Compact sedan Tata Indigo eCS is among the best selling models of the company. The Indigo eCS range is offered in seven different variants, five of which are diesel powered and two are petrol powered. The entry level sedan boasts of sturdy build, modish appearance and the revered Tata promise.

Vehicles that compete with the Tata Indigo eCS, in the compact sedan segment, include the Maruti Swift DZire and the Honda Amaze. In the future, German manufacturer Volkswagen also plans to launch a new compact sedan, which will be based on the platform of a hatchback known as Up! Indian manufacturer Mahindra & Mahindra would be looking to up the ante in this segment by revealing the Verito CS, a compact version of its popular Verito sedan. However, it certainly appears that none of the vehicles will be able to match the localisation content or price of the Indigo eCS. At present, Tata Indigo eCS stands second only to the Honda Amaze, in terms of fuel efficiency.

Tata Indigo eCS: Exteriors

At the front, Indigo eCS car gets smoked headlamps, stylish grille and attractive fog lamps. Further, reflector indicators have been provided at the top of each headlamp. In addition, it also gets dual tone bumpers in some variants. Interestingly, windscreen and all other glasses are made of high quality grade. From the front fascia, Indigo eCS seems like a full-grown sedan and the huge bonnet gives a certain masculine feel to the car. At the rear end, the tail lamps are placed nicely and complement the car's front design.

Indigo eCS sedan is available in four different attractive colours - Starlight Blue, Royal Burgundy, Porcelain White and Arctic Silver. A closer look at the Indian roads would reveal that Porcelain White and Royal Burgundy are among the most popular colour options in this vehicle.

In terms of dimensions, the Indigo eCS sedan stands at a length of 3988 mm, which allows it to qualify for the excise duty cut received by small vehicles. It has a width of 1620 mm and a height of 1540 mm that explains its spacious cabin, despite being small in size. All variants get semi-tinted glasses and body coloured bumpers as standard equipments. While some variants get internally adjustable Outer Rear View Mirrors (ORVMs), others get electrically adjustable ORVMs. A dashing chrome strip on the hood of the Indigo eCS gives it a modish appearance.

Top end variants of this compact sedan, such as Indigo eCS VX and Indigo eCS GVX come with 7-spoke alloy wheels. In comparison, all other variants have wheels with just radial tyres and regular wheel caps. The tyre size of this vehicle is 175/65 R14, which has been optimized to provide best comfort and handling on tarmac, which in turn helps in reducing drag.

Tata Indigo eCS: Interiors

On the inside, aesthetically pleasing dual tone colours have been provided in beige and coco brown options. Few variants such as the LX CR4 (diesel) GLX MPFI (petrol), LX TDI (diesel), VX CR4 (diesel) and GVX MPFI (petrol) also get a premium wood finished central console. Front power outlets for charging mobile phones are provided in all variants of the Tata Indigo eCS. Additionally, cabin space is also quite good for a vehicle of this size. Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) is only available in the top end diesel and petrol variants.

From the driving point of view, the Indigo eCS is very comfortable. Many users have managed long drives in different parts of the country with this vehicle and none have complained of backaches, which speaks volumes about the easy driving position offered in the Indigo. For these long rides, the AC also plays an important part in summers and the Indigo AC does a good job of cooling the entire cabin uniformly. In the boot, a big 30 inch suitcase can easily be fitted, along with two large duffle bags.

Tata Indigo eCS: Engine

Tata Indigo eCS was the first compact sedan to be available in India, before the Maruti Swift Dzire or the recent Honda Amaze. The petrol version of this vehicle comes with a 1193 cc engine that produces a maximum power of 64 bhp and maximum torque of 100 Nm. In comparison, the 1396 cc diesel CR4 engine generates 69 bhp of maximum power and 140 Nm of peak torque. The current CR4 diesel engine complies with Bharat Stage IV emission norms and is more eco-friendly than the the previous diesel powertrain used in this vehicle. On the road, the car can effortlessly cruise at 110 to 120 kmph, even with 5 adults and their luggage inside. The CR4 diesel unit's low grunt allows the vehicle to climb slopes with ease.

The Tata Indigo eCS is a frugal vehicle, which makes it immensely popular as a long distance vehicle. This model has set several milestones in terms of mileage and value-for-money ratings. The CR4 diesel engine in this vehicle delivers a mileage of 22 kmpl in cities and 25 kmpl in highways. On the other hand, the MPFI petrol engine gives fuel economy figures of 15 kmpl in cities and 18 kmpl on highways. Such high fuel economy results, along with its price, ensure that the Indigo eCS is an economical vehicle to own and maintain, which offers space volume of a sedan and the fuel efficiency of a hatchback.

Acceleration of the earlier versions of the Indigo was much slower than what it currently is. Though it is not really capable of racing on track, the diesel version is capable of reaching 100 kmph from rest in 18 seconds. In comparison to this, the petrol version does 0-100 kmph in 17 seconds. The vehicle's compact size allows it to easily manoeuvre through heavy chaotic traffic, which explains its popularity among the city dwelling Indian audience.