Engine, Drivetrain, Fuel Efficiency - Tata Indica Vista QuadraJet road test

Quadrajet has superb driveability and is an effortless and confident mile-muncher.

Engine

Fiat contributes its award-winning 1248cc common-rail turbodiesel that is currently doing duty in the Swift and Palio diesel variants as well. However, the Vista has a remapped ECU and different gear ratios matched to the engine and it makes 75bhp@4000rpm and 19.4kgm@1750rpm.The engine is audible most of the time, but it is so much better than the old powertrains the Indica used to have. No vibrations enter the cabin in normal usage, which is great for an Indica. Drivability is shockingly good – our 30-50kph in third gear and 50-70kph in fifth showed us the engine’s ability to pull cleanly with no grumbling from the engine at all. Once the turbo begins blowing at 2000rpm, there’s a pleasant shove in the back that will surprise many. It will also cruise happily at 120kph with only wind roar being audible. The engine is quite silent when not under lots of throttle or load. At a standstill, there is a fair bit of clatter both inside and outside the car.

Drivetrain

Tata has switched the old gearbox for a Fiat-sourced one that is actuated by cables to isolate engine vibrations from the gear lever. The gear lever is well-designed and feels good to hold. It slots positively into gear, but it takes a fair amount of energy to use. Shifts have to be unhurried, though; you cannot swap cogs speedily in this car. Second to third is a little long and slightly offset, which is a shame since this really is a quick car.

Fuel Efficiency

The Vista has delivered on the efficiency claim - it returned 14 kilometres to the litre, commendable given its size, weight and the way it was driven. This figure jumped to 16.9kpl on the highway.