The best way to cheer up on a dull, overcast day is to add some colour to your life, and when they say colour, it is always brighter, the better. Well, something similar happened when the Tata Zest 1.2 joined the long termer gang, here at MotorOctane.

 

Zest in 'Buzz Blue'
Zest in ‘Buzz Blue’

Distance: 1000 kms

Mileage: 8.5-12 km/l

Fuel Type: Petrol

Zest joins the long-termer fleet
Zest joins the long-termer fleet

Tata Zest 1.2 First Impression

Tata Motors has been on a steep learning curve ever since they released their first ever Indica. There’s been plenty of revisions along the way, from power train options to interior fittings, features, and driving characteristics. The Indigo, the Marina, Vista, Manza and now the Bolt & the Zest – it has been some journey. The Zest is Tata’s best effort at the compact sedan segment and so when the ‘Buzz Blue’ Zest drove in, we couldn’t help but smile. After all, there’s no disagreeing on the fact that she’s one of the finer looking cars in her segment.  Sporting the 1.2 Litre 90 Bhp petrol motor under the hood (more on that later), the Zest has proved to be quite the fuss-free performer so far. Having recently crossed the 3000 mark on the odo, she’s just about coming into her own. Here’s what we think of her so far.

Tata Zest - You can't help but smile
Tata Zest – You can’t help but smile

In her Buzz Blue clothing, the Zest turns heads in her own unique manner. People stop to smile, as if in recognition of all that Tata have managed to do so far. There’s the signature grille, flanked by those large headlamps and the Tata Logo sitting proudly in the centre. Since this is the top end XT trim, there’s this minimalistic chrome surround for the grille, which end up enhancing the looks (unlike the thick n unappealing stuff on the competition).

Headlight Detail
Projector lamp setup is oh-so-fine

The large headlamps are a projector setup with LED guide rings that look rather fetching in the dark. Not to mention the fact that they light up the road nice and bright too. Move down towards the bottom and you have your fog lamps and the LED Daytime Running Lights (DRLs). Unfortunately, there seems to be a bit of a problem with them on our long-termer and have refused to light up till now. So we can’t quite comment on their effectiveness. Let your eyes flow over to the opposite end and it is the tail-lamps that prove to be the show-stealer here. While the boot-lid/bumper design isn’t anything to find fault with, those large LED lamps really lift up the visual appeal. Pull the grab handle (it does feel unexpectedly light), to step inside and you are greeted by a rather neat looking dashboard that’s finished in dual-tone colours. Shut the door and again that lack of heft that you’d expect from a Tata product is missing. (No, this isn’t to question the build quality of the car, rather, it is about the perception about the brand on the whole.) The confusion that runs amok for a minute or two is epic, as the brain tries to comprehend a light-weight Tata! But then, the Zest is that much of a game-changer for the company.

'Signature' Tata Cockpit View
‘Signature’ Tata Cockpit View

Getting behind the wheel, the large steering wheel makes you feel at ease. You get the audio controls on the left spoke of the steering wheel while the mobile phone controls are present on both sides. The Horn pad is large enough and easy to press too, though the horn itself could do with a bit of bass in it. The dual-tone dashboard is finished more in black than the beige, which is a good thing from a usability point-of-view. Though we’d have loved it if Tata had used softer plastics, as the current one feels rough to touch. The large wing mirrors are a boon, particularly in traffic, as one can catch those darting motorists with ease.

Tata Zest 1.2 Revotron Interior

Chrome Detailing & Piano Black Finish
Chrome Detailing & Piano Black Finish

We love the piano black theme & chrome accents that have been used for the dash-board. Tata really have done a fantastic job here and the cabin feel of the Zest is a plush one. The HVAC unit chills the large cabin within minutes and there’s some nice detailing around the controls too.

Great detailing around the central air-con vents
Great detailing around the central air-con vents

The cabin is large and airy. There’s ample space, both at the front as well as the rear. Seating three abreast at the rear is a breeze, what with the leg & shoulder room that’s available on-board. Even with a tall person behind the wheel, the passengers in the rear seat, don’t feel cramped up at all. Where Tata seem to have skimped however, is in providing some much needed storage space inside the passenger cabin. There’s minimal stowage space and even the bins in the door pads seem to have been put on a strict diet, so they’re all but rendered unusable. There’s a lack of cubby holes too, and even the seat-back pockets seem to have been given a miss.

Meter Pod
Whisper smooth on the inside

Tata Zest 1.2 Revotron Engine

Turn the key and you’ll be struggling to tell if the engine is ticking or not – Tata have done a great job here with the Revotron engine. The 1.2 Litre turbo-charged engine will surprise you with its non-existent spool-up times on the ‘charger. Reach out for that innocuously placed ‘Sport’ button and she’ll even quicken her pace that wee bit more. Yes, Tata have equipped the Zest with Eco, Normal & Sport modes. Essentially three maps that correspond to their intended usage; the Eco & the Normal mode as expected, were quite sedate, having been tuned more for stretching that fuel mile. It would have been nice though to feel some sort of surge (or thrust) that’d propel you forward in the way you’d expect from an engine holding 90 ponies within. Tata have tuned this engine for driveability and comfortable motoring, and it shows when you get enthusiastic with the throttle. The engine note does sound a lot nicer when she’s revved to the higher limits of the rev range though.

Gear Lever & Console - Top View
One Shifter, Three Modes that cater to every mood

The Zest isn’t a corner carver, let’s be sure on that. So chuck that thought of nailing the apex in it out the window! Rather, head out for a relaxed, stress-free drive, catch up on your thoughts and conversations with co-passengers. Or simply taken in the scenery while the fantastic ride quality dismisses the bumps with minimal fuss. If you’ve experienced the joy of sinking into a plush sofa, then you’ll know just how tough it is to get off it. One really has to have a darn good reason to get you to budge and that’s pretty much the feeling that one gets in the Zest. The amply bolstered seats are a joy and with that pliant suspension giving you a well-damped ride, you soon realize that maybe, the Zest does want you to enjoy the ‘good’ life.

Zest Revotron XT, enjoy the 'Good' life
Zest Revotron XT, enjoy the ‘Good’ life

And that’s what the Zest is all about. The best iteration of a compact sedan from Tata, and a turbo-petrol powered one at that. As we bid adieu to the Zest, we’ve come to love her for her strengths, and while the competition does have a lot to offer, Tata have done a commendable job on this car. Not only does it hold its own against the others in the segment, but she has a lot going for her. So, if you are in the market for a compact sedan that’s youthful and modern enough to draw admiring looks from people on the street, while having enough space to accommodate the family on those weekend trips – then it is time, to add some ‘Zest’ in your life!

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