When was the last time a Tata car caught your attention on the road?
When was the last time a Tata car caught your attention on the road? Well, the new Tata Boltwith its decidedly modern appeal certainly steps up the game by virtue of its appearance, but its not just a good looking hatchback.
Tata Bolt Review – 1.2-litre Revotron
It comes loaded with features that are hitherto unseen in its segment without compromising on the brand’s traditional positive traits like space and comfort. The latest Tata hatchback takes aimat none other than the incumbent Maruti Swift and we check if it has covered all the bases to be prepared for the ensuing battle.
Exterior
Save for the silhouette, there is nothing to connect the Bolt to Vista.
The basic shape may remind you of the Vista which is now relegated to taxi market but the Bolt’s styling is a far cry from its predecessor. The hatchback is essentially a Zest sans the stubby boot, which means you get a modern front fascia with neatly executed projector headlamps, a smart looking honeycomb meshed black grille and foglamp enclosures that are swathed in chrome.
The profile is where the Bolt’s roots can be traced back to the Vista. However, the Bolt’s taller stance, 15-inch multispoke alloy wheels, new character lines and blacked out C-pillars with pin stripes, give it a whole new character.
The 15-inch alloy wheels, new creases and blacked out C-pillar render a sporty stance.
Thankfully, the designers have done away with the pillar-mounted X-Mas tree combination light clusters in favor of hatchdoor-mounted units which feature LED-like detailing. The usage of chrome will not go unnoticed but it’s not overdone either. A black plastic diffuser and a central red foglight round off the rear end design.
In short, the Tata Bolt is a handsome looking hatchback with good proportions.
Interior
The B-segment hatchback has inherited its dashboard design from the Zest but features an all black color theme instead of dual-tone black and beige. The centre console sports piano black finish and silver accents while the glove compartment also features a piano black insert. The overall plastic and switch gear qualities have gone up a few notches compared to its predecessor.
The Zest-derived dashboard adopts full black color theme. Material and build qualities are good.
The 5-inch touchscreen multimedia infotainment system by Harman is the talking point of the hatchback. The system features Bluetooth, USB and Aux in connectivity, video streaming, navigation through smartphone mirroring and many more. The range topping XT trim also comes with automatic climate control and multifunction steering wheel.
The 5-inch touchscreen Harman infotainment system is the talking point of the interior.
The front seats are comfortable enough with adequate thigh support and height adjustment for the driver. The overall ergonomics is better but the steering wheel angle is still something that needs a bit of getting used to despite having an adjustable rake. Also there is a serious lack of storage place in the cabin with none of the door pockets accommodating even a half-sized water bottle.
Rear seat comfort is class leading.
The rear bench offers class leading comfort with ample space for three adults. The leg room, thigh support and seat back reclining angle never disappoint even a tall passenger. The automatic climate control system does an excellent job of keeping things cool throughout the cabin.
The Bolt has a boot capacity of 210 litres which can be enhanced by the flexible 60:40 split rear seats. Trying to accommodate the entire family’s luggage can be quite tricky but that’s a small price to pay for a roomy cabin.
Engine and transmission
The Bolt is the second car to be powered by Tata’s new 1.2-litre Revotron turbocharged petrol engine which produces 90 PS at 4,000 rpm and a peak torque of 140 Nm from an impressively low 1,500 rpm all way up to 4,000 rpm. The motor is paired to a 5-speed manual gearbox.
The Revotron turbo petrol engine has no sense of urgency in the power delivery but has a good driveability.
While its competitors boast of all-aluminium engine blocks with four-valve cylinder heads, the Revotron makes do with a 2-valve per cylinder layout and a cast iron block.
Gearshift is light and easy but needs precision while slotting through the gates.
The NVH levels are decent but the motor has no sense of urgency in power delivery one would expect from a turbocharged unit. That said, it puts on a good show between 3,000-5,000 rpm. The turbo lag is minimal but you have to shift down a cog every time you brake and bring the motor below 2,000 rpm mark so as to avoid sluggishness, perhaps due to gaps in the gear ratios.
Mutlidrive modes actually work!
The Multidrive modes – City (default), Eco and Sport – are not gimmicky. Every mode results it slight yet noticeable difference in the engine behavior. The City enhances low end part throttle response while Sport unleashes the reserve power.
The gear ratios of the Bolt’s 5-speed manual unit are slightly shorter than the Zest improving the overall driveability within city conditions. The gear shift itself is nice and easy but slotting through the gates needs to be precise. Moving the Bolt off the mark in first gear requires additional dosage of throttle to avoid stalling.
Fuel Efficiency
Real world average fuel economy could have been better.
With an equal mix of ambling around town, highway cruising and spirited sprint along the mountain roads, the Bolt managed an indicated average fuel efficiency of 10.6 kpl which is much lesser then its ARAI certified mileage of 17.57 litres.
Ride Handling and Braking
The Tata Bolt has a ground clearance of 165 mm and the suspension is softy sprung. As a result, most of the road imperfections are dealt with ease but on the flip side, high speed road holding and handling take a hit.
The car has a fair bit of body roll around the corners and the tyres start protesting earlier than expected. The softer suspension also means that there is a pronounced dive under hard braking but the ABS with corner stability control helps in shedding speed without any nasty surprises.
The electric power steering is calibrated very nicely to stay light enough at city speeds and weigh up adequately as speeds increase. In fact, it’s probably the best steering system to be featured in a Tata car.
In terms of dynamics, the Tata Bolt is a car which will transport you in utmost comfort provided if you don’t attempt to explore its limits.
Features
This is where the Tata Bolt clearly outwits its competitors. The hatchback comes equipped with standard projector headlamps while the top-end variant offers Harman touchscreen multimedia infotainment system, automatic climate control, dual front airbags, ABS with Corner Stability Control, speed sensing door locks, rear wiper with washer, etc.
Price
The Tata Bolt Revotron petrol variants range from INR 4.45 lakhs to INR 5.99 lakhs (Ex-showroom Delhi). The petrol range is available in four variants – XE, XM, XMS and XT.
Verdict
The Tata Bolt is a huge step up from the Vista in every aspect and makes a strong statement as a comeback car. The 1.2-litre Revotron turbo petrol motor is definitely a step in the right direction but it has a bit of room for improvement; it could have been more easy revving.
At the end of the day, the Tata Bolt emerges as a spacious, comfortable and well equipped family hatchback with a value-for-money quotient that will certainly appeal to the head.
Pros Good styling inside out Improved overall quality Features Space, ride quality and comfort
Cons Excessive body roll Fuel Efficiency could have been better Inadequate storage space in the cabin
Rivals
Maruti Swift, Maruti Ritz, Ford Figo, Hyundai Grand i10 and Fiat Punto
Tata Bolt Review: 1.2-litre Revotron Petrol – Image Gallery
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