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-   -   Tata Nano : Test Drive & Review (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/official-new-car-reviews/112835-tata-nano-test-drive-review-12.html)

@apuwdm2
thanks for the great review. good to hear it worked out so well.
OT, but your railway pics are stunning, esp the ghat ones. that must have taken a lot of time and effort to set up. will be watching your photostream with interest.

Can the drums in the front be modified to disk brakes in the front? Maybe using bike brakes? Just a thought. No idea on feasibility.

Interesting stats.
First-time buyers, women give Nano a push - Home - livemint.com

- First time car buyers now constitute 50% of total sales (It was 20% before).
- Women constitute 10 - 12% of buyers.

Nope. Technically, yes, it's of course possible. But cost-wise I think it would make sense to buy a hatch which has this by default. One aspect is the warranty, workmanship and the scope of the modifications.

Excellent Review GTO, like Jkdas quoted "Its a big review for a small car" clap:.

I was considering to buy a small car for daily home use which is nothing but short city drives. Predominantly used by dad and wifey, offcourse I would love to take it for a spin through the town rather than taking my tusker (xylo) searching for parking space.

Few things appealed me from this review are below.

1. Light on pocket. Easy EMI options make it as affordable as a mid segment bike.
2. Practically good ingress/egress which makes it a winner for short & quick commutes. Especially for parents.
3. Good AC without compromising on power delivery.
4. TATA's large service network. Have one just 2KMs away from my home.
5. 4 years and 60K KMs warranty is a remarkable investment protection.
6. Reasonable ground clearance for some occassional rural drives.

Few negatives I could register considering my use case are below.

1. No power steering would make tough parking for wife and dad? Dad drives a Alto1.1. VX and lack of power steering is a complaint even today.
2. Not so exciting FE as advertized? 16 to 18kmpl average is a must considering today's petrol price. 13kmpl is a strict no.
3. Absence of a front disc brake makes me feel bit uncomfortable though not very significant for a strict city/short distance/slow commutes.

Any trusted info on Diesel nano launch? And projected costing?

Test drove another Nano the other day, supposedly the 2012 version. The engine and the gearing are a delight. The second gear takes me all the way through 40kmph (and could have probably gone upto 60kmph if I had pushed it), and I doubt if my Santro will be able to keep pace with it in the 0-60kmph dashes. With two on board, the car was eager to surge ahead and the power delivery was linear. I could have pushed it easily to the top speed of 105kmph, and the car was fairly stable during the acceleration. Ride quality was acceptable, almost comparable to the Santro. Internal space seems to be a bit better than the Santro because gear changes don't cause you to brush your hand against the co-driver's thigh. Shoulder space at front, too, seems to be marginally better.

Throughout the fifteen minute drive the AC was on, blower at 1 and I was cooled. I am sure I would be chilled with a higher blower speed. The idling vibrations were quite noticeable on passenger door when opened, but with all the doors closed and windows rolled up, the NVH levels seem to be acceptable, rather good.

The last test drive, the SA had told me the service intervals were 5k, which was a letdown. But yesterday the SA informed me the 2012 Nano has a 10k interval, which is better.

Lack of power steering was felt as it is a good workout to the arms to steer the Nano at parking speeds, though the SA assured me it was a test drive car and so the steering wasn't the lightest.

Brakes are once again not entirely satisfactory but at slow speeds I tried standing onto them and they stop the car. So again I think it's more a matter of adjusting to the brake behaviour, though this would be the topmost grouse I have against the Nano at present.

The other pain area I discovered yesterday is the steering. The position of the steering wheel placed it right in my lap, acutely uncomfortable since it's also smallish. It should have been tilted a little higher. I think this was a little different with the 2011 Nano, or was it because of the difference in the seat cushioning?

With almost everyone claiming 18.xx kmpl and the Nano claiming 25.xx kmpl for petrol engines, given the characteristics of the Nano it's an extremely tempting car.

Been driving the Nano 2012 for quite some time now (not owned but a friends). It has completed the 1st servicing.

All the points that GTO mentions are perfect and in line with the car. The only niggle I have had so far is the AC/Blower conking off a couple of times. Apparently it happens when you crank up the engine with the AC/Blower on!. So please ensure that when you crank up the car, turn off the blower switch. No problems other than that whatsoever.

The current FE is about 18 kmpl with almost constant use of AC in Pune traffic.

The brakes are adequate at city speeds and take some time getting used to, esp. after you have driven a car with better brakes.

The steering is superbly good once you get used to it. While it 'seems' to be heavy at parking speeds, it helps if your car is moving (even slightly) to steer as it makes the effort less.

@honeybee - Dont worry about the steering, the effort is FAR less than the old 800 or Alto. About the placement, it is just a matter of getting used to it.

OT - I am so used to driving with the center console on my Vista it irritates me a little to drive a car with conventional consoles! :)

The top end Nano 2012 with beige interiors and dash, does it reflect onto the windscreen during day driving? 2012 owners validation would help.

This is a common issue with two of my friends owning a beige dash Spark.

Hi,

I really dont understand why the Showroom guys tell that the demo cars are so . . . so . . . Does it mean that the cars do not / cant stand the rigours of the driving in a slightly rough manner ? IMO, the demo cars should be in top shape because the demo car is the basis on which the decision is made.

When I test drove the Nano in Bangalore, the execs told me the same thing. It's high time that the manufacturers told the showrooms to buck up on this aspect.

-Harshavardhan

While TD of a pre 2012 Nano, the SA had brought a brand new car from the yard or car that was ready for delivery and not the demo car. Nowadays see exclusive 2012 Nanos parked in some dealerships.

Even with this the controls and the engine are not run in fully and may sound harsher than a regularly used car. Except for some manufacturers, it seems like these practices are not monitored very strictly.

+1 to torquecurve. I own a 2011 Nano, done 8700 kms appx now in Delhi. The steering position is indeed low when compared to other cars, its a matter of getting used to. I also drive TATA's ARIA as my other car, so the difference is there, but dosent come in the way.

The steering is indeed light, yes, a little force required at still speeds, but not much. It is way better than any 800 / Alto w/o PS. My wife uses the Nano ... she does not find the steering hard, although she feels the Indigo eCS and the ARIA's ones to be lighter ! (PS makes the difference).

FE is about 16.5-17.5 with FULL TIME A/C in Delhi summers. I guess that's reasonable.

The brakes aren't any 007 types .. squealing to a halt .. but are adequate for a car this size and power. For your info, even the 15+ Lakh Innova in its best disguise (V) also has drums in the rear. So don't fret .. they are reliable as ever. (Psst .. the ARIA has ALL 4 discs .. braking is a different feeling on it !)

I don't agree that the TD cars are lemons -- my car was a TD one that I bought when the dealer (A-One) shut shop ! They may not be maintained well, and it gets worser by the day, I guess !

The battery power is limited .. so don't operate many things at a time .. first crank, then the power windows (if reqd) then the blower / A/C.

Nope not as much as the dashes of other cars do. This does not seem to be a major irritant. You wont have issues as the gap is pretty large (your eye level) and the little reflections you get are very low down.

After having driven the Nano for four days in day and night, on lighted roads and dark roads, in rains and in dry spells, I can safely say the reflections are a big pain in the eye. The dash, specially the centre console tapers upwards, and so you get the entire dash reflected in the windscreen. The reflection covers about 1/3rd of the windscreen, effectively causing a visibility problem. The issue is magnified when you are driving on streets with working lights. On dark streets the issue may not be much.

For those who have beige dashboards, I suggest fitting some dark coloured dash cover.

Interesting observations about NANO.
Often people complain NANO could not achieve what in intended to, which to some extent its true, but its certainly going in right direction.

The Nano Magic

I'm also a Tata Nano owner. With rising fuel prices, a good performing car with efficient fuel economy is what i needed. Tata Nano is just that package. Moreover, its one car I can navigate easily in traffic which is growing by the day