A Bolt attempt

Tata’s newest product Bolt offers, against its expected price, definitely ‘more car per car’

December 17, 2014 11:53 pm | Updated 11:55 pm IST

Photo: Paul Dewars

Photo: Paul Dewars

Tata’s newest product for the Indian car market is the Bolt. The first thing that comes across clearly is that it is a successor to the Vista, and also that it is more of a chopped boot version of the Zest. Following the Zest, which was also based on Tata’s new X1 platform, the Bolt not only shares the underpinnings but also shares the bigger car’s looks.

The grille blends seamlessly with the headlamps, and the blacked-out C-pillar gives the rear a prominent character. The tail-lights are new and the chrome bar over the number plate gives the wide rear some much-needed definition. Overall, the Bolt still has that typically Tata ‘jacked-up’ stance.

There is a lot of shoulder and head room on the inside, both in the front and in the rear, and legroom is almost as good as many full-size sedans. And it’s not just the space on offer; the seats are large and comfy as well. Thigh support, for example, is superb due to the long seat base, and the rake of the back seat is just right. The seats can do with some more lateral support and the cushioning is a bit too soft, but otherwise the back seat is a great place to be.

Fit and finish inside the cabin have also taken a leap forward. Yes, there are some oddities, but overall, the ambience of the cabin sees a vast improvement. The new dash plays a huge role in uplifting the feel of the cabin. It’s similar to that of its sister car, the Zest compact sedan, but without the two-tone look. The new steering and centre console feature tastefully executed ‘metallic’ inserts, and there’s chrome piping around the vents, on the gear lever and even in between the plastic buttons, and all the shiny metal is tastefully executed. While details of the variants aren't out yet, this top-of-the-line car comes with features like the Harman-sourced central touchscreen, voice commands, SMS readout and smartphone-based navigation. The screen is still not as bright as we would like and the phone-based navigation system is a bit clumsy to use, but overall equipment levels are good.

Mechanically, the Bolt gets engines in both petrol and diesel guise. The diesel motor, which will be available when the car goes on sale, is a Fiat-sourced 74bhp unit. The petrol model, which we drove, is powered by an 89bhp, 1.2-litre ‘Revotron’ turbo engine. It comes with three modes on the Multi- Drive system – Eco, City or Sport. In City mode, the engine seems quite responsive, and there’s a nice bump in power just when you want it. Unlike the Zest though, it gets shorter gearing and also shows improved throttle responses. Add to this the light and direct steering, and it makes for good drivability. The motor, however, still remains a bit sluggish below 1,800rpm and the gearbox still feels a bit rubbery. ‘Eco’ – a step down from ‘City’ – reduces fuel delivery in an effort to improve fuel consumption. Reactions to the throttle are dulled as a result and this feels a bit frustrating. ‘Sport’, on the other hand, is plenty of fun. You feel a distinct bump up in power when you hit the switch and there is a bit more punch in the top end too. As a result, overtaking on the highway is quite easy and there is plenty of power in reserve in this mode.

Ride quality, however, is exceptional. The Bolt tackles poor roads and even sharp bumps effortlessly. Understandably though, the suspension, which is tuned for a soft set-up, does cause a small amount of pitching. Also impressive is straight line stability. The new ‘dual path’ dampers, new subframe and reconfigured struts help deliver good stability, despite the high ride height. Brakes are up to the mark too, and come with Bosch’s ninth generation anti-lock braking system.

Spacious, comfortable, well-equipped, and now better built and engineered, the Bolt, at an expected starting price of Rs. 4.3 lakh, is likely to be great value for money. The package that the Bolt offers, definitely is ‘more car per car’.

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