2026 Tata Tiago CNG AMT Drive Review: Best Small Car?

Tata Motors has recently introduced the facelifted Tiago, its entry-level hatchback, and the updated model appears to be a well-rounded package that strengthens its position among India's best small cars. With attractive pricing and three powertrain choices - petrol, CNG, and EV - the Tiago caters to a broad spectrum of buyers.

We at 91Wheels got behind the wheel of the new Tiago in Bengaluru, and here are our detailed driving impressions. Read on to find out how it performs, and don't forget to join the 91Wheels WhatsApp Channel for the latest automotive updates.

ALso Read:

2026 Tata Tiago CNG - Overiew

Before the drive review, let's talk about the pricing and the number of variants available in the Tiago CNG lineup via a table.

Variants	MT	AMT
Smart	5.79 lakh	--
Pure	6.49 lakh	7.04 lakh
Pure +	6.99 lakh	7.54 lakh
Pure + A	7.49 lakh	--
Creative	7.99 lakh	8.54 lakh

As the table shows, Tata Motors has strategically limited the AMT gearbox to just three variants, all of which are positioned higher up the range and offer a richer feature set. Most of the Tiago lineup continues to be available with a manual transmission, giving buyers a wider choice of trims.

At the media drive event, Tata Motors provided us with the Tiago CNG AMT for evaluation. Therefore, this review is based on our experience with that particular variant.

Drive Impressions

City Performance: Adequate for the Intended buyer the Tiago CNG AMT pulls adequately in city traffic, with good part-throttle response that makes it easy to drive in stop-go conditions. It won't excite you, but a CNG buyer isn't looking for excitement - and on that front, the Tiago delivers exactly what's needed.

AMT Gearbox: Better than you'd expect. The AMT's characteristic hesitation is present but never frustrating enough to annoy. The paddle shifters help you stay in control when needed, and importantly, they add zero extra lag to the equation - a genuinely pleasant surprise for an AMT setup at this price point

Surprisingly Confident: The 1.2-litre Revotron handles city traffic with ease. Even in second gear at low speeds, it offers enough pull to navigate congested roads smoothly, reducing the need for frequent downshifts.

NVH: A genuine strong suit vibration refinement is one of the Tiago CNG AMT's most impressive qualities. The three-cylinder engine stays well-controlled at all times, and at idle, it sits almost completely still - a meaningful improvement over earlier versions of this engine that used to buzz uncomfortably.

Segment Best Ride Quality. The Tiago's suspension setup continues to impress. It absorbs broken roads and sharp bumps with a composure that feels above its class. Notably, the ride feels even more planted and comfortable than some EVs in this segment - high praise for a car at this price.

Direct Start in CNG: A segment first most CNG cars in this segment force you to start on petrol before switching to gas - an unnecessary inconvenience. The Tiago skips that entirely with direct CNG start, firing up straight on gas every single time. It's a small but genuinely useful real-world advantage that rivals simply don't offer.

Interior: Rotary dial looks good, but the space around it doesn't. The rotary gear selector is a smart, clean addition - and switching to it has freed up a noticeable amount of centre console space. But that freed-up space just sits there, doing nothing. No extra buttons, no storage, no cubby - just emptiness. Tata could have easily used this area better, and it shows.

Clean Instrument Cluster. The new speedometer console is well thought out - the layout is clear, fonts are readable, and information is easy to parse at a glance while driving. No unnecessary clutter, no squinting required.

Highway Ability: A quiet surprise despite the CNG setup and a three-cylinder engine, the Revotron feels genuinely relaxed at triple-digit speeds. The engine's character combined with smart gearbox tuning means it doesn't feel strained on the highway - making the Tiago one of the more capable long-distance options in this segment when you factor in ride quality and safety as well.

Outright Performance: Know what you're buying In CNG mode, outputs stand at 75.5 PS and 96.5 Nm - noticeably lower than the petrol's 86 PS and 113 Nm. Straight-line acceleration is expectedly weak, and overtaking at high speeds requires planning. But this is a CNG car built for efficiency, and buyers who understand that will never feel shortchanged.

Provides Immense Value: Running over 1,500 km monthly? buy it. The numbers make a strong case. If your monthly running exceeds 1,500 km, the additional cost of the CNG variant over the equivalent petrol model recovers in just over two years - after which every kilometre is pure saving. For high-mileage urban commuters, this is one of the most sensible buys in the segment right now.