A sharp looker with a lazy personality.
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A sharp looker with a lazy personality.
Tata Motors Passenger Cars’ recent local reintroduction piqued my interest, and it was the Curvv coupé-SUV that I got to experience first. If I were to personify my experience, it felt like an award recipient on stage, looking proud and proper, only to fall off the stage on the way back to their seats.
The Curvv arrives as a stylish midfield contender in the brand’s local range, aimed at crossover buyers who want something different. In many ways, Tata has nailed that brief. It’s a genuinely stylish vehicle that attracts its share of attention, and the interior, too, plays the part of a premium crossover, with a modern design and an upmarket feel.
However, it’s the finer details where the cracks begin to show, and those little shortcomings are impossible to ignore.
Powering the Curvv Accomplished S is a turbocharged 1.2-litre 3-cylinder engine that delivers 88kW and 170Nm. In a smaller vehicle, the engine would be more than sufficient, but its delivery in the Curvv leaves drivers wanting more. Keeping up with traffic does require a heavier right foot, which, in turn, hurts fuel consumption.
In Joburg, the thinner air meant I had to work the engine harder, which resulted in an average fuel economy of 7.4l/100km. At the coast, where the air is denser, I suspect this would be less of an issue, with slightly better economy and performance.
Driving the front wheels is a 7-speed automated DCT. In typical DCT fashion, it also rolls when manoeuvring in a slanted parking lot, but it’s smooth and gets the job done once on the road. Where it becomes frustrating is when you’re in a rush. You can’t simply flick the gear lever into ‘Drive’ and expect it to register the input. Instead, you have to put it into Drive, pause for a second, and only then will it engage. For the most part it works without any issue, but on numerous occasions I found myself having to reselect Drive after reversing out of a parking space.
In terms of ride quality, it’s smooth and comfortable, with a slightly firm edge that makes it feel composed on the highway and confident through the corners. On gravel roads, it is slightly more rigid, with a few odd creaks and rattles here and there. It gets the job done, sure, but it’s clear it’s more at home on tar.
Moving inside, a similar form-over-function approach is noticeable. It looks premium with dark materials, a fully digital dashboard and JBL speakers. But before we unpack what doesn’t work, there are a few things that do function well. The infotainment system is easy to use with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and the 9-speaker sound system is clear with plenty of bass – something I thoroughly enjoyed.
Right behind the gear lever is the wireless charging pad. It generally works, but now and then it simply refuses to charge a phone. Also, the small opening, which houses USB ports, is tight. If you have smaller hands, it’s perfectly fine. I don’t have smaller hands, and trying to get a cable into the slot is challenging. Another frustrating issue is the lack of cup holders. It took me four days to realise that the two circular indents in the glove box door are, in fact, meant to be cup holders. If you were travelling alone or parked, they would work. But as functional cup holders, they are essentially pointless.
From the driver’s perspective, the steering wheel and driver information cluster look sleek and minimalist, with an illuminated Tata badge right in the middle of the steering wheel. Next to the badge are the driver’s steering wheel buttons. This layout is lifted slightly and makes holding the wheel uncomfortable over long journeys.
The cabin is noticeably smaller than the exterior leads you to believe. I can reach the passenger door from the driver’s seat with a slight lean. Rear legroom is adequate rather than generous and will accommodate a young family.
The Tata Curvv starts at R349,900 for the Pure+, which is an attractive price for a sharp-looking crossover. On the other hand, the model on test is the range-topping Accomplished S that carries a R519,900 price tag. That said, you get a long list of extras, most notably offering 18-inch over 17-inch alloys, a larger infotainment screen, JBL speakers, leatherette seats with ventilation, a 360-degree camera, front parking sensors, a sunroof, and electric seat controls for the driver.
On looks alone, it fits the bill, but there are too many little concerns for a R500k+ vehicle. It does compete with the Citroën Basalt, which I coincidentally drove at the same time as the Curvv. The two share a similar coupé-crossover formula, but the Basalt feels like the better-executed product, with superior performance, a more intuitive interior and far fewer daily frustrations.
My time with the Curvv was an interesting one. It’s a car that grabs all the attention, and at its core, it works. But there are too many little things that get in the way. It needs more power and greater refinement in the cabin. But it’s a start. What we have seen with brands battling the fast-evolving Chinese competition is increased spec levels at a smaller price. Tata tried just that, and in models like the Tiago and Punch, it works, but the Curvv needs some added polishing. I just hope the brand chooses to continually refine this product.
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