The Indica is well-known for being an inexpensive and fuel efficient product for the masses and the new variant promises to take this claim a bit further. Let’s find out how it will do so
Story: Ravi Chandnani
Photography: Sanjay Raikar
With the passage of time. Tata Motors have been introducing new variants of the Indica with various trims and tweaks; however, the basic shape and silhouette of the car has remained unchanged even today. Tata recently upgraded the Indica to meet the BS4 emission norms and in order to do so they changed the state of tune of the old 1.4litre I4 diesel motor. This re-tuning resulted in increased horsepower and torque when compared to the older variant. This upgrade is being promoted as an all-new Indica ‘eV2’. What does the “e” stand for? Well let’s find out.
The eV2 looks no different from any other Indica that we see on our roads. But the new decals on the doors and the CR4 badging on the side give you a hint that there is something new about this Indica. The exteriors and interiors are nothing new; however, new decals on the outside and wood trim on the centre console and new seat covers on the inside try hard to create an illusion of a new car. The positioning of the pedals is a bit unusual as the accelerator pedal is so positioned that it travels from up to down instead of travelling forward to back. This can make your right foot pretty uncomfortable while driving at slow speeds and in heavy traffic. The interior fit and finish has moved up a step as compared to the older version; however, the Indica has a long way to go before it can challenge its competition in terms of fit and finish.
But the USP of the eV2 is the fuel efficiency. According to Tata and ARAI the new Indica is capable of delivering 25kmpl. This may sound too much in the real world; however, we were stunned when the car returned a 23kmpl figure on the highway and 17kmpl during the city run. The overall figure stands at an astonishing 18.5kmpl which is an achievement for any car. The old 1.4litre engine was also fuel efficient; however, Tata Motors have converted the old work horse into a stallion by equipping it with common rail fuel injection and tuning it to produce 70Ps of power and 140Nm of torque which in turn helps the car to run at higher speeds at lower rpm thus lowering fuel consumption. Performance-wise the car is impressive. The Indica eV2 took just 7.32seconds to go from 40-80kmph in third gear which is not at all bad for city driving. The handling has also improved when compared to the older versions; however, there is scope for improvement. The brakes are fairly good but are missing an important safety feature – ABS. Another missing piece of safety is an air bag which nowadays has become a necessity rather than an option.
Overall, the Indica is still the car for the masses and the eV2 is no exception. It is inexpensive to buy and maintain and is equipped with the basic requirements that the consumer would demand from a car. It is not a car that is reserved for the enthusiast; it is more for the kind who just wants to drive around and commute from A to B without any kind of frills. The OTR Pune prices for the eV2 CR4 start at Rs 4.34 lakh and go up to Rs 5.28 lakh. For this price you get a basic car that is equipped with a 1.4litre diesel motor which is highly fuel efficient and powerful; however, the overall car still has a long way to go before it can match up to what the competition has to offer.
Gasha’s Perspective-Old habits die hard.
As I write this women’s perspective column, the only thing that crosses my mind is whether my mother would have a comfortable and safe drive in the car; this time, my answer is a sweet and sour tale. My mother likes a good looking car, something she will have to make a huge compromise with, when she gets to drive a car that looks like her graduation day pictures. Interiors are another setback too. Poor quality, fit and finish of the cabin will make her look only on the road ahead and nowhere else in the cabin, unless she wants to rethink her decision of buying the car. One thing that she would really enjoy is the drive. The car’s 1.4 litre engine has been re-tuned to give 140Nm torque, which with its uniform torque delivery makes it an absolute pleasure to drive around city traffic. Strong mid range also takes care of frequent gear-shift sores. Moving on to the fuel efficiency figures, we were promised 25 and we got 18.5 kmpl (overall), not exactly that good on the pocket as the company advertises it to be. Also, absence of safety features like airbags will make her think twice before taking the car out. So, maybe not my mother, but for those who have been driving an Indica all these years and plan to remain loyal to the brand and the car in the future too, the new eV2 will be a good step forward for them. Or with the torquey drive that it now offers, should I say a good flight forward.
