It all started with the Safari, followed suit by the Indigo and now it is the turn of the old workhorse, the Indica, to get a dose of the DiCOR medicine. The Indica has come a long way since it was first launched back in 1998. Over the years it has become more “user-friendly”, losing some of its rough edges and finding acceptance with a wider populace. The Indica has gone on to become the highest selling diesel hatch in the country, sitting pretty at No. 2 position, just below the Alto, after clocking a sales figure of 12,360 for the month of January!
Design
The Indica DiCOR remains more or less unchanged in terms of appearance. It has retained its looks that have become instantly recognizable to the masses over its ten-year lifespan. What differentiates the DiCOR from its lesser Turbo variant is chrome strips on the radiator grille and a "DiCOR"badge on the boot lid. Rest of the design such as the clear lens headlamps, tail lamps, side repeater lamps, body coloured bumpers and wheel arches are all carried over form the earlier model but still make for an impressive silhouette. Other things which too have regretfully been carried over are the poor finish and plastic quality, the omnipresent panel gaps and the cheap looking window rubber beading; its high time Tata paid heed to these minute yet significant details. The paint job is fantastic though and is at par with if not better than the rest of the competition.

The interior of the DiCOR in the general sense doesn’t vary in the least bit from its sisters. It is the smaller and always imperative details like the finishing and material that has been improved upon. The plastic quality even though better than the Indica Turbo has a long way to go before it can match the likes of that of the Swift diesel. One annoying factor that is still present in the Indica DiCOR is the improper seat position. Combined with the high dashboard and awkwardly placed pedals it is the perfect recipe for a sore back and neck. The steering wheel of the Indica DiCOR is also of substantial thickness and this makes it uncomfortable to grip. The ergonomics of the car is pretty dismissal too, with the switch for the power windows located between the gear lever and the handbrake. However apart from these shortcomings the DiCOR’s interior continue to be very spacious and comfortable. With the new model Tata has also upgraded the seat fabric and now there are fabric inserts in the doors as well. The Indica continues to offer the most generous amount of leg space, knee space and head space and none of its competitors come even remotely close to matching this. Due to its wide-opening doors entering and exiting the vehicle is very convenient. The boot storage capacity is a bit small though, at 220 litres you can’t fit more than 2 to 3 handbags inside the boot.
Comfort
The Indica DiCOR belongs to a long pedigree of cars that are noted for being comfortable and blessed with adecent ride quality. The Indica’s suspension works well on good roads and even on slightly broken roads but it still has a habit to wiggle and waggle over badly broken roads. The ride quality improves as speed builds up though but road clatter still seeps into the cabin. The steering remains vague with insufficient feedback. The handling on the other hand is quite good and this helps build confidence while driving. The DiCOR scores over Swift LDI with better comfort and more features.
Engine and Transmission
The Tata Indica DiCOR comes with the same dual overhead 16-valve camshaft engine currently doing duty in the Indigo. Owing to the better tuning the injection system has received at the hands of the engineers, the Indica turns out to be a far better performer than the Indigo. The 1,396cc diesel engine now makes use of a Delphi Common Rail Injection system that provides 3 injections per stroke with a Variable Geometry Turbo for improved flexibility and drivability. The torque and maximum power figures have remained unchanged but a difference in the flow of power is perceptible. With power of 70bhp and torque of 140Nm, the engine is more responsive and has an improved pick-up because of the even spread of torque, which is now available from as low as 1800rpm. The turbo lag has also been reduced considerably and the car feels quite peppy and doesn’t need frequent gearshifts. However, the 5 speed manual transmission, which has been borrowed from the Indigo, is as woolly as ever. The DiCOR takes 14.95 seconds to traverse from 0-100. The Indica DiCOR is quite a handy performer on the highway due to its free revving engine and has enough punch in it to attain and retain decent speeds. It is apparent that Tata tried hard to refine the engine but the end result has plenty of room still left for improvement. Compared to the regular Indica the DiCOR’s engine sounds noisier, with a pronounced diesel rattle, which is audible even in the cabin. Tata engineers’ attempts at silencing the DiCOR engine seem to have failed inspite of them giving 34 tweaks to the Indica’s NVH system. The woes don’t end here; the brakes’ power appears inadequate to reign in the one ton plus car in a positive and reassuring manner and the tyres which normally offer decent levels of grip at normal driving conditions progressively run out of grip as speed builds up. Even the Sumo Grande takes considerably lesser amount of time to come to a standstill from high speeds than the Indica DiCOR, which just goes to show the need for better brakes on the Indica. The 165/65 14 inch radial tyres fill the wheel wells better than before. The Indica suffers from pronounced body roll, which is disappointing since it’s not a large car. Its small size and diesel engine have one big advantage though, which is the fuel economy. At 13.8kmpl in the city and 17.7kmpl on the highway the Indica DiCOR betters the Turbo’s record by a 1kmpl. The bottom line is that the DiCOR engine is capable and delivers where it is required. It is amply refined and has a good mix of performance and economy, features that are sure to attract more people to the Indica brand.
Safety
The DiCOR comes with basic safety features such as door intrusion beams, seat belts, rear door child locks, anti-submarine seats and collapsible steering wheel, but the omission of the expected ABS and airbags comes rather as a shock. These safety features are not available even as options. The Tata Indica DiCOR is excellent value for money and a very prudent purchase. DLG is the only variant available in the Indica DiCOR family as of now. Priced at Rupees 4,11,743 (ex-showroom Delhi), it has the potential to woo a vast number of customers. One thing is certain, Tata Indica DiCOR’s performance in the market is sure to be closely watched by customers and rivals alike.