Specs and price tag:
Engine size 1.3 D Price from Rs 5.84 lakh Power 89bhp 0-100kph 14.54sec Top speed 168kph Economy 11.6/17.1kpl (city/highway) 20-80kph in 3rd 13.73sec
Engine size 1.3 D Price from Rs 5.84 lakh Power 89bhp 0-100kph 14.54sec Top speed 168kph Economy 11.6/17.1kpl (city/highway) 20-80kph in 3rd 13.73sec
Tata Motors is going with the all-new Indigo Manza. With the new car's generous dimensions, cavernous cabin, much- improved interiors and the Fiat 1.3 Multijet diesel engine, Tata is all set to steal some thunder away from Maruti’s Swift Dzire which has a three-month-long waiting period even a year after launch.
The new Indigo, oddly named the Manza, is a complete departure from its cheap but roomy predecessor that had a strong seven-year run. The new car is designed, engineered and equipped to have a greater appeal for those who want to upgrade to a very spacious and comfortable saloon that's loaded with features.
Driving Experience:
The Manza gets the same diesel engine as in the Fiat Linea diesel. The 1.3 Multijet develops more power on the Manza, thanks to the use of a vario-geometric turbocharger (VGT) and manages 89bhp. This is 14bhp more than its main rival, the Swift Dzire diesel which makes only 75bhp.
The engine impresses with its high refinement levels and rear-seated passengers will be hard pressed to tell if a diesel motor is powering the car. However, the engine is sluggish below 2000rpm, making driving in bumper-to-bumper city traffic a big chore. Once past this mark, the engine changes its personality and responds very well to throttle inputs, delivering a surge of power typical of common-rail motors. Power comes in rapidly till 40O0rpm. Keeping the engine in this range ensures that you will enjoy the drive. But you will have to judiciously use the five-speed gearbox to stay 'in the zone'. The gearbox, a Fiat unit, is direct and pretty accurate but you will need a strong hand when changing gears - it's not the lightest one around. When driving in the city, you're best advised to select a gear lower than you would usually.
Tata Motors has worked hard on the Manza's suspension, making ride comfort a priority. It's the same set-up as the one found on the Indica Vista with modified settings. Drive over a patched-up road and you'll immediately appreciate the fact that very little filters into the cabin. Even sharp crevices are annihilated with considerable aplomb and do not pose any problem for the Manza. But all this means that the car's high¬ speed manners are slightly compromised. The Manza tends to pitch quite a bit at faster speeds and doesn't feel as confidence- inspiring as some rivals.
One area where the Maruti Dzire and the Ford Fiesta diesel have the edge over the new Indigo is driver involvement. The Manza does not like to be pushed hard into corners and there is plenty of body roll. We would also like the steering wheel to communicate better. But Tata Motors never intended the Manza to be a driver-focused car and these aren't things that should worry you. For everyday motoring, the Manza is good to drive.
In terms of fuel economy, the Manza returned 11.6kpl in the city, compared to the Dzire's 13.5kpl. On the highway, a 17.5 kpl is a decent average against Dzire’s 18.9 kpl.
The interior
With buyers spending more and more time inside their cars, Tata Motors has played on the older Indigo's key strengths, namely interior space and comfort. If you thought the old Indigo was roomy, then you have to experience the new Manza's cabin which is even more spacious than before. The boot too is large and the low sill makes loading a very easy job. Tata Motors has taken the
Indigo up market with the selection of new seat fabric, which offers a sense of luxury. Occupants will enjoy the well-contoured seats and the massive legroom in both rows as well. Rear seat comfort is easily the best in class, and the generous width means that sitting three abreast is a cinch — a rarity even in some more expensive cars. The Swift Dzire doesn't even stand a chance in the rear seat department. If you're stuck in a traffic jam, you'd want to be inside the Manza.
The dashboard is styled very well too. All dials are clear and easy to read and the rev gauge lights up in red when you hit the rev limiter - a gimmicky touch.
Features you will get:
Tata Motors wants to ensure that the Indigo isn't perceived as a cheap and roomy car anymore. One way of going about this is providing a huge features list.
You get airbags, climate control, steering-mounted stereo controls and even Bluetooth connectivity for the cell phone.
The areas you may not like about Manza:
The quality of the cabin plastics, though vastly improved, still gives you a feeling of being shortchanged and is the only disappointment in an otherwise fine interior. The plastics lack consistency and the general fit and finish is also below class rivals. But the space and long equipment list should manage to overcome this shortcoming.
Bottom Line:
Overall, the Manza's shortcomings fall into areas that won't matter much to midsize car buyers and the car manages to outclass rivals where it matters most. It's roomier, more comfortable and comes with a modern diesel engine that has proven reliability on other cars. With prices starting from Rs 5.84 lakh (ex-showroom, Mumbai), the Indigo Manza is much better value than any other car in its class. And that's enough reason to consider it.
