Tata Bolt diesel review, test drive

We drive Tata's latest offering, the Bolt diesel hatchback. Can it bolster the momentum set forth by the Zest? We find out.

Published on Jan 21, 2015 01:50:00 PM

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What remains common to the Bolt petrol is the accomplished way this version takes on rough patches of road. The Bolt impresses with its ability to mask the severity of most potholes, goes over bumps smoothly, and does so without much drama. There is some amount of body movement but nothing you wouldn’t expect on a comfort-oriented hatchback. At times, clunks from the otherwise quiet suspension are your only indicator of the poor condition of the road below. At faster speeds as well, the Bolt feels nice and composed. Around the corners, it’s no Swift, but the good grip levels and the general level of confidence it inspires make you look past the considerable roll and the lightness of the steering.

Inside and out, the Bolt diesel is no different to the petrol version. It gets the same interesting dashboard (also shared with the Zest) with the standout element being its Harman-sourced touchscreen for the infotainment system. The infotainment system is nice enough to operate, easy to pair your phone to and can even be used to operate the climate control system. But it’s not all hunky-dory in the Bolt. For a cabin that’s big on passenger space, it offers irritatingly little space for smaller items. The boot is small too, and the seats are also a touch on the firm side. Also, overall plastic quality, though largely good, is still a notch or two down on the standards set by Hyundai.