Zest from Tata Motors – Autoportal’s take

The Tata Motors Limited (TML) has recently entered the small car segment with two new products the hatchback Bolt and the compact sedan the Zest. The TML has found it difficult to compete with the international brands with their old styled hatchbacks and sedans. During the 2014 Indian auto show TML has unveiled the Bolt and the Zest. The Tata Zest has been launched on 12^th August 2014. The Zest is already the second bestselling car from the Tatas with an average monthly sales figure of 2000 units.

The Tata Zest comes in 5 diesel and 4 petrol variants priced Rupees 4.86 and 8.07 lakh. The trims are the XE, the XM, the XMS and the XT in petrol and diesel. The extra diesel variants the XMA and XTA have 5 gear automatic transmissions.

 

The body features of the Zest include stretched projector type headlamps, chrome strips bordering the plastic grille giving it a glossy look, an integrated body coloured bumper with running daylight LED lamps, ORVMs with turn signals and round fog lamps. The rear has LED tail lights surrounded by chrome strips, body coloured bumpers, high mounted stop lamps and excessive chrome on the boot lid around the logo.

 

The cabin of the Zest is stylish and is done in black and beige with a chrome surrounded instrument cluster on the dash. The standard features include an engine immobiliser, child lock facility, central locking with key, a manual AC, tilt adjustable power steering and internally operated body coloured ORVMs with turn indicators. Top variants have an automatic AC, keyless central locking, 2 air bags, ABS, EBD, rear parking sensors, electric ORVMs, projector type head lamps and a 2 Din music system with touch control and Bluetooth connectivity for audio controls and telephony.

 

The ‘Drive Mode’ selection is the new feature of the Zest. The petrol variants have 1.2L, 89 bhp engines with economy, city and sports drive modes. In the sports mode engines give maximum torque. The diesel versions have 1248 cc, 89 bhp engines with normal and sports drive modes with normal as default mode. The driver can select the mode as per the situation. The mileages are 17.6 kmpl for the petrol and 23.0 kmpl for the diesel variants.

 

The 3995 mm long Zest has 170 mm ground clearance and 2470 mm wheel base. The suspensions are independent McPherson struts at the front and the semi independent torsion beams at the rear.

The availability of diesel auto variants, a stylish body and the drive mode selection facility are the plus points of the Zest. The competition comes from the likes of the Maruti Swift Dzire, the Honda Amaze and the Hyundai Xcent.

 

Article Reference : Autoportal | Auto portal