2022 Tata Tiago iCNG road test review

And the figures are where we'll start, since the reduction in performance is often something CNG-car owners begrudgingly live with. In our testing the Tiago in CNG mode completed the 0-100kmph run in 15.8s, only 1.5s behind the petrol-mode figures of 14.2s. The latter figure is actually quicker than the 14.9s we tested the Tiago 1.2 petrol at back in 2019 but that could also be down to test differences. Importantly, while the outright performance in CNG mode (read pedal to metal) is more relaxed than in petrol mode, in regular driving you won't feel the difference, as shown by the near-identical roll-on figures whether in CNG or petrol mode â€" and that's where it counts. In our roll-on acceleration tests (30-50kmph, 50-70kmph, 60-80kmph in third, fourth and fifth gear respectively) we managed identical figures of 5.4s, 8.3s and around 9s in both CNG and petrol modes, showing just how good the tuning is. In fact, at really low speeds, CNG mode felt a little smoother, with absolutely no hint of surging, something we've experienced in the admittedly few CNG-cars we've had the chance to drive previously. 

The iCNG models also have the segment-first advantage of starting of in CNG mode, and whether that's advisable or not is up for discussion (petrol-mode is said to warm up the engine more effectively), but right from pulling away (barely any throttle required) the Tiago iCNG feels adequate, peppy even. City driving is easily dispensed of, sometimes even in higher gears than strictly necessary. You could climb speed breakers in second gear, there's enough on tap to get you going without lugging the engine. You'll find yourself shifting up around the 2,000rpm mark most times, and NVH is well kept in check even to about 3,000 revs. We did try climbing a slight incline and faced no issues here either. Out on the highway at a steady 100kmph revs were at the 3,000rpm mark. We didn't have a chance to test the efficiency considering our short time with the car and the tricky CNG refuelling, but we did manage about 120km on a tankful including our shooting and testing, which included a lot of heavy right-foot driving. Tata tells us they usually manage up to 300km on a tankful with careful driving. 

2022 Tata Tiago iCNG ride and handling 

Now the CNG tank has added around 100kg go weight to a hatchback that was amongst the heaviest in the segment already, and it's relatively high up, even more so than in a regular CNG-car by virtue of the luggage space being under the cylinder. But Tata has tuned the suspension to account for it. So while ground clearance very marginally drops, the ride quality doesn't. In fact, the Tiago iCNG's ride feels compliant enough to nearly match ride levels from a segment above, with the only downside being that it can get a little noisy. Not that most people will care about how their CNG car handles, but the Tiago iCNG doesn't feel like it carries that extra weight badly, cornering with about as much lean and roll as what we remember of the regular car. On fast lane change manoeuvres at 80kmph, you do get the feeling that the rear of the car has a little more momentum than ideal but it never feels like it wants to overtake the front.