Satisfying Experience

Exterior

Exteriors are a refreshing change. Projector headlamps function well at night. Alloys give a luxury touch. Black colored bottom of the rear bumper helps to avoid unnecessary scratches in traffic. Ground Clearance is great and can be used as an all terrain car. Remote control central locking key is provided. Key also contains switch for Follow me Head lamps. Boot is spacious with 390ltrs. Can accomodate 1 full size and 2 mid size bags easily. Overall seems great from outside.

Interior (Features, Space & Comfort)

Front Display has 3 modes, where 1st is normal, 2nd shows trip A and 3rd Trip B. It also shows the instant Fuel Efficieny and Avg. Fuel Efficiency. Music system is superb, output is great. 4 speakers and 4 tweeters have been installed in doors. Bluetooth connectivity is good. Once paired, it automatically detects and connects the phone. Steering mounted controls are a big help for people like me who have to attend a lot of calls. The ORVMs can be adjusted electronically and easy to use. Charging socket is also provided along side USB and Aux port. AC is very effective and cools the cabin in a short span of time. Car is spacious with ample room in rear. Tilt steering is also an added advantage. Cabin storage space is a big disadvantage. Other than a cup holder, which is also not too deep, there is no other place to keep your wallet, mobile phone, fuel slips, change etc. A small space is given below the handbrake, which isn't that adequate. A storage tray is provided below front passenger seat. Glove box is decent sized. Space given in doors is also very narrow. Got an armrest installed for storage purpose and comfort.

Engine Performance, Fuel Economy and Gearbox

Fiat 90ps Engine is responsive. You can snail in traffic even in 3rd gear with speed around 20km/hr. Have driven 1000kms so far so can't comment on fuel efficiency but the digital indicator has been showing 17km/l for quite some time now. Gearbox is slick and doesn't get stuck. Though when you increase the speed, one can feel slight jerk in gear pushing it backwards as if inertia is acting on it. Otherwise its fun to drive. 

Ride Quality & Handling

Ride quality is decent. Suspension is not that smooth over potholes and bad roads but does a decent job. I drove Linea before Zest, so lack of smooth ride quality can be felt. Handling is great. Clutch is quite soft for a diesel engine. Steering is also responsive, light and can be operated with just one hand.  

Final Words

Its big move from Tata with Zest. Refreshing interiors and exteriors, comfortable ride add to the pleasure of driving this car. Can be considered as a good alternative to Amaze, which I didn't find that Amaze-ing. With Zest, Tata deserves another chance in this segment. 

Areas of improvement  

Cabin storage space needs to be seriously looked at. Armrests in doors could have been used to add some space. Also I will suggest not to buy car from Autovikas, Moti Nagar, Delhi. They have made false commitments at every stage of service delivery. Also for smalleset of issues, such as fixing number plate, they take an hour's time. Sales team is highly casual and doesn't bother how customer is feeling. Once you book the care, they don't give attention to you.

 

Power output, comfortable seats, music systemCabin storage space