When homegrown auto major Tata Motors wanted to do something different — having become a favourite of sorts among cabbies who prefer its rugged fleet to carry passengers around — the company didn’t just do something different, but gave Indians a car fully new and fresh to grab on to, and scream ‘fantastico’.
And it is that fantastic feeling that one gets, when he or she beholds the Tiago, the latest entrant in the hotly fought mid-size car segment. And wow! The Tiago is indeed one of the most beautiful cars around, and is a true success stories in design where Tata is concerned.
It was for a long time that Tata Motors hadn’t brought a showstopper to the market, which was already strongly occupied by very successful, mostly foreign competitors. So since the Tiago has arrived, it’s to be seen how many eyes will the car roll.
The car looks youthful, yet very elegant. Its exterior boasts of a confident, agile stance. The sharp, sculpted design language is very easy to understand, for Tata Motors has left no stone unturned, when giving the car its great image. The front signature hexagonal grille is a new style statement, which boasts of a typical smiley outline, with a multifaceted proud Tata emblem, flanked by 3-dimensional headlamps with smoked lens, and sporty black bezel.
Baby spoilers
To the rear, the sharp tail lamps add value, while the baby spoilers pepper in some more style quotient to the car. There are many minute impression details that Tata has painstakingly made with the Tiago, which speak volumes about how serious the company was in getting this car right. For instance, the lines on the rear windshield come together in a semi-circle, which looks like a small piece of art in itself.
When the car appears so promising on the outside, it’s quite but natural how trendy the interiors would appear to be. And yes! The Tiago is a beauty inside out. The inside is composed of an inviting layered design theme, with the dual-tone interiors adding a touch of class. The V-shaped centre console is pleasing to look at, with all the knobs and buttons carrying a sense of panache. Enhancing the cool quotient are the specially designed AC vents, which are placed centrally.
One of the most thoughtful stylised elements that Tata Motors has added yet to the Tiago is the pair of customisable air vents.
The Sunburn Orange and Berry Red shades in the top-end XZ variant have the two front side air vents embellished in the external body colours, which looks simply cool.
The multi-information display is snazzy, and provides much more than the usual speedometer, odometer, fuel guage, and trip meter.
The independent display clocks look premium, as well. For occupants, the Tiago provides more than a dose of entertainment. The ConnectNext Infotainment system from Harman offers surround sound with eight speakers.
Some of the interesting features of this state-of-the-art system are the turn-by-turn navigation app and Juke Car app. The cool glove box helps store refreshments and beverages on the go.
And above all, there is immense space that the Tata Tiago offers. While the front row passengers already have lots of leg and head room, the rear passengers are treated to some much-needed knee room, with the front seat backs being scooped out. Besides, the car contains 22 intelligently designed utility spaces, which makes it a class apart.
Tata has responded to feedback on insufficient storage. There’s a bottle holder on each door, two cupholders close to the gear lever, a shelf at the driver’s end, and space to hold mobile phones at the base of the centre console.
In terms of comfort, the height adjustable seating with body-hugging bolsters, while feeling very premium, still take some time in getting used to.
Drive test
The Tata Tiago offers two engine options — Revotorq diesel and Revotron petrol. We have with us the diesel variant, which is powered by a 1047cc diesel powertrain, and churns out a max power of 69 bhp@4,000 rpm and torque of 140 Nm@1,800 rpm.
Switch on the ignition, and the subtle engine comes alive, though you will feel little vibrations. The engine, though supposed to be powerful, is quite underpowered. It takes a little time to respond before 1,500 rpm.
However, once you cross the red line of 1,800 rpm, it picks up very well. We don’t feel the enthusiasm to push the car harder, due to its slow engine response. Once you reach 3,500 rpm, the engine suddenly gets noisy with a rough roar.
Even in city conditions, frequent changing of gears is required. In stop-go traffic too, you will notice power delivery to be jerky. If you are new to driving or an experienced driver, the gear shift indicators (with arrows up and down) reminds you to change gears according to speed. This will help in gaining good fuel efficiency.
The car turns easily, and the steering responds light and quick. The steering overall is sleek, easy to handle. The car, in general, has enough ground clearance to tackle potholed roads, while the two modes Eco and City, which help in economical driving and higher fuel efficiency.
The illuminated instrument panel comes alive while driving at night. During heavy rains, the rear wiper washer comes handy. Even at the slippery spots, the car can be easily controlled.
It is also the only car in the segment to come with class-leading features such as Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), stability control, speed-sensing door locks, and seatbelt pre-tensioners for four seats.
Killer price
The company rolled out the Tiago with a killer price of Rs 3.32 lakh for the entry-level model. Many analysts and dealers have described the Tiago as a make-or-break product for the company, which has been struggling with its passenger vehicles business.
Not just pricing, but even mileage gives the Tiago an edge, which sets a record, offering 23.84 kmpl for the petrol model, and over 27.28 kmpl for the diesel variant.
In verdict, it can be said that the Tata Tiago has all the ingredients for a successful model. Just as football legend Lionel Messi, the car may just have few tricks up its sleeve to captivate enthusiasts and buyers alike.
(With inputs from Sandesh M S)