[arun1100]

Tata Hexa | Now discontinued, yet the most distinguished car from Tata!

The Hexa was extensively reviewed by Team-Bhp, here's the link:
https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/offic...ml#post4096452 (Tata Hexa : Official Review)

Purchase experience of a pre-owned Hexa and Initial ownership experience

Need for a 7-Seater MPV
My primary car for family use has been the 2012 Ford Fiesta Classic Clxi and the 2017 WagonR AMT, for usual city commutes. The classic cars at home, the Padmini and the Ambassador, are reserved for leisure drives on weekends.

I needed a 7-seater family car for my elderly parents, wife, and child, and we were considering the Innova Crysta or the Tata Hexa. While the Innova seemed like the obvious choice, my wife and I preferred the Hexa as it is well built and has all the required safety features which was surely missed in my current highway car, the Fiesta. We had always wanted a Safari Storme, but since the Hexa is an MPV, it felt more suitable for our requirements.

Trivia of Tata Motors/ Hexa Sales between 2017 and present
As I was planning to purchase a used Tata car, specifically the Hexa, I wanted to be well aware of some information and facts about the Hexa. This included details on its features and reviews, which I could find in the Team Bhp official review thread. Additionally, I was interested in understanding the Hexa's success during its production years. This information would assist me in assessing the level of support Tata might provide for spare parts and service. Tata's after-sales service has always been a hit or miss.

Tata Motors' car sales has been good since a year or two, however, from 2017 to 2020, it was the Tiago, Tigor, and Zest models that significantly contributed to the company's sales, achieving monthly sales figures between 13,000 and 15,000 units in total.

In 2016, Tata Motors showcased and launched its premium MPV, the Hexa which was more of a next gen Aria. The company focused on ensuring that this new flagship vehicle was equipped with premium features and high-quality standards. Although the Hexa received positive feedback, its production lasted only four years, concluding with the introduction of BS6 emission norms and the launch of the new Tata Safari. The Hexa was available for sale from January 2017 until February 2020, with sales figures recorded during this period as below:

Source - Monthly sales thread of Team-Bhp. I have consolidated the Hexa sales data from multiple threads of four years


Tata sold 26,381 Hexa vehicles in total over its four years of production, suggesting it was akin to some limited edition model's sales! As of 2024, Tata Motors is averaging sales of around 45,000 cars per month, with the Punch and Nexon accounting for 75% of these sales. Currently, Tata's flagship models, the Harrier and Safari, are performing well, with sales reaching about 4,000 units per month.

Just as we were about to book the Hexa, COVID-19 hit, along with the introduction of BS6 norms that led Tata to discontinue the Hexa. Over the years, our Fiesta continued to perform well, covering 79,000 kilometers with excellent service from Ford, which diminished my urgency to purchase an MPV. The alternatives we considered included the Marazzo, Innova HyCross, and Ertiga/XL6. However, we often found ourselves missing to own the Hexa, since its production had ceased.

Searching for a pre-owned Hexa
I started looking for a pre-owned Tata Hexa, focusing on the Manual XM and XT versions available on platforms like OLX, Facebook Marketplace, and Team-Bhp Classifieds. Notably, the Hexa is quite sought after in the used car market, likely because of its strong reputation as a durable diesel MPV. This price point of a used Hexa was well suited for my budget also considering the costs involved in maintaining my other Classic vehicles at home.

In August 2024, after two years of searching for a pre-owned Hexa and having missed quite a few deals, I came across an advertisement of a December 2017 Hexa XT in the Team-Bhp classifieds.

Team-Bhp Classified Ad


I read through the ad and it was quite exactly what I was looking for, ie, a one owner Hexa which is XT, less driven and importantly a pre loved one which was all evident from the ad's description. I promptly contacted the seller, and we discussed to meet and inspect the car. During our meeting, I learned that the seller is a dedicated Team-Bhp reader with a deep passion for cars, which was clearly reflected in the condition of the Hexa. I got the detailed service history online from cars24 for Rs.230. I read through completely and observed no major repairs were done and the services were done regularly. After further discussions over the phone with the seller, we met at the seller's home a week later, finalized the deal and finally got a Hexa home! My dear buddy Bhpian funkykar (Karthik Makam) accompanied me to take the Hexa's delivery.

Welcome home - 2017 Dec regd Tata Hexa XT!
The Hexa has significantly enhanced my car ownership experience, as my previous two modern vehicles, are the Fiesta and WagonR, which are mid-range models lacking many safety, comfort and entertainment features. From the initial impressions, it is evident that Hexa is one Tata car which is built like a European car. Surprisingly, Hexa has a whole list of parts which were imported by Tata Motors about which I read in the Team BHP official review thread; like the Alloys are from Indonesia, many of the exterior plastic parts material were sourced from Saudi Arabia!

The Team-Bhp review used this exact color/ model of Hexa for the review!


Hexa's Interior Pics

The 10-speaker set from JBL and Infotainment system from Harman, USA. Also to note, the Soft touch paint - Piano black used is from Germany.



No signs of wear and tear on the steering wheel and on the switches.



Elegant looking meter console. MID layout is spot on with min information of odo, mileage, gear indicator, fuel etc. Lucky to have found a Hexa with less kms on the odo. 52000 kms in 7 years!



Various Drive modes. Dynamic is quite fun to drive!



Seats from Lear Corporation, USA is top notch in quality. There are no signs of wear and tear at the corners of the seat.



Rear window sun blinds are from South Korea. Very useful feature in the absence of sun film.



Surprisingly, all the mats are made in Thailand. Mats are of very good quality. Might outlast the Hexa!



Two sets of Key Fobs. The second key was never used.



Engine Bay

Tata's BS4 2.2 Varicor Engine. Neatly kept engine bay. The Air filter hose is from UK.



Puja time! Parents, wife and daughter posing with the Hexa!



The other best available MPV - Innova HyCross. Both the cars looks of same dimension.



I have always owned petrol cars and this is the first diesel car at home! Glad I could own a BS4 Diesel!! Btw, those Tail lamps are from LG Electronics, South Korea.



Quick drive with sister's family. Very comfy for 7 of us!



Another drive with extended family for a late night dinner.



Selfie with parents, wife, kid and sister! Such drives were missed with my previous cars



First highway drive to Mysore along with Friends 1972 Ambassador Stationwagon!



Average Fuel Economy after using in City and Highways of 400+ kms after trip reset. The actual numbers are 12.5 KMPL in City and 14 KMPL on highways.

[arun1100]

Ownership experience of the Hexa!

Drive quality and Comfort:
I have been driving the Fiesta 1.6 Petrol for all highway drives and have become quite addicted to its punchy NA engine and exceptional handling. The Hexa, being a multi-purpose vehicle offers impressive performance with minimal body roll and excellent comfort on rough roads. The hydraulic power steering feels heavy for city commutes. I believe the standout feature of the Hexa is its remarkable suspension setup. The six-speed gearbox has relatively short gears, making it comfortable to cruise at 60 KMPH in sixth gear, although a five-speed gearbox would likely be more suitable.

The 2.2L Varicor engine, producing 154 BHP, is a proven engine from Tata, which is in use from the Safari Storme era, akin to Mahindra's mHawk. Despite being an engine from older gen of Tata cars, it offers impressive refinement and sound insulation. The turbo power delivery is linear with minimal lag and hence driving in city is comfortable. Among the four available drive modes, the Dynamic mode, which Tata claims enhances sporty driving, indeed delivers a noticeable improvement in turbo responsiveness, making city driving feel more engaging as well. With a weight of 2280 kg, the vehicle's weight does hamper its performance; however, the Hexa feels planted to road on highways. Its turning radius of 5.75 meters is reasonable for a vehicle of this size, allowing for manageable U-turns in city roads.

Highlight of features:

• Loaded with safety features like 6 airbags, ESP, TC, ABS, EBD, Hill hold etc.
• The 10-speaker JBL speakers and Harman music system is fantastic. However, there is no Android Auto & Apple CarPlay.
• 19 inch alloys is a looker but the 235 55 R19 tyres cost around 16k for one.
• 2,280 kg kerb weight makes Hexa a real heavy car with no real advantage. 200 mm of ground clearance is good.
• The front and middle row leatherette covered seats looks premium and have great thigh support.

Upgrades planned:

• Dashcam - Must needed for Bangalore city roads!
• Sunfilm - Legally allowed one for better cooling of interiors.
• New Tyres - Tyres on the Hexa are OE ones. Used for 7 years 52k kms.

Niggles:
A Tata car's ownership thread is incomplete without mentioning the niggles. Even though Tata tried its best with the Hexa by using some high quality imported plastics, there are some minor niggles as below:

Rain sensor's cap doesn't fit tight.



Clip to hold light weight stuff is cut.



Folding type Cup holder doesn't close.



Front windshield's plastic beading doesn't fit tight.



Repairs:
After purchasing the Hexa, the only repair needed was to replace the cracked windshield. Although a replacement was available at a service center, I opted to have it replaced at Windshield Experts based on recommendations from friends. The windshield was obtained from their main outlet, costing approximately ₹13,000, and the installation took about two hours. I was advised to leave the Hexa there for an additional four hours to allow for proper drying before picking it up.



New windshield fixed and parked for a few hours for drying.



Accessory:
The Hexa was appreciated by all family members for its comfort, but the difficulty in getting in was a notable drawback. The absence of a side step made it challenging for several family members to enter the vehicle. To address this, I explored side step options from Tata and aftermarket suppliers. After some quick research, I opted for a side step from Ctrack, which cost around 12,000 and was installed within an hour.


Total of 6 Clamps being fixed.



The side step is quite sturdy for a hefty person to stand on it and get in the Hexa



Periodic maintenance:
The previous owner informed me about the regular maintenance practices he adhered to, particularly regarding oil changes. He consistently had the Hexa serviced at TASS and changed the engine oil every 5,000 kilometers, which was also his low annual average usage. After I bought the Hexa, it was time for an oil change, which I got done at the Shell fuel station.

Parked at the oil change bay.



Shell engine oil being filled.



Air filter was cleaned and the coolant was topped up.



Random pics of Hexa with similar size SUVs and MPV!

Parked alongside with the latest Flagship car from TATA. Previously it was the Hexa!



Which one looks better from the rear?!



The best selling 7 seater SUV and the Hexa!



Innova Crysta which is the undisputed king of MPVs and my Hexa!



Pic by Bhpian Karthik1100. Seen here is Bhpian Karthik1100's Harrier, Bhpian Pavan Kadam's Safari and my Hexa!



Fiesta!
Owning my 2012 Fiesta has been an outstanding experience. Even now, I feel just as excited to drive it as I did twelve years ago. The Fiesta continues to perform brilliantly, thanks to its quality and my consistent maintenance efforts. From now on, the Hexa will be used for all the family drives and the Fiesta will be maintained in preservation mode, similar to my other classic cars at home.


My 'Got Bhp?' twins!



Daughter Yashna absolutely loves the Hexa!



Way forward:
The Hexa has fulfilled many of my automotive dreams, and I look forward to owning and driving it for many years. Having owned and cared a 60-year-old Ambassador, a 50-year-old Bullet, and a 40-year-old Padmini, my experience in searching scrapyards for parts or procuring through online sellers will help me in maintaining the Hexa over many years to come. The Engine parts are the easiest to source as the engine is same old Safari's Varicor engine, the challenge would be to source the body and cosmetic parts if the need arises. Hexa is one discontinued Tata car which many wish Tata had re-launched with a BS6 engine.

Looking forward for munching miles with the Hexa and make lot of memories!

[Aditya]

Thread moved out from the Assembly Line. Thanks for sharing!

[Karthik1100]

Fantastic thread Arun. Three - four years of planning to buy Hexa finally came true. Very much detailed post. Instead of such long posts, you could have mentioned pre purchase, post purchase experience, service details, travel pics in multiple posts (IMO) looking forward for more Hexa experience posts and pics.



This is one of my favourite pics of Tata products together.

[busydrive]

Congratulations. Hexa manual is a good one, without the overhead of keeping track of AT cooler etc which comes in the XMA/XTA.
Please check the clutch plate condition once in the next service. Since this is in 7th year you might want to check all the belts if those were replaced.
On a side note I can relate to small things breaking off, in my XMA the clips you mentioned, AC vents, seat locking for tumble (the left one) all had their small share of issues. But then these are very minor.
Since yours is of the first gen you might also have the sunglass holder which was removed in later versions.
All best wishes.

[dhondusaxena]

Originally Posted by arun1100

Tata Hexa | Now discontinued, yet the most distinguished car from Tata!

Congratulations and welcome to the Hexa Family.

Everytime I read such reviews, my resolve to keep the Hexa as long as I can grows stronger. I am yet to see any other vehicle which can replace it at this point in time.

When I bought it in 2018 it was a stretch for me. I was looking for a replacement of the Manza and while Renault Duster was making financial sense, the entire family had the Hexa in our hearts. So Hexa came in and has been part of our family ever since. Another 4 odd years with the current Diesel rule in NCR, maybe someone else will benefit once I have to let it go.

[Utopian]

Congratulations for owning the Hexa. It looks amazing in this gold-grey shade.
My experience was with the Hexa have always been in the back seat for work in an around Maharashtra. The first time I was allocate one instead of the Crysta, I had my fair share of apprehensions. But once I did the infamous Mumbai Nashik trip, I was a fan. It is a little stiffer but a lot more stable compared to the Crysta. The added features like AC on the doors and firm yet comfortable seats makes it perfect for longer drives.

[anil_rnair]

Congratulations Arun. Couple of things I liked:*
1. The way you still maintain your old family movers in preservation mode. Somehow, my heart never allows me to sell my family car. It is a matter of debate between the brain and the heart. Your thought of having your old cars in preservation mode is an inspiration for me and people like me.*
2. Hexa was a car that I wanted to own. I had decided to get one once I was back in the country. But by the time I was back, Tata decided to discontinue. Good to see you get one.*

Enjoy your drives.

By the way, can you please share the details of the center where you changed your windshield?

[Mitadru]

You lost me after you posted the pics of the Hindustan Motors Traveller. Though I liked your review of the Hexa, I want to know more about the wagon , cause it's as rare as the Hindustan 10, and I have only managed to see it in pics and have had a chance of only getting a fleeting glance of one, though Kolkata is the Ambassador capital

For the Hexa, I hope you won't have to deal with the infamous TASS . Though it might not fail,but it'll be a good idea to know about who can repair the handshake style wipers( couldn't find a appropriate term). Cause I knew of a friend, who had a Hexa Automatic, but his father had to sell it due to wiper and gearbox issues.
Hope you have a happy ownership

[HWKingInnCrysta]

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[argho]

I remember test driving the Hexa when it was launched. Excellent vehicle, which TaMo wasn't able to market properly.

[condor]

Congratulations, Arun. The Hexa is indeed one of Tata's best cars, and one I have a soft corner for. However, due to requirement of a smaller car, I didnt go for this - or a Harrier. In your case, you can definitely put it to good use - both with the driving you do and the large family on your trips. Was quite surprised reading the details of the origin of parts - didnt expect it.

Wishing you a long happy ownership of the Hexa.

[Blue Express]

Beautiful writeup, and congratulations on the Hexa! Having one, can say it is indeed a beautiful machine. Really liked the detailed representation on different parts from different countries, most of which I was not aware!

Just a couple of points to add, 1 - on the rear cupholder right under the AC vents which is not closing- try apply pressure on the top right corner while shutting it. Mine closes by that method only.
2- I recently had the engine mounts replaced - mine too is now a 7 year old car, and its made a league of difference in very drastically reducing the overall vibrations!

[Oppanna]

Congrats Arun on the new possession. Beautifully penned down as usual and it is a treat to read your experience.

I had driven my cousin's Hexa for good number of kilometres and I loved it.

Thanks for sharing the details of parts origin, was not aware of this at all.

[unni246]

Originally Posted by arun1100

Ownership experience of the Hexa!

Drive quality and Comfort:
I have been driving the Fiesta 1.6 Petrol for all highway drives and have become quite addicted to its punchy NA engine and exceptional handling. The Hexa, being a multi-purpose vehicle offers impressive performance with minimal body roll and excellent comfort on rough roads. The hydraulic power steering feels heavy for city commutes. I believe the standout feature of the Hexa is its remarkable suspension setup. The six-speed gearbox has relatively short gears, making it comfortable to cruise at 60 KMPH in sixth gear, although a five-speed gearbox would likely be more suitable.

The 2.2L Varicor engine, producing 154 BHP, is a proven engine from Tata, which is in use from the Safari Storme era, akin to Mahindra's mHawk. Despite being an engine from older gen of Tata cars, it offers impressive refinement and sound insulation. The turbo power delivery is linear with minimal lag and hence driving in city is comfortable. Among the four available drive modes, the Dynamic mode, which Tata claims enhances sporty driving, indeed delivers a noticeable improvement in turbo responsiveness, making city driving feel more engaging as well. With a weight of 2280 kg, the vehicle's weight does hamper its performance; however, the Hexa feels planted to road on highways. Its turning radius of 5.75 meters is reasonable for a vehicle of this size, allowing for manageable U-turns in city roads.

Congrats Dear Arun and happy to see your Ownership review.
Also thanks for motivating me to get a Hexa too (will come up with my full ownership review soon)

Originally Posted by arun1100

Fiesta!
Owning my 2012 Fiesta has been an outstanding experience. Even now, I feel just as excited to drive it as I did twelve years ago. The Fiesta continues to perform brilliantly, thanks to its quality and my consistent maintenance efforts. From now on, the Hexa will be used for all the family drives and the Fiesta will be maintained in preservation mode, similar to my other classic cars at home.

Absolutely Agree with You on this - having both the Fiesta 1.6S and now the Hexa. Absolutely great Engineering marvels.
Couldn't get a chance to click both cars in one frame both being at different states, as Fiesta's with my Dad back in KL now.

Well, we should do a Hexa - Hexa Photoshoot sometime soon in / around Bangalore!

Originally Posted by Blue Express

2- I recently had the engine mounts replaced - mine too is now a 7 year old car, and its made a league of difference in very drastically reducing the overall vibrations!

Do you remember how much the mounts costed and the labour charges included?