NOT SO GRANDE

Exterior
At first glance, you can’t say the Grande is actually a Sumo. The vehicle, available along with the existing Sumo Victa, comes at a premium and the exterior explains why. In a departure from the earlier rugged models, Tatas have tried to bring in some sophistication to the Sumo. It has a high stance like the lower-end SUVs, Scorpio and Safari, and no rough edges. The front grille and head lamps are more stylish, but it’s the tail lamps that the surgeon has deliberated upon. Unlike the earlier boxy, rectangular ones, these stretch from the number plate—that gets a touch of chrome—to wrap around the moulded body. The rear, however, looks heavy despite the fact that the overhang has not been tampered with too much. Overall, the vehicle looks more palatable for urban India, where we believe it is targeted, but does not have the looks of a winner.

Interiors
The Grande disappoints big time here. The reasonably honest job done with its exterior does not find a replication inside and one is greeted by badly designed, cheap plastic behind the steering wheel. The dash is haphazardly managed and even the glovebox—one of the easiest features to design—is like an ordinary box quite out of one’s reach. The wooden finish on the central console tries to liven up things but the instrument panel falls flat. Though uncluttered, it does not look like it belongs to a Rs 7 lakh plus car. The inner space is well managed and even the back passengers won’t feel cramped as before, but the lack of finish and attention to detail ensures that one doesn’t get value for money. It is easy to find a naked rod here and an unattended screw there, making one wonder if it’s the same old Sumo from inside.

Engine and Powertrain
The Grande gets Safari’s 2.2-litre VVT Dicor engine, which has its maximum power and torque soaring to 120 bhp and 250 Nm, respectively. The result is a peppy engine that is easily capable of winning a cross-country race. We easily hit a top speed of 145 kmph showing that the Dicor engine has been tuned to perfection. Unfortunately, in city, one frequently needs to apply brakes, and it’s in the braking and fragile suspension that the car disappoints. The Grande does not offer ABS in any variant and this is one point Tatas need to rethink. The vehicle spun off the road when we tried braking it at 100 kmph, so one wonders how it will fare in the hands of thrill-seekers on the highways of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Further, the rattle of front tyres even on smooth roads still exists, indicating that some lessons have still not been learnt.

Ride and Handling
As pointed out earlier, ride and handling are not Grande’s strengths, which is surprising because this is where the Sumo needed the most work. A high stance and more ground clearance of 180 mm meant high body roll and when it came to taking counter-measures, perhaps the engineers dozed off. As soon as you approach 100 kmph or go beyond it, the instability is obvious and the 235/70 R 16 tyres do little to instill confidence.

The Verdict
For once, we were relieved to get off the Grande. The vehicle is a mistake and the sooner it’s accepted, the better. While the build baffled us, it didn’t help that rear seats couldn’t be folded or co-passenger seat couldn’t be reclined due to cable malfunctioning. If this is what happens to a demo vehicle that has been around for only 20 days and has done less than 1,000 km, one wonders what will happen in the long run. The good bit is that the fuel efficiency has gone up a little, giving a decent 9.5 kmpl with AC on in the city and 12 kmpl on the highway. And as it is a diesel vehicle, it burns a smaller hole in your pocket. The Tatas have got a lot of good things from partners Fiat SPA, but they still have a lot to learn. Till then, grande hopes rest on the little Nano.