Tata Curvv Vs Citroen Basalt: Rise of the coupe SUVs

Introduction

The era of the coupe SUV has finally come to the budget segment and here are the first two competitors! On one side of the ring is the Tata Curvv. Showcased as a concept car a few years ago, what you see in the pictures is the final ICE model that will grace our roads from 2 September onwards.

At the other end of the ring is the Citroen Basalt.

This is the French automaker’s fourth car for India under its C-Cubed programme. It has been launched with an absolutely killer introductory price of Rs. 7.99 lakh and is expected to top out just shy of Rs. 14 lakh.

Exterior design

Let’s start with the Basalt. The exterior design is typical French with angular lines, large shapes, and a high stance most visible around the wheels. In profile, the silhouette of the vehicle looks more like a raised sedan rather than a coupe SUV, while at the rear, the rectangular taillamps take a different interpretation for the wrap-around design. The rear stance is high with the sloping glass house flowing very nicely into the boot door.

Tata’s approach to the coupe SUV game has gone on the lines of a muscular stance for the Curvv rather than the sharper lines of the Basalt. The headlamps are low-set and flank the massive Tata grille. On the sides, the Curvv’s stance is higher with more space between the wheels and arches.

At the rear, the Curvv has a higher stance than the Basalt and looks busier due to multiple elements like the spoiler and one-piece light bar. The bash plate looks bigger, while the sloped roofline seems almost flat especially when you consider that the whole boot door opens for access to the space inside.

Dimensions

The Citroen Basalt measures 4.35 metres long with a wheelbase of 2.65 metres. The length is segment standard but it has the largest wheelbase in the segment among all its rivals. The Tata Curvv measures in at 4.3 metres with a wheelbase of 2.56 metres, putting it in line with the rest of its segment competitors and in some cases, above its rivals.

Feature list

The expected price difference between both cars is most visible in the features department. The fully loaded Basalt gets climate control, reverse camera, dual-digital screens, wireless phone mirroring, power mirrors, wireless charger, connected car technology, front and rear armrests, split folding rear seats, LED headlamps, and 16-inch wheels.

The Curvv, meanwhile, ups the game significantly. It gets all of these features plus Level 2 ADAS, 360-degree camera, power driver seat, ventilated front seats, and power boot opening as a part of the deal. Both cars get six airbags, ABS with EBD, traction control programme, and ISOFIX child seat mounting points as standard across their respective ranges.

Powertrain options

The Citroen Basalt is being offered with two petrol engines. The lower-spec one is its 1.2-litre NA petrol that produces 82bhp/115Nm and is mated to a five-speed MT. The other engine on offer is the automaker’s 1.2-litre turbo petrol that produces 109bhp and 190Nm in MT guise and 109bhp/205Nm in turbo guise.

Tata has upped its game in the powertrain department by offering three engine options for the ICE Curvv. The most basic engine is its 1.2-litre Revotron mill producing 118bhp/170Nm, while second in line is its new Hyperion GDi turbo-petrol producing 123bhp/225Nm. Finally, there’s also a diesel, which is Tata’s 1.5-litre unit producing 116bhp/260Nm. All three engines can be had with a six-speed manual or a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic, yes even the diesel, making it one of the first in the country to have such a setup.

Expected pricing

Citroen launched the Basalt with an introductory starting price of Rs. 7.99 lakh and it is expected to top out just shy of Rs. 14 lakh, making this a price-rival for cars like the Kia Sonet, Hyundai Venue, Maruti Brezza, Maruti Fronx, Mahindra 3XO, and of course the Skoda compact SUV, the name of which will be revealed on 21 August, 2024. It’s indicative of wanting to sell a bigger car in a smaller car segment.

The ICE Tata Curvv’s prices will be announced on 2 September and it is expected to be in the region of Rs. 15 lakh to Rs. 20 lakh for the top-spec diesel AT. This is Tata’s answer to the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, MG Astor, Honda Elevate, Maruti Grand Vitara, Toyota Hyryder, Volkswagen Taigun, and Skoda Kushaq.