2024 Tata Curvv EV review, first drive - Another blockbuster from Tata?

The Tata Curvv is the second quick addition to this coupe SUV theme after the Basalt. It's not a direct competitor but both seem to have fed off each other to bring this body style to the fore in the mass market. The Tata Curvv EV, which comes before the ICE versions, also happens to plug a major gap in the Tata Motors line-up. The carmaker now has something that goes up against the large crop of C-segment SUVs with this shape being its differentiator.

2024 Tata Curvv EV Styling, dimensions, boot space

If you've been eyeing the Tata Curvv EV to stand out from the crowd, it's job done already. Tata Motors has stayed quite true to the concept, so the big wheels, the drawn-out C-pillar with the slight kink at the base and the high deck to the boot all attract a lot of attention. The Curvv EV, despite being derived from the Nexon, manages to engage a lot more on the road. The Curvv EV is 316mm longer and 26mm taller while being 1mm narrower.

These dimensions aside, the Curvv EV has a well-proportioned look in profile, the 62mm longer wheelbase has been naturally added and the clean surfaces help with this sense. Another neat trick is the gloss black panels over the wheel arches and doors which cut down on a lot of the height of this coupe-SUV, making for a far less top-heavy look despite the good(for an EV) 190mm ground clearance.. A first Tata Motors first is the flush door handles. These are a bit of a fiddle to use at first but most owners should get used to it soon enough. The illumination on it is a thoughtful touch.

One of the more striking elements of the design of the Curvv EV is the boot lid. This big high element is broken up well by the the black wing-like arrangement that holds the full-width lighting and the deep concave accent. So you don't find the Curvv too rear-heavy from most angles.

The front is largely shared with the Nexon EV, so you have the new Tata face with discreet lighting and the sharp full-width lighting signature. Yes, there is some differentiation here with the front-facing charging cover and a slightly reworked look to the air dam, a bit more differentiation here would have been better.

The large rear end has a functional benefit. The Curvv EV has 500 litres of boot space, and with the seats flipped down this goes to 973 litres. This is nearing sedan territory and does away with the thought that this is an impractical body shape. This space happens to be wide and deep with a practical square shape. The lip is also not too high. The Curvv EV is also the first in its segment to get a powered tailgate.  There's also a small 11-litre frunk but this should be best for smaller items given the shallow compartment.

2024 Tata Curvv EV Interiors, space, practicality

The Tata Curvv EV is closely related to the Nexon EV right up to the B-pillar which shows in the front of the cabin being very similar to the smaller SUV. So you have the same broader dash layout with the horizontal themes and the flat AC vents. But there has been a step up in quality and finish. You don't get any more soft surfaces other than on the doors and centre armrest, the textured plastic on top and the stitched effect to the lighter panels feel similar too. But the new shiny ridged theme in the dash face is neat.

You have the same climate control panel in the lower half. The central tunnel remains unchanged with the electronic shifter and drive mode dials. We think Tata Motors could have used this opportunity to address some complaints here like the lack of cup holders and the charging pad that doesn't quite securely hold your phone. The door pockets could have been larger too. We also would have liked a version of the drive mode dials from the Harrier to match the improved sense of the rest of the car.

But the screens and tech continue to be a highlight. The 12.3-inch touchscreen continues to be one of the nicer ones you can get at this price. Its clean, intuitive interface and crispness impressed and we were sold on how quickly it has wireless Android Auto/Apple Carplay running as soon as you step into the car. A few more apps have been added to the Arcade.ev suite but a useful one for EV owners is that of the charge operator aggregator on the new Ira app. It makes planning longer EV trips quite simple as we saw, and will soon allow charging payments via a single account.

The 10.25-inch driver's display remains unchanged. So again, it's a crisp, easy system to use. The fonts are still a touch small but information is easily accessed. The Google Maps projection continues to be a highlight, Tata Motors has heard feedback and added the blind view camera feed here too.

As you would expect, most of what's new with the Curvv EV is in the rear seat. At 2,560mm, the Curvv EV has a 62mm longer wheelbase than the Nexon EV. This is slightly less than the ZS EV, Atto 3 and ICE-powered C-segment SUVs.

So while you don't have as much legroom as the size of the car suggests, it's still a big step up from the Nexon EV. Most people under 6 feet will be okay. A great help is that the floor isn't too high, unlike many EVs, so thigh support isn't compromised. This is also due to the heavy cushioning on the seat base's edge. As with most Tata cars, the seatback is slightly firm but well-cushioned. The two-step recline angle isn't extensive but the angle is quite comfortable in itself. Three adults here will be a squeeze though, for two this is a comfortable space.

The coupe shape does eat into headroom but not to the extent you might expect. The new panoramic sunroof is well-placed, which with the EV's light interior makes for a spacious feeling. The windows are also quite large. The headling has also been scooped out so if you are under 6 feet, you should fit alright. As with other Tata cars, the 45W charging is a practical addition.

2024 Tata Curvv EV features, ADAS, safety

A vast list of features makes the Curvv EV one of the best-equipped cars you can buy at its price. The powered boot lid and ambient light surrounding the panoramic sunroof are segment firsts. Aside from this you get LED lighting, auto headlamps and wipers, ventilated front seats, wireless charging, a 9-speaker JBL sound system with sound modes and a powered driver's seat.

Safety is well taken care of, as you might expect in a Tata, you get six airbags, 360-degree cameras, hill hold, hill descent control and a full suite of ADAS functions. We found the lane keeping and lane departure functions a touch erratic, possibly because these are a first on a Tata car, but the emergency braking function seems to be quite thoughtfully calibrated for our conditions.

2024 Tata Curvv EV battery, range, charging

The Curvv EV can be had with two battery options. These are a 45 kWh one with an MIDC range of 502 km or a larger 55 kWh, as seen here, with 585 km. Tata Motors claims the larger pack will let the Curvv do anywhere between 400 to 425 km in the real world. While we couldn't put it through our real-world range test, the heavy usage cycle through our time with the Curvv EV suggests that these numbers are achievable.

Energy density has gone up with these packs now switching to prismatic cells while a new acoustic pedestrian warning system has been added too that works at up to 20kmph. Another notable improvement has come in the way of charging speeds. The Curvv EV can now DC fast charge at up to 70 kW(60 kW for the smaller pack), which lets it add 150 km of range in 15 minutes or get from 10 to 80 per cent charge in 40 minutes. AC charging takes 7.9 hours via a 7.2 kW wall box.

2024 Tata Curvv EV driving impressions, 0 to 100 kmph time

The Curvv EV seems to get the same basic motor as the Nexon EV, although the power output is now 167PS. Torque has remained unchanged at 215 Nm although Tata Motors says a focus has been to improve rolling acceleration.

From behind the wheel, it's a familiar feeling when you first step in. You sit in a commanding enough position and there's great frontal visibility. But again, the thick A-pillar and large mirrors do create significant blind spots. The slightly awkward steering angle and tight footwells are other carryovers but the larger Harrier's steering wheel does make manoeuvring easier.

As with other Tata EVs, you set off in a calm, controlled manner. There's never that big gush of electric torque so getting used to driving the Curvv, especially if you are new to EVs, is easy. The performance builds progressively but it does seem like there's more punch now as you near triple-digit speeds. The claimed 0 to 100 kmph time of 8.6s seems is par for this segment, EV or otherwise.

The Curvv EV doesn't feel out of breath at highway speeds and there's always performance on tap for manoeuvres. Tata Motors has also smoothened some of the inconsistencies in power delivery that we had noticed earlier in the Nexon EV, so the experience has become more refined.

The City mode is a great default setting to drive in, there's enough here for you if you aren't an especially keen driver. The Sport mode does sharpen up responses notably but the Curvv never feels unruly or rough in this setting. The ESP is quite active but it seems to do its job of not letting this get too lairy. The Eco mode is great in the city, where the visibility and cameras make threading this car through quite easy, although you will want more performance for faster overtakes or heavier inclines.

The three levels of regen worked naturally. There's no one pedal driving but the highest level 3 mode is great for traffic. The Curvv cycles from forward motion to regen naturally so there's nothing to get used to. At higher speeds, the second level does a good job of mimicking regular ICE driving.

Tata Motors goes on to say that the centre of gravity of this platform has been lowered by 60mm. Which combined with the stiffer metal used and the wide 215 section 18-inch wheels, makes the Curvv a neat handler. The Nexon EV was already a good one in this regard but the Currv seems to better control lean around both slower, tighter corners and faster, wider bends. There's not great feel through the steering but its reactions and heft will keep the average driver satisfied.

The Curvv doesn't seem to squabble for grip on rough surfaces at faster speeds and it's easy to get into a smooth, flowing sensation while driving it which makes long durations behind the wheel soothing. Another good trait is that the longer wheelbase makes the Curvv feel more stable in straight-line highway driving than the Nexon, which goes well with the overall solid demeanour of the car.

The ride also helps with this sense when the roads are smooth or when you have gravel or shallow patches to negotiate. The Curvv seems to to dampen these better than previous Tatas which is great. But things quickly turn if you hit a deeper pothole or speed breaker a bit quicker than usual. The front suspension runs out of travel and the impact jars the cabin quite notably. This may be due to the added weight of the Curvv but we hope this is fixed because otherwise, this is a comfortable, solid car to drive.

Tata Curvv EV verdict, price

The Tata Curvv EV has all the attributes to be another success from Tata Motors. The company has done well by overcoming the disadvantage of a smaller architecture to create a car that seems to fit in naturally with its rivals. Some of the quality and suspension misses aside, the rear seat is good enough for a family, as is the big boot. The driving experience and features mean you will be in for an experience that feels like good value. The range has also grown closer than ever to ICE rivals and you can't ignore the great pricing. Prices for the Tata Curvv Ev start from rs 17.49 lakh and go up to Rs 21.99 lakh.