Tata Zest

The interiors are also much better than any other Tata sedan or hatchback we have been in. The quality has been significantly improved and there is a decent amount of room in the cabin, but not enough legroom for the rear seat passengers. The interiors also get a stylish dual tone, and the seats are very comfortable for the front passengers because they are rugby shoulder seats. The ergonomics are also decent and the dashboard layout is very nice.

The Zest comes with a 1.2 litre 4-cylinder petrol engine with 90bhp, and it also comes with two diesel engines, the first being a 1.3 litre 74bhp Quadrajet and the second variant is the 1.3 litre 90bhp Quadrajet. All the engines are highly efficient and are mated to a 5-speed manual, but the 1.3 litre 90bhp variant also gets an optional 5-speed automatic transmission.

The Zest is a decent performer on the road, and while the petrol is the smoothest to drive, it is the 1.3 litre 90bhp diesel Quadrajet that gives the fastest acceleration thanks to its torque. So if you are looking for overall power you should choose that engine variant. The engine is not the most refined but it is quite good in the city and works well on the highway too. The gear changes are easy but the clutch feels a little too light, and the steering also doesn’t seem vey responsive for direct drivers. But the overall drive quality is good and the ride quality is also nice thanks to the good suspension setup. The brakes are responsive enough for easy and quick stopping.

We managed to get a mileage of 16kmpl with the petrol variant and around 20kmpl with the highest diesel variant.

The Zest comes with some great features for this segment and include power steering, power windows, air-conditioning, an infotainment system by Harman with USB, AUX and Bluetooth. There is also remote central locking.

Safety features include ABS with EBD and CSC, driver and passenger airbags, and rear parking sensors.

The overall quality is very good on the Zest and we were impressed by it, because it is a huge improvement for Tata. The components quality was good and the body panels were also well put together. There might be some refinement issues with the engine, but they are still well built and quite reliable. You can be rest assured you will not have problems sourcing components and after sales servicing will be good.

The Zest comes with a very high Value for money as it offers a great package with a low price tag.

The Zest is a very good car, it might not be as refined as its other rivals, but it has great features and good safety. The engines are efficient and the car is reliable and most importantly it looks very good for a Tata. It is also not very engaging to drive, but it is comfortable.