Drive The New Zest – First Drive

The very look of Tata Zest had created much expectation in the mind of car lovers, ever since the vehicles were unveiled at the 2014 Delhi Auto Expo. It was a pleasant surprise to see the car, which was a big deviation from the usual design and build of a Tata Car.  The Tata Zest filled one with high expectations and one could hardly wait for the launch to get behind the wheels and see for oneself how the vehicle fared.

New look – Tata pioneered the concept of compact sedan when it introduced the Indigo as a sub-four meter sedan. Ironically, it was one of the least popular cars in the segment as far as individual buyers were concerned. With Zest, Tata seems to have learned the lesson and addressed the drawbacks. For one, the design language looks inviting and fresh. It is appealing, unlike the drab feel the Tata cars of the past used to ooze.

Novel Platform – The X1 platform on which the Zest is made, has been developed after putting in a huge amount of effort in R&D. Tata even took the help of professional drivers like Formula 1 driver Narain Karthikeyan to get things right from the driver’s perspective. Tata has declared that while making Zest, they re-engineered the way they built cars.

Interior – The Tata Zest is designed in such a way that the occupants will not feel crammed. Space and comfort has been given utmost importance, and the quality of materials used is excellent. The dashboard and cabin feels premium and overall quality of the interiors are never seen before in a Tata car. A 390-liter boot space also makes the Zest desirable.

Notable features – The Harman entertainment system developed for the Zest is again, of high quality. The high-end variants come with touch-screen, SD card compatibility, voice command and speed sensing automatic volume controller.

Engine and Performance – The Quadrajet engine supplied by Fiat is a reliable power mill generating 90 PS of power and 200 Nm of torque, which puts the Zest almost as powerful as the Honda Amaze. Zest diesel is also available in AMT version. The engine responds well for most of the drive. A small lag is found while shifting from first to second gear, but it is negligible. With a ground clearance of 165 mm, this car can navigate easily through rough terrains too.

Braking is also highly improved in the Zest, thanks to a revamped suspension system. Tata Zest mileage is 22 kmpl, but realistically, it will hover around the 18 to 19 kmpl mark, as the Zest is a heavier car than most of its rivals.

To conclude, it can be state that the Zest offers a rather comfortable drive.

For Information on Upcoming cars in India – http://autoportal.com/upcoming-cars/