Before I make any more statements about the Grande, let me just begin with a salute to Ratan Tata for his latest success with Jaguar and Land Rover. It goes without saying that Mr Tata is a man of taste. I’ve always admired the Jaguar brand and Land Rover is a dream machine to own. I just read the morning’s paper that Jamshedji Tata was the first Indian to own a car and Suzanna Tata was the first Indian woman driver! And now from Corus to Nano to Jaguar and Land Rover, one can only imagine what the Tata’s have got up their sleeves!? Cheers to the Tatas!

The title of this post is symbolic in many ways. It’s a super finale for Tata’s after a season that began at the Expo. One can’t wait for season two! Also, this post carries the last block of my thoughts on the Grande. Not because I’ll have said everything there is to say on the car, but it’s quite enough for now, I think.

Well, to quickly sum up my last two posts. The Grande cannot be called an improvement on the old Sumo Victa because it’s in a class of its own now. It’s been resurrected as a new beast altogether. It’s got a very clean interior that’s perfect for a large family; it’s also got a cool sporty look with a powerful DiCOR engine, which is appealing to any SUV nutter. It’s as fuel efficient as a camel with the tall gearing and tuning, giving it, according to the Grande salesman, ‘14kph on highways and around 11kph in the city.’ ‘But,’ says the salesman, ‘if you live in Andheri, take it at 9kph.’

Moving on…

Ride quality is pretty good thanks to the thicker tyres carried from the Safari. The tyres have also made handling at high speeds much better. There’s definitely less roll as compared to the old Victa. But unfortunately the Grande has borrowed its suspension and chassis from the Victa, which definitely hampers the driving experience. Also, it is interesting to note that Tata hasn’t bothered one bit about car safety. It’s packed with goodies from sprinkles of cubby holes to personal ac vents to an alpine music system, but no ABS or airbags. Why the hell not? That’s something Tata has never bothered with, have they? Granted the braking is quite good, since they’re the same as those used in the Safari, but is braking in time good enough? I suppose they think it is.

Having said all of that, one must be reminded of the price. It’s only 7.8 lakh for heaven’s sake! What do you expect? It cannot be compared to an Innova, or can it? Yes, it’s got good performance, its comfort can be comparable, and it’s practical as well. It definitely looks better, gives a better average…. What else? Safety? Who cares about safety, we’ve all travelled in Mumbai’s cabs, so bring it on, I say!

Yes, the Grande is quite the looker. Due credit goes to the UK based Concept Group who are responsible for the Grande’s modern styling. I think what drew attention to this one is its bold front ‘V’ shaped grille and the large high-mounted headlamps. The rear is also very refreshing with the new tail-light design.

Stepping inside the Grande is a welcoming experience. Though the finish isn’t all that impressive, it’s a definite improvement and with TATA, it’s all about the price after all. So for the kind of price tag, it’s a super offering. The all new beige look is quite appealing with the stylish steering wheel and gear lever. In the Grande, passenger comfort is top priority with the two front seats having adjustable lumbar support. Also,

the driver can adjust both steering and seat height for added comfort. The second row is actually very spacious and comfortable with reclining backrests and ample space to stretch out. The third row is the best in its class with ample room for adults. Both the second and third rows are fitted with roof mounted vents, which helps in fast and direct cooling. The Grande also comes equipped with some interesting touches like the drawer under the passenger seat and plenty of cubbyholes.

The Grande’s performance is quite fantastic with Tata having fitted it with the new 2.2 DiCOR motor giving 118bhp, which has helped achieve greater fuel efficiency as opposed to the Safari DiCOR. Unfortunately, since I was only able to test drive the Grande in the city, I couldn’t push it beyond third gear, but even for short accelerations, the Grande responds quite well with very little turbo lag. Torque is really good in this one, which is ideal for city traffic. Tata’s goal was to offer up an urban consumer SUV with an emphasis on comfort and practicality. I believe Tata has done more than the needful, as it has also created a macho SUV with a penchant for the highway as well!

Hey Vikram you can have a look at some of the reviews,
http://www.carwale.com/research/roadtests/TataSumoGrande/

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/test-drives-initial-ownership-reports/36318-special-invitation-td-sumo-grande-2.html