Practically Perfect

We have always known Tata Motors to bring out cars that are essentially practical and affordable to the common man - Indica, Nano to name a few. The Indigo which boasted of the Indica Sedan looks, too made some heads turn when it was launched in 2002. Tata Motors went another step ahead and brought out the Indigo CS which was a sub-4 metre sedan and the only one in the segment when it was launched, which made it avail of the tax benefits thanks to its clever packaging. This ensured that the consumer could buy a compact-sedan at the cost of some other hatchbacks. And this is still true. In fact the e-CS is now better value than before with plenty of equipment to make it an even more VFM purchase, in true Tata style.

When the CS was launched, it made it possible for those aspiring for a sedan to have one at an affordable price tag, or for those who wanted extra boot space over an economy hatch. The target audience for this car was corporate India and it did work wonders for those in the junior managerial level. Remember the very aspirational TV ad? After the success of CS, there was an inevitable upgrade which made the car even more ‘executive’. Therefore, now we have the Indigo e-CS.

The exteriors and the interiors of the Executive Compact Sedan (e-CS) have undergone minor changes. However, we still think it does not really bring out the executive look Tata Motors aimed for expecially since this is still based on the first generation Indica/Indigo platform and there are still some minor issues with the overall levels of fit and finish. There are some new features in the car and credit has to be given to Tata Motors for providing them at a price which is very affordable.

The e-Cs boasts of a 1.2-litre MPFI petrol engine and a 1.4-litre CRDI diesel engine, both BS4 emission norms compliant. The engines aren’t new but according to Tata Motors they are refined and are now tuned to deliver lower emissions. The executive look of the sedan is brought out by the new front grille and body coloured rub rails with chrome inserts. The side view mirrors get indicators and the headlamps have been plucked from the Tata Indigo XL. Overall the e-CS does look a little better now with the facelift and we are told that the newer (old) Indica's will receive this cleaner front-end treatment as well soon.

It does now look sleeker and the front end of the car does look a little more mature. The rest of the car remains the same, but there are some modifications that await you on the inside. The car gets a 'Tata' branded CD/MP3/Radio system with Bluetooth connectivity, which can stream music from your phone, once paired. However there's no telephone connectivity and no Aux-In or USB either, which would have been a useful feature set to have.

The e-CS gets power windows (front and rear) and electronically adjustable side view mirrors. For a car which costs about five and a half lakh on road, these features do make it a car worth putting your hard earned money on, especially if you're one of those who want all the creature comforts in a sedan without spending too much moolah.

However, there is one unresolved problem which could get in the way of Tata Motors sales records - the quality of plastic used in the interiors, an old Tata bugbear. Newer Tata products such as the Vista, Manza and the Aria have significantly improved plastics, but the e-CS is quite poor in comparison. The fit and finish of the e-CS is not what one can really call top-notch. The centre console with the AC knobs and the music system get a garish wood finished panel which does not really go well with the grey interiors of the sedan and we wish it was just a brushed silver finish, which would have looked better.

Also the rear-view mirror shakes at speeds above 60 kph which worries you especially when driving at night, since you've got a blurred image to look at. We had similar issues with our Tata Nano when we drove the car around the country earlier this year. The overall quality of plastic trim used in the car is a bit worrying and though we see the quality improving as Tata Motors introduces new cars in the market, the e-CS does not benefit. And this is sad really, since the e-CS has plenty of good things going for it otherwise as a practical, compact and very VFM sedan.

The e-CS has a slightly stiff suspension setup, which is typical of the older generation Indica platform, so if the thuds and thumps you hear when the wheel takes a pothole don’t bother you much - this compact sedan can make for a good city car. It evidently, uses less parking space, thanks to its tight dimensions. When it comes to weekend shopping or a trip into the nearest hill station, there is a boot good enough to gulp down those shopping goodies or suitcases, while still seating five well-proportioned adults comfortably. Tata Motors promise of 23 kpl will definitely woo many! However, the e-CS will deliver a figure closer 18kmpl on the highway and around 15kpl in regular city use. The car packs 70bhp from the 1.4litre common-rail diesel engine and will not disappoint its owners too much.

The motto of ‘More car Per car’ started off with the introduction of the Indica, and this ethos lives on in several of the other cars launched by Tata Motors. The Indigo e-CS is a practical car and wears an even more practical price tag. With the fuel efficiency the car offers, the car is already a hit among those who want to invest in a practical small-sized sedan.

So, for all those who want a basic no-frills sedan with no pretentions about its image, your money will be well spent on the e-CS. But if you’re after better interior plastic finish and a more contemporary car for your money, you could shell out a little more cash and go in for the generation-ahead Indica Vista Quadrajet Aura +. For the price it is offered at, the Vista Aura+ is a terrific Value for money proposition. It has the space, comfort, safety features (ABS, Airbags) and plenty of additional features (in-dash music system, Bluetooth audio & Telephony). The hatchback is also more contemporary in terms of its powertrain, ride & handling and overall refinement. But, then again if you do think that the Aura+ is out of your budget, and you really do need a small sedan at a value price, then the e-CS is ‘practically’ perfect for you.