'DNA' Drive: Tata Venture reviewed

What can you get for Rs6 lakh in the diesel segment? A basic hatch that can seat 4-5 people in comfort, and some boot? How about something that’s small as a hatch but can seat 7-8 in comfort? Tata Motors calls to have comfort of a van in the footprint of a hatchback.

Design
Venture has a handsome fascia, very similar to the Super Ace. Of course, with the Venture being more premium, it gets chrome treatment on the front grille, while the headlamp design remains the same. The Venture shares the same platform with Super Ace — it is also built on body-on-frame.

Styling remains akin up to the B-pillar, after which everything is new. Venture comes with plug-in windows — a feature new to Indian vehicles — single sliding door on the left and shallow glass area, which gives it a higher stance. The long tail lamps add some glamour to the existing stylish exteriors.  The 14-inch wheels and the crisp crease line further contribute to the looks.

Interiors
The inside of the Venture may not be funky or flashy, but it is good enough. The interiors are designed ergonomically except for the power windows switches that are oddly located ahead of the gear knob. The plastic might not impress you, but the spacious seats will make you feel lavished – certainly for the price tag. Venture’s bag comes filled with goodies like AC vents for all the three rows, power steering, power windows and an aftermarket music system.

Venture has two to three rows of seating, with options of 5, 7 or 8 seats. There are acres of space in each row and the beige interiors further makes the cabin look airy, giving it a roomy feel. We do wish the seat squab was a bit larger for better thigh support. The AC vents on top of each row ensures sufficient cooling for all the passengers. When you are driving, that is when you realise how commanding the position is, as the large windshield ensures high visibility and the steering position is also just good enough.

Engine
Venture comes with an indirect injection (IDI) engine -- in a world dominated by common rail oil burners. This is a 1.4-litre plant. The base variant is naturally aspirated producing a mere 50bhp while the other trims get the 71bhp turbo-charged versions. The power-to-weight ratio is about 35bhp per tonne. This is because the Venture hasn’t been built to delight the enthusiasts. Period.

This is a mid-engine, rear-wheel drive set-up. So, the front-row seats are located on top of the engine. Crank the engine and there is the regular diesel clatter to start with. The noise is audible not just on the outside, but it also intrudes into the cabin. The engine scream is loud and harsh as it inches closer to redline. Even when you switch it off, the vibration is typically diesel. But it is fairly quiet while cruising. The good bit is that one can comfortably drive around at speeds of 70-80km/hr in the top cog for an entire day without any hard work. The oil burner thus fulfils its duty. This is what it has been built for. Stress-free driving. Albeit, we wish a common rail could have been an extra engine option on the Venture.

The 5-speed manual transmission on the Tata Venture isn’t one of the slickest boxes. The shifts are a tad notchy, and it isn’t a good experience as one has to often downshift, due to the underpowered oil burner. This is only if you are used to shifting at low rpms.

Ride and handling
Now, with a sprinter chassis and not-so-powerful engine one cannot expect outstanding handling abilities. And this is true. Venture has been designed to give a supple ride and maximum comfort to the occupants.  Ride quality of the Venture is excellent as it glides over potholes with a muted thud. The limberness is similar even on broke or uneven roads. Jolts and bounces are absorbed by the suspension, without causing any kind of disturbance to the occupants.

The handling as we just spoke isn’t a forte on vehicle like the Venture. This is acceptable since it is not meant to race on a track and the good part is it didn’t feel nervous at a speed of 80kmph when we drove it on banked highways. And the compact proportions make it easy to drive and manoeuvre even on narrow street lanes.

Verdict
The Venture with its compact dimensions and spacious interiors is trying to set a mark, as it doesn’t just cost as much as a hatchback, but also offers from space along with a few bells and whistles. At Rs5.4 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi), the Venture comes as a good value for money product. So, for a large family, the Tata Venture fits in just well.

Spechsheet
Tata Venture
Price: Rs5.4 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi)
Kitna deti hai (ARAI) 15.42 kmpl
Fuel tank: 33 litres
Full tank good for: 33x11= 363 kms minimum
Engine: 1405 cc
Power 71PS@4500rpm
Torque 135Nm@2500rpm
Suspension: Good for family of 5: Yes
Dimensions in feet: Length/Width/Height: 12.95x5.13x6.09