I have blogged on several different topics since I started covering Lifestyle on the blog here a few months ago. I am finally writing about cars! Cars are close to my heart, and I was fortunate to be invited for an exclusive preview event for the Tata GenX Nano Easy Shift.

The famous Tata hospitality I was treated to was just the tip of the iceberg. This summer day was going to be an eye opener, one that forced me to think beyond my preconceived notions regarding the Nano.

So before I take a deep dive into the new GenX Nano AMT and its best in class features, I would like to give you an idea of my driving experience. I learned to drive on our old Premier Padmini or ‘fiat’ as we called it, drove the Maruti 800 and then many different compacts, sedans and SUVs in economy and luxury segments. I have driven over 100K miles and I currently drive a larger automatic car.

Point is, I have concrete comparison points for many of the observations I am going to make here.

Some observations or impressions are of course intangible, and many times the intangible impression leads to the buying decision.

But I hope to provide you with enough hard facts about the GenX Nano Easy Shift. This is going to be a long one, so settle down with a cup of coffee!

When the Nano was first introduced, it was known as the ‘1lakh’ car or poor man’s car. Changing such customer biases is a daunting task, but Tata Motors has set out to do just that with the new improved GenX Nano and their Horizon Next initiative.

Here are some features that made an impression on me –

1. Comfort

I am a larger than life person, so the thing I dreaded most about the GenX Nano was whether I would fit into the car. As small as it looks from the outside, I imagined a scenario where I got stuck in the car, or didn’t have enough leg room, or took over most of the seat.

1.1 Spacious Interior

All my fears vanished the moment I opened the front passenger door. I dumped my bags on the car floor, and that itself gave me an idea of how roomy the car was. I could sit very comfortably and fully stretch my legs with enough room for two large bags on the floor. I found it roomier than the Hyundai I-10.

The driver’s seat is equally comfortable and slides back enough for even a 6 foot tall driver.

1.2 Powerful AC

Considering the almost 40C heat, the AC functioned really well. There are two vents in the center and one each on the driver and passenger side. When Maruti 800 and the Zen were one of the few cars in the Indian market, the AC was a big comparison point. I think anyone who has driven an 800 or now an Alto will be surprised by the efficient air conditioning offered by this GenX Nano.

1.3 Locks etc.

Power locks and keyless entry are once again premium features, even with higher segment cars, and are generally only available in higher trims.

The ePAS Power Steering is another surprise. Although I did not test the car at high speeds, the power steering works! There won’t be any upper body workout happening here for sure.

Summing up, the GenX Nano does well on the Comfort scale, and is set to please even the most finicky buyer.

 

2. Design and Styling

Every car has a persona.

Suffice it to say that a lot of factors like market positioning and target customers are taken into account while creating this personality for the car.

2.1 Happy and Energetic Stance

You know how some cars seem like they are bearing down on you, ready to attack, while some seem almost lazy? Well, that is all part of the car’s design.

The GenX Nano Easy Shift is a happy car, sort of like Herbie (Volkswagen Beetle). I think with the right Bollywood placement, it can become as iconic as Herbie.

The signature front grille is shaped like a wide grin and the large headlamps are like wide open eyes. The car has an impish smile and it feels almost like it is about to do something naughty.

2.2 Infinity Motif and Nano Embossing

The infinity symbol is a motif that appears in many places like the front, back, all the four doors and all the seats. The Nano embossing can be found on the headlamps and the floor mats or carpets and the seats. It is also visible in the boot area when you raise the hatch.

I think this will help create a strong brand identity for the Nano, one which can be carried across different media channels. GenX Nano customers will welcome having a graphic to associate with their car.

2.3 Smoked Headlamps and Fog Lamps

The smoked headlamps are a signature feature and the fog lamps are definitely an upgrade.

Fog lamps provide the low beam that is necessary to cut through mist or fog. We have our share of fog in winter time in Pune, and some metros unfortunately have smog. Mountain areas like Kodai or Himachal are famous for their misty hills.

Fog lamps are generally considered a slightly premium feature and I was surprised to see them on the GenX Nano.

2.4 Mix and Match Design Choices

The GenX Nano comes in three/ four trims and each of these have many possible options or ‘option packages’ as they are called in the auto industry (not sure what exact terminology is being used by Tata Motors for these).

This means there are a large number of variants giving people a wide choice, and making almost every customer happy.

The Persian Pink was my favorite. Stay tuned to learn more about this custom color option from the GenX Nano.

2.5 Center Console and Tailgate

It seems like Tata Motors has taken popular features from best selling cars and tried to build them into the new GenX Nano. And they have done a great job of it.

The center console with the integrated dash is one such feature. I first experienced this with the Toyota Prius in ’07, I think. It is liberating to have no dials or guages in between the steering wheel and the front windshield.

All the dials that you normally expect in front or above the steering wheel are mounted into the center dash or console. So speed, gear indicator, car temperature, fuel guage, distance to empty tank etc. are all displayed in the center.

The rear tailgate opens with just a small tug and has a spoiler. A spoiler! Now who would have thought that?

2.6 Visibility

The GenX Nano has panoramic windows that give you a wide view of your surroundings. This makes it easy to span intersections or just enjoy the view on that scenic drive. The height of the car also helps.

I personally found the driver side A pillar a bit obstructive at times, especially on some turns when you need to look at exactly what is behind the pillar. I think this is more an aspect of my driving style and the traffic pattern.

2.7 Tall Boy- Easy Access

The tall boy design is pretty popular and this can only be another point in the car’s favor. Entry and exit are pretty easy, especially for larger people, seniors and/ or people with waist or knee issues. This is a big plus point.

The height of the car also gives a much better view of the road allowing you to see potholes and speed bumpers from a distance, so that you can stop or slow down where needed.

3. Safety Features

Safety is a top concern for every driver. Well, a car cannot control whether you follow traffic rules or not, but Tata Motors has paid attention to your safety in case of accidents.

The car has undergone intensive crash testing.

Impact cushioning crumple zones mean the car will take most of the damage and not transfer it to the driver or passengers.

The front body structure has been reinforced and a roll bar has been provided for speed stability. This is good because of the tall design and high ground clearance of 180mm.

Most Honda and Toyota cars offer 165mm resulting in a sure shot scrape to the underbody on larger speed breakers.

Perhaps the only feature I found missing but find desirable is airbags.

4. Gear Box, engine, mileage, turning radius etc.

We saw what meets the eye, now let us check out what is inside this car.

4.1 What is the AMT?

The GenX Nano Easy Shift offers Automated Manual Transmission. This is not Auto Transmission. The car comes with a manual gear box, and some kind of automated mechanism that changes the gears for you.

In layman’s terms, it is as if Dobby the Elf is changing the gears for you and all you have to do is brake or accelerate.

If you drive a manual transmission, this is a big relief especially in city traffic. If you drive an Auto transmission, there will be subtle differences in the way the car responds.

The GenX Nano also offers a Tiptonic type mode where you can get the feel of driving in manual mode without having to press a clutch.

Tata Motors has tried to please a wide cross section of people with every function of the car.

4.2 Engine Capacity and Sound

The Nano engine is 600 odd ml or cc. This is much lower than the 1 lit or 1.1 liter engines that are common on cars like Maruti Alto (K10). I think the Hyundai Eon is about 800cc.

This particular engine capacity allows the car to give a gas mileage of 20+ KM/L in the AMT mode.

Without going into too many technical details, I will say that the CC or engine capacity is not the only factor that will decide a car’s performance.

The GenX Nano performed really well considering the size of the engine and exceeded my expectations.

What is that rickshaw like sound, you say?

Many of you complain or comment that the car still sounds like a rickshaw on the outside. Sachin, the car’s engineer (head guy) explained that this is because of the 2 cylinder engine, and is a trade off against gas mileage.

I think a rickshaw like sound is a small price to pay for fuel efficiency.

5. Connectivity and Music

This is where the GenX Nano will really make a statement. Forget tags like ‘poor man’s car’ or ‘glorified tuk tuk’ etc.

There is a USB port where you can plug in your pen drive or any other device. The center console and display I already talked about shows you which song is playing.

The car offers Bluetooth which is such a premium feature. I really cannot get over the fact that the Nano has Bluetooth!

Yes, it will allow you to speak hands free when you connect your phone.

For those who never experienced Bluetooth in a car, your call will be heard via the car’s speaker system. Not suitable for a spat with your wife when car pooling, but definitely safe for you and the human race.

The Amphistream Music System is another advanced feature but I did not get a chance to try it.

Driving the GenX Nano Easy Shift

Ok. So I have waxed on enough about the features. Let us cut to the chase here. Let me talk about the drive itself. I sat in the front passenger seat one way and drove the other way. So I can provide perspectives of both a driver and a passenger.

I drove the car from Mezza9 in Hinjewadi to Tata Motors in Chinchwad. This required me to drive on service roads, flyovers, a patch of the Bombay Bangalore Highway and internal roads. I think I encountered several different traffic patterns and real life conditions.

A. Ride Quality

The ride quality was pretty smooth – smoother than I expected. I think Tata Motors has been able to strike a good balance here.

The car is not as sporty or the suspension is not as hard as the Beemer or Acura (obviously) where people pay a premium to feel every bump on the road. So you won’t feel vibrations beneath you or feel connected with the road.

The ride is also not as soft as a Honda City or a Camry.

I know these cars belong to higher segments – I am trying to pinpoint that ‘in between’ point for folks that have driven different cars.

So the suspension will not break easily with the potholes on our Pune roads, at the same time, it is soft enough to provide comfort.

B. Drive and Handling

The GenX Nano with its power steering handled really well. The steering is not hard like the old Maruti 800 and no upper body strength will be needed to maneuver this car.

I didn’t take any turns at high speeds but the steering is responsive and whirls around in your hand after a sharp turn or U turn.

The mirrors easily provide adequate coverage and even though the car is not large enough to have a big blind spot, you definitely need to check the sides and back corners before changing lanes or turning. Let’s say it is more of a good driving practice, and if you inculcate this habit, you will be OK no matter what size car you drive.

We drove on the Infinity track traversing a figure 8, and it was easy to maneuver the car here.

C. Performance

Performance is a big word and can cover a wide spectrum. I will speak in the context of expected behavior.

If you are a regular driver, you know that there is a certain equation between driver and car that defies technical specs. Every car has quirks and it takes a while for car and driver to be in tune with each other. So how much does your car move forward when you apply a certain force on the gas pedal, or how soon does it stop when you brake a certain way comes with time and practice.

Having said that, I will say that the GenX Nano seemed a bit slow to respond, especially when I had stopped at a traffic light or U turns. This could be because I am used to a more powerful car, so maybe I wasn’t pressing down hard enough on the gas pedal.

I have a certain calculation or guess of how soon I can clear an intersection, and I could not get that judgement here easily. But I think I can get better at it once I drive the car a few times.

The Sports Mode seemed to solve a lot of these pickup issues. I put the car in Sports Mode whenever I needed a quick boost and then came back to regular mode.

The car also slowed down more than I expected when I took my foot off the gas pedal.

D. Gas Mileage

The GenX Nano is said to give around 18 KM/L even in city driving conditions. Obviously, there is no way to test this on a short drive.

Gas mileage depends on several factors like how you drive, is your AC on and of course the quality of the fuel itself.

In my opinion, gas mileage should not be a deciding factor while choosing a car, especially not the GenX Nano since it offers so much more!

The new car does come with a larger 24L fuel tank, which will take you 500KM between trips to the pump.

E. Noise Insulation

The car has good noise insulation, another surprising feature. Wind noise was minimal and so were traffic sounds even when the radio was off.

My Take on the GenX Nano

I know I have launched into some detail here, but the car pleasantly surprised me in many ways. I was really forced to rethink my perception of Nano as a brand.

The one thing I missed doing was look under the hood, which is something I always do while buying a car. I just plain forgot in all the excitement.

What I Love about the GenX Nano Easy Shift

•  Styling, design, attention to detail
• Easy Access for large, differently abled or senior people
• Ride and Handling
• Spacious and roomy interiors
• High end features like Bluetooth and Aux-In
• Ease of driving an AMT

What I would like to see in the GenX Nano Easy Shift

• Airbags
• Slightly more power
• A ‘Park’ gear
• Regenerative Braking

The GenX Nano is set to be a trailblazer in many ways and it offers many best in class features.

Gas mileage seems to be very important to the buyer base, and regenerative braking might help with that engine size versus fuel economy trade-off. But of course, hybrid technology is still very expensive and a different category altogether.

What is the price tag? It will be revealed only after the commercial launch. Only time will tell how much lower it will be than the Alto AMT.

The GenX Nano Easy Shift is the perfect starter car for city traffic and can serve a wide demographic. Students, soccer moms, senior citizens, young professionals will all be satisfied with the array of features.

And for the upwardly mobile, Tata Motors has many different options, right from the Bolt to the Jaguar!

Day at Tata Motors

Now let us talk about some fun stuff. I want to tell you all about the fantastic day at Tata Motors. I got a last minute invite and I realize how fortunate I am to get this opportunity. I cannot thank Tata Motors and IB enough for this.

Tata Motors are well known for their hospitality, and I got to experience it firsthand. My generation (ouch) knows what a big deal it is to land a job with the Tata group. I was amazed to see a big contingent of Tata Motors employees as part of the event. This included the person who spearheads the Nano project and a lot of middle and upper management personnel.

We got a detailed presentation of the different features of the GenX Nano. The drive was flagged off and we made our way to Hinjewadi IT Park Phase 3, which is like the farthest point there.

Both Indiblogger and Tata Motors took pains to keep us entertained. Enter the awesome Challenges!

Bloggers across the Internet sent in live challenges and the teams very gamely performed them. Lunch was a relaxed affair at Mezza9. We hit the Sunday evening Pune-Mumbai traffic on our way back to Chinchwad.

Another surprise was in store. We were treated to a drumming session that everyone enjoyed. Apart from the 40C heat which was out of anyone’s control, care was taken to make us comfortable.

The event was hosted at the Tata Lake House, an iconic property which very few people get to enter. The cool green grass, canopy of trees, and slight breezes off the lake cooled us down as we beat our drums to a rhythm, shrugging off the day’s fatigue.

Loaded with some awesome Swag, we called it a day.

Tata Motors has truly raised the bar with the GenX Nano Easy Shift. It is everyone’s car, with bells and whistles on.

Don’t take my word for it. Just pre-book a test drive and see for yourself.

Please Note: I was invited by Tata Motors for an exclusive preview of the GenX Nano Easy Shift. All the views and opinions expressed here are my own.