Gii Auto Reviews Auto Information

Tata Indica Reviews

The Tata Indica is a small hatchback automobile manufactured by Tata Motors from India. The model is also exported to Europe as well as for retailing in South Africa. In the UK it was imported by MG Rover and was called the City Rover.

In 1998, Tata Motors introduced the most modern car ever to be designed by an Indian company: the Indica. It was very well marketed with slogans like "The Big, Small Car" and "More car per car", as the ad campaign focused on roomy interiors and affordability.

Partly designed and developed by Tata Motors, it is a five-door compact hatchback with a 1.4 L petrol or diesel engine, which was initially designed by French car manufacturer Peugeot. The Indica offered options like air conditioning and electric windows, which were previously restricted to only up market imported cars in India. Three years later the Indica was exported to European markets for the first time, the Indica was re-badged in Britain as the City Rover.

Contrary to popular belief, the car was not entirely designed in India. The styling for the outer body was done by an Italian design house called I.D.E.A Institute, under a contract from Tata Motors, with heavy interaction with Tata's in-house design team, and the engine design was sourced from Peugeot, although assembled and built by Tata Motors.

A varied number of professional test-drives and their subsequent write-ups have had a wide range of reviews, although almost all allow for the fact that whilst the 1.4l 8-valve petrol engine of the Xeta/Turbo Diesel is quite powerful for the price, the fuel economy - coupled with an accessible retail price - sets this to be bottom-range economy family car with 'excellent value for money'.

Tata Motors has now launched the new 2007 models for their small car, the `Tata Indica V2. The Tata Indica comes in different models like, the Tata Indica V2 Xeta and the Tata India V2 Turbo. The new Tata Indica V2 Xeta 2007 will be approximately priced at Rs. 2.55 lacs for the lowest model and going up to Rs. 3.49 for the top model. The Diesel variant will approximatly cost anywhere between Rs. 3.22 and Rs. 4.13 lacs.

The new 2007 models will be available with four different new colors namely Arizona Ochre, Amazon Blue, Cavern Grey and Pastel Green. The older colors that are popular are also available. The Indica has also come with a few changes like a new sportier bumper, dual tone rear view mirrors, better looking fog lamps and slightly different tail lights.