Tata Zest launched in India with a killer price tag

Over the last few years, Tata Motors has been going through an extremely lean phase suffering from dismal sales, a series of flopped models and negative customer sentiment following the Nano fiasco. Signaling its intent to bounce back from all that in one shot, Tata launched its highly-anticipated Zest compact sedan in India today. With a killer price tag of INR 4.64 to 5.99 Lakhs for the petrol and INR 5.64 to 6.99 Lakhs for the diesel variants, the Zest could shake up the segment dominated by a trio of competent cars from Maruti-Suzuki (Dzire), Hyundai (Xcent) and Honda (Amaze), the three largest car-makers in the country today. 

After impressing the show-goers at the 2014 Auto Expo in New Delhi earlier this year, the Zest and it’s hatchback counterpart Bolt are the first significantly-new models from Tata in some years. The Zest is also the first model born out of Tata’s “HorizoNext” initiative that was launched in 2013 with much fanfare to improve its ailing passenger vehicle business unit.

Designers at Tata have made the Zest look modern and stylish while still retaining the Tata family elements that we have grown familiar with. A bolder version of the 'smiling' grille with hexagonal mesh pattern makes its debut in the Zest flanked on either sides by stretched headlights with inbuilt projectors. The thin chrome strips in the grille and the unique foglamp housing with Daytime Running Lights are the other attractions up front. The profile exhibits a strong resemblance to the Vista and Manza and the boot looks better integrated than some of its competitors. While the almond-shaped wraparound taillights, the thick chrome strip and the two-tone rear bumper try their best to spruce up, the Zest's rear end, like all other compact sedans looks shrunken, bulbous and disproportionate.

Not believing what we saw virtually, we checked out the interiors of the Zest first hand and came back pleasantly surprised. The design, layout, fit and finish is unlike anything that we have seen in a Tata before. In fact, the overall quality levels are up there with the best that this segment has on offer. The list of features on offer is even more impressive. For about INR 7 Lakhs ex-showroom Delhi, the top-end Zest's standard kit includes dual front airbags, Antilock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brakeforce Distribtion (EBD), Corner Stability Control, climate control, Harman-developed touchscreen infotainment system with USB, Aux and bluetooth connectivity, smart voice recognition and reverse parking sensors. Beat that, Hyundai!

The improvements continue under the hood too. Tata's much-hyped 'Revotron' petrol engine makes its debut in the Zest. Helped by a turbocharger, this 1.2-liter engine churns out 90 ps of power at 5000 rpm and 140 Nm of torque between 1750 to 3000 rpm. Tata has even incorporated three driving modes with suitable changes in engine mapping for the driver to choose from - Eco, City and Sport. The same 1.3-liter Quadrajet diesel engine is carried over from the Vista and Manza but Tata has now launched the segment-first AMT (Automated Manual Transmission) in the diesel variant. Apart from the base diesel variant that belts out 75 ps, all other diesel variants get 90 ps of maximum power.

With modern styling, impressive interiors that would make cars two segments higher run for cover, the segment-first diesel AMT and a mouthwatering price tag, we have no doubts that the Zest is all set to make it big and revive Tata's fortunes in passenger vehicles. Hurry up folks, Zest up your life before Tata jacks up these introductory prices. We can't wait for the Bolt and Nexon now!