Tata Curvv petrol DCT: My impressions after a 2 hour test drive

After spending about 2 hours driving it through city traffic, highways, and even a few rough patches that naturally come up on our roads, I’m ready to share my detailed impressions

BHPian dhruvritzed recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

Finally got to test drive the much-awaited Tata Curvv Turbo Petrol this weekend, and I must say—it’s a head-turner! After spending about 2 hours driving it through city traffic, highways, and even a few rough patches that naturally come up on our roads, I’m ready to share my detailed impressions.

Exterior Design – Coupe SUV that really turns heads

The Curvv’s design is easily one of its biggest highlights. The coupe-SUV silhouette gives it a distinct road presence, and Tata has nailed the styling with sharp cuts and flowing lines. The sloping roofline and flush door handles add a futuristic vibe, while the connected LED tail lamps look especially striking at night.
The 18-inch diamond-cut alloys (top variant) fill up the wheel arches nicely, but they do make you wonder about ride comfort (slightly stiff). Ground clearance looks decent, and the front grille-less design gives it a clean EV-like aesthetic, though the one i was driving was a petrol.

Interiors – Premium feel but Some practicality Concerns
Step inside, and the cabin does feel upmarket. The burgundy leatherette seats (top-spec variant) add a premium touch, and the dashboard design is sleek with a layered effect. The dual-screen setup—a 10.25-inch infotainment system(now an expectation) and a digital instrument cluster—looks modern and is fairly responsive.
What I liked:
● Soft-touch materials on the dash (rare in this segment).
● The panoramic sunroof makes the cabin feel airy.
● Wireless charging pad + ventilated front seats = urban luxury.
What could improve:
● Rear-seat headroom is slightly compromised due to the sloping roofline—tall passengers
(6ft+) might feel cramped.
● The floor is a bit high, affecting under-thigh support at the back.

Driving Experience – Punchy Yet Refined
Motor, probably one of the better ones I drove the new 1.2L turbo petrol with the 7-speed DCT. Here’s how it performed in different conditions:

1. City Driving:
The DCT gearbox feels smoother than Tata’s older AMTs, making stop-go traffic less stressful. The turbo kicks in just past 2,000 RPM, and it’s quick off the line. I barely needed to switch to Sport mode in city driving—it has enough grunt even in City mode, should be a default mode for most. DCA is mostly in the right gear, top gear I saw mostly above speed of 70.
2. Highway Drive:
I switched to Sport mode on the e-way and it was wow! The turbo-petrol felt alive—overtakes were effortless, and the engine stayed responsive even above 100 kmph. Stability was excellent at higher speeds, and there was minimal body roll, thanks to the stiff suspension setup.
3. Handling & Braking:
The steering felt light at low speeds, making U-turns easy, and weighed up nicely as speeds increased. The all-wheel disc brakes provided sharp and confident stops—especially useful when tackling sudden slowdowns on highways, in city they felt fine with all of those rickshaws in front of me.
Ride Quality – Mixed Feelings considering the CSUV expectations.
The suspension leans towards the stiffer side, which helps with stability but does make sharp bumps and potholes noticeable, especially with the 18-inch wheels. On smoother roads, it glides effortlessly, but on broken patches, you feel some thuds inside the cabin.
I’d recommend trying the variant with 17-inch wheels for those prioritizing comfort, I would certainly pick that.

Fuel Efficiency – Turbo Punch Without Guilt?
Managed to get around 13.5 kmpl during mixed city driving and close to 15-16 kmpl on highways with a light foot. Not bad for a turbo-petrol with this level of performance. Of course,
mileage will drop if you spend too much time in Sport mode. Cruise control does help get unreal numbers but i could only test it for a short while.
Tech & Features – Modern & Loaded
Tech-wise, the Curvv doesn’t disappoint. Some features I loved during the drive:
● 360-Degree Camera: Invaluable for parking in tight city spaces. With the width of this car, it really helps.
● ADAS Suite: Lane-keep assist worked well on the highway, and adaptive cruise control
felt intuitive. This was my first experience of ADAS from TATA and i couldn't really get used to it as my instinct doesn't allow me to just leave to it.
● Audio System: The 9-speaker JBL system is excellent—great bass and clarity, even at
higher volumes. One of the few good systems in this price bracket.
● Regenerative Braking Modes: Although more useful in EVs, the Curvv offers regen braking paddles even for the petrol variant. Helps on descents and feels futuristic, probably preparing us early for the EV's.

Misses – Where the Curvv could Improve
No car is perfect, and the Curvv does have areas that might make buyers think twice:
● Rear visibility is limited due to the sloping roofline—thankfully, the 360-degree camera compensates.
● Rear-seat space and comfort are not the best in class. Taller passengers may not find it ideal for long journeys.
● Ride quality on broken roads could’ve been better—probably the trade-off for sporty handling, it thumps through rather than glides through.
Verdict – Worth It?
After the test drive, I can confidently say the Tata Curvv Turbo Petrol is a solid package for someone looking for style, performance, and modern tech. It stands out in design and features.
Personally, I’m seriously considering booking it.
As far as I know, there are a few good deals available, let's see if they are so good that I can close one.

Here's what <strong >BHPian agambhandari<span > had to say in this matter:

I have to agree. Curvv is selling well in my city and it does turn heads. The rear 3 quarters look is polarising but can't deny that it does look good with the big wheels.

DCA should be a nice option for the city. Would be interesting to compare the new GDI engine and the Curvv EV back to back to see which makes more sense.

Meanwhile, here's <strong >BHPian Lego28<span > recently comment:

Kudos for the unbiased feedback. Call it as unorthodox or polarizing, but I personally love the coupe esque design.

Except this Rear visibility and rear seat issue, a generic issue with this design.

Here's what <strong >BHPian vipul_singh<span > had to add to the discussion:

Succint review, I must say. You have captured the points well. The Curvv, indeed, breaks the mould when it comes to Indian car design. Can be called a trendsetter.

Kinda related to that swooping design, what are your thoughts on overall rear seat comfort and body support for longer journeys? Is it still a workable car for that purpose? I understand that the room is a bit tight.

One of my friends is considering it as a daily driver and he loves to travel on the highways with grown up kids in the back. Hence asking.

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