Tata Motors recently launched the new Manza Club Class with luxury features at an attractive price. We drove it to see if it is worth the extra cash
BACK IN 2009, THE MANZA was a statement from Tata Motors that it could deliver not just value for money, but also a highquality car. Three years later, the company has launched the new Manza, now called the Club Class sedan, with features normally seen in cars from a segment above, but at a highly competitive price. We drove the top-of-the-line EXL trim to see if it lives up to the hype.
Seen from afar, the car appears to be identical to the standard Manza, save for chrome highlights around the front fog-lamps. Look closely, though, and the first thing you notice is the silver-tinted roof – ambitiously named the ‘Infinity
Contrast Roof’ by Tata Motors – that contrasts well with the rest of the body. New eight-split-spoke alloys are an attractive and distinctive touch and new badging includes an EXL tag at the rear and QJET label on the front right fender.
The interior sees a raft of changes that serve to enhance the cabin ambience. The colour theme has changed from beige tones to black and plum, lending a dark tone to the cabin, which, though well-finished, does not have the light and airy feel of the beige version. The doors feel nice and solid to grip and close with a reassuring ‘thunk’.
The centre console is completely revised with a segment-first 6.2-inch high-resolution touch-screen display, which also serves as the interface for the GPS navigation system, a multimedia DVD player and the Blu5 Bluetooth system. Surprisingly, though, there is no reversing camera or even reverse parking sensors. An instead of the traditional red-line on the tachometer, the indicator needle turns red when the engine crosses a critical RPM level. The fully
automatic air-conditioning system cools the cabin quickly, though for a car of this size, which is positioned as a luxury vehicle, rear a-c vents are a
glaring omission.
The Manza cabin maintains its virtue of being one of the most spacious cars in its segment. There is ample legroom at the front and rear and the classy black Italian leather seats (with the Manza name prominent on the headrests) make this car a good option for those who prefer to be chauffeur-driven. On the go, the Manza remains a comfortable ride. There is some bodyroll, but since it is positioned as a family car, this should not trouble most drivers. The 1.3-litre quadrajet diesel engine sourced from FIAT uses its 90 PS and 200 Nm to push the car past 100 km/h in 14.07 seconds and all the way to a top speed of 167 km/h. There, however, remains serious turbo lag that makes quick progress difficult in stop-and-go situations characteristic of most city roads.
The Manza Club Class price range starts at Rs 5.7 lakh for the petrol and Rs 6.49 lakh for the diesel (both ex-showroom, New Delhi), which makes it an attractive proposition for those looking for luxury features at an affordable price. If Tata Motors can keep the quality levels high and add the few missing touches, the car is sure to be a winner. Power to the people!
TATA MANZA CLUB CLASS EXL
PRICE: Rs 10.05 lakh
ENGINE: 1,248 cc, 90 PS at 4,000 RPM,
200 Nm at 1,750-3,000 RPM
TRANSMISSION: Five-speed manual, front-wheel drive
SUSPENSION: Front: independent McPherson strut with coil spring; Rear: non-independent, twist beam, coil springs
WEIGHT: 1,210 kg
LENGTH/WIDTH/HEIGHT: 4,413/1,703/1,550 mm
PERFORMANCE: 14.07 seconds 0-100 Km/h, 167 Km/h, 17 Kmpl
Story: Gaurav Nagpal
Photography: Sanjay Raikar
