King of Highways. Review on Tata Sumo Gold

Well I was a bit shocked to see my review on Kawasaki Caliber to be the review of the day. I guess there was a problem with the program system. Whatever it is it has done a world of good for me. Thanks to members from whom I have been receiving positive comments for improvement on writing style. Coming to the reviewing I have a special like for Sumo for its capacity.

We had rented a Sumo on couple of occasions including my sister’s marriage. As far as roads are concerned which vehicle do you prefer to travel in India to longer distances, when you have a 8-10 members besides the driver? Which vehicle seems rugged, reliable and safe to travel in?

The answer to the above question – 9 out of 10 is Tata SUMO. SUMO? Look at this UV besides any other car and then the name would be obvious. It is big and grand like the Sumo wrestlers are.

There are reasons why Tata Sumo is the unanimous choice. Firstly it is ultra spacious, it is a strong utility vehicle, the journey is smooth, jerk free. The engine does not heat up or catch fire and one can travel continuously from Kanya Kumari to Kashmir. The second major reason is that it is affordable. Qualis, Bolero and now the Scorpio have snob appeal and are perceived as expensive options. Tata Sumo is meant for masses. The only other closest match can be the ARMADA from Mahindra & Mahindra. I personally feel that even the wealthiest person can go in for the deluxe version of SUMO and still be a delighted customer (unless he prefers a Landcruiser or Pajero, of course).

TELCO, in the wake of competition from Bolero and Qualis launched the Sumo Turbo. I haven’t had the chance to drive or sit in the Qualis or the Bolero but have been in this Turbo model, on our recent family trip to Shirdi and have traveled exclusively in the normal SUMO. My college BATU being in Raigad district, there are good many spots to visit, and our college group would contribute and hire a SUMO. Of course, 10 wheezing bikes on the road is a thrill but then why waste so much petrol? Also most of my pals aren’t comfortable with bikes on highways.

The SUMO TURBO (ST) has virtually the same body as the normal SUMO. The only visible change is the frontal portion where the grill is new and angular that gels well with the rest of the body. The headlights are wrapped up in body-coloured plastic. The sides are flat like the Qualis. The raised top and the rear portion together with the Stephanie is identical to the older model and a bit similar to the Scorpio. ST is definitely more charming than the ARMADA, though not as glamorous as the Qualis or the Scorpio, but then again the front short structure of Qualis also did not quite appeal to me.

The other visible changes are in the interiors. The seats look more stylish and have good fabric covers. The front seats are wide and can accommodate three adult people including the driver. The front seats are however not neatly designed and passenger is likely to develop a backache. We would occasionally rotate the sitting positions for long trips for two reasons – (1) the co-passenger besides the driver should not sleep or else it may induce sleep in the driver. (2) The passengers can avoid travel blues and aches this way.

The middle seat is by far the most comfortable, even when it accommodates 4 adults and a child. These seats go unarguably to the ladies in a family trip for this very reason. The rear has seats on the sides and facing each other. Here 4 people can sit comfortably and have enough of leg space too. Only the sideways sitting can get on the nerves. A nice luggage space exists between these seats. Also the seats can be folded to form a flat bed or table to house some more luggages.

The driver seat can be adjusted back and forth. The driving wheel nearly comes up right up to the chest and hence a bit difficult. Also gearshifts are not as smooth. I tried a hand at driving this huge vehicle. You feel the power, as you lodge yourself behind the wheel, because you are now the king of the road. But driving this monster is difficult as compared to M800 or Ikon..

Coming to the boring but important part of technicality the ST has a huge 1950 cc, 4cylinder diesel engine that develops 90 bhp. Though it has a top speed of only 140 Kmph, it feels surprisingly fast on the roads, thanks to the driver who always keeps on overtaking other vehicles on high ways. The Fuel Efficiency is around 12 Kmpl, on highways of course. What is appreciable is it has a huge tank capacity of around 65 liter. Goes up to nearly 600-700 Km without the need to stop for a fill.

The braking is rapid due to the cylinder brakes and new up gradation to the front discs. In one event though our driver had to brake real hard and I felt the rear of the ST sway quite a bit to the left side. This king of the highways is either having a superb suspension or we get too sleepy just sitting in there, but the ride is smooth and you don’t feel the jerks. In fact I think Sumo can be a good choice for rally driving, too. But with the new turbo design, the UV is also good enough for city driving. But better make sure that you have reserved the parking place.

At the end, I would only say that if you need to buy a UV, the new SUMO Turbo is an excellent choice, total value for money.