2024 Tata Curvv review, first drive - a real disruptor?

You've already seen the Curvv EV, but the Tata Curvv, in its petrol and diesel forms, will still be the ones leading Tata Motors' charge into the compact SUV space. The styling is one way to stand out, but the Curvv also needs some solid chops in the way it feels to make it big in this crowded space. Much has changed, including a revised architecture and new engines over the Nexon, but how does it feel on the road?

2024 Tata Curvv Driving impressions TGDi petrol

A major change for Tata Motors with the Curvv is the new direct injection Hyperion turbo-petrol engine. This three-cylinder motor makes 125PS and 225 Nm, and while it shares the same displacement as the previous Revotron, it's almost entirely new down to the block. There's an overboost function, too, like the Mahindra's motor, that pushes torque up to 250 Nm at higher revs.

On the move, it's a notable step up for Tata Motors. There are some vibrations at start up but then it's a fairly quiet experience. As you might expect, it gets louder as revs build but it's not too harsh or intrusive. Despite the outputs, performance is smooth but not sharp-edged. So you have a clean sweep of torque from about 1,800 rpm that grows in a predictable, linear manner.

This by itself will be enough for most situations but the overboost function makes for a good step up at about 3,500 rpm where again there is a noticeable but mellow surge. This is not an engine that will have enthusiasts salivating, it doesn't rev especially aggressively, but it is effective for the daily driver. The claimed 0 to 100 kmph time of 9.5s also puts it in this ballpark.

The drive modes, as usual, alter responses but we think there's not a lot to choose between the Eco and City modes, with the latter being fairly sedate in itself. The Sport mode too isn't overly aggressive, but will be a good way to make progress on open roads.

Driving this engine with the six-speed manual, a trait that stands out is the smart gearing that Tata Motors has managed. You usually never drop out of the powerband in regular driving, so the linear sense of the engine is maintained more often than not.

Other than this, the gearbox functions in much the same way as the Altroz or Nexon. The clutch is light and progressive but like the Nexon, we still miss a dead pedal. The shift action isn't the snappiest though, given the potent engine. It doesn't take much effort but it could have had a shorter lever and the gates could have been more pronounced.

2024 Tata Curvv Driving impressions diesel-DCT

Tata Motors seems to still be quite strongly committed to diesel, having significantly reworked its 1.5-litre motor for this application. The 118PS and 260 Nm unit now has a new turbo and intake system as well as reworked internals for better efficiency and refinement. The Curvv diesel is also unique in it being paired with a DCT.

With the diesel too, there has been a notable improvement in refinement. Yes, there's quite a bit of shake at start up which doesn't set the right impression but this settles into a calmer note when you get moving. There are far fewer vibrations that filter into the cabin than earlier which also helps. Also noticeable is the improved responses. The motor seems a bit more eager to rev and seems to manage to put its power down on the road better than earlier.

Like the petrol, it's a sedate motor. It progressively builds steam and there is a strong flat diesel mid-range you can access on the highway. But this doesn't leave it out of sorts in city commuting. The DCT again doesn't let it bog down much so smooth progress in traffic is a given.

The 7-speed DCT too has been improved. The quite frustratingly slow responses from earlier have now taken on a sharper, more dual-clutch-like edge. It's still not the quickest shift but seems to harness the motor's performance better. The good torque also covers for some of the delays that still persist and you don't lose momentum too much. But we think, both the City and Sport modes could have been more aggressive, in relation to the competition.

2024 Tata Curvv Ride & handling

The Nexon has always been a competent handler, and the lengthened wheelbase, reworked suspension mountings and chassis strengthening that has gone into creating the Curvv's Altas architecture has taken stability in this sense forward.

This is especially true of the petrol version. With lesser weight over the nose, the Curvv finds it easy to find a flowing demeanour around corners. It turns in with as much confidence as you expect in this segment and there is a good deal of speed you can carry. It's also good that the engine is usually on the boil so you do find good momentum. The large 18-inch wheels also give you a good sense of grip and despite their efficiency focus don't squeal too much when pushed hard. But there's quite a heavy-handed traction control system at play that is quite focused on keeping you safe.

The diesel is best driven a touch more sedately. You notice the weight over the front wheels easily enough and it's best to be a bit more reserved around a winding road with it starting to run wide a touch easier. But it's still easy to find a confident, secure rhythm that makes for good driving. Given the quite high 208mm ground clearance, the body roll is well controlled. The Curvv's body movements are predictable and it doesn't snap under load and catch you off guard. The steering could have been more precise but it finds a practical balance between being easy in traffic and fairly direct around turns.#

But most owners will be more impressed by the Curvv's ride. This is a step up from the Nexon and even the Curvv EV. The coupe SUV's reworked wheelbase and suspension give it a good deal more composure on the highway. It has a solid feel to it and there's little skittishness at triple-digit speeds. As with most Tata cars, there's a firm edge to the ride. But this is damped well and that tough sense over broken patches is still intact. So while you do notice bumps, they don't make the journey harsh.

2024 Tata Curvv Interiors

There's not much to separate the cabin of the ICE Curvv from the EV versions. As we noted with the EV, the dash design could have been further differentiated from the Nexon. So while the sense of quality and fit has improved we would have liked more than the ridged central bar and the deep red to separate this larger car. Some of the Nexon's flaws like the lack of storage and cupholder could have also been corrected.

As with the EV, you get some crips screens. The 12.3-inch touchscreen continues to be fluid and intuitive,  the theme matching the interior's colours. As before, the digital instrumentation is informative but could do with larger fonts. In this ICE, this is most noticed in the vague grading for the tachometer. The capacitive panels, the new shifter and the nice weighted paddles are now quite family Tata fare, although the latter have become more responsive than earlier.

But there are some well-placed soft surfaces and the front seats continue to be supportive for most needs. You don't tire over long journeys aside from feeling a slight lack of thigh support. At the rear, this darker theme does make for a more compact feeling than in the EV, although lesser versions do carry brighter colour patterns inside. But the different floorpan of the ICE versions does mean you have a lower floor that improves legroom and thigh support. This is also helped by the humped design of the squab. That said, the space here is at a premium. Taller adults will find headroom to be an issue as well as knee room, but average-sized adults fit well enough.

2024 Tata Curvv Features & safety

As is now the norm in this price bracket, the Currv comes packed to the gills with features. You get LED lighting, auto headlamps and wipers, ventilated seats, mood lighting, a powered boot lid, a panoramic sunroof, 10.25-inch screens, JBL audio, PM2.5 air purifier, wireless charging and connected features. There is also the new Level 2 ADAS suite, hill-descent control, 360-degree cameras and TPMS.

2024 Tata Curvv styling, boot

One of the criticisms we had with the Curvv EV was that it seemed to look too similar to the Nexon from the straight ahead. The ICE version fixes that, the etched design of the grille and air dam gives it a distinct appearance from the Nexon or Harrier. It's neatly executed and makes the car look quite wide. Otherwise, you still have that striking design with the sharpely angled roof and the big rear section with the wide lighting. The massive 500-litre boot continues to be practical.

2024 Tata Curvv Price, Verdict

Priced at Rs 17.49 lakh for the petrol manual and Rs 19 lakh for the diesel-DCT, the Curvv is priced right in the ballpark of its rivals in this segment. Its striking shape will be the standout in this crowded segment, which may help counter the fact that it is smaller inside than its competition. The new engines definitely add to the sense of it being a strong contender in this space, helped by the well-judged driving character and a long list of features.