Fresher, grown-up looks for Tata’s value-for-money sedan.

New Tata Indigo
Price Rs 4.64-6.27 lakh
(ex-showroom Mumbai) On Sale NOW

The Tata Indigo has always been value for money, a key reason for its success. It has aged in the three years it’s been around and there was a serious need for fresher looks. Here is the result of a completely in-house redesign effort by Tata.

The biggest change is in the front end. Tata has gone for a bigger look, so both front and rear bumpers are fuller, better integrated and smarter-looking. There have been no sheet metal changes due to the higher costs involved, but Tata has made the most of a grille that is an extension of the plastic bumper. Read that as cheap to redesign. The headlamps too are new and in effect larger than the old units. They now look sharper with the twin circular elements and the turn indicators moved above the main lighting unit. These changes have made the front look effectively new. It is still instantly recognisable as an Indigo, but the face-lift has given the car a mature look. The redesign has added 26mm to the length of the car, but other dimensions including the wheelbase remains unchanged so don’t expect any more space inside.
Changes to the side of the car are few. The stance has improved thanks to the skirts and the stylistic cut that runs down the side of the car. The old problem of wheels that don’t fill out the wheel arches remains.
The rear is the only letdown in an otherwise successful styling exercise. The tail-lamps have grown in size and now look about two sizes too big. The new bumpers look good though.
Inside the car, everything looks improved. There’s the new three-spoke steering wheel, which looks like the Tata logo itself, new dials and a new centre console. Closer inspection reveals a few substandard parts. The silver strip running down the steering wheel is cheaply finished and there are quite a few rough edges in the cabin. The new dials however are clear and easy to read and the centre console is an improvement over the earlier design. There’s very little change in the way the car drives. The driving position is the all-too familiar high-set steering wheel and the high dashboard. We drove the diesel LX version, and the lumpy idle and the slightly intrusive diesel drone in the cabin, remain.
The new Indigo’s prices start at Rs 4.64 lakh for the base petrol GLS and goes to Rs 6.27 lakh (ex-showroom, Mumbai) for the top-of-the-line diesel SX. The SX version comes with leather seats, alloy wheels and a MP3/video player with headrest-mounted screens, superb value.
A little more refinement and improved quality and Tata will have an unbeatable product on its hands.

FactFile
Engine
Engine 4-cyls in-line, 1405cc, intercooled, turbo-diesel
Layout Front, transverse, front-wheel drive
Max power 70bhp@4500rpm
Max torque 13.5kgm@2500rpm

How big?
Length 4176mm
Width 1620mm
Height 1540mm
Wheelbase 2450mm
Ground clearance 165mm
Fuel tank capacity 42 litres

WHAT TO EXPECT
Changes essentially cosmetic and come at a nominal price.