Tata Indica V2 Xeta review - page 2 |
Engine and transmission
The entire design effort of this new car is concentrated on the engine alone, the engine although the same block as the diesel, displaces 1405cc and has been detuned to now pump 70ps and 14kgm of torque. The best part of this engine is not just that figure, it the way it's delivered. The Indica petrol ceases to be a rampage, a fuel-guzzling monster; it is now able to pump loads of torque into those front wheels. The Indica is now able to pull from as low as 800rpm
Here we come to the crux of the changes incorporated in the new Indica. The New Indica XETA now sports a slightly detuned 4-cylinder in line, 1405cc 32bit microprocessor controlled fuel injected petrol engine, which is able to pump out 70ps at 4600rpm 14kgm at 2600rpm. Tata Now claims that this engine, thanks to the torque it is able to generate will be able to churn out efficiency of around 14kpl! We were really impressed by the optimism, but when we floored the accelerator, the plot seemed lost in favor of fuel economy. Those who have driven previous versions of the indica petrol will find the the 70ps is much much lesser when compared to the 72ps on the outgoing engine.
The Gearbox of the xeta bears a familiar gear knob to the Indigo LS. The gearbox is quite clunky and notchy, one would like to compare it with the wagon R for its feel. Tata will need to make many improvements on this box to bring to the quality of the boxes found on a Maruti Zen for example. The only consolation lies in the fact that the is ample torque available in the motor to make sure that you don't shift as much as you would in some other cars.
Ride and Handling
The indica Xeta is a big car, as far as dimensions go, compared to the puny Alto and bigger compared to the Santro and Wagon R when it comes to weight almost 200kgs. So, the suspension does belong to big car category. This definately shows in the way the 165/65 R13 wheels which are small by the way for the wheel arches handles all the little bumps it comes across. The tread of the tire is wider by 10mm to the Wagon R VXi and the Santro by 10mm, this helps the car grip a bit better, and although we expected the slightly lower profile to play truant when in came to absorbing bumps, the intrusive rear suspension really did work out. We are yet to drive the Santro, for which I'm sorry but I can definately vouch for the ride of the Xeta when compared to the Wagon R which is Just too hard and bumpy at low speed and this leads to regular visits to the service station to dampen those vibrating plastics.
The handling though is a bit of another story. The Indica being heavy does mean more cornering forces, and the extra weight also means a wee bit of extra roll, but the wide stance of the Xeta is able to cope with the cornering with aplomb. The steering though is just a bit heavy, which although is very helpful at higher speeds can be a bit of a drawback around those city runs.
Verdict
The Xeta now competes with tried and tested Japanese cars like the Maruti's Wagon R, Zen and Alto and the Korean Santro Xing. Compared to these cars, the XETA is able to provide far more space; thanks to its handling, it is able to hold the road much better also absorbing the undulations of road surface better (except the Zen, which softens the bumps even better), the handling though seems a bit front heavy; the car, overall looks even heavier. Tata build quality is yet to really make its impact on Japanese car fans, but the fact that this 1400cc 70ps engine with oodles of torque is able to churn out excellent fuel economy should. With prices starting from 2.66lakhs(Ex-showroom, Mysore), for a car with a 1.4liter petrol engine with formidable fuel economy(claimed), good interiors, big car space and decent build quality; now, thats value for money.
| Pros |
Cons |
| Silent engine, comparatively more refined |
Tires have a tendency to lock up |
| Truck loads of space |
Gearbox, bit too numb |
| Excellent ride; especially at higher speeds |
The boot could've been much bigger |
| beige interiors and seats |
Engine is not rev-happy |
| Excellent torque; especially low down |
Engine doesn't feel like a 1.4 |
| Value for money |
Tata is still in its learning curve |
Check out the various models and their Specifications.
Design and styling comments
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![Xeta profile](javascript:openwin("largephoto.asp?imagename=indica1.jpg&imagetitle=Indica Xeta profile"))
![Indica Xeta boot](javascript:openwin("largephoto.asp?imagename=xetaboot.jpg&imagetitle=Indica Xeta boot"))
![click to enlarge](javascript:openwin("largephoto.asp?imagename=indica1.jpg&imagetitle=Indica Xeta interior")){kind=link}