Tata Zest Test Drive and Review

don.lohith · Oct 10, 2014

The date really dated a long time.
I am the one who took a leap of faith on TML and did a prebooking of the vehicle on the day (actually the next day since HDFC netbanking was down at night) it was open [lol]

20 Jul was the auspicious day
However I could confirm the colour only on 30 Aug, since I hadn't seen sky grey and beige colour for real. It took a while for the SA to get the photos of these cars in real.
Made full payment on 27 Sep since the SA told the car was allotted and can complete the payment [roll]

Still they are clueless on when it might get dispatched [clap]

Thanks for the recommendations guys. Only setback churning in my mind is about the maintenance on white.

Twist in the Tale:
The status of the online portal of booking shows Canceled. And nobody knows why and how. How clueless.

Ravi Nalla · Oct 10, 2014

don.lohith said:

Dealers will make false promises, 2 days back SA called me,told car got alloted and shipped from factory it will reach in 4 to 5 days, come and pay the full amount. Then i refused to make payment. I told them until i see car in their stock yard i won't pay any thing.

I am waiting for car to reach dealer.

Atindra · Oct 10, 2014

don.lohith said:

The date really dated a long time.
I am the one who took a leap of faith on TML and did a prebooking of the vehicle on the day (actually the next day since HDFC netbanking was down at night) it was open
20 Jul was the auspicious day
However I could confirm the colour only on 30 Aug, since I hadn't seen sky grey and beige colour for real. It took a while for the SA to get the photos of these cars in real.
Made full payment on 27 Sep since the SA told the car was allotted and can complete the payment
Still they are clueless on when it might get dispatched

Thanks for the recommendations guys. Only setback churning in my mind is about the maintenance on white.

Twist in the Tale:
The status of the online portal of booking shows Canceled. And nobody knows why and how. How clueless.

Great!!!
You deserve the car now, and go for white as others suggested too. the day when you made full payment, I just booked it so my prolonged wait is obvious.

All the best [:)]

Atindra

Duca · Oct 10, 2014

Hello All,
Im a newbie to automotiveindia forum.
First of all i would like to congratulate both Pavan & harish for tremendous effort in bringing up this ownership reveiw [clap]

.

And secondly, i have booked a diesel zest XT variant & after lot of confusion & speculation have settled for white (since i want the delivery on 24th ). [roll]

@harish : what are the documents that you have received at the time of delivery and have you received any freebies (mudflaps, mats etc). How is the clutch feel and gear shift in stop go traffic ??

sorry for too many queries, but hope you understand the eagerness [drive]

350Z · Oct 10, 2014

I've lost the count of requests that we've received through PMs and Mails for TAI's official review of the Zest in past couple of months. Finally I'm glad to share that we'll be putting the Zest to test this whole weekend. Therefore, making our review the most comprehensive one on web based on real-time thorough driving.

PS: Any specific queries regarding the car are more than welcome, as usual. Our test car is Revotron XT.

Drive Safe,
350Z

jagrover · Oct 10, 2014

Thanks 350Z
We are waiting for it. Revotron is the one to be tested. QJD motor is a proven one. And what else, TAI review will be different as this will be more real time testing than TML media drive [:)]

1)We need clear clarification on the modes. ie;

Is there any speed limit in various modes or all modes work in all speeds
FE variation in different modes

2)Mud entering engine bay issue

don.lohith · Oct 10, 2014

350Z said:

Glad to know that its happening this week [clap]

By now you would've made a list of what all to check in the car like mud entering the engine bay etc

Some more:

As posted in the recent picture, can we make the Google maps viewable on the Infotainment screen through Android/iOS ?
Controlling the car features with Android phone as shown in the auto expo 14
Can we play videos with a little bit of tweaking ?
Read somewhere that the engine idles automatically for some time even after ignition off, removing the necessary of idling keeping TC in mind. Is this true ?

Will let you know if I get any more queries.

vaibhav · Oct 11, 2014

350z please focus on mud problem issue in engine

uday8419 · Oct 11, 2014

What is the realist mileage of Revotron...

I have seen some pics of MID on FB which is showing 16 to 20 kmPl avg on highway.... R these photos indicating real mileage... [confused]

Harish83 · Oct 11, 2014

uday8419 said:

Dont just look at the "AVG". You have to read it along with "TRIP"

In the pics you posted, Note that the one with 20 FE has just done 12 KMS.
And see that the speed is at 40 and Digital FE BAR is to the full (30)
This is possible with feather footed driving on a highway with no breaking for a few kms(probably a downhill and by no means a climb).
But not possible in longer runs.

The first pic shows more than 1300 KM and AVG of 16+
That sound realistic and should be the real average you will get in mixed drive.
Ive done a lot of testing in FE reading and what it shows is nearly true in my XT diesel.

Duca said:

Documents:
One service book
One Entertainment unit guide
TAX receipt
Insurance

No freebies at all. Ive tried bargaining with the dealer with a bunch of my friends well known for getting a good deal.
They said, nothing for zest. not even mud flap or a floor mat. That was a bit disappointing.
Clutch has slomo effect when returning and feels good. But you have to make sure you press it to the floor before changing gears
Gear shifts are smooth, but not as smooth as it was on my dezire i guess. May be after some usage, it will be better.
Stop and go traffic was not a tough task.
Actually i never felt stop go traffic can have difference with the car you drive, Its depends more with whom you are driving I guess [;)]

jagrover · Oct 11, 2014

uday8419 said:

The first two pics were posted by myself in this thread earlier. Its more realistic figure.
P.S The car is Revotron (all three pictures).

These are not city FE. Long drives in 80% highways and 20% in city condition..!! [:)]

don.lohith · Oct 11, 2014

Final Update:

The long wait from seeing one at Auto Expo 14 (technically unveiled before that) to owning one is finally becoming thin.
Confirmed Pristine White today morning at an extra price of INR 6740 [cheers]

Wifey has liked it a lot. I hope and feel its worth it.

Delivery will be on 15 Oct. Will be doing a PDI on the previous day. Tried speaking with the manager for freebies. He told that two of the sales executives were fired because of giving mats and mud flaps free [gun]

Not sure how authentic and where it happened. They will not even give a perfume bottle worth of 300 free. Don't waste your time bargaining.

Lets foresee a hassle free delivery at least [thinking]

jagrover · Oct 11, 2014

Congrats don.lohith

Many miles in the Zest rest ahead for you. [clap]

Dear Zest owners and prospective buyers, your comments are most welcome in the following thread. [:)]

http://www.theautomotiveindia.com/forums/indian-auto-news/16192-tata-zest-vs-honda-amaze-vs-maruti-dzire-vs-hyundai-xcent-vs-ford-figo-sedan-17.html

anshuman8 · Oct 11, 2014

350Z said:

Please TD the AMT version and give feedback and photoshoot.

crank · Oct 11, 2014

please give a comparison regarding the usable boot space of zest and xcent
and also the problem of mud entering the engine cabin.
Please check for any niggles/quality issues (in the test drive car provided to me,the silver plastic on steering wheel was loose)

Tata Zest Test Drive and Review

don.lohith

V6

Ravi Nalla

V4

Atindra

V4

Duca

V4

350Z

Core Team

jagrover

V10

don.lohith

V6

vaibhav

V10

uday8419

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Attachments

Harish83

V6

jagrover

V10

don.lohith

V6

jagrover

V10

anshuman8

V10

crank

V4