Back from another 70+km test drive of the tank. Adding to the inputs from
my previous drive Quote:
Originally Posted by Tushar Slot into 3rd gear and even at 20 km/h, the pick-up is effortless |
Need to drive it to believe it. Doesn’t feel like a 1.6 Tonne tank when you hit 1.3K RPM and the torque starts to come in. I thought the Figo aspire had good power delivery at low rpm but this is even better! You dont get pushed back into you seat but feels more like the steady pull of Bangalore metro when accelerating.
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The engine's behaviour is at its best between 2,000 - 3,500 rpm
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Originally Posted by Tushar As for the FE, as stated in the review:Real world should be in the region of ~14-15 km/l. |
Had to refuel before the drive and after 25 liters of diesel, the DTE was 344 km. I drove the tank for 2 hours after that in a mix of B2B & typical Bangalore haphazard traffic (approximately 70 min of the drive) and 50 min of highway cruising at 90-120 kmph. All the while the RPM needle never crossed 3K. After almost 65 km of the above, the DTE was 368 Km. Some rough math based on the above indicates that pre fill up, the FE was ~14 kmpl and post the ride, the FE was ~17 kmpl (assuming I burned 5 liters of fuel for 65 km). I understand that that is a very significant jump in FE and is unrealistic, but I do feel that at sane speeds of 100 kmph over long distance, the tank could return a FE which is very close to the ARAI claimed FE. And all of the above was without using engine Eco mode and the AC in Eco mode
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Move out of the fast lane and cruise. 100 km/h in 5th gear sees the tachometer touch 2,600 rpm, while 120 km/h comes up at 3,100 rpm
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Did manage to do 100 kmph at 2400 rpm and 120 at 2900 rpm. Engine noise is controlled at this speed but wind noise increases significantly at 120 when compared to 100.
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Like most Mahindras out there, the gear lever has a rubbery side to it. The shifts aren't slick and boy, does the gear lever vibrate!
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The gear lever is a dancer and the shifts arent precise. But coming from a 6 year old wagonR, the gear shift did feel better and gear vibration is something that one needs to live with.
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The clutch pedal has a long throw. Those used to C1 & C2 segment sedans won't be pleased, as the long travel range makes it cumbersome to use in bumper to bumper traffic
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Yes the clutch pedal is long but in B2B traffic all you need to do is slip the clutch and roll forward without accelerator input. In fact this worked even on the flyover when I was stuck in B2B traffic. This is when I noticed that in neutral the engile idles at almost 1K rpm and the dual scroll turbo ensures that you dont really have to wait for the torque.
Q: Is the idle rpm of 1K normal for 3 pot diesels? How does this compare with the 4 cyl 1.3 liter national engine? Quote:
Driving the TUV300 is an experience. In the city, people moves out of your way
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Amen to that. A tap on the horn pad and autos and cab drivers think twice before cutting you off
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The TUV300 gets a hydraulic power steering
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Love the steering. When I drove the Aspire and the Zest, the EPS steering felt very light. For the last 6 years, I have got used to the heavy, steady hydraulic unit of the wagonR and that is why I love the tank's steering. Weighs up nicely at high speeds and gives you the confidence that you are connected to the road. Easy to manoeuvre in city B2B traffic and low speeds as well. Note - I am pretty well built and this could also be a factor
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The 5.35 meter turning radius is wide for a sub-4 meter vehicle and making U-turns in narrow by-lanes will warrant a 3-point turn. Well, the EcoSport (5.3 m) and Duster (5.2 m) aren't much better in this area.
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Had to take a U turn on an incline to reach the showroom and I watched a duster take a 3 point turn with bikes/autos in the opposite lane starring daggers. Mentally prepared myself to endure the same and turned the steering to be surprised. The tank easily made the turn without a hicup! Not sure if this has anything to do with the deep wheel arches or with the front suspension setup. On paper the turn radius is 5.35m but if you get the approach right, the tank can take some pretty tight turns.
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Stopping power comes from disc brakes up front and drums at the rear.
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Slow depress of the brake pedal and you will not feel the brakes bite but they are doing their job as the tank loses momentum. Having said that, deceleration is not linear and a couple of times the brakes bit hard and I could feel the front bowing down even though I did not fully depress the brake pedal. Need to find a balancing point and plan your braking in advance.
Other points to note
- Quality of plastic covering the hand brake is very poor and I dont see that lasting very long, especially if you have kids in the back seat
- Bluetooth pairing is easy and the buttons on the steering are very convenient
- There is no convenient place for a 5+ inch smart phone. You will have to use 2 of the cubby holes provided for coins, below the handbrake lever. Would be better to get some foam and fill these with just enough space in-between to fit the phone vertically
- While the handbrake is easy to engage, disengaging it was a little problematic for me. A couple of times during the ride the handbrake warning came up and I realized that I had not pushed it down all the way
- Door ajar warning is good and clearly shows which door is open. Did not check if this works for the boot door as well
- AC is a chiller and the AC eco mode is good enough for Bangalore weather
- Reverse parking sensors work very well and covers not just the rear but also looks for obstacles which are at an angle to the car. But given the height at which they are mounted, will need to check if they scan for objects in the 2D plane or in 3D
- While using ESS, the engine shuts down but doors do not unlock
- I am 6 feet tall and after adjusting the seat height, I could see the bonnet line to my right and also the edge. Makes driving in B2B traffic so much more easier
- Seats feel so much more comfortable when compared to my 6 year old WagonR and lumbar support is a welcome addition
- Floor carpets are nice and thick and feel good against your feet
- WIth 4 adults and a child on board, the tank is easy to drive in both city as well as highway speeds
The more I drive the tank, the more I feel that this is a logical upgrade for me. Might go for one last test drive at night before I book the car. Saw a Red tank in the flesh and my better half had to wipe the drool off my chin
. Looks like the T8 Dynamo Red will be my next ride unless the new ertiga shvs manges to completely outclass the tank.
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Originally Posted by AutoIndian rubber floor mats costing Rs 1700/- |
Idol, perfume and floor mats are complimentary accessories that my sales advisor has promised. You should get the DIY noodle mats as they work like a charm and are easy to clean. Do search for the thread if you haven’t seen it.
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Originally Posted by AutoIndian Friends, happy to inform you that just now received my TUV's chassis number |
Just below the right mirror there should be a sticker that clearly mentions the date of manufacture. Saw this on both the TD vehicles.
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Originally Posted by nishant kar Tomorrow i will be taking delivery of my TUV T8 Black |
Congratulation nishant! Do post pics and first impressions