Tata Curvv

The Tata Curvv is a compact SUV that takes the Nexon’s formula to the next level. It features a unique coupe SUV design and is loaded with features that are found in cars from a segment above. 

Also referred to as the ‘Tata Curvv ICE’ (internal combustion engine, that denotes petrol/diesel engine), this SUV has its work cut out, though. There are a huge number of options in the segment including the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara, Toyota Hyryder, Volkswagen Taigun, Skoda Kushaq, Honda Elevate and MG Astor. For a similar price, there are also options of larger SUVs such as the Tata Harrier, MG Hector and Mahindra XUV700. 

Is the design enough for you to pick the Curvv over other options? Or is there more to it? 

Design and Build Quality

New Tata cars know how to grab attention and the Curvv is no different. The coupe-SUV design is striking and unique, making it stand out among a sea of conventionally styled upright compact SUVs. A natural question that arises is ‘how is the Curvv a coupe’? While the term ‘coupe’ is traditionally used to describe a two-door sports car, the term ‘coupe SUV’ is used to describe a design that combines the sloping roofline of a coupe with the raised ride height of an SUV. 

There’s a whole lot of resemblance with the Nexon, especially up front. Tata has tried to give the Curvv its own identity with a connected LED daytime running lamp setup, accents for the grille, different air dam design and slightly reworked creases around the headlamp enclosure. But you might just miss it if you happen to glance at the Curvv in the rear view mirror. 

It’s the side and rear where the difference is abundantly obvious. The wheelbase has been stretched by 60mm and in the process the Curvv has become a large 4.3m long SUV. Executing a sloping roofline with such tight proportions is a task in itself. Dare we say Tata has managed to deliver here. 

Flush-fitting door handles (with nifty marker lights) are offered as standard across variants. Large 18-inch alloy wheels look size appropriate, giving the Curvv a nice stance. Lower variants feature 16- and 17-inch wheels. Tata has oddly chosen gloss black for the wheel arch cladding, which we’re not huge fans of. While it lends good contrast to the body colour, it is highly prone to scratches and swirl marks — especially in our dusty weather conditions.

At the rear, the connected LED lighting looks swanky, and so does the cool animation it does on locking and unlocking. There are little details here that add to the overall design, such as the tiny spoiler on the windscreen, the shark fin antenna and vertical reflectors on the bumper. 

We think the Curvv stands out in its class by virtue of design. If turning heads ranks high on your ‘to-do’ list, this SUV should be on your radar. It has some seriously strong road presence especially in vibrant colors. Tata Motors offers the Curvv in Pristine White, Daytona Grey, Flame Red, Pure Grey, Gold Essence, Opera Blue, and Nitro Crimson. The Curvv Dark Edition is available exclusively in a Carbon Black exterior shade. 

As you’d expect, build quality on the Tata Curvv feels solid and robust. Our test cars had no major issues with panel gap inconsistencies either.

Design and Quality

Getting in and out of the car is an easy affair. Elders in the family should have no issues with ingress and egress, both, at the front and rear. Once you’re seated in the front seat, you’d immediately draw parallels with the new Nexon. This copy-paste job robs the Curvv of a unique interior look. Thankfully, the updated Nexon’s dashboard isn’t a bad place to start. 

Quality of materials is acceptable for a vehicle in this class. Fit and finish seemed par for the course on our test car as well. Tata has opted for a soft-touch leatherette padding on the mid portion of the dashboard and the door cards as well which does its bit in making the cabin feel premium. 

Lower variants of the Curvv get the 2-spoke steering wheel from the Nexon, whereas higher variants get the 4-spoke steering wheel from the Harrier/Safari. As you’d expect, there are different interior themes based on the variant you pick — Black for the base-spec Smart, Grey for the Pure, Blue for the Creative and a dual tone Lalitpur Grey (grey) and Plush Benecke-Kalik (beige) shade for the Accomplished. 

Front Seats

As far as space is concerned, front seat occupants should have no issues with width. Headroom might feel a little tight if you’re above 6ft tall or wear a turban. The driver gets a 6-way powered seat with ample travel. However, the steering wheel only adjusts for tilt, not reach. This is why you might find yourself sitting further back than you usually do, thereby eating away at the rear kneeroom. 

The seats themselves are quite comfortable with slightly firm cushioning. Average sized adults should have no issues with support either. However, larger occupants might find shoulder support to be less than ideal. There’s a central armrest that might feel like it’s placed too low for taller drivers. 

Rear Seats

For a six-footer seated behind another, there’s a fist’s worth of kneeroom to be had. The Curvv is far from being the most spacious vehicle in the segment. Footroom is acceptable. However, with that coupe roofline, headroom might feel tight too. Seating three abreast in the rear seat is possible, but not ideal. While there’s a proper seatbelt for the middle occupant, there’s no headrest which can be a bother on longer journeys. We’d rather enjoy the central armrest and use the Curvv as a spacious four seater. 

Do note that the frontal visibility is also compromised due to the large front seats. The sharply dropping coupe roofline also takes away from sideward visibility.  

Rear AC vents are available in all variants except for the base-spec Smart model. The Dark models additionally get rear sunshades. 

Storage and Practicality

The Curvv inherits all the annoyances of the Nexon. There’s no real storage space in the centre console except for the under the front armrest. The shallow slot under the climate control panel is inconvenient to use and cupholders are tucked away in the glovebox making them unusable while driving. 

There are slim bottle holders in all four doors and rear occupants get two cupholders in the central armrest. Oddly enough, front seat back pockets are missing.

Boot Space

The Curvv’s 500-litre boot has more than enough space for a full suitcase set along with two or three small soft bags depending on their size. 

There’s also a 60:40 split function in the Accomplished variant, which can be used to store larger items as well. Flip and fold rear seats are offered as standard. The only issue here is the loading lip, which is higher than regular SUVs. So you will have to make more effort to load/unload the boot.

Here’s a quick snapshot of the basic functional features available on the Tata Curvv: 

• Keyless Entry

• Push-Button Start Stop

• Electronic Parking Brake (w/ Auto Hold)

• Automatic Climate Control (Dark Edition gets Dual Zone Climate Control)

• Automatic Headlamps

• Rain-sensing Wipers

• Auto-dimming IRVM

• Panoramic Sunroof

• 6-way powered driver’s seat 

• Ambient Lighting

Now, let’s run through the highlights, starting with the 12.3-inch touchscreen. This screen has an easy-to-use interface, smooth graphics and quick response times. On our test, we faced no lags, glitches or inconsistencies. It supports wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and also doubles up as the display for the 360° camera. 

The camera itself is among the best in the segment. It features very well executed 2D and 3D views, and accurate dynamic guidelines which makes parking very convenient. The side cameras activate when you indicate (displaying the feed on the touchscreen or instrument cluster) which adds another layer of safety while changing lanes. 

Tata has consistently delivered great in-cabin audio experiences, and the Curvv is no different. With a 9-speaker JBL audio system, the Curvv’s audio quality is the best in the segment. With crisp highs, deep lows and a punchy mid-range, this setup is likely to impress practically anyone. 

You also get a 10.25-inch digital driver’s display. This high-resolution screen has slick graphics and quick response times as well and shows you all the information you need. You can also view Google Maps (via Android Auto) and Apple Maps (via Apple CarPlay) on this screen. 

There are two features which we feel could have been executed better. First, the front seat ventilation. While it is functionally sorted, the placement of the switch on the seat base is awkward to say the least. Since there’s no indication of the fan speed anywhere else but the button itself, it becomes inconvenient to change or view it on the move. 

Second, the wireless charger is placed weirdly behind the drive mode selector. It’s a very tight space that struggles to accommodate larger phones. The positioning also means that phones are likely to move around while driving, making it less than ideal to charge your phone.

In a recent update to keep up with the competition, the Curvv now offers features like passive rear seat ventilation, rear sun shades and twin-zone climate control. 

Standard safety kit on the Tata Curvv includes: 

• 6 Airbags

• ABS with EBD

• Electronic Stability Control

• ISOFIX Child Seat Mounts

• 3-point Seatbelt For All Occupants

• Hill Hold Control

The top-spec trim of the Curvv features Level 2 ADAS which has a host of functions including adaptive cruise control, auto emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, and rear cross traffic alert. As we’ve experienced with the Harrier and Safari, this system is tuned well to function in Indian conditions. That said, we’d recommend relying on this only on well marked highways. 

The Tata Curvv has been crash tested by BharatNCAP, where it scored a full five star rating for adult occupant safety (scoring 29.50/32 points) as well as child occupant safety (43.66/49 points).

(4.5 out of 5)

A highlight of the Curvv experience has to be the ride quality. The suspension is tuned well and it has almost a European car-like quality to it. There’s firmness that controls body movement well, especially at low speeds. It does not toss or throw occupants around over bad surfaces. 

At triple digit speeds, the body composure is appreciable. You can do long distance trips in the Curvv in relative comfort. 208mm of ground clearance means you can be slightly adventurous too. 

On the handling front, nothing exceptional to report. The steering is quick and predictable, even if not particularly sporty. Through twisty mountain roads, you will feel some body roll but never to the point of discomfort.

The Tata Curvv is available in six variants: Smart X, Pure X, Pure X+, Creative X+, Accomplished X and Accomplished X+.

Except for the base Smart X and Pure X, you can opt for the #DARK Edition in all other trims.

Tata Curvv Smart X

• Exterior features LED headlamps, DRLs and taillamps, 17-inch steel wheels with stylised covers, rear spoiler and piano-black cladding. Also gets flush-fit door handles as standard.

• Black interior with grey fabric upholstery, tilt-adjustable steering wheel, two-spoke steering wheel, rear centre armrest with cupholders and folding second row seats.

• Essential equipment such as height-adjustable driver seat, 4-inch semi-digital instrument cluster, steering-mounted audio controls, manual day/night IRVM, passive ventilated rear seats, manual AC and drive modes.

• The well-equipped safety suite includes 6 airbags, electronic stability control, rear parking sensors, hill hold control and ISOFIX child seat anchors.

Tata Curvv Pure X

• Exterior remains identical to Smart X.

• Interior gets front centre armrest with storage, cooled glovebox and a four-spoke steering wheel with illuminated logo.

• Adds equipment like automatic climate control, power-adjustable and auto-folding ORVMs, 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, 6-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, cruise control, keyless entry and go and front and rear USB charging ports.

• Safety is enhanced with a rear-view camera and tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS).

Tata Curvv Pure X+

• Gets 17-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels as the only design addition.

• Interior gets Benecke Kaliko Oyster White leatherette upholstery, front and rear centre armrests, piano-black centre console and leatherette-wrapped steering wheel, and gear knob.

• #DARK Edition available starting from this variant.

Tata Curvv Creative X+

• Adds LED fog lamps with cornering function, dual-tone paint scheme with black roof and 18-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels.

• Cabin experience improved with chrome door handles, leatherette doorpad inserts, 60:40 split-folding rear seats and reclining rear seats.

• Fancier features like a panoramic sunroof, 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, auto headlamps, rain-sensing wipers and paddle shifters (DCT only).

• Safety enhanced with 360-degree camera and front parking sensors.

Tata Curvv Accomplished X

• Design remains the same as Creative X+ trim.

• Interior sees upgrades like a height-adjustable co-driver seat and 6-way power-adjustable driver seat.

• Includes features such as larger 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment, wireless phone charger, 9-speaker JBL sound system, air purifier with AQI display and ventilated front seats.

• Hill descent control (HDC) added for safety.

Tata Curvv Accomplished X+

• Adds sequential LED DRLs, projector LED headlamps and LED taillamps with animation.

• Key top-spec features such as dual-zone climate control, connected car technology, powered tailgate, auto-dimming IRVM, Alexa voice assistant and Xpress cooling mode.

• Only variant to receive Level 2 ADAS, rear disc brakes and electronic parking brake with auto-hold (EPB).

CarDekho Recommends…

• Priced under Rs 10 lakh, the base Smart X variant makes a lot of sense for buyers on a budget, wanting a big boot and necessary equipment only.

• The Creative X+ trim is an excellent purchase for first-time buyers, offering the best balance between affordability, features and design.

• Unless ADAS is non-negotiable, we suggest opting for the Accomplished X trim for most of the fancy tech, without becoming too expensive.

The fact that the cabin experience is nearly identical to the Nexon might just be a dealbreaker for some. The lack of storage spaces, while not critical, is an annoying problem to have. Tata could do well to reassure buyers of better quality control and lesser glitches too.

That said, Tata’s Curvv gets the basics just right. It’s got acceptable space, a large boot, a comfortable ride and a huge list of features. Powertrains on offer are not super fun, but simply get the job done for everyday commutes and highway trips. The swanky styling simply becomes a bonus in the Curvv’s case.

Other Cars To Consider Instead Of The Tata Curvv

Hyundai Creta/ Kia Seltos

Reasons To Consider

• Better rear seat space

• Good feature set

Reasons To Ignore

• Won’t make you standout

Maruti Grand Vitara/ Toyota Hyryder

Reasons To Consider

• Better fuel efficiency, especially with strong Hybrid 

• AWD option available

Reasons To Ignore

• Low boot space in strong hybrid variants

• No diesel engine option

Volkswagen Taigun/ Skoda Kushaq

Reasons To Consider

• A sporty drive experience

• Spacious rear seat

Reasons To Ignore

• Less features

• Reliability concerns

Citroen Basalt

Reasons To Consider

• Coupe styling at a more affordable price

• Better rear seat experience

Reasons To Ignore

• Less features

• No diesel engine option

Honda Elevate

Reasons To Consider

• Better rear seat space

• A more value for money package

Reasons To Ignore

• No flashy features

• Just one engine option