Tata Indica Vista 2008-2013 Safire GLS

Indica Vista 2008-2013 Safire GLS Review

Tata Motors have been in the Indian car market for a very long time. Earlier, only the commercial vehicle market in the country was dominated by Tata, but then slowly and gradually it started to grow in the passenger vehicle segment as well. Tata Indica Vista is one of the most successful products of the car-maker. The Tata Indica Vista Safire GLS is the base model in the range that has been equipped with numerous basic comfort features along with a fuel efficient engine that keeps things easy on the pocket. Under the bonnet, the car comes fitted with a 1.2-litre MPFI petrol unit, which comfortably gives out decent power and torque. This is further coupled with a five speed manual transmission system that makes the fuel economy quite impressive. When we step inside the car, the basic comfort features such as air conditioning system and power steering wheel are there at our service. Both these things help in making the ride in Tata Indica Vista Safire GLS comfortable and relaxing. However, on the other hand, the lack of safety features does take away some points from the car, but with such an exciting price tag, Tata Indica Vista Safire GLS is surely a great catch.

Exteriors

Tata Indica Vista Safire GLS has quite a simple set of exteriors that far from any complications. When you first look at the car, it sports a stylish appearance, and the very element is the main highlight here. On the front, you will find a decently done bumper with a smooth bonnet. The matt finish grille, along with chromed Tata logo, gives a bit of a bling to the front end. The headlamps are large and are accompanied by turn indicators. Coming to the side profile of Tata Indica Vista Safire GLS, the car features non-body coloured OVRMs and a pretty nice design of wheel arches . The rear profile, meanwhile, comprises of a rounded hatch along with smartly shaped tail lights. Overall, the unpretentious Tata Indica Vista Safire GLS is a decent looking car that would make your garage feel proud.

Interiors

Coming to the interiors, Tata Indica Vista Safire GLS comes with decent interiors, which are clear and straightforward. The front cabin has got all the facilities to make the driving easy. The occupants inside would not feel uncomfortable or uneasy as the interiors have been given a cozy and elegant treatment. The seat fabric is of high quality while the seats, themselves, are quite comfortable. However, there are no hints of leather on the seats, the power steering or the gear knob, but you can get it done from the dealer for some extra amount.

Comfort features

The comfort level in Tata Indica Vista Safire GLS is very basic but ensures that the ride does not become very tiring for the occupants. As soon as you step into the car, the spacious and roomy interiors welcome you to a comfortable ride. Being the base variant, the car makers haven’t provided the variant with every possible comfort feature, however, the basic ones like air conditioning with heater and power steering wheel are surely there. The AC is very efficient and cools down the seating area in no time. The luggage storage space is also ample, which allows you to store lots of luggage for long road trips. The absence of power windows and other comfort features, however, steals a few points from the car.

Engine

Tata Indica Vista Safire GLS is blessed with a 1.2-litre MPFI petrol engine that has a displacement of 1172cc . This engine is quite powerful and holds the capacity to churn out a maximum output of 64.11bhp at the rate of 5500rpm along with peak torque of 96Nm at the rate of 3000rpm. This engine is accompanied by multi point fuel injection that makes it quite fuel efficient. The five-speed manual transmission coupled with the engine makes the mileage go further up on the track. On the city roads, the car delivers a mileage of around 13.3kmpl while on the highways, this goes up to 16.7kmpl. On the other hand, the acceleration and pick-up of the car isn’t that impressive as it has a top speed of 148kmph and takes about 16.4 seconds to go from 0 to 100kmph. On the whole, technically , Tata Indica Vista Safire GLS is a decent car that would not make your monthly budget messy.

Braking and Handling

Tata Indica Vista Safire GLS has been fitted with very efficient and powerful brakes that help the driver in maintaining complete control over the ride. For the brake system, the front comes with disc brakes, while the rear has been blessed with drum brakes. This combination of brakes is very responsive and stops the car without any hassle. Coming to the handling, the power steering wheel is smooth and makes the handling of the car quite impressive. The proficient suspension system, clubbed together with the steering wheel, makes the handling further more imposing. The suspension system here comprises of Independent, Lower Wishbone, McPherson Strut with Coil Spring type mechanism for the front axle, while the rear axle has Semi-independent, Twist Beam with Coil Springs and Shock Absorbers type unit.

Safety features

For any car, safety features are very important and keeping that in mind, Tata Motors has blessed Tata Indica Vista Safire GLS with all the basic safety features. Tata Indica Vista Safire GLS comes with strong brakes, seat belts for all occupants, decent suspension system and hand brake lever. Sadly, as Tata Indica Vista Safire GLS is a base variant, the car hasn’t been provided with features like anti-lock braking system, electronic brake force distribution, brake assist and airbags . If these features would have been present in the car, the cost would have gone up substantially, thereby, making it a costly one.

Pros 

Competitive pricing and decent looks.

Cons 

Lack of numerous comfort and safety features makes Tata Indica Vista Safire GLS lag behind its competitors like Maruti Swift, Hyundai i10 and Ford Figo.