Tata motors have launched an all-new model in the market once again. After the not-too-recent launches of the Indica Vista and the Nano, it’s now finally the turn of the ageing Indigo. To replace it, the Pune firm has brought out the ‘Manza,’ in both petrol and diesel versions. We took a close look at the diesel that features the familiar, yet formidable, 1.3 Quadrajet under the hood.

From the Outside



The profile of the Manza is eerily similar to the Vista, on which it’s based – well, right up to the rear doors anyway. The doors themselves are virtually identical – beyond which, of course, is a fairly substantial rear overhang that encompasses an enormous boot. And while the rear end does appear bulbous, the boot is actually incorporated fairly well into the overall design – certainly much more so than the previous generation Indigo. To further differentiate the Manza from the Vista, it has a striking front end with a chrome grille and a set of elongated headlights that reach some way into the front fenders. And while this is clearly a design where form follows function, the rear also gets a similar set of lamps that reach into the bodywork to extend some flair.

With an extended wheelbase, at 2,520mm, the Manza is 50mm longer than the Vista between the front and rear wheels. And, in comparison to the old Indigo, the overall length of the Manza, at 4,413mm, has been extended by a full 260mm – in order to provide greater rear legroom, not to mention even more boot space. The boot doesn’t disappoint either – having a capacity of 460 liters, the storage space is awesome. And, in keeping with its larger size, the Manza comes with 15-inch wheels and tyres as standard fitment across all variants.

From the Inside



Ultra spacious interiors have always been a trademark of Tata cars, and this is certainly the case with the Manza as well. Interior room is truly extraordinary, and sets the Manza apart from the competition. The seats, both front and rear, are extremely comfortable and supportive, and feature a rich dual-tone upholstery. And that’s illustrative of the Manza’s interior on the whole, as it’s far better quality than any other Tata product before it. The dashboard is dual-tone as well, and soft to the touch. The quality of the switchgear, and the fit and finish, is far better than ever before.

The driver gets a chunky 4-spoke steering wheel that features audio controls, as well as buttons for Bluetooth connectivity of your cell phone. And while the buttons themselves are a little small, they’re a good resource for the driver nonetheless. The instrument panel is mounted in its conventional place, as opposed to centrally, as it is in the Indica Vista. And while the overall design works quite well, the gauges themselves are too small, which is indicative of the fact that, while Tata Motors is making huge strides forward, they still need to focus on the little details.

Speaking of the details, there was one additional feature that I liked – when the engine is revved to its 5,100rpm limit, the needle itself turns red to inform you that you’ve reached the redline. The center console is uncluttered and features AC controls and a nicely integrated all-new stereo. There’s also a multi-information display above the AC vents – all of which gives the cabin a refreshed look.



With a clear readout in blue, the music system provided in the Manza sounds relatively okay, and also has a USB port that can be used to connect external devices. The multi-information display, on the other hand, provides data such
as fuel economy, distance-to-empty, temperature, and time – all useful information, and it adds a nice touch to the interiors as well.

For storage, there’s a massive glove compartment – the actual size of which you wouldn’t believe. Another useful feature that caught my eye in the dark was the placement of a 12-volt cigarette lighter power source on the parcel shelf behind the rear seat, which can be used by rear seat passengers to charge their cell phone or laptop if required.

What truly stands out about the Manza, though, is the sheer volume of interior space – once again, this will be a trump card in the Tata Motors armour. Add to that a quality interior, with the exception of small niggles, and the Manza makes a very powerful case for itself from the inside.

On the road



Powered by the Fiat sourced 1.3 litre Multijet diesel unit, which is by now a very familiar engine for India – since it does duty in several cars from Fiat, Maruti and Tata Motors – the engine is definitely responsive and punchy due to its output of 90bhp in the Manza, as compared with 75bhp in both the Vista and the Swift Dzire.

In fact, the engine feels decidedly more responsive in the Manza than it does in the Linea – in which it shares its 90bhp spec. Moreover the Quadrajet, as Tata Motors refer to it, is extremely refined in the Manza – with NVH (Noise Vibration Harshness) levels better than in some other cars in which it does duty. Insulation is good, and engine noise is barely audible inside the cabin, and vibration is practically nonexistent as well – even at high rpm. In fact, when you do hear the engine, it actually sounds surprisingly good.



Mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox, the shifts feel solid and are relatively smooth – a definite improvement over previous Tata cars. For overtaking maneuvers, there is surplus power that can be had by downshifting, which is easily done as the gear lever is positioned well, and has short throws.

The ride quality and comfort in the Manza is also a step above previous Tata cars. On the highway, it performed very well and felt rock solid at three-digit speeds. This engine’s mid-range torque makes highway cruising a pleasurable experience. Built for Indian road conditions – the Manza soaks up all the jolts from potholes with ease. Grip levels are also impressive, and while the car does have considerable body roll, the driving experience is impressive on the whole.

The engine does suffer from turbo lag below 2000rpm, however, which means that you do have to row the gearbox a fair amount in the city to stay within the powerband. Also, a point worth mentioning is that there’s actually very little space between the clutch pedal and side of the foot-well. Plus, there’s no dead pedal to rest your left foot, which means that getting your foot on and off the clutch pedal can be a nuisance.

Verdict



The Manza feels not one, but several generations ahead of the Indigo. In fact, Tata Motors have made significant changes from the Indica Vista as well. The enhanced build quality is a testament to the fact that Tata Motors is improving by the day. Small niggles still remain, however, in terms of details such as ergonomics, and gaps in shut lines, etc. But the fact is that the Indigo Manza is yet another illustration of the leaps and bounds with which Tata Motors is progressing.



You don’t expect to fall head-over-heels for the Manza, but it is a very practical sedan that makes a lot of sense, while offering a huge amount of car for the money – an area in which Tata Motors have always excelled. And, it’s an important one at that, since it resonates very well indeed with Indian car buyers. The Manza, therefore, will only serve to bolster Tata’s very definite upward ascent.