The latest offering from Tata stable is called
Zica, a blend of the words – zippy and car. Ever since Tata introduced the Zest
in 2014, there has been a sea change in the consumer perception of the brand.
Even after a year of ownership, customers are fairly happy with the quality and
durability of the Zest and its hatchback sibling, the Bolt. That means Tata is
damn serious about improving the quality of its passenger cars and
consequently, the Zica has a lot going for it. Competing primarily against
Maruti Celerio and Hyundai Grand i10, the Zica is a compelling package that
combines good looks, impressive fuel efficiency and numerous features.
Design
The Zica’s design is undoubtedly the best we have
seen from Tata Motors and one of the best in the segment. If you compare it
with Tata’s current portfolio, this one is a fresh breath of air. The signature
smiley grille is probably the only familiar design element, however, the glossy black
honey-comb treatment gives it a more premium appeal. The large, sweptback
headlamps give it a distinct front face. In profile, the top variants get
14-inch alloy wheels that nicely fill the arches. A strong rising waistline
gives the Zica an athletic stance, while the elegantly shaped taillights
clusters are great. It also gets an integrated rear spoiler with black inserts
on both sides, which is a nice touch, too.sThe interior of the Zica, especially the dual tone
dashboard, is well laid out and really pleasing.The steering is similar to the Zest, but smaller,
with buttons to control various functions. Centre console is gracefully
appointed with buttons and dials that feel pleasing to operate. There are
some clever features such as a driver’s side coin storage and a toll ticket
holder.
A tiny multimedia screen on the infotainment system
syncs with the smartphone to provide turn-by-turn navigation. However, you need
to install a MapmyIndia app on your smartphone to enable this option. Some
variants also get a body-coloured inserts around the AC vents.
Measuring 3,746mm in length, 1,647mm in width and 1,535mm in height, the
Zica is slightly bigger than the Celerio and marginally smaller than the Grand
i10. At 170 mm, it has 5mm more ground clearance than both. As with any other
Tata car, the Zica too offers ample space inside the cabin. The seats are
designed with thick bolsters to ensure excellent seating comfort.
View photos
The interior design is very practical and there are
as many as 22 utility spaces, bottle holders and cubbyholes. The boot space,
too, is a decent 240 litres.
Performance
The Zica comes with two engine options - a
three-cylinder petrol and a three-cylinder diesel engine. The all-aluminium
petrol engine produces 85PS of peak power and 114Nm of torque. Three cylinder
engines are notorious for idle vibration but a well-engineered engine mount and
the impressive NVH insulation mask vibrations to a great extent. Although the
three-cylinder engine becomes louder as rpm rises, it’s more of a pleasing
sound rather than an annoying clatter.
The 1-litre diesel engine is a downsized version of the Indica’s 1405cc,
four-cylinder unit and delivers 70PS at 4,000rpm and 140Nm between
1,800-3,000rpm. The diesel engine is surprisingly sprightly off the line as
there is minimal turbo lag under 1800rpm.
View photos
Both engines are mated to a five-speed manual
gearbox.
Mileage
While Tata hasn’t released the official figures yet.
Both petrol and diesel Zicas are equipped with
multi-drive mode that lets you switch between normal and Eco modes. Eco mode
will further improve the car’s fuel efficiency.
Safety
View photos
The Zica comes with a host of active and passive
safety features, including front airbags, ABS with electronic brakeforce
distribution (EBD) and corner stability control, rear parking sensors, etc.
Bottom-line
The Zica is easily the best Tata we’ve seen yet.
Tata has been successful in staying away from the Indica silhouette and thus,
the Zica a great positive departure from Tata hatchbacks of old. The Zica will
also benefit from the goodwill the Zest and Bolt have earned in the recent
years. Tata has also revamped the aftersales service experience post Zest
launch, which further increases car’s appeal to the buyers.
Zica will be launched next month with an expected
price range between Rs. 3.5 lakh and Rs. 5.5 lakh.
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