Tata Indica Vista90 Road Test Drive Review

[Akash]

Tata Indica, the old horse of Tata Stable was launched in a bigger and better avatar in the year 2008, and thus was born the Indica Vista. The Vista was not just a face lifted Indica, but a start of modern era of Tata cars. It is the platform which later led to many successful products like Manza. The car followed the typical tata tradition of being roomy, comfortable and value for money. At the outset, the car was power-driven by the native Tdi diesel engine, and the much talked about Fiat engines.
Quite recently, Tata motors launched this full-grown hatch back in a powerful petrol avatar, Indica Vista90. Tagged as the most powerful petrol hatch back, Tata has definitely turned the eyes of the petrol head who seemed to have been ignored due to the recent interest of masses in Diesel engine. We took out this 90HP Vista to check out whether it in actuality, justifies its tagline.

[Akash]

The Indica Vista started the new cohort of Tata cars. Be it exteriors or the interiors, the car was the first Tata to sport the new generation styling and equipment. The elegant crease lines all around have managed to bring in the brawny appeal to the design.
The face is conquered by the gigantic headlamps which sweep off to the sides. They gel finely with the honey comb grill smiley which is garnished with a chrome strip which nowadays has turned out to be a trend to add the executive appeal. The bumper appears neat and houses the fog lamp assembly. Bonnet is easily accessible, thanks to its position which is kept higher than what traditionally is. A sharp crease flows through the middle of the bonnet; it looks fine and was seen last on the New Honda City and ZX variants.

Come to the sides, and the Vista has fewer resemblances to the old Indica. The clean line which originates near the headlamp progresses linearly across the body and concludes as it approaches the tail. Moreover, slightly swelled out wheel arches add a personality to the side contour. The Brushed Aluminium alloys silver black finish; it looks superior and better than the traditional OE alloys.
The ORVMs are gigantic; a smaller design would have suited better however they do their job well. There’s no side indicator on the mirror, rather it sits on below the ORVM. It looks good but is complex to spot during afternoons. Akin to other modern hatch backs, the door handles are pull type which add to the convenience as well as appearance.

Rear profile brought back the Indica’ish feeling back. We were awaited by the same old vertical tail lamps which have been religiously followed by the company in all their cars from the Nano to Aria. To differentiate the 90HP version from the regular one, you need to have eagle eyes for sure; the only distinguishable difference being the small Safire90 badge on the boot.
The Aura (ABS and Plus) versions sport rear wash and wipe which helps a lot to get a clear vision while reversing during the rains. Moreover these versions have the LED strip acting as high mount stop lamp while in others the job is done by regular bulb.

[Akash]

The interior of Tata cars is synonymous to space, and Vista 90 is no different. The Steering wheel is hefty, and feels a bit coarse to hold. The instrument cluster has been placed at the centre of the dash which is certainly a remorse for the drivers who persistently keep a check on the rpm meter. Further more, the position of the rpm meter on the extreme left corner is an off-putting. The digital gauges like temperature, fuel level are not so easy to read.
In spite of enormous space behind the steering due to the center placing of the instrument cluster, the space cannot be used for keeping anything due to its sloping design. A shallow space in that region would have utilized the otherwise useless space. Nevertheless, the dash has been placed well unlike the old gen Indica. The dual tone finish of Vanilla beige and Ebony black looks great. The top end variant gets In Dash Music system. This system comes loaded with all the modern connectivity features like Bluetooth connectivity. USB port, Aux-in.
Conversely when it comes to the plastic quality, it still remains disappointing, though it is a huge leap over the previous gen. models.

The doors open wide enough to ensure ease of ingress and egress. They have been given Beige black treatment which looks pleasant and trendy. The premium Aura version gets all 4 power windows. The driver door gets the controls for the 4 windows as well as for the central locking on the door itself. However the plastic used for these switches does not look promising and gives a feeling of falling off soon.
Rear seats offer great comfort levels. Generous cushioning ensures fatigue free rides. The leg room too is decent however unlike the older Indica; the headroom is a slight problem in Vista. Due to its sloping roof, the 6fts may find their head touching the roof on some bumps. The headrests are adjustable which adds to the comfort of tall passengers who usually have to bear neck pains due to integrated ones. The rear seats can be folded as per requirement, thanks to the 60:40 spilt feature.
The ORVMs are internally adjustable for the premium variant. They are wide enough to provide proper view of the traffic behind, however their big design may make it an easy prey to bikers and cyclist who love hitting them in bumper to bumper traffic.
Overall, the Vista is a huge improvement over its older generation.

[Akash]

The new Indica Vista comes with the very reliable 1.4L Safire engine. Unlike the previous one, this new engine churns out a raw power of 90PS @ 6000RPM with a torque of 116Nm @ 4750RPM. The only hatchback which delivers similar power the Honda Jazz, but we wont get much into the compare of these vehicles.
The engine is very silent and no noise creeps in even at higher revs. The low end torque is decent, and manages to let the drive escape from the traffic with ease. However, to test the real strength of this car, a highway drive is must. The mid range is pretty decent; however the fun lies at higher rpms. The engine loves to be revved and manages to attain 3 digit speeds in decent time. The engine loves to be revved and performs the best in mid and high range.
Although the low end torque isn’t much worth appreciation, however it still manages to give apt power, but for that the credit goes to the gearbox. Compared to the previous model, the gearbox has enhanced refinement. Switching between gears is now a breeze which is well complimented by a light clutch. The clutch operation further eases the fatigue which may occur during extended drives.

[Akash]

The Vista90 is definitely not a petrol rocket, but it impressed us with the amazing torque which is best experienced at higher rpms. The engine is refined and happy even if revved hard. The 0-60kmph mark is just a matter of seconds. The new engine has brought in the much needed punch in the car.
Crank the engine and you will hear almost no noise inside the cabin with windows rolled up. The initial acceleration may not appeal much, but as you achieve higher speeds, the drive turns into an exciting one. The new gearbox associated with optimum gear ratios is the icing on the cake. The steering ensure apt feedback at slow speeds, however at high speeds, the steering lacks feedback and doesn’t feel aptly weighed which does spoil the high speed driving experience.

However when it comes to handling, Vista is definitely better than many if not the best. The wide profile of 175/65 R14 ensures that you never loose the grip along the corners. As a matter of fact, the handling is great however an upgrade would add to the handling.
The Vista90 has the similar suspension setup as of its diesel counter part. It comes with Mc Pherson Strut with Coil spring at the front and Twist beam with coil spring and Shock absorber at the rear. Although the setup is able to gulp almost all the small patches easily, however this soft suspension does give some good bumps at bad patches.
The braking is pretty good in Vista. The discs at the front and drums at the rear provide confidence to stop within the safe limits. Further more, the provision of Antilock braking system (ABS with EBD) makes the Vista a wise choice and a good competitor to the modern hatch backs. Also the top end Aura Plus version gets Dual Airbags as standard equipment.

[Akash]

The fuel efficiency of the Vista90 may not appeal many owing to the high petrol prices. The Indica Vista90 returns an overall efficiency of 12kmpl under standard conditions which is definitely on a lower side, but to compensate the FE is the powerful heart under the hood.
Overall, The Vista90 is a huge improvement over the 1.2L 65PS model which felt slow and coarse. The new refined gearbox and the 25PS extra power is indeed a great deal for the price it retails.

[Akash]

We like in Indica Vista90:

• Competitive Pricing

• Enormous cabin space

• Powerful drive

• Smooth gearshifts

• Cheap maintenance

We dislike in Indica Vista90:

• Fuel efficiency

• High speed handling

• Panel gaps

• Not so good plastics

The Automotive India Star Ratings

• Design and Quality: (8/10)

• Comfort Levels: (9/10)

• Performance: (9/10)

• Ride Quality: (9/10)

• Handling: (8/10)

• Fuel Efficiency: (6/10)

• Safety: (9/10)

• After Sales & Service: (8/10)

• Value for Money: (8/10)

[Akash]

Price

Terra: 455,148
Aqua: 487,244
Aura ABS: 540,979
Aura +: 597,297

(Ex. Showroom, New Delhi)

Engine:

• Type: 1.4L Safire Petrol
• Max.Power: 90 PS @ 6000 RPM
• Max.Torque: 116 NM @ 4750 RPM

Transmission:

• 5 Speed Manual

Suspension:

• Front: Independent, Lower Wishbone; McPherson Struts with Coil Springs
• Rear: Semi Independent Twist beam with Coil Spring and Shock Absorber

Brakes:

• Front: Discs
• Rear: Drums

Dimensions:

• Wheelbase: 2470mm
• Length: 3795mm
• Width: 1695mm
• Height: 1550mm
• Ground Clearance: 165mm
• Fuel Tank Capacity: 37 Liters

Colors:

• Arctic Silver
• Brilliant Blue
• Porcelain White
• Spice Red

[Akash]

Bonnet Crease line



Generous boot of 232 liters


Driver door gets all window controls


Smooth Gearshifts


165mm Ground Clearance lets you drive without scrapping the underbody


Plays MP3, CD, AM-FM with Bluetooth, Aux-In and USB Connectivity


Rear Power Window Switch


Wash and Wipe, a boon in rainy season


Traditional Vertical Tail Lamps


Brushed Aluminium Alloys, 5th wheel is steel though


Pictures Speak














Road Test Credits

• Road Test & Photography: Akash
• Edit & Format: 350Z

(C) The Automotive India. All rights reserved. The content such as reviews, images etc. cannot be reproduced in any form without written permission of our authority.

[Akash]

Tata Indica Vista90 Road Tested.

[vijay]

great review again buddy.Tata finally thought to plonk better petrol engines on their vehicles after manza.Though their maximum sales figures comes from diesel variants, but still a better refined petrol engine is on offer now.Sadly tata has never showcased better advertising for this petrol engine yet.
Interior shade change is good compared to full beige with golden flash before and gives a premium looks with dual tone.But still quality remains the same.Did you find any changes in their panel gaps, even or yet the same way they continue to offer.Hows the gearbox compared to diesel one, and their throw, say comparing to other hatchbacks available today in petrol variants as tata isnt choosed for petrol engines.Prices are at par with quadrajet engines which i believe would put many buyers away from petrol variant and after fuel prices touching sky.
hyundai i20 Asta with dual airbags, abs with alloys, steering controls and all bells and whistles is a tad expensive to top end vista petrol 90bhp, this also would make buyers not to opt for petrol vista i believe.

[Akash]

Thanks Vijay. Yes the panel gaps were very much present but much lesser than before. The gearbox like i mentioned in the report, is much smoother than before(read 1.2L version).

[cooldhaya]

Good review again buddy! But honestly i din't like the interiors one bit. For a slightly higher amount i have better options in the market with even more features and comfort.

[Akash]

Originally Posted by cooldhaya

Good review again buddy! But honestly i din't like the interiors one bit. For a slightly higher amount i have better options in the market with even more features and comfort.

Thanks Dhaya. The interiors are definitely not as appealing as that of Punto, i20 or the likes, they are way better than what Tata used to offer on their earlier models.
As for me, i am not a fan of Vista's styling, interior or exterior.

[Nuvo]

Nice review-up to your high standards.

One query: You mentioned gear box is pretty smooth. I had this thought in back of my mind that Vista & Manza use G/B of Fiat. So is this the same G/B as that of Punto? If not then kindly compare it with that of Punto. (Is it better?)