Tata Curvv EV first drive review

Coupe-crossovers are becoming popular worldwide. In India, this body style has typically been associated with the luxury car segment, popularised by the BMW X6, followed by the BMX X4, X2, and Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe. For the first time, mass-segment automakers are doing this body style in India. Citroen has launched the Basalt, based on its C3 Aircross, and Tata has come up with the Curvv. The ICE version of the Tata Curvv will be launched next month, while the EV version has already been released in the Indian market. We recently had the opportunity to test drive the Curvv EV on the winding roads of Udaipur, Rajasthan."

How does it appear?

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The coupe-crossover body style might not be everyone's cup of tea, but that's what makes it unique. It might look a bit odd, but you can't deny that the Tata Curvv has a strong visual impact. While it has a similar front to the new Tata Nexon EV, the side and rear profiles are completely different. The sloping, coupe-like rear roofline makes it really stand out, and honestly, it's not a bad look at all. The Curvv's premium vibe is boosted by features like flushed door handles, sequential turn indicators, and aero inserts in the wheels. Tata also offers some cool colour options, which could be a great selling point. The 'Virtual Sunrise' shade is especially eye-catching, and reminds you of the blue hue you see in the sky just before sunrise.

We drove the top-of-the-line Accomplished+ A55 version, which has some extra add-ons compared to the lower models. These include 18-inch alloys that fit perfectly in the wheel wells. The lower versions have slightly smaller wheels, but they still look cool with their stylish aero inserts. Personally, I'm not a big fan of this body style, but I have to say, the Tata Curvv looks pretty good. The exterior quality control is a little better, with fewer panel gaps than most other Tata cars, and the paint finish is also impressive.

How's it on the inside?

We care more about what's on the inside than what's on the outside. When we got into the Curvv, we noticed that it had parts from different models. The steering wheel is from the Tata Safari, and it feels a bit too big for the Curvv. We didn't understand why its top is tilted slightly extra towards the front. This makes it uncomfortable to turn because it extends the reach to the top and reduces it to the bottom. Also, the steering is only adjustable for tilt, which makes it a bit difficult to find the most comfortable driving position. We were surprised that Tata didn't provide a telescopic steering wheel for the Curvv, especially considering the vehicle is otherwise loaded with features.

Almost everything else inside, like the 10.25-inch driver display, 12.5-inch infotainment screen, and central console, is the same as the Nexon EV. Both cars feel pretty similar in terms of space as well, but the backseat headroom isn't great because of the sloping roof. My colleague, who's about 6 feet tall, tried it and barely had an inch of headspace left. The seats are comfy, but the under-thigh support could be better. On the plus side, the boot space is huge at 500 litres, and it can go up to 973 litres. You can open it with a gesture and the engine bay has also been turned into a frunk for some extra storage. The quality of most parts feels solid, but the attention to detail is lacking.

The Curvv.ev has decent ergonomics and interior space, but what makes it stand out are its abundance of features and exceptionally quiet interiors. The coupe-crossover offers six-way adjustable front seats (electric for the driver and manual for the co-passenger) with seat ventilation, a JBL sound system, a panoramic sunroof, a wireless phone charger, 45W type-C ports and much more. Additionally, the top-spec trim includes level 2 ADAS, featuring adaptive cruise control, active brake assist, and lane keep assist. Even the base variant comes with impressive standard safety features such as six airbags, electronic stability program (ESP), disc brakes on all wheels with vacuum assist, an electric parking brake, and a camera and sensor-based reverse park assist. Safety features are further enhanced with a 360-degree HD camera, Blind Spot Monitor, Tyre Pressure Monitor, Acoustic Vehicle Alert System, and more as you move up the variant range. It's worth noting that like all new Tata vehicles, the Curvv.ev is claimed to be 5-star crash test ready, although it is yet to be evaluated by the NCAP.

How is it to drive?

This is where the Curvv EV really shines. Thanks to the pouch cells, Tata was able to increase the battery density, unlike the Nexon EV which uses cylindrical cells. It has two battery pack options, 45kWh and 55kWh, offering an ARAI-certified range of up to 585 kilometres on a single full charge. However, based on our test drive of the 55kWh option, it seems to have a mixed range of around 400 kilometres in normal driving conditions. Nonetheless, it could be called the longest-range mass-segment passenger EV in India.

The Tata Curvv EV has a 1.2C charging rate. The bigger battery pack can do DC fast charging up to 70kW, while the smaller one supports 60kW. Tata claims that both can be fast charged from 10-80 per cent in 40 minutes. It can also do 7.2 kW AC charging that can charge the battery from 10–100 per cent in 6.5 hours for the 45kWh version and almost 8 hours for the 55kWh trims, while the portable home charger takes about 21 hours to complete the task. The Curvv EV also has vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-load (V2L) functions, so you can use it to charge other EVs or power electric appliances.

The A55 trim we tried out, has around 165 horsepower and 215 Newton meters. It's got a single electric motor that powers the front wheels, and the performance is amazing. Thankfully, they've split the power into three driving modes – Eco, City, and Sport – because the Sport mode is pretty intense. The City mode works fine for most driving conditions, and you can switch to Eco if you want a more relaxed driving experience on open roads. The Curvv also has four levels of regen braking, which you can control using the paddle shifters on the steering wheel. Level 0 is for freewheeling, while Level 3 is quite sharp, so we recommend using it in the city only after getting the hang of the lower levels of regen. We found Level 2 good enough for one-pedal driving in city conditions.

The Tata Curvv EV maintains the brand's tradition of delivering excellent ride quality. The version we tested was equipped with 18-inch wheels and 215-section tyres, which performed quite well. The car is sturdy enough to handle rough patches, smoothing out most bumps, ruts, and potholes, providing good isolation for the occupants. However, the suspension setup is on the firmer side, which can result in a slightly jarring ride at low speeds. Nevertheless, as the speed increases, the car feels robust and composed, even on extremely rough roads. It excels in absorbing bumps, although the suspension's operation is audible over sharp bumps.

Tata says the Curvv EV has a 50:50 weight distribution, a low centre of gravity (CG), and a flatter roll axis. They also claim it's 45 per cent stiffer than its mid-SUV counterpart. So, we tested it on the twisty roads of the Aravali hills in Udaipur, and it handled most of the corners well. It stays composed on the bends, feels stable, doesn't roll too much, and can handle a lot of sideways action. You might notice a bit of torque steer when you accelerate aggressively, but that's typical for front-wheel-drive EVs.

Should you buy it?

The Tata Curvv EV is priced between INR 17.5 lakh and 22 lakh (ex-showroom), making it not much costlier than ICE alternatives from other brands. While it might struggle to compete with models like the Creta, Seltos, and Grand Vitara in terms of space, interior quality, and ergonomics; it shines in terms of performance, comfort, and features. Tata also offers an 8-year/1,60,000km warranty on the battery and motor, as well as a 3-year/1,25,000km warranty on the vehicle, which is a major advantage. Most importantly, the Curvv EV offers a genuinely enjoyable driving experience. So, if you're thinking about getting a car in this price range and EV charging is not an issue for you, then the Tata Curvv EV is definitely worth considering for going green.