Tata Vista D90 - Offers A Spacious And Comfortable Cabin

A more powerful version of the underrated Vista hatch is now on offer. But does it tick all   the right boxes?

The last couple of years have witnessed new entries in the Indian motorsport scene, with the arrival of the Volkswagen Polo Cup and Toyota Etios one-make series. Tata Motors too showed interest and was keen to launch a racing series along similar lines. It wanted to put a bunch of spruced up Vistas on the track a bunch of spruced up Vistas on the track and offer a season of affordable racing. But for unspecified reasons, the project didn't take off.

Tata has worked towards making the Vista feel sportier and the stiffer suspension setup echoes that

Now, it appears Tata didn’t give up on the idea of bestowing on its products a sporty character, especially the Vista.  As a result, we have the D90, another variant joining the Vista line-up.

With the D90, Tata is pushing the envelope to the next level by offering better power and performance than its rivals. For this variant, Tata borrowed the 89bhp Quadrajet motor, equipped with a variable-geometry turbo, from the Manza and plonked it into the Vista. Since the Vista is lighter than the sedan by 100kg, Tata has re-tuned the engine, tweaked the suspension set-up to make it feel tighter, and improved NVH levels. Tata wants to promote the Vista D90 as a sportier option to its 74bhp cousin and in doing so, has altered all possible parameters.

Comfortable front row seats, but they lack support

Walk into a showroom and try spotting a Vista D90. It's difficult because it looks like any other Vista. Get closer and the Quadrajet 90 and Vista D90 badges, a slightly altered Tata logo on the grille and a contrasting shade on the roof point towards a spike in power. However, jump inside the cabin and you'll be welcomed by an instrument cluster proudly sitting behind the steering wheel. So you can now drive without letting your passengers and your dog know how fast or slow the car is moving.

The center console in the top-end ZX+ variant is a direct lift from Manza and comes with a touchscreen infotainment system with an in-built MapmyIndia satnav and Bluetooth connectivity. The D90 also gets a trip computer with a dedicated display, and automatic climate control. The lower-spec VX variant only gets a 2-DIN music system, manual AC, and no satnav. The front seats are comfortable and look well padded, but aren’t that supportive – you easily get chucked sideways while cornering. The rear seat is more comfortable and offers ample leg room, but the seat back is too hard for our liking. Overall ft and finish is actually good.

Take the D90 for a drive and you'll appreciate how its 89bhp, 200Nm, 1248cc VGT motor feels better than the fixed-geometry turbo-equipped motor in the 74bhp Vista. The car doesn’t take of the way its class-leading 76bhp per ton power-to-weight figure would suggest, but once you get past 3000rpm in second gear and beyond, the motor comes into its own. Which is not to say its dead below that. A short spin in Pune traffic indicates that at part-throttle, the low-end drive ability has improved, the motor developing a small spike in power at around 1800rpm and a greater boost in performance at 2500rpm, when the turbo kicks in. On the highway, the initial turbo-lag is evident, but then the motor pulls smoothly until 4500rpm before limping to its 5000rpm redline, when the needle turns red to indicate you are on the limit. Nice! The D90 is coupled to a five-speed gearbox, a unit that feels good to use, and comes with a light and progressive clutch that is helpful in city traffic.

Tata Vista D90 - Back

Although the oversized steering feels on the lighter side, it offers enough feedback for you to push it harder. But don’t get carried away. Tata has worked towards making the Vista feel sportier and the stiffer suspension setup echoes that. The Vista now handles better than before and body roll is kept in check. Straight-line stability has improved too and the D90 feels planted at speeds beyond 130kph. Brake tests at Tata's Pune track proved to be satisfactory, with ABS helping matters.

However, the sportier setup has compromised the ride comfort that we've come to expect from a Vista and you do feel the bumps on broken surfaces more. Tata claims NVH levels have improved as well, although a decent amount of mechanical clatter still filters through into the cabin. Tata claims a combined fuel efficiency figure of 21.1kpl (ARAI), which is only 1.3kpl down on the smaller 74bhp motor. Impressive!

Tata Vista D90 – Control System

With the D90, Tata is trying to carve out a niche for the Vista. You may not win drag races with a D90, but it’s got enough punch for sane requirements, and it offers a spacious and comfortable cabin. Plus at $11,980 – 13,660 (ex-showroom, Delhi), it costs less than other high-power diesel hatches in the segment.