Tata Indigo Manza

The Tata Indigo Manza may just set a new benchmark in its class, says Ashish Masih

There are no prizes for guessing where Tata Motors is going with the all-new Indigo Manza. With the new car’s generous dimensions, cavernous cabin, much-improved interiors and the Fiat 1.3 Multijet diesel engine, Tata is all set to steal some thunder away from Maruti’s Swift Dzire, which has a three-month-long waiting period even a year after launch. The new Indigo, oddly named the Manza, is a complete departure from its cheap but roomy predecessor that had a strong seven-year run. The new car is designed, engineered and equipped to have greater appeal for those who want to upgrade to a very spacious and comfortable saloon loaded with features. The Manza gets the same diesel engine as in the Fiat Linea diesel. The 1.3 Multijet develops more power on the Manza, thanks to the use of a vario-geometric turbocharger (VGT) and manages 89bhp. This is 14bhp more than its main rival, the Swift Dzire diesel, which makes only 75bhp. The engine is highly refined and rear-seated passengers will hardly be able to tell if a diesel motor is powering the car. However, the engine is a tad sluggish below 2000rpm, making driving in bumper-to-bumper city traffic a big chore. But once past this mark, the engine changes its personality and responds very well to throttle inputs, delivering a surge of power typical of common-rail motors. Power comes in rapidly till 4000rpm. Keeping the engine in this range ensures that you will enjoy the drive. The gearbox, a Fiat unit, is direct and pretty accurate but you’ll need a strong hand when changing gears — it’s not the lightest one around. Tata Motors has worked hard on the Manza’s suspension, making ride comfort a priority. It’s the same set-up as the one found on the Indica Vista with modified settings. Drive over a patched road and you’ll immediately appreciate the fact that very little filters into the cabin. Even sharp crevices are annihilated with considerable aplomb. But all this means that the car’s high-speed manners are slightly compromised. The Manza tends to pitch quite a bit at faster speeds. It does not like to be pushed hard into corners and there’s plenty of body roll. The steering wheel should also ideally communicate better. But Tata Motors never intended the Manza to be a driver-focused car and these aren’t things that should worry you. For everyday motoring, the Manza is good to drive. In terms of fuel economy, the Manza returned 11.6kpl in the city, compared to the Dzire’s 13.5kpl. On the highway, a figure of 17.1kpl looks decent against the Dzire’s 18.9kpl. With buyers spending more and more time inside their cars, Tata Motors has played on the older Indigo’s key strengths, namely interior space and comfort. If you thought the old Indigo was roomy, then you have to experience the new Manza’s cabin, which is even more spacious than before. The boot is large too and the low sill makes loading a very easy job. Tata Motors has taken the Indigo upmarket with its selection of new seat fabrics, which offer a sense of luxury. Occupants will enjoy the well-contoured seats and the massive legroom in both rows as well. Rear seat comfort is easily the best in this class, and the generous width means that sitting three abreast is a cinch. The dashboard is well styled too. All dials are clear and easy to read and the rev gauge lights up in red when you hit the rev limiter — a gimmicky touch. Tata Motors wants to ensure that the Indigo isn’t perceived as a cheap and roomy car anymore. One way of going about this is providing a huge list of features. You get airbags, climate control, steering-mounted stereo controls and even Bluetooth connectivity for the cellphone. The quality of the cabin plastics, though vastly improved, still gives you a feeling of being shortchanged and is the only disappointment in an otherwise fine interior. The plastics lack consistency and the general fit and finish are not the best. But the space and long equipment list should overcome this shortcoming. Overall, the Manza’s weaknesses lie in areas that won’t matter much to midsize car buyers and it manages to outclass rivals where it matters most. It’s roomier, more comfortable and comes with a modern diesel engine that has proven its reliability on other cars. With prices starting from Rs 5.84 lakh (ex-showroom, Mumbai), the Indigo Manza is much better value than any other car in its class. And that’s enough reason to consider owning one. Spec check Tata Indigo Manza Price: Rs 5.84 lakh onwards (ex-showroom, Mumbai) Engine: Diesel, front, transverse, 4-cyls in-line, 1248cc, common-rail, direct-injection, turbocharged Power: 89bhp at 4000rpm Suspension (F/R): Independent, MacPherson struts, coil springs/ non-independent, twist beam, coil springs Brakes (F/R): 240mm ventilated discs/ 200mm drums