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Great balls of fire: Tata Nano is powered by a two-cylinder, 624cc engine. Image: Minesh Bhagaloo
We’re the first South African motoring publication to drive the Tata Nano, the cheapest car in the world.
And, to be honest, my expectations were something along the lines of a wheelbarrow with doors powered by a lawnmower engine, with handling to match.
But at Tata’s 2200 acre plant in Pune in India recently, the Nano I drove didn’t seem to live up to all the carry-your-fire-extinguisher type hype I’ve seen in the media since the car’s launch in 2008.
The baby Tata has had a significant recent upgrade, but with a three-model range in India starting at around R21 600 – from US 2 000 dollars (R16 200) at initial launch – and ending at around R30 300, there’s an interesting value proposition behind that ignition key.
Sure, it’s no Hyundai i10 or Toyota Aygo in terms of fit and finish, but the 3.2km test track at the plant showed a car certainly batting above its price tag. The first surprise was the performance – which is a big word to use when talking about something powered by a rear-mounted 2-cylinder, 624cc petrol engine making 28kW and 51Nm through the rear wheels.
But be that as it may, I found myself doing 100km/h at the end of third down the main straight – and at 1600 metres above sea level nogal (which saps some of that limited naturally-aspirated power).
Tiny proportions make it an ideal city car.
Minesh Bhagaloo
The Nano accelerates through its gears smoothly (even with the aircon running) with more gusto than expected – thanks in part to its low 600kg kerb weight. At idle it does sound like a tuk-tuk (those three-wheeler taxis in India), but this becomes more of a buzz under acceleration (the exhaust note was tweaked with the facelift).
That’s pretty much where the acceleration ends though, with the engine cutting off in 4th (the final gear) at 110km/h, which emphasises the focus of the Nano being primarily an urban commuter. The lack of a rev counter means you tend to hit the rev limiter thanks to the short gear ratios, and the tiny non-electric steering wheel has an arcade game-like feel to it.
Handling is not sharp, but the Nano feels safe and again better than the pricing would indicate – an anti-roll bar was also part of the recent upgrade.
The trolley-like 4m turning circle should certainly work well in the city too. Drum brakes all around with no ABS aren’t exactly high-tech but stopped the super-light Nano adequately. Fuel consumption is claimed to be 3.9l/100km (which justifies the tiny 15-litre tank) and emissions 92g/km – the lowest of any car in India and below SA’s emissions tax levels.
The next surprise lay in some of the aesthetics of the car. The seats have been improved and felt supportive. The centre console housing the instrument cluster was of a clean and modern design, and space in the cabin was certainly not what I’d expected – I could comfortably sit “behind myself” in the back seat.
According to the Indian carmaker the interior was completely revised with the December 2011 facelift. Granted, I did drive the highest spec car, but build quality seemed acceptable – even in terms of wind noise which at the 110km/h top speed was not intrusive.
The cuzzie was able to sit behind his driving position in the rear seats of the baby Nano.
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Form doesn’t follow function in all areas though, with no access to the rear-mounted engine. It’s sealed away behind the back bumper meaning you can’t even check oil – with visible air vents below the rear doors helping engine cooling.
The fuel filler sits under the front bonnet, and there’s no opening boot lid to speak off – you have to drop the back seats to load a bag. The aircon, probably due to the engine size, is underpowered too – think of an asthma sufferer blowing through a straw.
Worth mentioning, though, is that at thirty grand it had spec including front electric windows, aircon, central locking, front fog lamps, rear spoiler, and colour coded bumpers and mirrors. -The Star
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Pat@Anonymous, wrote
Ok smartarse, now that I've awoken from my slumber, let's test your brain cell. How about you and I do a crash test? I'll drive my Volvo and you can drive this piece of crap. Head-on at 40 kmh. What do you say? We on for it?
Anonymous, wrote
You can never satisfy the South African motorist. This car will probably be now too cheap for the highly image conscious South Africans who are always moaning about price!!!
Hangmann, wrote
This cars meant to replace their 2-stroke 3 wheeler and for inner city commuting where speed limits are 60kph, 80 kph max.
Anonymous, wrote
Anonymous, wrote
People still die like flies on our roads with euro ncap 5 rated vehicles @ PAT Wake up!!
Top Geariac, wrote
The only reason you guys are the first to test drive this drivel with wheels from india is that no one else could be bothered. Its true what Jeremy Ckarkson said once: There's no such thing as cheap and cheerfull. Theres cheap and nasty (exactly what this is) and expensive and cheerfull. This is a death-trap on wheels
Benny, wrote
Pat, wrote
Fact is, people who buy this car WILL use our freeways and WILL drive from Jo'burg to Harties or wherever, so ... let's all get used to another breed of traffic obstruction to go with the trucks and taxis. At least if you hit one you won't get hurt. These cars shouldn't be allowed in this country. People will die like flies in them. No power to get out of sticky situations and they will be an absolute hazard on the roads.
baboona, wrote
Any civilised overnment , committed to reduce its CO2 emissions would make elecric cars or little cars like this one tax and imort duty free ... Here we are not.
Anonymous, wrote
import duty (tax ) 100% Shipping Cost ZAR17000,00 per unit & as John mentioned dealers average gross profit plus minus 11.5 %.
John L, wrote
JR I have news for you, if you think the dealers in RSA are making the ching, look again! The dealers average gross profit, before commissions, PDS after sales expences and general over heads such as rent interest power telephones, advertising and making what is known as an over=allowance to settle your piece of iron at the bank, is a gross of plus minus 11,5 percent depending on the franchise. Look to your government my china, thats where the money goes. Import duty 100% vat 14% and then tax on nett profit. SHAME!!!
fred, wrote
I'd buy one for R30G,, but you are all correct re duties taxesgreed,,so dream on! Even if Govt dropped the duties, taxes etc.!!!
Harry, wrote
Selling @ R16 200 at initial launch then it will do well but because of a [allegedly] corrupt govt think again...CORRUPTION IS THE KEY ELEMENT !!
brian, wrote
The local car industry together with the corrupt government will not allow this car to be sold here at that price.
JR, wrote
It is all very well quoting the prices but is this what we are going to pay here or are motor retailers going to nail us to the wall by doubling the prices as they normally do and then blame the government taxes?
JR, wrote
It is all very well quoting the prices but is this what we are going to pay here or are motor retailers going to nail us to the wall by doubling the prices as they normally do and then blame the government taxes?
Guy, wrote
Hmm, the engine is behind the rear bumper. So a rear-end ding on the highway and "new engine please". Still at R30k (hah, we wish) it won't be worth repairing after ANy accident.
Alf, wrote
Most of us still drive to a shop less than a kilometer away. This is a car to use for such purposes, but many snotty South African will not want to be seen dead in a cheap car, especially with a Tata badge.
Also Anonymous, wrote
Yup, the asthma straw comment came from Top Gear - a reference to the aircons in pre-Audi Lambos by the tall d**s. I used to watch that crap, too, then I just got sick of it.
Anonymous, wrote
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