Some images of the car’s important details with respective captions
New eight spoke alloys for the Bolt. Good year Assurance tyres perfom well. The width of the tyres has been reduced to 175 from the Zest’s 185
Smoked headlamps look more striking than on the Zest. The DRLs on the Zest are not available on the Bolt
New Tata steering with mounted controls. Could have been leather wrapped on the top-spec variant for a softer feel.
The rear is simple, and well-executed. No flashy elements here, no ugly detailing either. Neat and balanced.
Adjustable rear headrest is increasingly becoming a rarity – not on the Bolt though.
The City / Eco and Sport modes are now represented on the instrument console in distinct color, with a warning chime every time you switch modes
Storage compartments inside the cabin is a downside with the Bolt. We hope bottle holders are introduced in the door panels. That’s the only cup holder the car has for the front passengers.
Black stickering with white stripes for a ‘floating roof’ effect. We would liked it to be plain black. Some people may like the graphics though.
Boot space is not the Bolt’s USP. 210 liters is bettered by some competitors.
Automatic A/C is one of the many features on the Bolt. It’s one of the best equipped cars in the class.
Notice the piano black lower lip of the grille. It’s done in chrome on the Zest.
No push button start here. Twist the key the good old way to bring the turbocharged engine to life.
You can now watch videos or play image slideshows on the central screen using the newly added SD-card slot.
USB connection to the system, along with MapMyIndia app makes it a full scale sat-nav device. First for the segment.
Height adjustable driver’s seat
Summing it up
The prices for the Bolt have not been announced yet, and that would be the single most important aspect defining the VFM proposition of this car. However, a quick post-drive survey conducted by Tata about the pricing suggests that the Indian carmaker not only wants to place the big, well-equipped Bolt slam bang in the big volumes Swift / Grand i10 category, it wants to undercut them by a fair margin. If that happens, the Bolt would make an extremely compelling case for itself.
While the long term durability of the Zest / Bolt platform has not been established yet, Tata Motors’ newfound focus on improving their quality and processes is very evident. Both the cars are extremely well rounded, and that’s exactly why the Zest has been posting segment leading numbers after its launch. The Bolt, too, is highly appreciable as a new product and surpasses its peers in many aspects, especially in terms of cabin space, driveability and features. The interior too, unlike a few new hatchbacks, feels very rich and upmarket. As mentioned earlier, the prices have not been announced yet, but if a 4.5 – 6 lakh rupee (both petrol and diesel variants included) hatchback is what you’re looking for, the Bolt is an option that you cannot skip to consider before making the final call.
Tech Specs both petrol & diesel
| Tata Bolt 1.2T Petrol & 1.3 Diesel | ||
| Engine type | Revotron 1.2T petrol engine, 4cylinder, Turbocharged, MPFI with selectable driving modes | 4 Cylinder, Turbocharged, Intercooled Diesel engine |
| Cubic capacity | 1193cc | 1248 cc |
| Made of | Head: Aluminium alloy, Block: Cast Iron | Head: Aluminium alloy, Block: Cast Iron |
| Installation | Transverse, Front wheel drive | Transverse, Front wheel drive |
| Max Power | 90 PS @ 5000 RPM | 75 PS @ 4000 RPM |
| Max Torque | 140 Nm @ 1500-4000 RPM | 190 Nm @ 1750-3000 RPM |
| Bore/Stroke | 75 mm x 67.5 mm | 69.6 mm x 82 mm |
| Compression Ratio | 9(+-0.3):1 | 17.6 (+/-1):1 |
| Valve Gear | SOHC 2 valves/cylinder | DOHC 4 valves/cylinder |
| Engine Management | ECU Controlled | ECU Controlled |
| Chassis and Body | ||
| Construction | Hatchback, 5-door, Monocoque | Hatchback, 5-door, Monocoque |
| Kerb weight | 1095 – 1125 kgs | 1132 – 1160 kgs |
| Wheels | 15 inches | 15 inches |
| Made of | Alloys | Alloys |
| Tyre size / Type | 175/65 R15+ Tubeless, Goodyear Assurance | 175/65 R15+ Tubeless, Goodyear Assurance |
| Exterior Dimensions | ||
| Overall Length | 3825 mm | |
| Max. width | 1695 mm | |
| Overall Height | 1562 mm | |
| Wheel Base | 2470 mm | |
| Track Front | 1450 mm | |
| Track Rear | 1440 mm | |
| Ground Clearance | 165 mm (Unladen) | |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 44 litres | |
| Transmission | ||
| Type | TA65*Synchromesh with overdrive, 5 Forward + 1 Reverse | FIAT EVO-II, Synchromesh with overdrive, 5 Forward + 1 Reverse |
| Ratios | ||
| 1st | 3.64 | 3.91 |
| 2nd | 1.95 | 2.24 |
| 3rd | 1.27 | 1.44 |
| 4th | 0.88 | 1.03 |
| 5th | 0.714 | 0.77 |
| Reverse | 3.58 | 3.91 |
