Review of the first Tata Curvv petrol manual ride

Engine and performance

The Curvv, under the hood, receives two new engines. The 1.2-litre TGDi petrol engine and the tweaked 1.5-litre diesel mill. Both are offered with six-speed manual and seven-speed DCT gearboxes. The first was presented at the Auto Expo in 2023 and now debuts with the Curvv. We drive the petrol + manual combo which is tuned to produce 123hp and 225Nm of peak torque.

First of all, we’re happy to report that the engine is extremely refined, with no obvious vibrations. It is a three-cylinder powertrain with Eco, City and Sport driving modes. The turbo kicks in from 2,000 rpm and pulls freely up to 4,500 rpm. And if you turn the dial to Sport mode, you get crisper throttle response with quicker power delivery. Since it’s a manual, you don’t get paddle shifters. Although we have not yet tested the engine in real-world conditions for mileage, the mileage quoted was around 8 km/h, which buyers may not find very efficient.

We drove the Curvv to Goa through narrow, uneven roads and well-paved highways. On smoother surfaces at triple-digit speeds, the ride is smooth and supple without any noticeable upward movement. And when you’re around town, the 18-inch wheels absorb bumps and broken parts with absolute ease. To achieve this, the Curvv has 208mm of ground clearance, ensuring that you don’t scrape this coupe SUV’s belly. Despite its comfortable ride, the Curvv also has good handling characteristics. The suspension is firm enough to control body roll, providing stability and confidence.

Outside

The Curvv looks like its EV version. But there is little to distinguish it from its EV counterpart. Unlike the Curvv EV, the ICE Curvv gets a black and body-colored grille. It also features air intakes on the lower half of the bumper, as well as chrome accents and a silver-colored skid plate. On the side, the design of the 18-inch wheels is new. The rear remains identical to the prominent LED taillights, however, this one is badged ‘Curvv’ and removes the ‘.EV’ suffix.

Interior and features

Now, if you have seen and experienced enough with the new Nexon, you must be familiar with the dashboard layout. The same thing is carried over here in the Curvv and it looks neat. You get different elements and textures that make it look premium and premium. Additionally, the burgundy theme offered only with the top-end Accomplished variant looks elegant and rich.

The Curvv’s front seats are comfortable, have good forward visibility, and can be electrically operated, but don’t offer enough shoulder support for tall passengers. The 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system sits atop the dashboard and is equipped with controls for the air purifier, climate control system, sound modes, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.

The 10.25-inch instrument cluster is colorful, crisp, and has customizable displays, but it’s housed deep inside the cluster, making it appear smaller than its actual size. On top of that, the Curvv comes with a wireless charger, auto-dimming IRVM, cooled front seats, and a height-adjustable co-passenger seat.

But then, some things could have been improved in Curvv’s cabin. First, the coupe’s body style results in reduced rear visibility. Second, the center console has a wireless charger but lacks cup holders. Additionally, the front USB ports are poorly placed, making them difficult to access with a cable.

As for the second row space, we’ll give you two perspectives. One with my height, I’m 5’6″. First of all, getting in and out for me is easy and there is decent leg room, good headroom and ample headroom. Additionally, for rear occupants, you get rear air vents, two USB ports and a foldable armrest with two cup holders. However, if you are six feet tall or taller, headroom is limited. and you might end up rubbing your head towards the roof which also houses the sunroof mechanism. Legroom for tall passengers is also limited.

We might not be very impressed with the space in the second row, but this coupe body style offers a major USP. And that’s the 500-liter trunk space that can be controlled electrically by gesture control. It can easily swallow up to three medium-sized suitcases. You also get four hooks and a 16-inch spare wheel.

All Tata cars have managed to achieve a comprehensive five-star safety rating. The most recent are the Safari and Harrier. While we’re still waiting for the Curvv’s crash test results, the full list of safety features looks quite promising. You can use automatic headlights, rain-sensing wipers, front parking sensors, a tire pressure monitor, a 360-degree camera and six airbags. To top it all off, it also gets Level 2 ADAS, some of which include Lane Departure Warning with Keep Assist, Forward Collision Warning with Avoidance, Blind Sports Monitor with Camera, and Cruise Control adaptive. We tried the latter and the camera display on the infotainment screen and instrument cluster was clear and helped us tackle city traffic.

Conclusion

The Tata Curvv is a stylish and feature-rich SUV that offers a comfortable ride and decent performance. Its coupe-inspired design sets it apart from traditional SUVs by giving it visual appeal. The interior is well appointed, with a modern dashboard and a range of features. However, there are also some shortcomings. The infotainment is still a bit problematic and you have some ergonomic issues in the front row. Although the rear seats may be a limitation for tall passengers, the Curvv offers a convenient trunk.

Although many see it as an improvement over the Nexon, there are many aspects like the front exterior design and interior layout that this one shares with the Nexon. But the Curvv also gets a new set of powertrains and a comprehensive list of features. Prices range from Rs. 9.99 lakh to Rs. 9.99 19 lakh (ex-showroom), placing the Curvv exactly in the mid-size SUV segment.

Photography: Kaustubh Gandhi

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