The Tata Bolt Thread (Tata Lovers)

[Ockie]

Yup - I remembered to request the voucher when I returned the car on Sunday evening - will probably hold back until the Tiago / Tigor launch later this year though and test drive them both to see how they compare to the Bolt before deciding which is the better option for me.

The Tata guy I bought my Bolt from told me about the Tiago I think it was, but he said those engines are not going to be turbo charged though. I might have misunderstood him.

 

[FiestaST]

Are you a hatch and/or sedan lover or indifferent bruv?

 

[HAL 9000]

The Tata guy I bought my Bolt from told me about the Tiago I think it was, but he said those engines are not going to be turbo charged though. I might have misunderstood him.

Here are the specs of the Tiago engines - available in both Revotron (petrol) and Revotorq (diesel) versions:

Type: Revotron 1.2L 3 cylinder with MULTI-DRIVE:Eco, City Mode
Fuel, Emission norm: Petrol, BS IV
Capacity, cylinders: 1199 cc, 3 cylinder
Max power: PS@RPM 85 PS @ 6000 RPM
Max torque: Nm@RPM 114 Nm @ 3500 RPM
Transmission: Manual, 5-speed or AMT

http://www.tatatiago.com/revotron-petrol-engine


Type: Revotorq 1.05L 3 cylinder with MULTI-DRIVE:Eco, City Mode
Fuel, Emission norm: Diesel, BS IV
Capacity, cylinders: 1047 cc, 3 cylinder
Max power: PS@RPM 70 PS @ 4000 RPM
Max torque: Nm@RPM 140 Nm @ 1800-3000 RPM
Transmission: Manual, 5-speed or AMT

http://www.tatatiago.com/revotorq-diesel-engine

 

[Ockie]

Here are the specs of the Tiago engines - available in both Revotron (petrol) and Revotorq (diesel) versions:

Type: Revotron 1.2L 3 cylinder with MULTI-DRIVE:Eco, City Mode
Fuel, Emission norm: Petrol, BS IV
Capacity, cylinders: 1199 cc, 3 cylinder
Max power: PS@RPM 85 PS @ 6000 RPM
Max torque: Nm@RPM 114 Nm @ 3500 RPM
Transmission: Manual, 5-speed or AMT

http://www.tatatiago.com/revotron-petrol-engine


Type: Revotorq 1.05L 3 cylinder with MULTI-DRIVE:Eco, City Mode
Fuel, Emission norm: Diesel, BS IV
Capacity, cylinders: 1047 cc, 3 cylinder
Max power: PS@RPM 70 PS @ 4000 RPM
Max torque: Nm@RPM 140 Nm @ 1800-3000 RPM
Transmission: Manual, 5-speed or AMT

http://www.tatatiago.com/revotorq-diesel-engine

All Bolt Models Revotron1,2T,1193cc, 4 cylinder, 66kW@ 5000rpm, 140Nm @1500-4000 Turbocharged MPFi with multi-drive (Eco,City) Petrol, E3


So the petrol engine on the Bolt is better yes?

Also, the tiago does not have automatic climate control at all from what I can see, even on the high end model. The Bolt has got it

I must say, the backside of the Tiago looks nicer than the Bolt.

 

[HAL 9000]

Also, the tiago does not have automatic climate control at all from what I can see, even on the high end model. The Bolt has got it

Correct, the Tiago has manual AC controls, but the Tigor has a bigger Harman touchscreen infotainment unit (compared to the one in the Tiago), and AC auto climate controls (just like the Bolt has).


Tiago Dash:



Tata Tigor dash:

 

[Ockie]

Took the Bolt on the long road for the first time this weekend to Dullstroom. 130 - 140kph in eco mode all the way there, and then stuck to 120 on the way back in city mode. 580 km @ 5.9l/100km

It drove so nicely on the open road. Felt like a much bigger car. Really stable and easy to lose track of actual speed.

 

[FiestaST]

Cars.co.za In-depth Review of the Tata 1.2T XT

[video=youtube;XoqOqBaupdY]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoqOqBaupdY[/video]

 

[HAL 9000]

I see that they also mentioned two of the niggly issues I noted in an earlier post - the lack of an unlock option on the remote central locking for the boot, and the fact that the rear seats don't have a 60/40 split function, but only a single unit.

 

[HAL 9000]

The plot thickens - whilst browsing through the Team-BHP review of the Tata Bolt hatch again, I was perplexed to see that the Indian-spec XT model DOES in fact have a 60/40 split rear seat and that the seat base can also flip forward before the seat-back folds down, helping to create a flatter floor.

I wonder why this practical option was deleted for the SA models - maybe for cost-cutting purposes?

Seems it could have been an extra selling point for Tata SA - if it WAS fitted to both the XMS & XT versions of the hatch.




Maybe Ockie can ask Tata to shed some light on this conundrum for us, next time he visits the dealership?



https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/offi...-tata-bolt-1-2l-revotron-official-review.html

 

[Ockie]

The plot thickens - whilst browsing through the Team-BHP review of the Tata Bolt hatch again, I was perplexed to see that the Indian-spec XT model DOES in fact have a 60/40 split rear seat and that the seat base can also flip forward before the seat-back folds down, helping to create a flatter floor.

I wonder why this practical option was deleted for the SA models - maybe for cost-cutting purposes?

Seems it could have been an extra selling point for Tata SA - if it WAS fitted to both the XMS & XT versions of the hatch.

View attachment 444938


Maybe Ockie can ask Tata to shed some light on this conundrum for us, next time he visits the dealership?



https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/offi...-tata-bolt-1-2l-revotron-official-review.html

ja....the fact that you have to unlock the boot either with the lever by the petrol cap release lever by driver seat or use the key is a irritation I have to admit. As for the seats...I did not even know that. I have not tried putting the seats down as I have not had to. Going on the long road two weeks ago the one suitcase just got put on the back seat.

 

[Ockie]

I am getting about 6.02l/100 km

That lady has a heavy foot.

 

[Ockie]

Also, I have stalled the car like twice, and both times it was my fault. Not because the engine does not like the cold.

I have mentioned before in previous posts though that the engine does take longer to get up to temp compared to the mini I had. It also loses temp in certain conditions. As I approaced Dullstroom the temp outside dropped rather dramatically. Engine was up to temp on the gauge ..... I was driving on the highway and gunning it (which the car handled very nicely btw). I then went down a hill in 5th gear, took foot off the petrol and just let the car go down without giving any petrol to it. I checked the speed at the bottom just to make sure I was going too fast and noticed the temp had dropped to 1 bar on the gauge. After about 10 minutes of driving normally again and giving petrol etc, the temp came back up to normal temp again.

 

[HAL 9000]

I have mentioned before in previous posts though that the engine does take longer to get up to temp compared to the mini I had. It also loses temp in certain conditions. As I approached Dullstroom the temp outside dropped rather dramatically. Engine was up to temp on the gauge ..... I was driving on the highway and gunning it (which the car handled very nicely btw). I then went down a hill in 5th gear, took foot off the petrol and just let the car go down without giving any petrol to it. I checked the speed at the bottom just to make sure I was going too fast and noticed the temp had dropped to 1 bar on the gauge. After about 10 minutes of driving normally again and giving petrol etc, the temp came back up to normal temp again.

Injector shut-off occurs when the car is in gear, the engine is turning over at 1200 rpms or above, and no throttle is applied. The reason the injectors shut off at this instance is because the transmission is transferring the power of the car's inertia (it's movement forward) to keep the engine spinning.

Under idle conditions the car will use fuel and combustion to keep the engine spinning or when the throttle is applied to propel the car forward.

When you coast in gear there is resistance because you are using the cars forward movement to turn the engine over, but when you shift into neutral the engine must use fuel to keep it spinning.

Using these two methods of coasting you can apply them to make your drive more fuel efficient.

For instance, if you're on a slight down grade (but not enough to pick up speed) you can shift into neutral and coast using very little fuel and have no resistance to your forward movement.

On the other hand if you're on a big downhill you can leave the car in gear and let off the throttle to coast in gear.

You won't be using any fuel because the forward movement of your car is turning the engine over, and you won't pick up as much speed as you would in neutral because of the resistance the engine cause when using your forward momentum to keep it turning over.

http://www.cleanmpg.com/community/index.php?threads/12396/

 

[Ockie]

Injector shut-off occurs when the car is in gear, the engine is turning over at 1200 rpms or above, and no throttle is applied. The reason the injectors shut off at this instance is because the transmission is transferring the power of the car's inertia (it's movement forward) to keep the engine spinning.

Under idle conditions the car will use fuel and combustion to keep the engine spinning or when the throttle is applied to propel the car forward.

When you coast in gear there is resistance because you are using the cars forward movement to turn the engine over, but when you shift into neutral the engine must use fuel to keep it spinning.

Using these two methods of coasting you can apply them to make your drive more fuel efficient.

For instance, if you're on a slight down grade (but not enough to pick up speed) you can shift into neutral and coast using very little fuel and have no resistance to your forward movement.

On the other hand if you're on a big downhill you can leave the car in gear and let off the throttle to coast in gear.

You won't be using any fuel because the forward movement of your car is turning the engine over, and you won't pick up as much speed as you would in neutral because of the resistance the engine cause when using your forward momentum to keep it turning over.

http://www.cleanmpg.com/community/index.php?threads/12396/

Yip....I actually know that from previous threads on mybroadband. Until then I was not aware of the difference between coasting in and out of gear and the fuel usage. It is weird though that the engine lost so much temp during that downhill coast. Sure, there was no combustion taking place but still. This engine does take a long time to heat up also. Only when I am halfway to work does the guage start going up really. I mentioned before that I did ask the tata guy, and he said it is most likely due to the turbo. The turbo is pushing in a lot of air into the engine as you drive, and this air is put through a cooler first to cool it down a lot. So therefore the engine could be taking longer to warm up. /shrug.

 

[FiestaST]

Has Tata's Bolt shaken off the cheap vibes?

The Bolt, introduced in 2015, is Tata’s latest attempt at shaking off those cheap and nasty vibes of the original Indica by creating a car that hatchback buyers would actually aspire to own.

That certainly wasn’t the case with the Vista, which, like the Indica, is still on sale, but which (starting from R134 995 versus R118 995 for the Indica) manages to come across as more nasty than cheap, in our opinion.

The Bolt (also available as a short, stubby sedan for a ten grand premium) finds itself in an even higher price bracket, at R157 995 for the XMS and R167 995 for the XT flagship on test here. As its jellybean shape implies, it is essentially a refurbished version of the Vista, but let’s not be too quick to judge. As you’ll find out soon, this has been one heck of a refurbishment, and even includes a brand new 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol engine.

While the shape remains familiar, barring the blacked-out C-pillars, the car has been redesigned at both ends, the rear now looking decidedly generic but inoffensive enough and the front having a cheekiness about it that buyers in this segment are likely to appreciate.

But if you’re looking for surprises, you’ll find those inside, where the design, materials and overall ambience stand head and shoulders above anything that the brand has done before. Tata readily admits that it roped in designers from Jaguar Land Rover, which it owns, to help with this aspect and it really shows.

Sure, the plastics are still hard and the cabin will never delude you into thinking you’re in a Jaguar, but at the price point it really hits a sweet spot, with a stylish and slightly driver-angled dashboard, 12.7cm colour touchscreen and various chrome, light silver and piano black garnishes on the dashboard and inner door panels.

The Harman-designed touchscreen audio system, with USB and SD card inputs, is easy to operate and has Bluetooth connectivity as well as voice command functionality. There are still plenty of buttons and dials surrounding the screen, for selecting menu functions, changing volume and so on. The screen also displays the climate control information, although your temperature, fan speed and airflow are still controlled by traditional rotary dials lower down. Base XMS models also have a 12.7cm screen but with no touch functionality.

Talking spec differences, the XMS trades the XT’s climate control system for conventional air conditioning and also gives up the steering wheel controls and 15” alloy wheels.

Both are powered by the same 1.2-litre ‘Revotron’ engine, which produces 66kW and 140Nm. Although it’s not a lot more powerful than a normally aspirated 1.2 would usually be, the engine has a more linear power delivery than one would expect from this kind of engine and there’s virtually no lag on pull-off. It actually feels more like a normally aspirated engine, except that the turbo is compensating for altitude and putting it at the very sharp end of its segment in performance terms. Our car didn’t prove to be as economical as some rivals we’ve tested, the Tata drinking eight litres per 100km in an urban-heavy driving week.

South African models are tuned for a sportier feel, however, and Tata perhaps took things a bit too far here as the engine and throttle are overly responsive to the point where it can actually get annoyingly jerky in slow-moving traffic.

Besides that relatively minor bugbear, and the fact that the footwell is on the cramped side, the driving experience is peachy all round. The gear shifter, for one, operates smoothly. The ride is comfortable, given that it was set up for harsh Indian roads, and although there is a bit of body roll during hard cornering, this car is still fairly grippy and handles safely.

Get up to highway velocities and it’s mostly plain sailing, with ample power and not too much engine or road noise, although wind noise was quite notable.

Yet is the Bolt as practical as its rivals at the price? Tick yes for legroom, with lots of space to stretch in the back. However, the 210 litre boot, though still big enough for a few tog bags or perhaps a big shopping spree, does fall short of price rivals such as the Toyota Etios (251 litres), VW Polo Vivo (270) and Renault Sandero (292).

VERDICT

Which brings us to the ultimate question of whether the Bolt is worth the R167 995 that Tata is asking for it.

Yes, it is a very likeable car, with a smart interior, nice ride and decent performance. If this is an indication of where Tata is going, then this is certainly a company to watch. On top of that, it comes with a good warranty (five-year/100 000km) as well as a two-year/30 000km service plan and Tata does claim to be putting a lot more effort into its after-sales service these days.

Yet, all considered, I feel Tata has priced the Bolt too close to those aforementioned established players. Then again, if the dealer offers a substantial enough discount, then ‘Tata ma chance’ has perhaps never been this tempting.

FACTS

Tata Bolt hatch 1.2T XT

Engine:1.2-litre, 4-cylinder turbopetrol
Gearbox:5-speed manual
Power:66kW @ 5000rpm
Torque:140Nm @ 4000-5000rpm
Luggage capacity210 litres
Price:R167 995
Warranty:5-year/100 000km
Maintenance plan:2-year/30 000km

ALTERNATIVES

Renault Sandero 0.9T Expression66kW/135NmR159 900
Honda Brio hatch 1.2 Comfort65kW/109NmR166 300
Suzuki Swift hatch 1.2 GL63kW/113NmR167 900
Tata Bolt hatch 1.2T XMS66kW/140NmR167 995
Toyota Etios hatch 1.5 Sprint66kW/132NmR172 600
VW Polo Vivo 1.4 Conceptline55kW/132NmR173 800

http://www.iol.co.za/motoring/road-tests/has-tatas-bolt-shaken-off-the-cheap-vibes-9978918

 

[TheChamp]

Has Tata's Bolt shaken off the cheap vibes?

Not yet unfortunately, i recently saw one and the ground clearance still looks odd and seems like the Indians just can't get the stance right, odd , the wheel still looks like they will buckle at any moment, the car looks ok and the interior is surprisingly decent compared to the likes of the Toyota Etios.

Overall still a big improvement from where they come from and things can only get better from here I hope.

 

[FiestaST]

Not yet unfortunately, i recently saw one and the ground clearance still looks odd and seems like the Indians just can't get the stance right, odd , the wheel still looks like they will buckle at any moment, the car looks ok and the interior is surprisingly decent compared to the likes of the Toyota Etios.

Overall still a big improvement from where they come from and things can only get better from here I hope.

Your post is not clear enough. Saw one in passing or saw one & experienced it? The interior of the Bolt is lightyears ahead of the Etios wrt every measurable metric.

 

[Ockie]

Just a note, I read or saw in one of the reviews at the top that the climate controls still needs to be adjusted via the dials, en even though you can, you can also adjust them via the touch screen.

 

[Ockie]

Not yet unfortunately, i recently saw one and the ground clearance still looks odd and seems like the Indians just can't get the stance right, odd , the wheel still looks like they will buckle at any moment, the car looks ok and the interior is surprisingly decent compared to the likes of the Toyota Etios.

Overall still a big improvement from where they come from and things can only get better from here I hope.

Having that kind of ground clearance is actually a breath of fresh air for me. Coming from the Mini where you had to reverse our of almost every drive way at a awkward angle so as to not scratch the bottom of the car or the bumper is fantastic.

As for the wheels, all I can say is the car is very stable, even at very high speed on the highway.

 

[TheChamp]

Having that kind of ground clearance is actually a breath of fresh air for me. Coming from the Mini where you had to reverse our of almost every drive way at a awkward angle so as to not scratch the bottom of the car or the bumper is fantastic.

As for the wheels, all I can say is the car is very stable, even at very high speed on the highway.

Which one do you have, sedan or hatch?