2-litre petrol motor.
Firstly, this car has the creep function, this helps a lot in traffic conditions, allowing you to go ahead without throttle input. However, there is a little judder which can be felt at low speeds. But, once you begin speeding up, the gearshifts smoothen out. Being an AMT, the shifts are slightly slow.
Similar to the Tiago, the Tigor has two driving modes – City and Sport. Sport considerably changes the performance however, in City mode; the gearbox is slow and relaxed which is fine if you are in bumper-to-bumper traffic. However, if you are cruising at higher speeds, the delay in shifts affects overtaking. Overall, the car feels much better to drive in Sport mode but the shifts are still not fast enough.
In terms of performance, the Tigor takes 17.7 seconds to reach 0-100kph. This is slow, even after being in Sport mode. In City mode, it is slower by around 3 seconds and this isn’t impressive. The car does manage to shift gears faster in Sport mode. However, the earlier upshifting City mode helps with fuel economy. One can also drive the car in manual mode; this allows you to shift gears yourself.
To get the most out of the Tigor AMT, one has to leave it in Sport mode and use the throttle pedal with a light foot. It is when you drive the car at moderate rpms, the gearbox works the best. It keeps you in the correct gear at most times. It is also easy to reverse this car since the car is equipped with the creep function. However, the car does need delicate throttle input. The power delivery is sudden and not smooth.
The Indian carmaker has surely entered a new segment with the Tigor AMT. It is available in two trim levels – XTA – mid-spec trim with just enough features and XZA – a model that is full-loaded. They are priced at ₹5.82 lakh and ₹6.30 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) respectively.
Should I buy one?
Tata’s Tigor AMT isn’t as sorted as its biggest rival, the Maruti Dzire AGS. The Maruti is smoother, a better performer and has more features. However, it costs close to ₹1 lakh more. Interestingly, the Tigor is the cheapest in the segment but it doesn’t feel like it. Which makes the car extremely good value for money, and many would overlook its few niggles at its price point.
