Tata Nano AMT long term review, first report

The GenX Nano comes loaded with features and retains its effortless driving experience across the city in its first month.

Published on Mar 21, 2016 06:00:00 AM

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Tata Nano AMT long term review, first report

Power steering helps the Nano navigate dense Mumbai traffic with ease. Steering a bit too light, even at high speeds.

No need to press that clutch and change gears anymore.

The tailgate finally opens to add practicality.

The AMT gearbox makes the drive relatively effortless, but at the same time, it feels too jerky at low speeds and struggles to find a gear at times. The Nano takes a second or two to move from standstill, making it tricky to drive at low speeds. Once in motion, the upshifts and downshifts are slow but smooth, which makes the drive pleasant. A couple of things like its unsettling ride at any speed and the drum brakes feel almost the same as in the older cars.

The latest Nano, apart from more features has also got a subtle facelift, which differentiates it from the earlier model. I once tried to bypass security personnel at a mall entrance by stating that the boot lid doesn’t open since this was a Nano, but to my surprise, I was shown up right away and was told, “Saab yeh naya gaadi hai, hume pata hai” (This is the new Nano, we know). This statement indicates that the Nano, with all the new features, has gained immense popularity and this time, for all the right reasons. The car is new and it is too early to point out any serious issues yet. It is currently delivering a steady 11.8kpl for the city commute, which, by Nano standards, is a bit low. It’s a good thing then that the tank capacity has been enhanced from 15 litres to 24 litres. The Nano has indeed grown up.

NANOLOGY

2009