I had a chance to drive the extensively test drive the Chevrolet Optra. It is one of the most amazing cars I’ve driven in terms of power, styling and class. When I came to know GM was releasing Tavera (the name just sucks) I expected something similar from General Motors. I knew the sales person in Sundaram Bangalore pretty well and I got a test drive of the double coloured fully loaded model with all the goodies inside. Unlike the Optra which impressed me inch by inch, this was a huge disappointment. The interiors just suck and the worst part of it was the gear lever which remained me of the local buses. The wooden finish interior was horrible and added to the misery. There was nothing which made me appreciate it.
Next was my turn to get behind the wheel. The plastics around were cheap and the dash board just served the purpose. Again the gear lever was a pain. I could forgive anything on this car but the gear lever. How on earth could GM fit such a piece of s in their cars?? I began driving and it was not all that bad. The model I drove had dual ACs and I must say the AC was good. The rear seats were just acceptable and no great stuff. The major advantage is that this ’box’ has good leg room.
For anyone who has driven a Scorpio, driving a Tavera will not make sense. I’ve no idea how this compares to a Qualis which was mostly used by taxi and travel companies. I expected a lot from Tavera since it was extensively advertised as a family vehicle and I was expecting something classy and stylish. I was wrong …Tavera is just a basic ’box’ fit for taxis and ferrying call centre employees as a replacement for the Tata sumo and Indica. It’s not fun to drive this. However a ride as a passenger is not bad.
The price of the fully loaded model is close to 10 lacs it does not make sense to buy this. The fully loaded model itself sucked. I can imagine the cheaper ones. You can buy better stuff for this money. However for taxi operators and tour operators, I think this will be a replacement for the Qualis. I personally felt that the Qualis looked stronger, safer and a better vehicle to carry people on the highways.
Finally if you are trying to buy this for family use, think twice. If you value looks, class and style this is not for you. Even in the fully loaded model there is hardly anything inside which makes you feel pampered. It’s a pain to drive this. I even read reviews where people call this SUV!!! I wish they realize what a SUV is sometime in life. My sincere advice would be if you are planning to buy it for personal use, just drive a Scorpio. It’s in the same price range and fit to be called a SUV.
To summarize, I would say that the Tavera will make a good taxi would loads of space and decent AC. Will I buy it. ..?? Yes …but you have to keep a gun on my head before I can start thinking about buying one.
Your comments are welcome.
-Ram