Tata Curvv Petrol Manual First Drive Review

Engine and performance

corrugatedThere are two new engines under the hood. 1.2-litre TGDi petrol engine and a tuned 1.5-litre diesel engine. Both are offered with six-speed manual and seven-speed DCT transmissions. The first one was showcased at the Auto Expo in 2023 and is currently on display with Curvv. We use a petrol + manual combination tuned to produce 123bhp and 225Nm of maximum torque.

Firstly, we are happy to report that the engine is extremely advanced, without any noticeable vibration. It is a three-cylinder powertrain and has Eco, City and Sport driving modes. The turbo kicks in from 2,000 rpm and pulls freely up to 4,500 rpm. If you turn the dial to Sport mode, you’ll experience sharper throttle response with quicker power delivery. Since it is manual, you cannot change gears from the steering wheel. While we are yet to test the engine for mileage in real-world conditions, the quoted mileage was around 8kmpl, which buyers may not find very efficiency-friendly.

We drove the Curvv in Goa, navigating narrow and bumpy roads and well-paved highways. Riding on smoother surfaces at triple-digit speeds is smooth and supple without any noticeable upward movement. And when you’re around town, the 18-inch wheels soak up bumps and broken patches with ease. To help with this, the Curvv has a ground clearance of 208 mm, ensuring that the underbelly of this coupe SUV is not scratched. Despite its comfortable ride, the Curvv also exhibits good handling characteristics. The suspension is firm enough to control body roll, providing stability and confidence.

External

corrugated It looks like the EV version. But there are few elements that help differentiate it from its EV counterpart. Unlike the Curvv EV, the ICE Curvv has a black and body-coloured front grille. There are also air intakes, chrome details and a silver protection plate in the lower half of the bumper. Towards the side, the design of the 18-inch wheels is new. The rear remains the same with prominently connected LED taillights, but this one carries the ‘Curvv’ badging and drops the ‘.EV’ suffix.

Interior and features

Now, if you have seen and lived with the new Nexon enough times, you must be familiar with the layout of the control panel. The same thing continues here too corrugated and it looks really neat. You get different elements and textures that give it a premium and luxurious look. Moreover, the burgundy theme, available only with the top-end Accomplished version, looks elegant and rich.

The Curvv’s front seats are comfortable, have good forward visibility and can be powered, but don’t provide enough shoulder support for tall passengers. The 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system is located above the dashboard and is equipped with controls for the air purifier, air conditioning system, sound modes and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.

The 10.25-inch dashboard has colourful, clear and customizable displays, but is positioned deep within the dash, making it appear smaller than its actual size. In addition, Curvv comes with a wireless charging pad, auto-dimming IRVM, cooled front seats and a height-adjustable side passenger seat.

But some things could be improved in the Curvv’s cabin. First, the coupe body style ensures that rear visibility is tight. Secondly, there is a wireless charger in the center console but the cup holders are missing. Also, the front USB ports are awkwardly placed, making them difficult to access via cable.

As for the second row area, we will give you two perspectives. One with my height, I’m 5’6. First of all, for me, entry and exit are easy and there is adequate legroom, good headroom and ample shoulder room. There are also rear AC vents, two USB ports, and a foldable armrest with two cup holders for rear seat occupants. However, if you are 6 feet tall or taller, ceiling space is limited and you may have to scrape your head against the roof, where the sunroof mechanism is located. Leg room is also limited for tall passengers.

We might not be impressed with the second-row space, but this coupe body style is a big hit. This is a 500-litre boot space that can be operated electrically with gesture control. It can easily swallow three medium-sized suitcases. You’ll also get four hooks and a 16-inch spare wheel.

All tata The cars managed to achieve a full five-star safety rating. The newest ones are Safari and Harrier. While we’re still waiting for Curvv’s crash test results, its extensive list of safety features looks pretty promising. You can get automatic headlights, rain-sensing wipers, front parking sensors, tire pressure monitor, 360-degree camera and six airbags. Best of all, it also gets level 2 ADAS; some of these include lane departure warning with follow assist, forward collision warning with evasion, blind sport monitor with camera, and adaptive cruise control. We tried the latter, and the camera’s view on the infotainment screen and instrument cluster was clear and helpful when tackling city traffic.

Solution

Tata fold It is a stylish and feature-packed SUV that offers a comfortable ride and good performance. Its coupe-inspired design distinguishes it from traditional SUVs and gives it visual appeal. The interior is well-equipped with a modern instrument panel and a variety of features. However, there are also some shortcomings. The infotainment system is still a bit wonky, and you do experience a few ergonomic issues in the front row. Although the rear seats may be a limitation for tall passengers, corrugated It offers a practical boot.

While many see this as an upgrade from the Nexon, there are many aspects that this shares with the Nexon, such as the front exterior design and interior layout. But the Curvv also gets a new powertrain set and an extensive features list. Prices vary between Rs. 9.99 lakh to Rs. 19 lakh (ex-showroom) puts the Curvv squarely in the mid-size SUV segment.

Photo: Kaustubh Gandhi

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