Tata Grande (2014)

Expert Review by Maxabout

Exterior

Dashboard

Colors

Interior

Main

After some models of fantastic SUVs, Tata Motors has not stopped manufacturing great cars as it released Sumo Grande. The vehicle combines the design of an SUV and the comforts of a family car in one. It has been specially crafted to satisfy the needs of urban customers who always need to travel and are also after fuel efficiency. In its 13 year long journey, the Sumo Grande faced many rivals in the market but Tata Motors has kept the vehicle alive with constant upgrades. Through the years, the image and quality of the Tata Sumo Grande improved a lot.

Exterior

The Sumo Grande comes with clean chiselled looks and flowing contours. Its tall, sporty stance makes it stand out. The vehicle is complimented by large bright headlamps, and an air dam at the front. At the back, it comes with the spare wheel compartment kept under the vehicle’s body. The rear boot is emphasized by gorgeous tail lights and sleek chrome cover. The manufacturer has decided to borrow a few design cuts from their other cars, such as Xenon for a classier look. It comes with a high bonnet and bold moulds at the grille that gives a majestic V shaped front. The V theme of the Tata Sumo Grande extends to the lower part of the bumper which gives a real masculine feel, tough and active like an athlete ready to start the race anytime.

Interior

After taking a look at the exteriors, one can never be dismayed with Tata Sumo Grande’s interiors. The main aim of Tata in building this vehicle is providing enough space for everyone that is why upon entering the car, anyone can say that Sumo is really Grande. It comes with enough space so families who love to travel together can pretty much enjoy this car. It comes with ample shoulder room, headroom, knee room and compartment so passengers are sure to relax as they can move around freely during long travels. Tata made sure that they improved the car’s space and increased its wheelbase by up to 150mm. It has a large four spoke steering wheel and a rectangular glove box with a gear knob that dominates the dash. The dashboard of this model is more glamorous as everything is placed in the dash.

Since the main objective is to provide lots of space, it comes with several storage pockets and cup holders too. The faux wood finish on central console is sleek and undeniably gives a rich feel. Aside from enough space, it has a large steering wheel and height adjustable seats to give drivers a pleasant driving experience with maximum comfort. Both the driver and passenger seats can be adjusted so one can surely bring Tata Sumo Grande for long road trips. The consoles are very accessible although the gear knob can be a bit difficult to pull at times. The dials are clear and can be easily read which is a plus for people who having a hard time to read small prints. There is a lot of space under the front seats, and it also comes with reclining second row seats for extra passengers. The roof mounted air conditioner is really cool and is even cooler since the third row seat passengers can adjust the air con vents without calling the attention of the driver. Fold-able arm and head rests are also available so anyone can rest during traffic or stop overs.

What makes Tata Sumo Grande unlike other MUVs is that the third row seats are not only meant for a limited number of people. Instead, three full-size adults can sit at ease in it making the vehicle really standout in terms of passenger space. The windows at the back give good ventilation for the third row passengers so there is no need to get stressed in case passengers want to savour the cool breeze during travel. The second and third row seats can also be folded in case passengers want more space. There are a few storage spaces at the back door which can be opened horizontally which makes it look hip. The Sumo Grande is available in 4 variants namely the EX (BSIII), EX (BSIV), LX and the GX. All of these variants have two seating configurations which are 6 plus 1 and 7 plus 1. The famous Tata Sumo Grande GX line features an adjustable steering wheel; console powered mirrors, remote lock, back screen wipers and unified CD player.

Engine and Gearbox

Tata Sumo Grande also has enough power to hit the road with good speeds. It comes with a 2.2 litre Direct Injection Common Rail or DiCOR engine that runs smoothly as it is turbo charged. The movement of the piston is terrific as it produces a displacement of 2179 cubic centimetres with a horse power of 120 at the rate of 4000 rotations per minute. Its torque is at 250 newton meters at the rate of 1500 to 3000 rotations per minute.

Mileage

The fuel tank capacity of this vehicle is 65 litres and as specified by ARAI or the Automotive Research Association of India, the fuel efficient of Tata Sumo Grande is 13.55 kilometres per litre, same results based on Tata’s own tests.

Safety Features

Tata Sumo Grande is extremely one of a kind as it is not just a ride but a car of tough built. It comes with heaps of safety features which are side impact bars, barking system, central locking system, bright fog lights, fire resistant seats, tubeless tires, seat-belt pretensioners, motorized adjustable lamps, anti-glare internal back view mirror, and others. For added safety, the car has been equipped with warning devices such as door when the driver’s seat-belt is unfastened, door open warning and low fuel warning.

Shades

Tata Sumo Grande MK II is available in five shades: Mineral Red, Dew White, Arctic Silver, Walnut Gold and Arctic White.

Verdict

Although this model does not come with airbags and other features that are available in most high-end cars, Tata Sumo Grande can still be considered a good buy in terms of space and comfort. As Tata Motors continually improve their models, they may consider making revisions in the future but at the moment, the target of this model is space, and that target has been met with its adjustable seats and roomy rows.