Unrivalled

At less than Rs 6 lakh a potential sedan buyer has limited options. There’s the old Hyundai Accent, the even older Ambassador, the Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire, the Toyota Etios, and the Tata Indigo eCS. This equation though changes quite a bit the moment you start thinking in terms of a “diesel” sedan. Suddenly the other options vanish and the only car you’re left with is the Indigo. So what is it like, the Indigo eCS?

To start with, the shape of the car is all too familiar. After all, it is not much different from what it used to be. One visible addition is that of indicators on the ORVMs. Thanks to its dated design however, there are some positives that are immediately evident. The pillars are all on the thinner side of life, which means all round visibility is quite good. The thin pillars, combined with the huge windows, also mean that the cabin feels very roomy and airy.

Inside, the familiar feeling continues as the overall design of the centre console and the instrumentation and steering wheel hasn’t altered much. Some newness though has been added with some wood finish touches and chrome rings around the clocks. However, these don’t really freshen things up too much. Also, some of the old issues with other Tata vehicles seems to have remained with this car. So fit and finish or quality of plastics leave a fair bit to be desired; some bits feels rough to touch while others feel flimsy.

Operability too is not the car’s strength. For instance, the rotary ring for the fog lamps on the headlamp stalk is quite innovative in that it can be used for both front and rear fog lamps. But the operation of this ring is quite difficult. Also, more thought could have been given to stowage spaces or cupholders inside the cabin; there’s one decently sized cubby hole on the floor between the front passenger and the door that is impossible to access with the door shut and the twin cupholders on the glovebox lid are simply not deep enough. Not to mention, in the case of the cupholders, it’s also uncomfortable having the lid (heavy with the cups) sitting on the lap of the front passenger. Rear passengers of course get nothing. Seats are ok and decently padded and the steering wheel is not oddly positioned, something we have found to be the case in some other Tata cars. So, you must be wondering what the big deal with the Indigo eCS is then.

On the subject of features, the Indigo eCS gets quite a bit of kit. Not only is there the aforementioned ABS, there’s also front and rear fog lamps, electrically adjustable ORVMs, power windows all around, rear window defogger and even a stereo system with USB connectivity and Bluetooth telephony. There are another couple of thoughtful additions – like keyless entry and a light in the boot that can be switched on as per requirement.

The big deal is the fuel efficiency that Tata Motors is claiming, based on test data from ARAI – 25kmpl! The engine, for which this figure is being claimed is a 1.4-litre common rail turbocharged diesel unit that puts out 70bhp and 140Nm of peak torque. Even on paper, these figures don’t indicate exceptional performance. But then, in truth, the car was not meant to be an exceptional performer. So, for all other purposes there’s enough grunt on tap, even though one does feel the need for a slightly punchier engine when a quick overtake is the doctor’s order. The engine itself is smooth with a linear power delivery and develops its max torque at a fairly low 1800rpm and then maintains it over a 1200rpm band. This BS IV compliant engine, named CR4, is mated to a 5-speed manual transmission where the gear ratios have been optimised for fuel efficiency. The bad part in all this is the shift quality, which is vague and rubbery.

On the move, the car feels composed in a straight line and proves itself a decent handler for the most part. The steering too leaves some to be desired; it’s slightly heavy at slow speeds and becomes light and vague as speeds rise. The ride quality though is the highlight of the Indigo eCS, as it irons out bumps and absorbs potholes with aplomb. Only the largest of potholes or the squarest of bumps catch it out. Braking meanwhile has become a more stressfree experience with the addition of ABS.

Overall, with a pricetag of Rs 5.80 lakh, ex-showroom in Delhi, the Indigo eCS, with all its features, the promise of diesel economy and the status (at least in India) that comes with a boot, is not a bad buy. Provided of course you’re willing to live with its cons, which include its dated design along with plastic quality, fit and finish and operability that have huge scope for improvement.