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-   -   Tata Aria : Driving Impressions. EDIT : FULL specs, features & variants on page 18 (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/indian-car-scene/89224-tata-aria-driving-impressions-edit-full-specs-features-variants-page-18-a-25.html)

Hi, shortbread,

The Aria prestige model which I go a close look at had a Multi function display, Which I guess would couple as the sat-nav display as well.

Hope this helps.

I don't think the pricing is too much for the features on offer and the fact that this is an all-new model. But I have to say that I was hoping for a no-frills version to combat the Innova. I think that they are deliberately delaying the launch so that taxi-wallahs don't latch onto it at once and drag this one downmarket as well, making sure that Tata can't ever sell it in the premium segment.

Both the AWD and the luxury segment pricing should help build image for the model and keep taxi/tour operators at bay, after which they can release the bare-bones model for raking in the volumes. I think Tata should postpone the 2WD model for at least a year. If they are really delaying it, then it's a grand strategy.

I really can't understand why people say things like, 'This should offer 25 lakhs value at 16 lakhs price, because it's Tata'. Can anyone honestly say that any vehicle sold in India is truly worth its price? The Corolla, which is sold as a luxury model in India is nothing but a cheap sedan in most markets. Most vehicles are sold here at more than 200% of their real value for various reasons. One of my uncles paid the equivalent of 9 lacs for a new GMC Envoy, which is a full SUV about the size of the Endeavour.

i spotted this in cochin today, the vehicle was driven quite fast and it took the curves nicely.

Agree that it will be a grand strategy,if not then the Aria may face the same fate as it's siblings.

:OT:OT Lets not say about the stupid tax structure of the Govt. A 16 lakhs compact executive car thats even though manufactured locally in the country itself, costs 35 lakhs,the same what you pay for a mid size executive car.
The car companies are also to be blamed for this.
On the bright side,even with this inflated car prices, we have these much sales and traffic. Unless the govt gets going on developing pan-country infra and also pushing alternative energy it would be suicidal to go the way we want.

Statement today:

The Tata Aria, the first Indian crossover, will be commercially launched on October 11, 2010. It will be made available across all major cities and towns of the country. First shown as a concept at the 75th Geneva Motor Show in 2005 and in the New Delhi Auto Expo 2006, the Tata Aria was unveiled at the New Delhi Auto Expo in January 2010.

The Tata Aria brings together the luxury and finesse of a sedan and the muscle of an SUV at a commensurate price. It will set several benchmarks, with its design, technologies, comfort and safety.

The Tata Aria’s development started in 2006. A team of over 150 individuals, comprising multi-discipline specialists from the Tata Motors Group and vendor-partners, worked on the project to create this segment-defining crossover.

I found the source, I think:

http://www.tatamotors.com/our_world/...93&action=Pull

As others have mentioned, I would really like to see a 2WD version competing Directly with the Innova/Xylo. At that price, I don't think it really makes a difference if a few are sold as taxis. Why, there are a Very large number of Innova Gs and Vs which are taxis.

Saw one at Wakdewadi, Pune on Tuesday this week. Impressive vehicle looks wise. With space being Tata's forte, I am sure this one will do well. A tough competition to Inova's taxi segment.

@ Shortbread
Yes there was a multifunction display in the center of the dash

@ everyone else
Come on guys No Indian manufacturer has launched a 4wd version first and then launched a 2wd later and i don't think that Tata is going to break that tradition for the simple reason that a 4WD system would be costlier by 1 Lakh (minimum) and 95% of the sales will be 2WD so I am sure that a 4WD version will take its own sweet time for launch.

Nice review flying spur.
The design is a bit eccentric if we take the side and rear views into consideration.
The front is passable and typically Tata again.The inspiration of the C pillar and the rear window from the CRV is something surprising. Why were the designers so impressed with the CRV kinda looks? Thats shallow thinking as far as Tata is concerned. The LR range was better to draw in house inspirations from.
The rear look is truly eccentric. Jeremy Clarkson's views hold ground!:) The designers get tired while designing the front and side to start with taking their own sweet time.. They find the deadlines quite a nightmare very soon. So to catch up the lost moments, they design the left over portions (the rear end here) at a lightning speed.
The front grille plastics and the bumper panel enclosure in black plastic look pretty cheap.I wonder why they cannot give these in body colours even in the base model.
The six airbags and ABS must be optional in the higher end models as per the manufacturers established conventions. If the one you drove had these options, then its a shame that the grille and bumpers did not have body colours.
The 2.2 DICOR engine is getting dated and could have been refreshed by Tata and launched with the Aria. Later on, or even immediately, the Safari and the other variants could have got the new engine. I wonder how the twin exhausts (more a show piece) will appear with this dated engine.
I am sure that this MPV will be priced at around that of the top variant of Xylo and around the price of the lower end Innova.
The ABS option (and airbags too) should also be offered with the base model, as safety is something that is not compromised at the lower ends for all those who vie by it. This step by Tata will be an eye opener for all others to emulate.

I for one think the Aria is one of the best designs to come from an Indian maker. Of course it does not have the SUV profile thats prefered by the Indian psych. The cars interior space sould match its overall size unlike the Scorpio where there a lot on the outside but cramped within.

I dont understand how the 2.2 Dicor is dated as stated below. It produces more power than the M Hawk or an Innova. Finally, theres no way this car is is going to be priced alongside Xylos and Innovas, its pretty evident from the spec list Tata is aiming for bigger fish.

Methinks its time to lock this thread for a couple of weeks or till the launch happens. Else, the senseless & baseless nitpicking & speculation will continue.

I agree with Shortbread, the icing on the cake for me was the comment about the 2.2 being "dated":uncontrol

power figures on paper is not everything buddy. the engine should have instant power delivery at low rpm (nil turbo lag) & should be refined too, something thats missing in the Dicor 2.2.

i want tata to sort this in the new Aria since i am in the market to buy a new car. till now, only fortuner & captiva has been shortlisted. mahindra's W201 wont launch soon. so, i would like to test drive the aria before making a decision.

Raj, if you have the Budget for it, you should go for the Captiva or Fortuner with your eyes closed (the Captiva AT with AWD comes at the same price point as the Fortuner). Although the Aria will be a lot cheaper than both & will have a heck of a lot more equipment, I don't think it would fall in the same category, would it?

In case of the ARIA the insiders have confirmed that all version will have AWD. So TATA will be beating the general trend, most posters on this thread who are considering the Aria would not do so if it does not have AWD.

The teaser site already mentions AWD as a feature - so it is not something to be doubted. The only thing that is not clear is if AWD is switchable (switch off / on) or not on this vechicle.

ABS is standard in all model.
2.2 Dicor being dated is indeed a joke, it is actually newer than the much touted TSI technology from VW that all their vechicle are adopting for petrols.
The rear is seen to be similar to the CRV, but if we look at the design period for the Aria, the look exists from a period prior to the lauch of the new CRV which has this look. In fact it is something that a lof the german couple SUV's have incorporated, in car price about 3 times as much and are very much a fad.

The 2.2 has till date only been seen in the Safari which is a good 300 kgs heavier, and most have not tried out the Xenon. The power delivery could be a pleasant surprise if you do go for a test drive with the Aria. From all reports it is a quite engine (with the DMF - dual mass flywheel) - which even the fortuner does not have. DMF reduces engine vibrations being transferred to the body, mainly seen in VW cars and a boon for diesel.


The Aria will end up creating it's own new category, it is quite unlike the fortuner and the captiva but has many similarities with both including
Diesel - all 3
power Similar for all 3 - within 20% of each other.
AWD - Fortuner, Modes like hill decent - Capitiva
Dual exhausts - Captiva
Interiors and features - more like the captiva (with some aspects even exceeding it, and some being better in the captiva) the fortuner definately lags with the absence of 6 Airbags, Satnav, rear ac vent locations, auto lights, auto wipers, butterfly wipers, storage bins etc. Even in materials from all reports the Aria seems to be doing a good job on the inside.
Size and presence - Fortuner is the best looker from the ourside, the captiva looks good, but is not as imposing, the Aria is bigger than the captiva, but the captiva has slight edge as a softroader.
Captiva uses a mono chassis and that means better road holding on highways.
Fortuner and Aria are ladder chassis
the Aria and Captiva have 4 disk brakes, the fortuner has disk only in the front.

I agree. The point I was making is - if someone has the money to plonk on a Fortuner or a Captiva, its a mystery to me as to why they would even look at the Aria. Doesn't make any sense to me.