Tata Indigo eCS (2018)

Expert Review by Maxabout

Tata Motors launched the Indigo CS at the Auto Expo 2008 in New Delhi and till then it is selling in good numbers and has been very well received by the Indian customers who want a sedan but don't want to spend more than 5 lakhs. In Indigo CS Tata has cut down the overall length of existing Indigo to avail the tax benefits of small car for the Indigo CS. Tata Motors dubs the new Indigo CS as the "World's most compact sedan". Now, Tata Motors has launched new Indigo e-CS which has been upgraded with some new features and minor facelift which includes new headlamps, new alloy wheels, all-new interiors, electric outside rear view mirrors, integrated turn indicators in outside rear view mirrors, all new front grille, new instrument cluster, new engines and music system with Bluetooth and aux port.

Looking for a car that matches your taste and your budget can be tough especially if you do not have options. Many car manufacturers today offer great cars however not all of them offer the best prices. For some, owning a car is only possible for the high-class but Tata proves it wrong with a car that is perfect for mid-class buyers. As the biggest car manufacture in India and one of the largest in the world, they have launched another sedan that perfectly fits the daily travelling needs of most Indian customers. Here is a quick preview of the Tata Indigo e-CS and what many car lovers can say about it.

UPDATE (19^th June, 2013) – Tata Motors has launched the 2013 Indigo eCS in Indian market. It comes with host of new styling, comfort, safety and convenience features. It comes equipped with all-new front grille, front bumper, new rear bumper with integrated parking sensors, new steering wheel, silver-finish center console, new design for seat upholstery, new design for speedometer and tachometer, new music system. Technically, it is powered by the same petrol and diesel engines but the gearbox and suspension set-up is new and much better than before. As per the claims by the company, they have also improved the noise insulation to reduce the amount of noise inside the cabin. It is available in 8 variants and four shades. Tata also unveiled the CNG variant of 2013 Indigo eCS and it will be sold as ‘Indigo eCS eMax’.

Exterior

Tata launched the Indigo e-CS in New Delhi as the world’s most compact sedan. Its overall length is even smaller than most premium hatchbacks in the market as it measures less than 4.0 meters. As one would expect, the Tata Indigo e-CS is manufactured in India as well so car buyers can be sure that it costs lesser than any other brand in the market when it comes to this segment. As the years have gone by, the exterior style as well as the cabin layout of Tata cars has not changed much but surely improvements are done after feedback and tests. This vehicle has been installed with the all new effective CR4 diesel motor which makes it the most fuel proficient diesel sedan in India. The Tata Indigo e-CS comes with body coloured bumpers, dual chamber blacked-out headlamps and sleek paint finish that can capture anyone’s attention. With one quick glance at the Tata Indigo e-CS, anyone would feel like buying the car because of its compact size and classy look which is not common with other vehicles in this segment. The CS in Tata Indigo e-CS is the acronym for Compact Sedan while the e stands for Eco-friendly. Although this vehicle is smaller, one can truly be surprised as the interior space is still ample. Compared to other cars in India, the Tata Indigo e-CS has a reasonable amount of interior space so small groups can still travel together with this car. Unlike the older Tata car models, this vehicle, Tata Indigo e-CS has no similarity to Tata Indica when it comes to appearance. The grille of the Tata Indigo e-CS is more fresh and classy brushed as it comes with a metallic finish. The body colored bumper and the body colored rub rail that comes with a chromium lining plus wing mirrors with gauges makes the Tata Indigo e-CS a winner.

Interior

Looking inside this compact classy car is quite pleasing as it comes with an off-white color which is better than black or regular grey shades of cars in the market. The new design plus the unmatched price makes critiques say that the Indigo e-CS is a one of a kind car. Although the interior of the Tata Indigo e-CS is not as advanced as other cars in the market, it comes with the features that most customers look for or need. The Indigo e-CS has well upholstered fabric seats that provide utmost comfort and support to the passengers. The door trim also comes with fabric inserts and its four power windows can be controlled using the switches at the central console. There are separate controls for the passengers at the rear seat so there is no need to call the attention of the driver for adjusting the windows at the back.

Engine and Gearbox

The petrol variant of Indigo e-CS is powered by a 1193cc MPFi engine which develops 65 Bhp of maximum power with 100 Nm of maximum torque. The diesel variant of Indigo e-CS is powered by a 1396cc CR4 diesel engine which develops 70 Bhp of maximum power with 140 Nm of maximum torque. Another diesel engine is also on offer, the old 1405cc TDi, it generates maximum power of 70 bhp with maximum torque of 135 nm.

Mileage

Its mileage is quite competitive too at 25 kilometres per litre 5-speed Manual Transmission with a Kerb weight of approximately 1105 kilograms and 1110 kilograms. Its power to weight is within the ratio of 63.1 brake horse power per 1000 kilograms.

Variants of Indigo e-CS

Variants of Tata Indigo e-CS are TDi LS, TDi LX, CR4 LS, CR4 LX, CR4 VX, MPi GLS, MPi GLX and MPi GVX. The top of the line variant of Indigo e-CS comes loaded with following comfort features: Power Steering, Power Windows, Central Locking, Air Conditioner with Heater, Front Fog Lamps, Rear Defogger, Roof Lamp, Electrical Adjustment for Outside Rear View Mirrors, Bluetooth Ready Music System with factory fitted 4 speakers, ABS and Alloy Wheels.

Safety Features

Just like any other vehicle manufactured by Tata, Tata Indigo e-CS comes with safety features to help prevent passenger injury in case of accidents. Tata Indigo e-CS comes with a central locking, anti-lock braking system that allows the car to shift despite applying extreme pressure to brakes. It also comes with an engine immobilizer and a set of airbags to prevent major head damages in case of a crash. The remote keyless entry makes it safe as well as the vehicle doors would not open unless the registered remote has been used. For customers with children, the car has been installed with child safety door locks to prevent any untoward incidents such as children opening the door to strangers or falling off the car accidentally when the seatbelts are not in use. The front and rear seatbelts protects the passengers torso from moving forward in case of a crash or rollover which is a good feature to avert passengers from having more serious injuries during a roll-over. It also comes with collapsible steering, crumple zones and anti-theft alarm in case of intrusion.

Shades

2013 Tata Indigo e-CS is available in following four shades: Royal Burgundy, Porcelain White, Spanish Tan and Jet Silver.

Verdict

Basing it from its price, Tata Indigo e-CS is quite spacious and is hard to compare to any other vehicle with the same specs. Even at first sight, car buyers would not get disappointed. With one step inside, it can easily be perceived that the car has been well thought off as the price is actually very affordable yet it has the essentials that most people would look for. The first thing that catches the attention of buyers when looking at Tata Indigo e-CS is the roominess plus controls although some disagree that it is a good buy as it lacks some features that most sedans have such as magazine pockets and all. But overall, the Tata Indigo e-CS is smallest sedan in the world with a competitive price and it comes from a good car manufacturer that has been in the industry for years so it still has a good say in terms of marketing.