Tata Curvv Petrol Hyperion 1.2 Turbo Manual: A Comprehensive Review
Of most interest is the new Hyperion direct injection turbo petrol which develops 125bhp and 225Nm- a sizable increase of the standard 1.2 turbo which offers 120bhp and 170Nm
The Curvv is the first compact SUV challenger from Tata Motors and interestingly, as seen with the Curvv EV before, it is an SUV coupe. Based on a new Atlas platform, the Curvv comes with two turbo petrol engines and one diesel. Of most interest is the new Hyperion direct injection turbo petrol which develops 125bhp and 225Nm- a sizable increase of the standard 1.2 turbo which offers 120bhp and 170Nm. This new engine will further power other future Tata Motors cars. In the Curvv we drove it with the standard 6-speed manual gearbox while a DCT dual clutch automatic is also offered.
Immediately this new engine is much more refined than the standard turbo petrol while first impressions bring in a much more smoother power delivery along with ample torque. It is easy to drive with the torque on offer not making your work the gearbox. It pulls well and has a sportier side when pushed hard with the sport mode on. There is definitely a healthy amount of power to be had but is linear and well spread out. It is not too sharp or has any lag which we noticed.
While the 125bhp power and 225Nm torque may not match rivals with their 1.5l turbo petrol, the Curvv with this engine feels urgent and fun to drive with enough to make you smile. The 6- speed manual gearbox as we have also said with the Nexon, has a long throw and we would have liked a different gear shifter while that said, the clutch is light.
In terms of ride and handling, the Curvv feels rock solid with its tough suspension but the change with this car is the increased refinement, better ride quality and sorted driving manners. There is body roll but it feels controlled while the light steering feels direct. You can enjoy this tall SUV and it does not feel out of place when driven hard, which is impressive. The massive 208mm ground clearance also means it lends an advantage over going over bad roads while not being as fragile as some of its rivals. The low speed ride quality is compliant despite a bit of a firm edge due to the 18inch wheels but it is not overly firm at all but perfect.
The Curvv in its ICE avatar looks as good as the EV with its coupe SUV like style along with sharp lines plus details like the 18 inch alloys, flush door handles and loads of black elements which contrast well with the superb colour on offer. Inside, the cabin has a multi layered look with soft touch materials plus a digital instrument cluster along with a large 12.3 inch touchscreen. Like the other Tata Motors car, there is a phygital panel plus the four spoke steering with a digital logo as the Harrier (both attract smudges). Similar to the Nexon, the navigation view can be added to the digital driver display and the touchscreen is slick to use while being larger than rivals. Features on offer include ventilated seats, powered drivers seat, voice enabled panoramic sunroof, 360 degree camera, powered handbrake, connected car tech with more features, rear seat recline, ADAS level 2, a fantastic JBL audio system etc.
Dual zone climate control is missing though but the 360 degree camera has a high quality display and there is an air purifier too.
While the door pockets are large, the Curvv similar to the Nexon again has less storage in the centre console while the wireless charging pad can barely hold large phones. In terms of seat comfort, the front seats of the Curvv are quite accommodating but the rear seats lack space with the headroom being compromised a bit for the coupe like roofline. There is also no middle headrest for the third passenger and is more of a two seater at best here. The huge 500 litre boot remains a plus point and gets a powered boot release by gesture.
With prices starting at Rs 14 lakh, the Hyperion petrol is considerably more expensive than the standard turbo unit but we think still makes sense due to being a better powertrain and being more fun to drive. As for the Curvv overall, it is an interesting addition to the compact SUV segment with its looks being the biggest USP.
What we like: looks, new turbo petrol engine, suspension, value for money
What we do not like: rear seats lack space, no dualzone climate control
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