Both SUVs in our test were powered by 1.2-litre turbo petrol engines paired with a 6-speed manual gearbox.
Published on Feb 12, 2025 05:30:00 PM
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The Tata Curvv and Citroen Basalt are the only midsize coupe-SUVs available in the market for now, and we compare which is quicker from 0-100kph. Their acceleration figures have been compiled based on instrumented tests done by Autocar India.
Do note that we have compared the 1.2-litre TGDI manual powertrain of the Tata Curvv and the 1.2-litre turbo-petrol manual of the Citroen Basalt; both are also available with more powertrain options. On paper, the Curvv with 125hp has an advantage of 15hp, while its 225Nm torque is more by 35Nm.
| Curvv vs Basalt: Specifications | ||
|---|---|---|
| SUV | Curvv | Basalt |
| Petrol engine | 1.2-litre, 3 cyl | 1.2-litre, 3 cyl |
| Power | 125hp | 110hp |
| Torque | 225Nm | 190Nm |
| Gearbox | 6MT | 6MT |
| Kerb weight | 1,391kg | 1,202kg |
| Power-to-weight ratio | 89.86hp | 91.51hp |
| Torque-to-weight ratio | 161.75Nm | 158.06Nm |
In terms of kerb weight, the Citroen SUV weighing 1,202kg is lighter than the Tata rival by 189kg. The Basalt has a slightly better power-to-weight ratio (91.51hp vs 89.86hp) per tonne. Meanwhile, the Curvv offers a better torque-to-weight ratio (161.75Nm vs 158.06Nm). Does a weight advantage on paper translate into a quicker 0-100kph sprint time for the Basalt? Or does the Curvv's additional torque help in initial acceleration? Keep reading to find out.
| Curvv vs Basalt: Acceleration from rest | ||
|---|---|---|
| SUV | Curvv | Basalt |
| 20kph | 1.59s | 1.48s |
| 40kph | 3.08s | 2.89s |
| 60kph | 5.68s | 5.01s |
| 80kph | 8.13s | 7.68s |
| 100kph | 11.96s | 11.05s |
Despite being less powerful, the Basalt took 11.05 seconds to reach 100kph, which is nearly a second quicker than the Curvv's 11.96 seconds. Interestingly, the Basalt is quicker across the speed run from a standstill, including 20kph, 40kph, 60kph and 80kph (see table above). On average, the Basalt is 0.47 seconds quicker than the Curvv in acceleration across the aforementioned speed bands.
| Curvv vs Basalt: IN-GEAR ACCELERATION | ||
|---|---|---|
| SUV | Curvv | Basalt |
| 20-80kph | 9.17s | 10.88s |
| 40-100kph | 11.12s | 14.51 |
Things get reversed when comparing the 20-80kph and 40-100kph in-gear acceleration times, with the Curvv taking the lead at 9.17 seconds (1.71 seconds faster) and 11.12 seconds (3.39 seconds faster), respectively.
Before we conduct our performance tests, we check and maintain tyre pressures based on the manufacturer’s recommendation and ensure the car has a full tank of fuel. The car is then tested in a controlled environment with two people on board and the data is collected via highly accurate GPS-based timing equipment.
Prices for the Curvv manual variants with the Hyperion petrol engine are between Rs 14.17 lakh and Rs 17.67 lakh, while the Citroen Basalt turbo manual models range between Rs 11.77 lakh and Rs 12.70 lakh. You can also read the Tata Curvv review and Citroen Basalt review where we delve into the design, features and fuel efficiency aspects of the coupe-SUVs.
ALL PRICES ARE EX-SHOWROOM
Also, see:
Tata Curvv vs Citroen Basalt comparison
Citroen Basalt vs Tata Curvv: Specifications comparison
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