Tata Nano Automatic 2016 Model year

Exterior Stylish looks complemented by clean, fuss free styling. Always brings a smile to one's face when one sees the vehicle.

Interior (Features, Space & Comfort) Excellent space management in proportion to overall vehicle size. Four people can seat comfortably. Very good air-conditioning performance. Cabin becomes an igloo in no time. For the money you get Central locking, Front fog lights, Front power windows, Electrically assisted power steering, Comprehensive Multi - Function display and trip computer featuring Instant Fuel Efficiency, Average Fuel Efficiency, Distance To Empty, Twin trip meters, Gearshift indicator and a Digital clock - All in a super compact yet wonderfully legible digital display. Music system is by Harmann and supports: Radio / CD / Mp3 / Aux - In / USB and Bluetooth streaming. Connecting your phone via Bluetooth is effortless.

The openable rear hatch offers much needed practicality and two to three medium sized soft bags can easily be acomodated. Boot space is no worse than the old Maruti 800.

Engine Performance, Fuel Economy and Gearbox Engine performance is adequate. Needs 10 more horsepower to become an even better city car. The Automatic gearbox works fine under gentle throttle applications. Aggressive throttle inputs makes the gearbox fumble and the pause between upshifts and downshifts. Things improve markedly in "S" mode which can be activated by a small "S" button at the base of the gear selector lever. 

Fuel economy is excellent. With continuous air conditioning in maddening city traffic, 17kmpl is a realistic achievement, consistently. On highways, 20 - 21kmpl is regularly achieved. The trick to highway cruising in a Nano is to build up velocity in a constant, linear manner and not to rush things. The NANO feels best crusing between 80 - 85 kmph on highways.

Ride Quality & Handling The suspension in the Gen X NANO is actually quite good keeping in mind the tiny wheels. The problem is the limited suspension travel. This is felt especially when the Nano hits a deep enough pothole and the short springs use up all the travel, especially at the front, and the result is a rather audible and annoying "thud" as the lower suspension arm hits the limit of its travel.

On city roads, minor road imperfections are soaked up well. However you cannot defy the laws of physics, hence the combination of a short wheelbase, small wheels and limited suspension travel will always find a way to jiggle your bones! :-) 

Handling-wise, the NANO is incredibly nippy in the lanes and bylanes of the city. It's not a corner carver and neither does it pretend to be. High speed cornering sees copious amounts of body roll and the 135 - section front tyres soon lose the battle with adhesion, with the vehicle progressing into gentle understeer.

Final Words An excellent city car. Spacious, frugal, feature laden and a doddle to drive. Classic styling and a true blue "Made In India" product. The fact that an indian manufacturer had the guts to produce a product like the NANO speaks a lot - and one should feel proud - about Indian engineers and their ingenuity. 

The NANO actually proved to be the wake up call for many Western Car manufacturers to relook into their vehicle development processes and create vehicles using many of the ideas incorporated in the NANO. Toyota Liva, Toyota Etios, Datsun Redi - GO, Renault's hugely successfuly KWID, all borrowed ideas from the NANO to achieve what they have achieved.

Areas of improvement Around 10 horsepower more, Better brakes, 13-inch wheels and slightly longer travel suspension.

Space, Economy, Manouverability, AC performance, Features for the price, LightsSnatchy gearshift action from AMT, Weak brakes, Power & Torque