India's Best Mainstream MUV

Tata Grande MKII

Another one amongst the slew of revamps from the 'new' Tata Motors is the new Grande MkII, and frankly the new vehicle is so distant from the original people carrying Sumo that Tata Motors would have done well to ditch the moniker altogether. The Grande MkII though has to be a case of improving the car by using smart engineering and even smarter management, and guess what - they've done it. The monotony of the huge expanse of the doors is now broken with horizontal body coloured rubbing strips that run all the way, breaking only for the shutline. The wing mirrors also get a row of four LED turn indicators, smartly arranged in overlapping circular lens covers. The new vehicle now gets alloy wheels for a 'Grander' impact.

The engine remains the same 2.2 litre DiCOR diesel unit also doing duty in the Safari and pumps out 120PS at 4000 revs and 250Nm between 1500 and 3000rpm. While those figures may be the same as the previous Grande from last year, the engine itself feels a lot more smooth and refined. It has also become a whole lot more drivable and the clutch and accelerator feel is great. Relocated stabilizer bar anchor points work better in co- ordination with stiffer spring ratings making the Grande MkII less of a roller than ever before and at the same time offering a very plush ride quality.

The new biggie from Tata Motors manages to do a lot more than its predecessors ever managed to, delivering space, refinement and classy styling in very car-like interiors. Priced between Rs 6.43 lakh for the base LX variant and Rs 7.5 lakh for the top-of- the-line GX variant Tata Motors has certainly transformed the Grande MkII into a car to seriously consider in its segment. A Grande sequel to a utilitarian concept then? Certainly, and in the new Tata style at that!

Quick Facts:

Engine: 2.2-litre DICOR diesel

Power: 120PS @ 4,000rpm

Torque: 250Nm @ 1,500-3,000rpm

Transmission: 5-speed manual

DIMENSIONS

Wheelbase: 2,550mm

LxWxH: 4500 x 1980 x 1940mm

Weight: 1,940kg

Performance

0-100 km/h: 18.23 sec

Top speed: 136.8 km/h

Fuel efficiency (overall): 11.8 kmpl

Variants:

CX Turbo: '5.82 lakh

CX BS IV: '6.55 lakh

LX BS IV: '6.74 lakh

EX BS IV: '7.13 lakh

GX BS IV: '7.83 lakh

Cheers:

1. 2.2-litre DiCOR engine has been tuned for fantastic driveability in town and on highways.

2. Comfortable seating and interesting interiors make it quite a departure from Sumo's image.

Sneers:

1. Body roll could be better controlled, and iffy braking demands an ABS option.

2. New differential has sacrificed top speed to an extent.

Honourable Mentions:

Chevrolet Tavera

Filling up the void left by the Toyota Qualis, the Chevrolet Tavera remains the vehicle of choice for carrying people not just in rural India, but also over expressways around the country. A conventional body-on-frame construction makes it inexpensive, and comfort remains on a high.

Mahindra Bolero

The Bolero has been the class buster in terms of sales for a long time now, and for good reason. With a strong and reliable image, the Bolero has developed into a brand itself. Timely facelifts have also ensured that the car retains its leadership position to good effect.

Other Rivals:

Tata Sumo Victa

The Sumo Victa's new and winning cousin at the top of the page makes this one look properly aged, but it is still good for its job at taming unruly rural roads.

ICML Rhino

Another one of those Qualis-space fillers, the Rhino from ICML (also involved in making Sonalika tractors, with a good grip on the rural market) is a surprisingly competent and well-priced MUV.

Force Trax

The Trax has been around for long enough to be another brand-name in itself, especially in B and C towns. Facelifts have kept it fresh-ish, and the workhorse toils on.