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. 

It has its work cut out, though. There are a plethora 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.

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 rich Burgundy 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.

Features

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.

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).

• 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.

Tata Motors is offering the Curvv with a total of three engine options

Tata Curvv 1.2 Turbo Petrol 

It is a three-cylinder engine, meaning you cannot escape the noise or the vibrations on the floorboard. Tata could’ve done a little more in terms of insulation to isolate the cabin better. The direct injection equipped engine makes a modest 5PS and 55Nm more compared to the other motor. Don’t expect the drive experience to be drastically different, especially in city drives. However, what’s noticeable between the two engines is this sense of precision and finesse that seemed missing from all Tata petrol motors earlier. 

City Performance

With the manual, the clutch is light and the bite point is easy to get used to. The gear also is light, but has long throws. On the whole, we wouldn’t really be stressing about driving this in city traffic either. You can drive around the city comfortably in second gear without stressing about an upshift or a downshift. 

Power comes in smoothly and predictably, making the Curvv very easy to get used to. Making overtakes at low speeds is easy too, ensuring a stress free city driving experience. 

You can expect the Tata Curvv petrol to return 9-11kmpl for city drives. 

Highway Performance

Performance for highway drives is adequate, if not exciting. You can comfortably cruise at 100-120kmph without feeling that the engine is stressed or protesting. In fact, there’s some more power left for you to make overtakes even at these speeds. Progress won’t be instant, but it’s linear and predictable making highway drives fuss-free. 

Do note that the performance on offer is not comparable to the 1.5 Turbo petrol engines available in the Creta/Seltos or Taigun/Kushaq. It’s tuned to be slightly better than the 1.0 Turbo/1.5 Non Turbo options in the segment, and that’s exactly what it delivers. 

Tata Curvv 1.5 Diesel

Much like the petrol, the primary concern with the diesel is of refinement. The diesel clatter and vibrations could’ve been controlled better inside the cabin. This is only the third diesel engine option in the segment after the Creta and the Seltos. The engine is a bit of an all-rounder in terms of power and efficiency. Pick this engine if you foresee substantially high usage (upwards of 1500km/month), and you’d be saving quite a lot on fuel expenses. 

City Performance

A heavy clutch and long pedal travel means the Curvv diesel is not ideal for bumper-to-bumper traffic. It is likely to cause fatigue. There’s some turbo lag to be felt under 2000rpm, so you’d do well to keep it around or above this engine speed. Acceleration is strong, but never overwhelming. As long as you’re in the correct gear, the Curvv will allow you to pick gaps in traffic. 

You can expect the Curvv diesel to deliver 13-15kmpl for in-city drives. 

Highway Performance

It’s on the highway where the Curvv diesel feels most at home. Here too, you’d notice that the engine is not explosive in the way it delivers power. There’s a strong and consistent pull starting from 2000rpm. At 100-120kmph, the engine is chugging along lazily at ~2000rpm, giving you the flexibility to overtake when required. It feels relaxed at these speeds too, and is sure to give you great fuel efficiency as well. 

On the highway, you could realistically expect 15-18kmpl. 

Note: Curvv DCT

Tata Motors is using a 7-speed DCT with all engine options. It’s been fairly reliable with the Nexon too. 

We noticed the gearbox to be quicker and smoother than the torque converter setups we’ve experienced in Hyundai-Kia vehicles. However, the difference isn’t drastic. It is generally quick to respond and chooses the right gear based on speed. It does not hesitate to drop a few gears quickly either when you press the accelerator completely. 

On one of our earliest test drives of the Curvv diesel DCT, we faced an issue with the gearbox where — the car would jerk violently and shift between D1 and D2. It also shifted from Drive to Neutral on a slope on its own. This isn’t just unacceptable, but outright dangerous as well. Tata Motors promptly replaced our vehicle with another test car, on which the experience was flawless. 

If Tata could calm our nerves on the gearbox functioning reliably without hiccups, this is what we’d recommend.

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 2025 Tata Curvv is available in four broad trims: Smart, Pure, Creative, and Accomplished.

Tata Curvv Smart

• The Curvv’s base variant gets LED lighting all around with LED DRLs, LED head- and tail lights.

• It sits on 16-inch steel wheels without any covers. Also gets flush door handles and a rear spoiler.

• Basics include power windows, central locking, tilt steering adjust, manual AC, and height adjustable driver seat.

• No infotainment system, but gets a 4-inch digital driver’s display.

• Safety kit gets six airbags, ISOFIX mounts, hill-hold control, ABS with EBD, electronic stability program, and reverse parking sensors as standard.

Tata Curvv Pure +

• Only adds dual tone wheel covers and shark fin antenna to the exterior.

• Focuses on upgrades inside the cabin with a 4-spoke illuminated steering wheel, front central armrest, touch-based AC controls and leather-wrapped gear lever (DCT)

• Gets a 7-inch infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay and a 4-speaker sound system.

• Top feature additions include cruise control, auto outside mirrors, rear AC vents, and type A and C charging ports.

• The safety kit gets a tyre pressure warning system and reverse parking camera.

Tata Curvv Pure + S

• Extension of Pure + variant, adds only 17-inch steel wheels with better looking wheel covers to the exterior.

• Feature additions include panoramic sunroof, auto headlights, and rain sensing wipers.

Tata Curvv Creative (features over Pure +)

• Looks more premium with proper 17-inch alloys and projector LED headlights.

Tata Curvv Creative S

• Packs only three new features - Panoramic sunroof, rain sensing wipers, and auto headlamps.

• Entry-level variant for the new Hyperion turbo-petrol engine.

Tata Curvv Creative + S

• Bigger 18-inch alloys, sequential turn indicators, LED fog lamps with cornering function and connected LED taillights add to the premium feel.

• Gets a persona-specific dual tone blue and black theme with more leather and chrome inserts all around.

• New features include 10.25-inch digital driver’s display, rear armrest with cupholder, interior boot lamp, and Harman-tuned audio system.

• Improved safety kit with a proper tyre pressure monitoring system, 360-degree camera, and hill-descent control.

Tata Curvv Accomplished S

• More premium cabin experience with leatherette seats and panoramic sunroof with integrated ambient lighting.

• Feel-good feature additions include 6-way powered driver seat, ventilated front seats, 9-speaker JBL sound system and wireless phone charger.

• Improved functionality with rear seat recline, 60:40 split in rear seats, and height adjustable passenger seat.

• Dark edition exclusively gets rear sun shades and dual zone climate control.

Tata Curvv Accomplished + A

• Gets full sequential turn indicator animation in LED DRLs and taillights along with welcome and goodbye animation.

• Adds connected car technology with Alexa voice commands, gesture controlled tailgate, and a 12.3-inch infotainment system.

• The biggest addition is Level-2 autonomous driving assistance system (ADAS), which gets functionality like adaptive cruise control, auto emergency braking, and lane keep assist.

CarDekho recommends:

• Consider Pure + if you’re on a budget and want a decent feature list. Can go for Pure + S if you want a panoramic sunroof.

• You can pick the Creative variant as it has a great value for money proposition. It gets improved exterior and useful features.

• Functional improvements with height adjustable seat belts (front), push button start/stop with keyless entry, and cooled glovebox.

• Gets a bigger 10.25-inch infotainment system with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay and an 8-speaker sound system.

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