Tata Aria, Tata Aria Price, Tata Aria Launch, Tata Aria Review, Tata Aria Specs, Tata Aria Pictures

Introduction

The leading automotive manufacturer in India, Tata Motors has launched the first of its kind four wheel drive crossover the Tata Aria. The Tata Aria has features of both a sedan and an SUV and comes with a plethora of luxury features. The Tata Aria is fitted with a 2.2 liter diesel engine and gives out 140 PS and 320 Nm of torque.

The Tata Aria has been launched in three trim levels – Tata Aria Pride, Tata Aria Pleasure and Tata Aria Prestige and features a host of internationally incorporated technologies to aid drivers. The 2011 Tata Aria is a premium crossover built on a roadster concept and seats seven people. The Tata Aria was first showcased by Tata Motors at the Motor show in Geneva in 2000.

The Tata Aria has been launched as a vehicle for all terrains and also includes safety features that are not normally fund in Indian cars. These include traction control, ABS, ESP and loads more. The Tata Aria is priced modestly, around 13 to 16 lakhs, for the features it offers and is a serious contender in the crossover segment in India. The Tata Aria is bound to give the likes of the Maruti Grand Vitara, Ford Endeavour, Honda CR-V, Chevrolet Captiva and the soon to be released Skoda Yeti.

Performance

The specs of the Tata Aria include the engine from the famous Tata Safari the 2.2 liter, 4 cylinder, DICOR (Direct Injection Common Rail) with dual mass flywheel. The Tata Aria also includes variable turbine technology which optimizes its performance whether on road or off. The 2.2 liter engine puts out 140 PS and 320 Nm of torque and is a significantly refined version of the engine in the Safari.

New technical modifications to specs of the engine include aluminum cast stump, rubber mounts and the dual mass flywheel all of which lead to enhanced engine performance along with better ride quality. The upgraded Independent wishbone suspension also reduces vibrations on rough road surfaces

The Tata Aria has good acceleration and power all due to the newly refined engine and it accelerates from 0-100 kph in about 14 seconds. Top speed of the Tata Aria is 162 kmph. Braking and handling in the Tata Aria is further improved with first of its kind Electronic Stability Programme (ESP) to be offered in a Tata vehicle and ABS.

Styling

The Tata Aria is considered to be one of the most advanced Tata cars ever produced and the exterior styling supports this. The Tata Aria has an aggressive front end and a quick look would often confuse it as an MUV. The wide wheel arches and long droopy hood also give it an SUV kind of look.

The front end is further accentuated by a wide grille that is reminiscent of the Indigo Manza. The front bumper incorporates the large air intake which in turn houses the dual fog lamps. Headlights are vertically sloping and integrate the turning indicators. Automatically adjustable side mirrors incorporate additional turn indicators.

The wheel arches of the Tata Aria also remind of international standards and are wide giving the Aria an additionally aggressive stance. The five spoke 17-inch alloy wheels come standard in the Tata Aria along with tubeless tyres. Tata Aria specs also include rain sensing wipers.

The interiors of the Tata Aria convey the message of the vehicle being the most expensive in Tata’s offerings. Even then the price and specifications should give most of the other rivals in the same segment including the Mahindra Xylo a stiff competition.

The interior cabin is spacious and conveys the message of luxury as well as other premium vehicles. The center console has the usual array of climate and navigation controls but may seem a little scattered to some people. But the piece de resistance in this vehicle has to be the centrally mounted LCD screen that is the GPS system.

Also included are features like cruise control, auto climate control, darkness sensing headlights and audio system that play MP3 and CD’s. The interiors of the Tata Aria appear in a variety of trims with a range of full leather or fabric upholstery.

The Tata Aria is a seven-seater crossover vehicle and the interior is very comfortable for all occupants. The only concern may be for those in the third row of seating which may find it to be a little cramped. Fully foldable are the second and third row of seats to allow for increased luggage space. Also small interior ergonomically positioned storage spaces are fitted into the roof of the Aria meant for small items like mobile phones and wallets. This further increases passenger comfort levels.

Pricing and Recommendations

The Tata Aria comes in three variants - the Pride, Pleasure and the Prestige. Base price for the Tata Aria Pleasure is Rs. 12,90,901; Tata Aria Pride price starts from Rs. 15,50,000 and Tata Aria Prestige is priced at Rs. 14,13,001.

Mileage is comparable to other vehicles in its class with the Tata Aria giving 10.2 kmpl in the city and 14.5 kmpl on the highway.

The Tata Aria is likely to be the flagship vehicle in Tata’s range and is a stylish looking car which incorporates a number of features that are standard in a number of international vehicles. It is very powerful because of the highly efficient DICOR engine. The Tata Aria has safety features as well to match up to international standards with six airbags, traction control, etc. Luxury, comfort and safety are maximized in this vehicle which is also moderately priced for its offerings.

Few places where the Tata Aria falls short are in rear seat leg room and exterior look of the rear end. Also the Indian version is set to have lesser airbags than the international one.

All in all this is a great vehicle for Tata Motors to be making their foray into the crossover segment. Buyers will no doubt be delighted with the range of options offered and it seems that finally Tata Motors are coming of age and are beginning to realize that the Indian market is also a vital one.