(REVIEWED: APRIL 05/ PUBLISHED: OCT ’05)
The Estate car market has been given a new lease of life with the arrival of the much awaited Indigo Marina from TELCO. With the sales figure of the Marina going slow but steady, Tata can expect its dealers to be a tad happier than before. Now, for my review...
IN.DI.GO MA.RI.NO would have been a ‘friendlier’ name for the new estate from TELCO, which is a much pampered sibling of the ubiquitous Indica. Drawing along the same bloodline (read engine) as its hatchback and sedan siblings with the only difference being a turbocharger and a new intercooler (for the diesel BSIII variants), the Marina’s performance is pushed to a happy 70 bhp@4500 revs and a torquey 13.5 kgm@2500 revs! Woooh...that’s something unheard of in a diesel of this ilk, which is worthy of being compared to the big, more expensive and torpid Lancer Diesel. Mitsubishi aficionados, please excuse.
That said, the new estate from TELCO sure looks like a true VFM offering as compared to its contenders from FIAT, MU and GM Stables. Tata’s smart positioning coupled with the just-the-right pricing of the Marina is sure to lure customers.
Killer Looks or Killed Looks?
One look at the Marina and you will be disappointed with the swooping, disproportionate detailing of the backend. The design is old school and looks like a modified Indica - hatchback to hunchback as I would put it! However, the staid stance of the Marina is inimitably TATA and dwarfs almost all the modern estates. This rather quirky styling takes some time getting used to.
I wonder why car manufacturers spend oodles on concepts only to knock them down when they get it to production. When Tata can design cars like the Xover (the crossover concept unveiled at the Geneva auto show which is expected to be here in a while has some amazing detailing that give the likes of Innova a run for their money!) why not divert a fraction of their attention to a little design detail here and there that could make the Marina more appealing?! Sad but true; we have to live with the fact that its a car made for- by- and of- the Indians unless of course if it is going to set sail to the European market like the lucky little Rover-badged Indica.
Beautiful Inside
While the exterior tailend appears shoddy and there is nothing to write home about, the interiors are refreshingly new with a little makeover on the plastics that seem to be slightly improved over the Indica. The clocks are embellished with chrome and look sporty yet classy especially with elegant black dials as opposed to the used and abused white ones that you’ll find in the petrol variants. The instrument panel is aptly designed with tell-tale lamps and digital trip- and odometers for easy readability and keeping track on your mileage.
Passenger comfort is nothing new - only slightly improved over the Indica, the rear seats don’t recline but have a comfy and well designed ’’waterfall type’’ headrests that should hold your head in good stead. The fabric used on seat covers are substandard and apparently a cheap compromise on the interiors.
As for the usability and user-friendliness of the car, the cubbyholes are present at the right places just like in the Indica, the sunglass holder and the twin power sockets at the front and rear are fine examples of thoughtful design. Moreover, the luggage retention nets, retractable luggage covers and an overhead shelf at the rear are very user-friendly and well thought out.
Talking about space, the leg room is pretty acceptable for all the 5 passengers but be sure not to put that roly-poly upfront. The boot space is humongous and with the parcel shelves fully retracted or removed allows you to shove in a mountain bike along with the rest of your paraphernalia or maybe even throw in a full grown Labrador for a good measure! Now, isn’t that a huge PLUS over the plain Jane Indigo.
A powerful diesel car...for a change
Obviously, I am not going to compare this poor little estate wannabe with the Skoda Octavia or Accent Viva CRDI.
The engine - a 1.4L indirectly injected turbo diesel with intercooler (on BS III models) - is punchy and peppy to drive around town. The power steering is quite responsive and predictable through the 4-spoke leather wrapped wheel which has a solid, good-to-hold feel. The actual power can be felt when the turbo kicks in (which happens rather quickly or so it felt) and the car thrusts forward without a lag.
If you manage to sit inside oblivious of the engine noise and vibration (with the windows rolled up, of course), the car actually would feel like a petrol one :)
The AC fills up the cabin faster than expected and you could feel the sudden sluggishness that takes over while the compressor is running. Can’t help it - it’s always a trade-off here!
The ride height is decent enough with a splendid view ahead. The handling is like a cheesecake even on patchy roads, thanks to the independent suspension and the lofty 14’’ 175/65 radials. Tubeless tyres and alloy wheels are only optional and the TATA branded alloys are overpriced at 17k, after exchange! Even the top end LX and GLX don’t come with a music system and have to be retrofitted - too bad!
I haven’t taken the Marina on a long spin yet and cannot ascertain its real capabilities or what its worth. I’ll do that on Bangalore’s ring roads sometime soon. But keep in mind, the unladen weight of the car is just 1.1 ton for the diesel which should translate to better performance with the ’’Autocar’’ tested top speed of 157 kmph.
Powerful yet Economical
The fuel efficiency is supposed to be one of the best in this segment and as per the reviews in popular motoring mags; it should return at least a dozen kilometers to a litre with the AC on in the city and at least 16kms on the highway. Considering that the fuel prices are shooting up by the day, it would be a sensible decision to settle for the diesel variant.
Is it Safe?
Safety, my friends, still come at a premium here and those complex-sounding acronyms like ABS, EBD, and airbags are only heard of in the Rs.10 L+ segment cars (except Santro, Getz, Wagon R & the recently unveiled Swift). It’s still nascent in the Indian car market and the aam junta wouldn’t be bothered too much about how safe the car is - all it has to be is wallet-friendly. I, for one, believe that safety is often overstated as it is very subjective and totally dependant on how sensible a driver you are. If you agree, it is impractical in India to drive around comfortably beyond 120 kmph and if you revel beyond that you’re inviting trouble. Believe me; if you drive sensibly you don’t need those ABSs and airbags! Those are little nice-to-haves and we’ll think about that when there comes a rule to make them as standard fitment on all cars.
Coming back to the Marina - yes, the crumple zone is ample, has a collapsible steering column, ELR (emergency locking retractor) type seat belts for all passengers, impact beams on all four sides and all those common features that offer you basic protection and are designed as per the European safety specs.
What’s your take?
Thoughtful interiors and loads of space make it an excellent utility vehicle.
Frugal drinking habits of the engine and a reasonable power-to-weight.
Go-anywhere suspension cushioned by lofty 14” radials enhances the ride comfort making the Marina an all rounder in its class.
Just-the-right pricing coupled with discounts and goodies from the dealer make the Marina an exceptional VFM car.