BRAWN & BUTCH
Test drove the XT manual again, this time, along with my wife and kid. This is my 3rd test drive of the Hexa and with each time it grows more on me, I learn more about the car and it continues to impress on many accounts. I had to pen this down...
Looks:
The car looks 'regal' and moves with a mature 'all-knowing' elegance. As it pulls up near you, its easy to notice that its in no hurry, as if its not meant for haste. No childish sprint in its toes, no bounce, no drama. It stands butch in its stance as its massive 19 inch wheels spin on arrogantly to pull back the road. Its not trying to grab attention, not crying out loud, ...it doesn't have to. These humongous juggernaut alloys look perfect on this ute, and I ain’t downsizing for the moon!
As others clamour for road space, the Hexa holds its ground with a road presence and a casual apathy that comes only with seasoned experience of effective diplomacy. This is no wanna-be teenager with a tattoo and mohawk. This is the cigar smoking statesman, never short on suave.
Take a long tiring walk around the sprawling Hexa, and a gentle tap around should give you confidence regarding robust build quality. No overdone plastic panels to save weight, these are brawny solid metal panels that can arm wrestle a freight train. I don’t see the Hexa’s weight as always a penalty, it’s unfair. Its not lean mean training for the 100m sprint, its a beefed up rugby quarterback. Mass… it needs.
Colour:
I have seen the Hexa in 3 colours, Grey, Silver and Blue. TATA's 'launch' colour choices have always been good, carving an identity to that product in its segment (Urban Bronze for Storme, Sunburst Orange in Tiago, Blue for the Hexa) And this is the colour that generally looks best on it., though personal preferences may differ. I love the blue that the Hexa wears, and gives it an unmistakably premium silhouette in the dark. I would have preferred if they could have gone easy on some chrome, but you know how it works here.
Interiors :
The air of no-nonsense elegance continues as you step into the cabin. Love the quality and finish of all that you see and touch. Some bits like the rubber sheathing gland in the neck of handbrake lever was not well finished for e.g., but overall the cabin is a large spacious happy place to be with good, lasting quality.
The plush captain seats are beefy and are so comfortable that Joey Tribbiani wouldn't complain. The seats have good travel and can liberate acres of leg space for the second row if desired.
When the driver seat is pulled back to my driving position and I tried to disembark, I found my leg hitting the travel-channel on which the seat slides. Its got a high coaming and will take some time to getting used to, or must be cushioned up.
With last row up, still can manage a few small bags. It would have been criminal if the last row ended right at the tail gate with no luggage space at all.
Folded the last row down and its irksome that it doesn't fold flat. It does liberate a huge boot, but would have loved it if it flushed flat. Captain seats are like La-z-Boys and wonderful to sink into. Im yet to see a middle row bench seat variant to comment on that. It would be a tough choice to choose between the two- a bench to accommodate one more person/practicality that a continuos bench offers in the 2nd row Vs the uber comfortable captains.
Air con is bone chilling, true to a TATA, but higher notches blow loud . Again coming form the Storme EX, relieved in this case to just to set the ACC, sit back and relax.
Sun blinds are a neat touch. The door latches make me wonder why they didn't carry the Storme locks to the Hexa. The lock and latch in the same conduit compared to Hexa's lock on top and latch on door arrangement. Its a nice thing that warranty sunroofs are available at a premium of 90k over the price. Don’t know how it looks and feels, to comment on it. Have to see it in flesh if its position is actually usable/required.
The horizontal ( 'flexible') LED strip that runs in rear of the vehicle is a neat looker! This is its defining silhouette in the dark.
Ride Quality:
As you fire up the ignition, the sedate behemoth, shakes to a start. A shudder more pronounced than even my Storme. Once its woken up, it settles down ready to take orders. Start moving ahead... and you learn that Weight, like age, is just a number. The sure footed 2 tonner moves planted on the road and gets going. Speaking of its boastful ride quality, the Hexa is an arrogant snob that refuses to pay any heed to road conditions. Good roads, bad roads, no roads...these seem to be just third world problems the Hexa is blissfully oblivious to. Puddles, potholes and breakers are hushed up with mechanical bribery.
If you ever decide to get angry at Hexa, it's ride quality is one thing that can make you forgive and forget its other shortcomings. There are some things money can buy, for other things there is.. aftermarket. Ride quality however, is priceless.
The Hexa never breaks a sweat itself, and doesn't let you do either, as it powers over terrain, suspension doing its duty diligently. It is always calm and composed and nestles its occupants in serene comfort. While under the hood, the Varicor is doing its bit in pushing this beast ahead, twisting a good sounding 400 torque, enough to take along solid walls with it.
Took the Hexa over broken bad roads and its GC played to its strength. (Quoted as 200mm and rumoured by the SA as a measured 209mm) Took it to a more messy muddy stretch and It made quick work of it. Let’s not even talk about rubble, the mammoth smashes it to fine consistency with a stomp. Those of us who perceived the hexa as that spoilt rich kid who can’t hold is own, when the going gets tough, are in for a sweet surprise. The Hexa shows that it has worked its way up from the ranks, never hesitating to get its hands dirty. With its robust BOF chassis and that earnest suspension, looking at the decent approach and departure angles (21,25 degress), I am confident enough to punish the hexa within reasonable limits of sanity. It is definitely no mud plugger, it’s not meant for that, but it won’t shy away if you enlist it for battle duties. It actually enjoys that kind of action.
I compared my proper SUV Storme's dimensions and overhangs with the Crossover Hexa, to get some idea.
Drivability:
I was sold on the Auto variant I test drove last time, but definitely missed the AWD option in it. It was lacking ESP,Traction Control and Hill Descent also.
This time, it was a top end manual and the first relief was the 'easy' clutch. My Storme has made my left leg stronger over years of ownership, with its heavy clutch. The Hexa was remarkably different but I felt its pedal had too long a travel to depress it to get beyond surety. Have to check it in stop-go traffic to have any real time effect of this sink in. Manual Gear box is good and has improved much beyond my Storme, (but constantly comparing it with the superior Auto in XTA is unavoidable in your head). For someone, spoilt by the Command Seating that Safari offers, I enjoyed the Hexa's driving position also and wouldn't complain in this regard.
My wife's turn to drive...
My wife did not take much time in finding her driving position using the height adjust lever, (same as in Storme) but I would have preferred electronic seat adjustment option.I miss that. My wife, a Figo veteran, was very happy with the ease of driving this huge vehicle and comfortably commandeered this beast down roads narrow and wide. She was finding no problem in operating this manual box compared to the endeavour we had rented out last month.
Features:
I'm personally more happy with mechanical soundness and reliability than a laundry list of gizmos and features if I had to choose between the two. But as its claim to premium fame, the Hexa cannot skimp on features. As its apparent from the brochure, it has many feel good features which will keep a lot of people happy.
The 10 speaker setup is pleasing and Harman Kardon ICE is worth the price tag. The touch screen's size doesn't bother me. I would have preferred inbuilt maps though. Juke Car App ,Remote App and those other things... etc sound like cool things that fetch some bragging rights, but I don't know when I would use them. Must have features like Cruise control is absolutely required and happy it works well. Tried voice command, and it recognised what I was saying on 3rd attempt. (In Hexa's defence, even Siri takes two!)
Steering mounted controls are a charm. As I fiddled with the controls in HU I was wondering what I would do with mood lighting , my most dispensable feature in the Hexa, and I turned back to see my son having fun playing with the coloured illumination. Something to amuse him and keep him busy?
…..We live in confusing times. Anything that sits on haunches and has some plastic cladding stuck to it, is badged as an SUV. The Hexa has been called many things, MUV, MPV, SUV, Hybrid SUV, etc….Its all that and none of that..What’s in a name? The Hexa doesn’t bother about what it’s called. It doesn’t have time for a name. It doesn’t conform to our idea of category, nomenclature. It’s busy being an all round package for the discerning buyer who loves both comfort and carnage. Its sole aim is to do ‘Whatever It Takes’ to put a smile on its master and it makes an honest attempt at that…….
Bottom Line:
The Hexa is not the perfect car, sure there are bits that could have been done better. But with each test drive, it reassures, surprises and tugs at those strings. It is an impressive overall package for a Crossover., that gives a comfortable ride, a good list of creature comforts and features. Great for most of its daily life usage. And as its USP, can very comfortably tackle moderate off the road trails and take your family safely overland to exotic places if you demand it to. The Hexa, as I see it, is more than a commuter, it’s a lifestyle choice. If with around 20 lacs, I was allowed to choose only one car for all I need to get done. the Hexa is the answer.
The only crib I have is for the want of a AT AWD, which I expect and hope will come in .
//Being a cult follower of the iconic Safari, I'm eagerly waiting for the next-gen safari whenever it comes. The Q501 holds good promise and Im sure TATA will give it all its got. But in all that enthusiasm, IF the price goes out of my reach, I'm already
gladly convinced on a HEXA !.//
Note to Mods: Apologies for reposting. Tried to contact support and webmaster to edit and add to last post, but couldn't do it.