2009 Tata Indigo CS/XL

There is no denying that there is a definite improvement in the quality of cars of Tata Motors. We have seen that with the Aria and the Manza and as is the case with all Tata Motor cars, the Indigo has improved since it was first launched in 2002. The general perception however still remains that the Indigo still isn’t as good in terms of quality and fit and finish as some of the other international sedans.

Design

The Indigo is based on the original Indica and it’s a simple looking sedan. The XL has a longer wheelbase whereas the CS has a shortened boot

It’s no secret that the Indigo is based on the original Indica, in the same way that the Manza is based on the Indica Vista. When viewed head-on there is nothing to distinguish the Indigo from the Indica. The Indica is known for its mass and is elongated and the Indigo is no different. The high long roof drops towards the rear and the XL (Extra Large) as the name suggests is bigger to look at than the CS (Compact Sedan). On the CS you now get redesigned wheel arches, a satin finish front grille and ORVM’s with integrated turn indicators.

Interiors

The plastic quality isn’t as good as the competition but the interiors are spacious and feature list is not bad

Interior on both the sedans are a mix-and-match using many parts from the Indica V2. We liked the ringed dials and air-con controls which have been picked from the V2 and some bits like the leather wrapped steering wheel and gear knob come from the Indigo. You get a new ‘galaxy-effect’ plastic trim on the central console but the plastic quality still isn’t as good as the competition.

Ergonomically the Indigo has a few shot coming and the driving position is a bit weird to start with. The Indica’s USP was its interior space and the Indigo especially the XL offers ample leg and knee room. There is ample legroom for rear seat passengers, seat comfort is good and passengers sit at a good height. The front seats are set high, giving you a good view of the road and the soft seats offer decent support and are comfortable.

Standard features on the CS include dual tone interiors, tachometer, air conditioning and central locking. On the LS version you get front and rear fog lamps, power steering, front power windows and leather wrapped gear knob. The top of the line variant is equipped with rear power windows, CD/MP3 player, wooden central console finish, fabric seats, electrically adjustable outside rear view mirrors with incorporated turn indicators, rear defogger and ABS.

Engine and performance

With the 1.4-litre DICOR engine the Indigo CS is the most fuel efficient sedan now in India. Performance is adequate and so is the refinement

The 1.4-litre DICOR diesel engines with a cast-iron block and a variable geometry turbocharger produces 70PS@4000rpm and 140Nm of torque between 1800 to 3000rpm. On the latest generation engine Tata has made design changes to the cylinder head and sealing gaskets, along with improved camshafts and valves. Compared to the initial DICOR engines the current engine is quieter and idles smoother too. Diesel clatter is minimal and you get good throttle response. Thanks to the strong bottom-end and good mid-range, 100kmph is reached in under 16seconds which while can’t be termed as rapid, is good enough to get the job done. The DICOR is a very flexible engine and low-speed torque has improved and even on the highway the engine feels in its element. The ARAI claimed 23kmpl is the engine’s strength and Tata claims this to be the best amongst sedans in the country. Fuel efficiency nevertheless is better than the Ford Fiesta Classic, the Hyundai Accent and also the Mahindra Verito.

Unlike the Manza and the Indica Vista, Tata hasn’t put the 1.4-litre petrol engine in the Indigo and you have to make do with a 1.2-litre which produces 65PS@5000rpm and 100Nm of torque@2700rpm. The petrol engine does feel underpowered and both the petrol and diesel engines are matched to a five speed manual gearbox which doesn’t feel as precise as the Indigo’s competitors. On the Indigo XL you also get a CNG option and there is a TDI version as well for those wanting to save some money in exchange for refinement.

Ride

The Indigo’s ride quality is not bad but the same cannot be said about its handling

The Indigo comes with independent MacPherson struts with coil springs at the front and 3-link MacPherson struts with antiroll bar at the rear. While the ride of the Manza and even the Indica Vista is pretty sorted, the Indigo isn’t as capable in this segment. The slow speed ride is a little crashy and it’s neither as good as a Ford Fiesta Classic nor a Mahindra Verito. Handling is another area where the Indigo is a letdown and the steering feels vague, is completely devoid of feel and its thin built doesn’t make it good to hold on to. While the Indigo CS is better around bends, the less we speak of the XL is better.

Competition

The Mahindra Verito is essentially the Logan and its strengths are its ride, rear seat space and fuel efficiency. Other than that the Verito offers nothing that would make you want to get behind its wheel. The Ford Fiesta Classis is the best ride and handling car in the segment. You get an option of a 1.6-litre petrol engine which is responsive but the Fiesta isn’t as spacious as the Indigo or the Verito. The Hyundai Accent is a car well past its life but Hyundai continues to sell it in India. Ride quality on the Hyundai is average and so is the space.

Verdict

The Indigo sure is value for money and interior space especially on the XL is by far the best in the segment. Ride quality is reasonably good and the CS offers the best in segment fuel efficiency

The Indigo XL is for those who want the space of big luxury sedan at the price of a hatchback. Both the XL and the CS offer class leading fuel efficiency but neither of the two feel as good to drive as any of the modern sedans. There is no doubt that the Indigo is now a more accomplished sedan than it was at its time of launch but the competition has moved the game forward and the Indigo it seems is still playing catch up. The Indigo though does offer cheap cost of ownership but you have to meet a few compromises along the way.

Quotes from other reviews:

Autocar India: ‘Throttle response is sharp and the car feels sprightly, thanks to the strong bottom-end and good mid-range. It does, however, feel strained towards the top end of its rev band, so it’s best to short-shift and keep the engine where it is happy. The peppy bottom-end and the relatively short gearing make this car a breeze to drive in the city’.<