Tata Aria : Driving Impressions. EDIT : FULL specs, features & variants on page 18

himanshugoswami · 12th August 2010, 10:51

FS in all likelihood you drove the AWD model. In teh auto expo, ony the AWD models had flared wheel arches, which are present on the car you drove as well.

damodar · 12th August 2010, 11:01

Aria has a sliding middle seat, so maybe the reason for the lack of legroom in the third row was due the middle row being pushed all the way back

snan · 12th August 2010, 11:04

Great first hand review - thanks for sharing this. I hope they price it properly. At 18 lakhs, it would be good work wasted down the drain. I'm quite ok with the looks, quite happy with interiors and the reasonable engine. But 18 L ?! Whom are we kidding ? Dont think a lot of us will plonk that kind of money on this vehicle !

FlyingSpur · 12th August 2010, 11:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by himanshugoswami

FS in all likelihood you drove the AWD model. In teh auto expo, ony the AWD models had flared wheel arches, which are present on the car you drove as well.

Could be so.

Quote:

Originally Posted by damodar

Aria has a sliding middle seat, so maybe the reason for the lack of legroom in the third row was due the middle row being pushed all the way back

Yes, but when I got in the back I was trying to adjust it around, and there wasn't much travel. Hence, I have my doubts on how much space there will actually be in the third row, even at maximum.

PlatzdaTurbo · 12th August 2010, 11:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by flyingspur

Could be so.

Yes, but when I got in the back I was trying to adjust it around, and there wasn't much travel. Hence, I have my doubts on how much space there will actually be in the third row, even at maximum.

I suppose it can safely be said that the 3rd row would be good enough for a couple of average sized kids ??? eh ?

srishiva · 12th August 2010, 11:49

They should place it just above Innova. I dont like the looks of this though.

EssYouWe · 12th August 2010, 11:51

Great review FS! Thanks.

It looks like a good offering. I doubt many people will pay 13+ for a Tata MUV. Lets see how things move for them.

Glad to see them work on quality!

praful · 12th August 2010, 11:55

Saw the Aria being testing in some back roads of TN. There were 4 in total, and boy were they fast. They were pulling away to speeds in excess of 140-150. Had good road presence.

They were so fast that I could not even manage to get picture clicked!

siddharthdeb · 12th August 2010, 12:05

Finally a credible alternative to the Mighty Innova. If Tata gets their act right and manages to price the Aria right (which so far they have been) and not use the initial customers as guinea pigs, i think Tata Might have a winner on their hands.
Considering the fact that the engine is a tried and tested model and simply the long time in testing and development in the Aria, lets hope it is not a half baked attempt to just enter into the segment and then learn the hard way.
I hope tata has realized that the Indian consumer no longer just believes in the chalta hai attitude. If you build a poor product and get away with it in any sense be it price ( Honda Jazz Case point) or quality the consumer with reject it instantly.

On a brighter note looks like tata has done a good job on the Aria, and could really iron out the kinks then innova has something to worry about

lohithrao · 12th August 2010, 12:10

Nice report flyingspur but am sure i wont spend 18lacs for this vehicle, i guess TATA has completely messed up with the pricing?

chennai-indian · 12th August 2010, 12:15

A very nice review Flying Spur. I would have loved to see the 3rd row though. BTW, how much luggage space did it have behind the 3rd row seats? You mentioned about Xylo having comfortable 3rd row seats (agree) but Xylo has non-existent luggage space. Let us all hope that Tata takes your feedback very seriously. Lack of a dead pedal is a deal breaker for me in vehicles of this class.

SmartCat · 12th August 2010, 12:20

Flyingspur, a few questions & comments -

- How does the steering feel at lower speeds and normal highway speeds? (100 kmph, not 140 kmph!) Light, medium or heavy? I have driven the Vista, Manza and the Safari - so if possible, compare the steering feel of the Aria with other Tata vehicles.

- I hope you mentioned the uselessness of the roof mounted aircraft-style storage boxes too in the feedback form. And I hope you asked them to replace it with a large sunroof (similarly useless, but a lot cooler!).

- No dead pedal means immediate elimination from my "buy list".

- Civic type wipers offer better visibility under rainy conditions - the wiper clears out the raindrops from top right hand side of the windscreen (which the normal windscreen is unable to).

- Are the dashboard/door plastics soft-touch?

FlyingSpur · 12th August 2010, 12:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by PlatzdaTurbo

I suppose it can safely be said that the 3rd row would be good enough for a couple of average sized kids ??? eh ?

At maximum, yes.

Quote:

Originally Posted by srishiva

They should place it just above Innova. I dont like the looks of this though.

It will grow on you, maybe. I wouldn't say it's a bad looking car.

Quote:

Originally Posted by EssYouWe

Great review FS! Thanks.

It looks like a good offering. I doubt many people will pay 13+ for a Tata MUV. Lets see how things move for them.

Thanks. 13, I would definitely pay. Not 15+ though.

Quote:

Originally Posted by praful

Saw the Aria being testing in some back roads of TN. There were 4 in total, and boy were they fast. They were pulling away to speeds in excess of 140-150. Had good road presence.

I did not have much trouble getting to 140.

Quote:

Originally Posted by siddharthdeb

On a brighter note looks like tata has done a good job on the Aria, and could really iron out the kinks then innova has something to worry about

That sums it up nicely.

Quote:

Originally Posted by lohithrao

Nice report flyingspur but am sure i wont spend 18lacs for this vehicle, i guess TATA has completely messed up with the pricing?

Thank you. They haven't officially declared the pricing. One thing's for sure, I know I will be shocked either way, 13 or 18

Quote:

Originally Posted by chennai-indian

You mentioned about Xylo having comfortable 3rd row seats (agree) but Xylo has non-existent luggage space.

The Aria has decent luggage space, and that gets expanded to generous levels when the third row is folded down flat.

MileCruncher · 12th August 2010, 12:24

Excellent review there.

Even though the front looks futuristic, the sides and back are a big let down. But then in this segment, its the functionality rather than looks that matter and from your review, they seem to have got that spot on more or less.

But the crucial make or break will be the pricing. Let's hope they get it right to compete with the Xylo.

dadu · 12th August 2010, 12:26

Very nice review, its good that TATA is taking pre-launch TD feedback on ARIA and will hopefully work on it.

12th August 2010, 10:51	#31
himanshugoswami Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: !!!! Posts: 2,303 Thanked: 2,619 Times	FS in all likelihood you drove the AWD model. In teh auto expo, ony the AWD models had flared wheel arches, which are present on the car you drove as well.
	() Thanks

12th August 2010, 11:01	#32
damodar BHPian Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: VGA<->BLR Posts: 628 Thanked: 1,837 Times View My Garage	Aria has a sliding middle seat, so maybe the reason for the lack of legroom in the third row was due the middle row being pushed all the way back
	() Thanks

12th August 2010, 11:04	#33
snan BHPian Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: DXB/BLR/KOC Posts: 112 Thanked: 711 Times	Great first hand review - thanks for sharing this. I hope they price it properly. At 18 lakhs, it would be good work wasted down the drain. I'm quite ok with the looks, quite happy with interiors and the reasonable engine. But 18 L ?! Whom are we kidding ? Dont think a lot of us will plonk that kind of money on this vehicle !
	() Thanks

12th August 2010, 11:49	#36
srishiva Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Bengaluru Posts: 4,375 Thanked: 2,256 Times	They should place it just above Innova. I dont like the looks of this though.
	() Thanks

12th August 2010, 11:51	#37
EssYouWe Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2009 Location: Lucknow Posts: 1,391 Thanked: 18 Times	Great review FS! Thanks. It looks like a good offering. I doubt many people will pay 13+ for a Tata MUV. Lets see how things move for them. Glad to see them work on quality!
	() Thanks

12th August 2010, 11:55	#38
praful Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Paris Posts: 1,020 Thanked: 611 Times View My Garage	Saw the Aria being testing in some back roads of TN. There were 4 in total, and boy were they fast. They were pulling away to speeds in excess of 140-150. Had good road presence. They were so fast that I could not even manage to get picture clicked!
	() Thanks

12th August 2010, 12:05	#39
siddharthdeb BHPian Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Mumbai Posts: 157 Thanked: 61 Times	Finally a credible alternative to the Mighty Innova. If Tata gets their act right and manages to price the Aria right (which so far they have been) and not use the initial customers as guinea pigs, i think Tata Might have a winner on their hands. Considering the fact that the engine is a tried and tested model and simply the long time in testing and development in the Aria, lets hope it is not a half baked attempt to just enter into the segment and then learn the hard way. I hope tata has realized that the Indian consumer no longer just believes in the chalta hai attitude. If you build a poor product and get away with it in any sense be it price ( Honda Jazz Case point) or quality the consumer with reject it instantly. On a brighter note looks like tata has done a good job on the Aria, and could really iron out the kinks then innova has something to worry about
	() Thanks

12th August 2010, 12:10	#40
lohithrao Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Kudla/Mangaluru Posts: 3,204 Thanked: 225 Times View My Garage	Nice report flyingspur but am sure i wont spend 18lacs for this vehicle, i guess TATA has completely messed up with the pricing?
	() Thanks

12th August 2010, 12:15	#41
chennai-indian BHPian Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Chennai Posts: 437 Thanked: 641 Times	A very nice review Flying Spur. I would have loved to see the 3rd row though. BTW, how much luggage space did it have behind the 3rd row seats? You mentioned about Xylo having comfortable 3rd row seats (agree) but Xylo has non-existent luggage space. Let us all hope that Tata takes your feedback very seriously. Lack of a dead pedal is a deal breaker for me in vehicles of this class.
	() Thanks

12th August 2010, 12:20	#42
SmartCat Team-BHP Support Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 6,399 Thanked: 42,693 Times View My Garage	Flyingspur, a few questions & comments - - How does the steering feel at lower speeds and normal highway speeds? (100 kmph, not 140 kmph!) Light, medium or heavy? I have driven the Vista, Manza and the Safari - so if possible, compare the steering feel of the Aria with other Tata vehicles. - I hope you mentioned the uselessness of the roof mounted aircraft-style storage boxes too in the feedback form. And I hope you asked them to replace it with a large sunroof (similarly useless, but a lot cooler!). - No dead pedal means immediate elimination from my "buy list". - Civic type wipers offer better visibility under rainy conditions - the wiper clears out the raindrops from top right hand side of the windscreen (which the normal windscreen is unable to). - Are the dashboard/door plastics soft-touch?
	() Thanks

12th August 2010, 12:24	#44
MileCruncher Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: MH01 Posts: 4,235 Thanked: 589 Times View My Garage	Excellent review there. Even though the front looks futuristic, the sides and back are a big let down. But then in this segment, its the functionality rather than looks that matter and from your review, they seem to have got that spot on more or less. But the crucial make or break will be the pricing. Let's hope they get it right to compete with the Xylo.
	() Thanks

12th August 2010, 12:26	#45
dadu Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 3,803 Thanked: 462 Times View My Garage	Very nice review, its good that TATA is taking pre-launch TD feedback on ARIA and will hopefully work on it.
	() Thanks