2009 TATA INDICA SHOWS IMPROVEMENTS

While the road oft-travelled will dictate that I compare the brand new Tata Indica Vista with other cars in the market, I’m quite tempted to take the road less travelled. That means looking at the previous range and the new car. A vast improvement exists with the car now not only looking better but also feeling and driving it too.

Whereas the previous car felt almost unstable at high speeds this one is quite sturdy, even at 160km/h. Yes, it can reach such speeds. The new engine fitted is a 1.4-litre 4-cylinder petrol making 55kW at 6000rpm and peak torque is 114Nm at 3250rpm. Three models are being sold; an INI, an AURA and an IGNIS. Don’t ask me where these names come from but there they are. These power figures apply to the former two but the IGNIS has a different band. It still has the 1.4-litre but makes 65kW at 6000rpm and 116Nm at 4750rpm. A 1.3 turbo diesel will join the lineup in the first quarter of 2010.

Running the front wheels is a 5-speed manual gearbox with accurate shifts. I liked the feel of it, wouldn’t call it cheap but it certainly is inexpensive. Same goes for the two-tone interior which comes standard with things like a tilt-adjustable steering wheel, front power windows (AURA and IGNIS) and air condition. The IGNIS also adds a CD player with USB and Bluetooth connection. I didn’t like the centrally-located speedo and information centre as it tends to keep the driver’s eye away from the front.

Tata fitted a 44 litre fuel tank in the car which helps it weigh in at 1030kg minimum. It measures 3.8m long, 1.7m wide, 1.6m high and has a wheelbase of 2.5m. Running gear includes a fully independent front suspension with McPherson struts and coil springs, while the rear features a semi-independent system with a Twist Beam, coil springs and gas-filled shock absorbers.

Safety is taken care of via the collapsible steering, crumple zones and central locking. The IGNIS has airbags and ABS with EBD too. All three models are equipped with 5J x 14 steel wheels with 175/65 R 14 tyres. A full-size spare wheel is standard across the range. Tata will continue to offer the old Indica but the range is to be “rationalised”.

All models come with a standard 3 Years / 100 000km manufacturer’s warranty, 3 Year / 75 000km Service Plan as well as roadside assistance for 2 Years / Unlimited km included in the price.

As stated at the beginning the Indica Vista shows tangible improvements in every area, from design to interior to powertrain. But at these prices it does not effectively compete with the leaders.

TATA Indica Vista Pricing

Tata Indica Vista INI (R119 900)

Tata Indica Vista AURA (R127 900)

Tata Indica Vista IGNIS (R139 000)