Tata Reviews

The Indian Tata brand has thrown a Myna bird among the cheap Chinese pick-ups. It relaunched in Australia this week with a six-model ute range from $22,990 drive-away for a cab-chassis to $29,990 drive-away for a four-door crew-cab ute. The starting price bravely pitches the Tata at a premium. The Chinese utes start

It might not be on Fusion Automotive's shopping list right now, but the diminutive Tata Nano does have some future possibilities. At least that's what we thought after squirting one around Tata's test track near Mumbai.The original idea was to put a car within reach of India's masses, but after a year there's been a re-think and it is now being plugged as a mini for the city.PRICE AND FEATURESThe big thing about the little car is its price. It costs the equivalent of $3000, which is less than many Australians pay for a push bike. Viewed in that light, it's a very attractive little jigger. And it's not so little inside.There's room for four tall people, it has aircon, and despite its 28kW/51Nm twin-cylinder 634cc motor and four-speed gearbox, it runs pretty well. That's because it has a mass of only 600kg. And one windscreen wiper, three studs to hold each of the saucer-sized wheels on, and a few other cost-saving measures.DRIVINGWe managed to wind one up to 85km/h on the short test track and the upside of that is very little chance of setting off a Multanova or other safety device the politicians think up. Suspension is all independent, but without anti-roll bars. And to reach the boot you need to fold the back seat down.The steering was a bit iffy, likewise the four drum brakes, but for three grand we reckon it's much better than a bicycle. Whether it would pass our safety crash tests is another matter. It has to fare better than a bike though.And if it can cope with India's roads, it can certainly last a long time on our smooth blacktop. We had a lot of fun in it. But don't hold your breath for release in Australia. Not for a couple of years, at least -- by which time our cities might be so congested that Nanos might be the answer.

Long sections of the road between Mumbai and Tata's impressive plant at Pune, about 160km away, are more brutal than any track likely to be found in Australia. But the purpose-built Indian vehicles cope without trouble, indicating that the Tata Xenon utes soon to arrive in Oz could be among the toughest of their kind.PRICEThe one-tonners are robust machines, built for India's comparatively awful roads, but they're also stylish, well-finished and the Fusion Automotive distributors say they will be priced below their Japanese rivals and slightly above the new breeds from China. Prices will be announced when they land in October, but think $20 to 30K, depending on cab choice and 4x2 or 4x4 configuration.EQUIPMENTThe Xenon is one of the better-looking utes and comes with a fair bit of kit, including ABS with EBD, Bluetooth, air con, power windows and mirrors, an adjustable steering and a neat, uncluttered dash. But there's no cruise control or option of automatic transmission.Extra stuff, from late this year, will include a hill holder, traction control and electronic stability control. And prettying it up will be easy, probably via dealer-fitted alloys, decals, spotties and the like. The five-speed gearbox is a goodie, the power steering is typical ute and seating and visibility were fine, as were the paint and fit and finish.What Australia needs to realise is that Tata is no johnny-come-lately outfit. It is an up to date company that has been building vehicles for decades and Oz has somehow managed to become the last place on the planet to become aware of the brand.THE DRIVE A few runs on the test track at Pune, which has a surface like Australia's highways, showed the 110kW/320Nm turbo-diesel had lots of pace, stability and was commendably quiet. Tata has state-of-the-art facilities at its vast Pune plant, among them a division specialising in noise reduction.VERDICTThe Xenon has the looks, the muscle and the reputation. Final price will be the deciding factor.Tata Xenon utePrice: $20 to 30KEngine: 2.2-litre 4-cylinder, 110kW/320NmTransmission: 5-speed manual, 4x2 and 4x4