Jul 02, 2012 03:10 PM
14790 Views
Bought the Tata Nano CX in September, 2011 amidst a lot of negative speculations, mostly made by ladies/gentlemen who have never even come in sniffing distance of driving the car. Mine is a sky blue Nano CX that comes equipped with factory fitted air-conditioning which is honestly effective in maintain the cabin cool. A brief description of my experience with the car and its features is as below.
Engine and Performance
The Nano is not a scorcher when talking of performance, but the 35 PS of power and 48 Nm of torque from the twin cylinder engine is enough to keep one abreast with the rest of the traffic in the city. I haven’t really felt any dearth of power even on an open road like the Palm Beach Road, the Nano was comfortably cruising at a speedo indicated 90 kmph. This isn’t exactly the car to be used in a traffic light GP, but the car packs good low end torque for a short dash when the signal turns green.
I have personally reached the company specified top speed of 105 kmph with ease, with decent amount of juice remaining to do another 20 kmph incremental. But Tata Motors have integrated a fuel cut-off at a speedo indicated 110 kmph beyond which, the journey is perceived unsafe by the Company showroom officials. I personally feel the Nano is capable of registering a top whack of approx 130 kmph provided the engine is allowed to rev free in the absence of any limiter/cut-offs. I am definitely happy with the car’s performance but I would love to see Tata offer a little more top end performance on an optional basis for those who don’t mind crossing the line.
Gearbox
The car is equipped with a 4 speed gearbox which is a bit notchy, easier to use over a period of time. The gears can be a bit sticky and hence painful in bumper to bumper traffic conditions. The first gear and the reverse gear have a tendency to NOT engage at times, best to use the half-clutch method during such adversities. The gears have sufficiently long throws with the 3rd gear being the longest and most exciting can propel the car to 90 kmph before the fourth gear kicks in.
Instrument Cluster
The Nano CX comes with a basic instrument cluster at the centre which houses the analog Speedometer, digital Odometer and fuel guage (which doesn't display the correct reading on most occasions). The car does a self check when the battery is switched on. An important point to mention here is post the self check, there will be a faint “click” sound indicating the self check process is done and the car can now be started.
Interiors and Comfort
The Nano CX has strictly okay interiors. The seats are of average quality and the comfort levels are not upto the mark. On long drives, the hard cushioning of the seat is a hindrance. Tata Motors provided me free seat covers but even those are not of good quality. Agreed one cannot expect too much from a new car priced at Rs. 2 lakh but atleast better cushioning on the seats is not too much to ask for. The fit and finish levels of the car’s interiors is TERRIBLE, thumbs down to Tata for the same. Rattling in the dashboard and door trims is common.
Legroom is sufficient for 4 passengers, including the driver. The steering is placed at an apt height from the floor of the car, so it’s honestly not an issue whether the driver is 6 feet tall or 5 feet short. The Nano also has a small boot space behind the rear seat which can house a suitcase/sky bag comfortably. The boot space has been designed to carry luggage of 2 adults.
Suspension and Handling
This is the most disappointing bit about the car. The Nano is equipped with McPherson Struts up front and hydraulic shock absorbers at the rear. In my 5000 kms with my Nano CX, I found the suspension to be an absolute disappointment. The front as well as the rear suspension feels rough and ready to bottom out with a thud on most road aberrations. Also with the car loaded with 4 people, the suspension proves mighty useless adding to the discomfort caused by the insufficiently padded seats. Repeated complaints to the service centre has proved futile, finally I have learnt to live with it. While driving in the city, the roughness of the suspension is guaranteed to be felt on every pothole.
The Tata Nano’s handling is very impressive. I might go as far as to say that the Nano handles as good as a motorcycle. The steering feel is heavy when maneuvering the car from standstill but once in motion, it feels a lot lighter and the Nano is ready to be zipped through congested roads with utmost ease. The short wheelbase of the car is also a blessing when parking in tight spots. Cornering ability of the Nano is better than most hatchbacks seen around town. Also it has NEVER been the case that while taking a sharp corner at a decent speed; I have even once felt that the car could topple.
Air Conditioning
The Air-conditioning system of my Nano CX is very effective in keeping the cabin temperature cool during the course of city driving. However, the same cannot be said with regards to long drives on the highway during daytime. The condenser is located in the front just below the bonnet grille. Adequate care has to be taken of the condenser as it its performance (heat exchange) is easily affected by accumulation of dust on the pipes. The problem of dust accumulation can be sorted by gently splashing water on the condenser once in a week.
Myth – Ohhh…..I am 6 feet tall, I will never fit in the Nano. It’s only meant for short people.
Reality – I am 6 feet tall myself and find it very comfortable to sit in the Nano. Tata has gifted the Nano with a “tall-boy” design which provides ample headroom for tall drivers and passengers. The engine being located in the rear of the car ensures sufficient legroom for 4 people. However if all 4 passengers are 6 feet tall there will be a bit of space crunch in the rear seats.
Myth – Tata Nano is a dignified Auto rickshaw
Reality – Firstly the word “dignified” has nothing to do with an “auto rickshaw”. I personally know corporate dignitaries who choose to travel by train and auto rickshaw in crowded cities like Mumbai in a bid to save time. Secondly an auto rickshaw (atleast to the best of my knowledge) isn’t as si
