Tata Super Ace MINT in India

Tata Super Ace MINT

Tata has started to be known worldwide after they’ve announced the production of the Nano which is the cheapest passenger car in the world. However, besides passenger cars the company is also building LCVs and trucks and some models are even sold globally. The Tata Super Ace MINT is a flexible LCV work for short conveyance applications and is accessible with a down to earth frame taxicab arrangement. Propelled in 2005 the Tata Ace was India's initial four-wheel scaled down truck. Around then the sub 1-ton smaller than normal truck was a noteworthy stride ahead for the organization, as it got a decent input from the market.

Dimensions

The mini truck has a pretty generous load area which has a 2630mm length and 1460mm width. It measures 4340mm in length, 1565mm in width and 1858mm in height and a wheelbase of 2380mm. It has a ground clearance of 160mm and turning circle radius of 5.1mm.

Design and Style

The overall design is pretty rudimentary and can even be considered dated. At the front we find a simple “V” shaped grille which bares the company logo in its center while the bumper gels seamlessly with the rest of the cab and is fitted with two small fog lamps. Fortunately, the triangular headlights add a dose of dynamism to the entire truck and offer proper road visibility during night. The Super Ace’s interior is pretty spacious and features a wing shaped dashboard which received a two tone treatment. Tata’s materials used for the interiors never impressed anyone, and the Super Ace’s cab makes no exception being fitted with third class plastics. The fittings are cheap and the overall build quality is pretty poor as well. The switches are also cheaply built, but at least they are placed pretty intuitively and are easy to reach.

The cabin borrowed many lines from the Indica Vista and there are numerous common elements like the gear lever, the steering wheel and the central console. As most vehicles in this segment, the Ace’s cabin is fitted with a bunch of useful storage places. Unfortunately, main twin glove-box and the door pockets are too small to be considered useful. The instrument cluster is one of the simplest units ever seen, but at least it’s easy to read. On the other hand, its glass screen catches too many reflections during sunny days which could affect the clear visibility of gauges. The door windows however, are a bit small and don’t offer a proper view of the sides. As it was expected, the seats are part of the high class and offer a limited comfort with zero side bolstering. They also have limited adjustments and are devoid of a proper thigh support.

Engine Specification

The Tata Super Ace Mint is powered by a 1.4 Litre DiCOR (common Rail) BS4 engine which is joint to a rubbery 5-speed fully synchromesh / sliding mesh gearbox. The 4 cylinder unit develops a maximum output of 70 hp and a peak torque of 140 Nm. As most trucks in the segment, the engine is placed under the front seats, and you can replace the engine liquids using a small access point located near the handbrake.

The engine has to deal with a 1.5 tones vehicle, and as you’ve probably guessed, the power is too small to offer any sort of a fast ride. Keep your foot planted on the go pedal and you’ll hit a top speed of 125 kmph. These numbers are far from being impressive but you’ll like the average fuel consumption which is rated around 15.5 kmpl. On the road, the Tata Super Ace Mint feels most comfortable in the 70-90 km/h speed range and it is better to keep it there. If you’ll put some serious weight at the back, the engine will punish you with a sluggish response and a raspy voice but in the end will be able to get the job done.

Braking and Handling

The Tata Super Ace rear Semi elliptic leaf spring suspensions were designed to cope with heavy payloads, hence don’t expect to any kind of soft ride or comfortable driving experience. On the other hand, the body roll is surprisingly small, and the Super Ace has good road stability. The hydraulic power steering is also up to the task and copes well with the city driving, rewarding you with a proper feel of the road. Sadly, the NVH levels are worse than expected and the cabin is filled with wind and engine noise even when it’s riding around the city. Maximum gradeability of 39% allows the Super Ace to climb steep slopes and negotiate difficult terrains. Moreover, at only 4.34 m length and 1.56 m width, the truck has a turning radius of 5.1 m which allows a higher degree of maneuverability around the narrow city streets.

Verdict

The Tata Super Ace is a modest answer for those searching for a little LCV which can manage laborious working conditions and payloads of up to 1 ton. The vehicle isn't as refined as the European LCVs and won't stay aware of the unwavering quality of its Japanese opponents. However, its shabby cost is worth to be contemplated and in spite of its powerless motor, at last will take care of business fine and dandy. Then again the build quality is poor and you'll should be set up for a rough ride. Fortunately the taking care of is really great and the vehicle is genuinely simple to drive around city.