Tata Zest - A review

Tata Motors have done it again! They have now come out with a petrol version and a diesel version full of zestful features!!

The Petrol version with a Revotron 1.2T engine has a Max Power of 90PS@5000RPM and a Max Torque of 140NM@1750-3500 RPM. It has a 5 speed manual transmission. What this means for a layman like me is that its torque lets me drive in the city without too many gear changes which is a great relief on traffic congested streets. And as a traveller it also gives me the ‘ECO’ mode which ensures that I have the optimum fuel efficiency when I am cruising on the highway and as and when I need brute power I just have to press the ‘SPORTS’ mode which gets the car growling and roaring up ahead leaving all competition behind. So in effect, I am the master to decide ‘Kitna deti hai’.

The Diesel version with a Quadrajet 1.3 engine has a Max Power of 90PS@4000RPM and a Max Torque of 200NM@1750-3000 RPM. It has a 5-speed manual ,F-Tronic AMT. What this means for me is that I just have to control the speed and the car takes care of the rest! In traffic or otherwise.

Now for the creature comforts. Tata Motors does not disappoint here. True to their old tagline of ‘More car to a car’ these models also ensure that all occupants whatever their heights are comfortable whether they are sitting in the driver’s seat or the passenger seat. Enough legroom and headroom for all, again leaving all competition behind!

The entertainment system is from Harmon Kardon – World leaders in the automobile entertainment systems. There are eight speakers which give you the surround sound experience and the amazing part is that the volume control is configured in such a way that the minute the road sound increases, the music volume will increase accordingly to ensure you have a seamless music listening experience!

The air-conditioning as always from Tata Motors is excellent and cools the car extremely quick and if you wish you can also activate the climate control.

The wing rear view mirrors are also wide enough and adds to the overall safety.

Ingress and Egress again is very comfortable and so is the ergonomically designed seats which lend amazing comfort  and lets you arrive comfortable at your destination. Add to this the 15” alloy wheels and you know you can be assured of a comfortable drive.

These are the aspects that I noticed as noteworthy and for the final word on pricing one has to wait for a wee bit but the reliable source says that it will be priced as all Tata Motors cars – economy of volume, hence very competitive!.

Maybe because I have been used to driving a manual transmission car for the past 4 decades, I preferred the turbo charged Petrol version to the Diesel.

For further details of any particular feature please visit the Tata Zest site.

The Journey Home - Book reviewed

The Journey Home by Radhanath Swami
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A well paced book that every traveller will revel in.
This book reinforces the fact that all travellers travel to discover themselves and that every place that is visited leaves an imprint on the soul of the traveller.
No traveller returns with an untouched soul from any trip.
In this autobiography Radhanath Swami (nee Richard) talks about his travels in search of a Guru who will assist him in discovering his self and ultimately that spot which will resolve every conflict in the mind.
Richard a Jewish boy from Chicago decides to embark on this great adventure in the 1970s when the hippie movement is at its peak. He writes about his travel and travails while hitchhiking half way around the world through England, Switzerland, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and finally India.

The book is divided into 4 parts:
1) Journey to the East
2) Mother India
3) Himalayan Pilgrimage
4) Forest of Grace

A book for every genuine traveller! Spiritual or not! It gives a peep into different cultures of the world without being judgmental.
The author is the Swami who started the mid day meals for poor children in schools in the slums and setting up of the Bhaktivedanta Hospital. This was his fulfillment of a promise that he had given to the immigration officer who had viewed him sympathetically and let him enter India when he did not have the requisite money on him as required by Immigration regulations.



View all my reviews