25 April,2009 09:08 AM IST | | ASHISH MASIH
Competing with the world's most desired cars, Tata's Nano has not only made big promises, but seems to have kept them too
Tata Motors wanted to ensure that several two-wheeler owners in India shift to a safer mode of transport. But is Tata's car any good or has the company compromised in their attempt at making the Rs 1 lakh car? Let's find out.
THE INSIDE STORY
The Nano's interiors are a tad simplistic. Nonetheless, the dashboard has been designed such that it is very practical. The gauges are placed in the centre of the dashboard above the AC vents, and the scooped-out recesses can hold plenty of items, including big-size bags. The doors get slim pockets and there's even space for a stereo head unit. The front seats have cut-outs in their headrests, which add to the roomy feel of the cabin. The overall quality of the seat fabric is surprisingly good. And while the plastics look and feel cheap, they are by no means offensive.The top-end LX version even comes equipped with power windows.
Perhaps the best part of the cabin is the amount of room on offer. Getting in and out is a cinch. The fact that the engine is placed at the rear means that front occupants have ample leg room. Those sitting at the rear won't be complaining either. There's adequate head, leg and shoulder room.
It's not without faults though. The heat from the rear-mounted engine can be felt slightly in the rear seats. Three-point seatbelts are absent in the rear, and there is no passenger seat adjustment and only a single wiper. Besides, you can only access the boot via the rear seats as the hatch doesn't open.
u00a0
BEHIND THE WHEEL
The Nano comes with a 624cc petrol engine. This is a two-cylinder unit with 35bhp of power. On the road, the Nano is a surprisingly decent proposition. The engine starts with a noticeable thrum and the sound isn't obtrusive. The four-speed gearbox is light and easy to operate. The light clutch is a delight to use. The steering, not power-assisted, is light enough except at parking speeds; it is reasonably sharp and the Nano has a small turning circle of eight metres (the 800's is 8.8 metres), making it ideal for short city commutes.
The engine has good power in its mid-range but revs are limited to a relatively low 5600rpm with a view to increasing reliability and life. So just when the engine gets into the best useable rev range, the revs end.
You get two different tyre sizes. The ones at the front are 135mm wide while those at the rear are wider 155mm tubeless tyres (both are 12 inch in radius) to handle the extra weight of the engine at the rear.
However, despite its 60 percent rear weight bias, the Nano handles in a fail-safe manner. There is noticeable body roll when you go around corners fast but you never feel insecure. It rides well over patchwork roads, though it gets a bit bouncy and can do with better damping because the pitching does become slightly excessive when the car is fully loaded.
The Nano hits a top speed of 106kph and offers a reassuring ride on open highways with confidence-inspiring stability. You get drum brakes on all four wheels (there are no disc brakes) but they do a good job of reducing the Nano's speeds. Stopping power and stopping distances tested were pretty good. In terms of economy, the official ARAI figure is 23.4kpl, but we expect it to deliver an overall figure of around 18-20kpl.
WILL IT WORK?
Yes, it is exactly what its designers set out to make it. It is basic, but spacious and solidly put together. The engine has decent pep to transport four adults around town and it will probably set benchmarks for economy.
You will want a bit more power and better air-conditioning, miss a five-speed gearbox, and also want the convenience of a hatch door. But when you look at the sticker price, you'll soon realise that these are trivial niggles you can live with. There's another plus to the Nano u2014 it's got plenty of scope for customisation. The Nano simply doesn't have a real rival because India's present entry-level car, the aged Maruti 800, costs significantly more.
