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Chevrolet Tavera Review: Highway Commuter
The Tavera is the tried and tested highway commuter by Chevrolet. At most levels, It has not been an extremely successful vehicle in the Indian market but its existence cant be ignored in the MUV segment.
Combining rugged looks, economic pricing along with great utility factor, it has been the obvious choice of intercity travel operators. We review the Chevrolet Tavera LT 9 BS4 variant to find out more.
Appearance Exterior
The Chevrolet Tavera doesn’t have the looks of a modern MUV which its competitors like the Scorpio boast of but then Chevrolet had a very practical approach to the Tavera. It is mainly a utility-first designed vehicle.
The LT9 variant which we drove sports the new bowtie face which Chevrolet has standardized across all the models. It has clear lens fog lamps affixed on the bumpers with a chrome ring around it. The lower half of the bumper is done in black plastic which promises to be of strong build quality.
With the raised lower section in comparison to the front, the ride height looks taller. Also to add the dual colour combination of dark paired with Linen beige looks smart with subtle vinyls on the rear body panel.
Even if not the smartest of the lot, it does not look out of proportion from any angle. The lines on the rear assure the same. Overall the Tavera looks decent and smart for a utility only MUV. It doesnt look nimble and naive but instead looks like a action ready vehicle.
Appearance Interior
Tall ride height is the first aspect to get your appreciation inside the cabin. Also, the visibility cause of the same is superb. The new Tavera comes with a redesigned instrument cluster which is very similar to many sedans.
Quality of plastics used on the dashboard is good and the drive feedback the Tavera offers is very positive. On the central console there is the 1 DIN music system on top followed by an intermittent recess and then AC vents. Ideally, AC vents could have been better if positioned top most on the central panel.
The legroom and headroom offered for all the rows of passengers is very nice. Even with good cabin space, however long distance travelling is not as comfortable as that of the Toyota Innova. The Innova scores more in comfort value offered but then its hefty price justifies the difference between the two. Cushioning done on seats is decent and can be improved for better seating comfort. Another strong positive about the Tavera is its air conditioner which is very effective.
There are two storage options on the front dashboard. On the central panel too there is enough space to snug in miscellaneous articles. Twin cup holders are placed exactly beside the hand brake lever. The front door panel has a small pocket while the rear door panel has none. The third row doubles up as the massive luggage storage if the seats are belted up.
To conclude about the interiors of Chevrolet Tavera, it has been kept very basic but still they are not disappointing. The good quality of plastics and the improved feel of the cabin make the Tavera a great economical transportation option.
Performance Drive
The Chevrolet Tavera Neo 3 has a four cylinder 2000ccTCDI Diesel Engine which produces a power of 106.4 bhp at 4000 rpm and a torque of 263.7 Nm at 2500 rpm. The robust diesel engine of the Tavera is meted with a 5 speed manual transmission.
Drive of the Tavera is not very smooth and also the steering feels a bit on the heavier side. While maneuvering through the tight corners, it won’t be that easy of a task. The tall ride height which normally contributes to the generous headroom also acts as a demerit offering body roll on turns.
The gear shift is not smooth and is notchy especially when shifted very often. On the brighter side of the Tavera is the drive. It does not have an enthusiastic engine but then on highways except while overtaking and on ghat sections, one does not need an enthusiastic mill at all. The Tavera on long stretches offers a very balanced ride. The power delivery is flat so neither is there any sudden surge or drop in performance as it remains stable across the band of rpms.
Since the motor is not a performance friendly motor, it is a highly economical machine. The Chevrolet Tavera gave us a real time mileage of 17 kmpl, which makes it the obvious choice for so many.
Tech Specs
| Technical Specifications | |
| Make | Chevrolet |
| Model | Tavera Neo3 |
| Variant | LT 9 BS IV |
| Ex showroom price Mumbai in Lakhs | 9,62,000 |
| Engine capacity | 2000cc |
| Power in PS/RPM | 106/4000 |
| Torque in NM/RPM | 263/2500 |
| Transmisson | Manual 5 speed |
| Front Brake | Disc |
| Rear Brake | Drum |
| Tyre rating | 205/65 R15 |
| Fuel Tank Capacity (L) | 55 |
| Average Mileage in KMPL | 12 |
| Seating | 10 |
| Dimensions in MM | |
| Length | 4435 |
| Width | 1680 |
| Height | 1765 |
| Wheel base | 2685 |
Features
| Features | LT 9 | Neo 3 | Neo 3 MAX | Neo 3 LS |
| Alloy wheels | Yes | No | No | No |
| Power steering | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| AC | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Power windows | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| 2nd and 3rd row AC | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Single Din Audio system | Yes | No | No | No |
| Central locking | Yes | No | No | No |
| Rear Washer and Wiper | Yes | No | No | No |
| Rear Window Defogger | Yes | No | No | No |
| Seating options | 9,8,7 | 10 | 10,7 | 10,7 |
Competition All Specs
| Specifications |
Chevrolet
Tavera Neo3 |
Mahindra
Xylo |
Tata Motors
Sumo Grande MKII |
| Variant | LT9 | E8 | GX |
| Ex showroom price Mumbai in lakhs | 9,62,000 | 9,40,469 | 9,01,708 |
| Cubic capacity/ number of cylinders | 2000/4 | 2179/4 | 2179/4 |
| Power in PS/RPM | 106/4000 | 120/4000 | 120/4000 |
| Torque in Nm/RPM | 263/2500 | 280/2800 | 250/3000 |
| Front Brake | Disc | Disc | Drum |
| Rear Brake | Drum | Drum | Drum |
| Ground clearance | 180 | 186 | 180 |
| Fuel Tank Capacity (L) | 55 | 55 | 65 |
| Seating | 9 seater | 8 seater | 8 Seater |
| Key Features | |||
| Tubeless tyres | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Rear Wash and wiper | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Arm rest for driver and co driver | Yes | Yes | No |
| Height adjustable driver seat | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Reverse assist | Yes | Yes | No |
| Engine Immobiliser | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Power steering | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Keyless entry | Yes | Yes | No |
| Central locking | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Power windows | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Rear Defogger | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Audio system | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| ABS | No | Yes | No |
| Airbag | No | Yes | No |
Conclusion
Superb fuel efficiency, dense network of Chevrolet dealership and ease of maintenance make the Chevrolet Tavera a perfect resort for all commercial purposes. The MUV segment is booming in India like no other segment.
While mass car makers like Maruti Suzuki and Nissan have already plunged in this segment with their respective offerings, Chevrolet will be offering a refined MUV for the premium customers to finally give a fitting reply to the likes of Mahindras and Tatas. We thank Jitendra Wheels (N) Pvt. Ltd. (Ph. No. 0253-6636666) for lending us the car for review purpose.
