Tata Xenon XT: First Drive

You gotta’ admit, there is something undeniably cool about pick-up trucks. They might be used as practical beasts of burden in most parts of the world, but driving down a city street, country music blaring in a car that would look more at home on a farm than the urban jungle just paints a warm and fuzzy picture. Maybe this image is so attractive thanks be told to Hollywood for making the apparition so within the ambit of everyday folk. Or maybe it’s because a pick-up truck promises a sense of freedom like nothing else on wheels. Even for an urban dweller who likes to get down and dirty on the weekend, yet have all the sensibilities of a vehicle that works in the everyday grind and it doesn't get better than one of these.

 
So that’s where this vehicle, the Tata Xenon XT, comes in. It might have begun life as a rural, commercial pick-up in the form of the Tata Mobile 206 back in the 80s (incidentally the very first car subjected to an automotive scoop story in the country by a magazine – refer Car & Bike International’s July 1987 issue), but as things progressed and the market began to mature, Tata soon transformed this workhorse into a modern-day object of desire in 2005, with the advent of the TL (or the TelcoLine) 4x4. Every aspect of the car saw thorough modernisation right from the way it looked to what was under the hood however there were errors and the most important of them all was while it looked tough and stylish, the aura of its exterior wasn’t matched at all by the insipid interiors. I yet remember Rajiv Dube, then the head honcho for the passenger car division telling me rather smugly that “we’ll leave it to the buyer to customise the interior.” On one hand that’s the way to go but only if many flock to it and the vehicle flows out of showrooms quicker than one can make it but the actual reality was no one wanted to buy it because the interiors were not in sync with aspirations and so it slowed if not completely ruined the concept.

It took many years and a load of revised thought for the team within Tata Motors to grapple with the enthusiast pick-up because frankly they had bigger problems they needed solutions to. Thankfully though, it was a fairly easy job as regards tending to the pick-up and by 2007 it had readied a fairly contemporary take on the lifestyle ‘truck’ as the Yankees would term it. This was the original Xenon designed by the firm’s UK-based Concept Group which with its fine-toned muscularity and powered by the Safari’s DiCOR 2.2-litre engine pumping underneath its hood had not just moved away finally from its 1987 Tatamobile roots and looks but it also signalled its advance into the space where only SUVs were the order of the day.

 
Though it was sold in a bunch of markets internationally, unfortunately for us, the Xenon didn’t really make it to our shores until 2009. Now however, there is a new Xenon XT. What Tata Motors has done is adopted a “don’t fix what ain’t broken” approach to certain aspects such as the overall styling and the engine, yet small odds and ends which needed to be modernised or improved, have been. Perfect!

The first thing you realise when you look at the Xenon XT is that it really is a gorgeous machine. With its flared wheel arches and the whole body jacked up to a massive ground clearance of 200mm, it exudes a sense of ruggedness that few other cars in India can – a sense that this thing could go to hell and back and still have a smile on its face. A solid looking bash plate at the front further accentuates that strong hunkered down look. Still, there is nothing rural in the Xenon’s aesthetics. Clear lens headlamps, a smooth design on the sides which flows into pick-up bed area, mirrors with integrated indicators – it probably looks more at home in the urban jungle rather than the wooded one. What you also get in the form of optional accessories is a very slick looking roll bar situated right behind the cab as well as a plethora of lights mounted on the front bull bar or even the roof, but more on that later.

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Step inside and you’re treated to pleasant two-tone beige coloured plastics all around along with some faux wood trim for the centre console, though if you ask us, the faux wood feels a little too faux. Anyone who’s been inside any Tata SUV such as the older Safari DiCOR will feel right at home in the Xenon. But in any case, everything you expect from a modern day car you’ll find inside the cabin – air conditioning, power windows, tilt adjustable steering wheel, electrically adjustable mirrors, central locking, MP3 audio player – it’s all there. In terms of equipment, you’re not left wanting, for sure, but don’t go expecting materials and textures from cars which cost two or three times as much. The plastics which make up most of the interior might not feel very premium, but everything has a sense of being very solidly put together. All the switchgear works without faltering and overall, the feel on the inside is not too bad. If only this was the interior when the Xenon hit the market in 2009 the brand could have been established a lil earlier.

 
We only get the dual cab version of the Xenon here in India, so thankfully, you’ll find two extra full-sized doors and a full-sized bench for three at the back which is the right way to go for acceptance of this vehicle among adventurous families. Surprisingly however, space at the back isn’t massive and feels like it could be out of a medium sized hatchback. The backrest of the rear bench however is angled way too vertically and this could be a cause for some discomfort for passengers on longer journeys. These are the soft issues which need re-addressing rather than reconciling and here is where the Tata Motors stylists and packaging engineers need to sit, think and come up with potent new ideas which are not just stylish but also deliver ergonomics of a high order. The interior is just right for basic acceptance and from here on any and every level of customisation would be a cinch.

Coming to the aspect of driving, the Xenon XT certainly is an interesting experience. Under the hood, you’ll find the same 2.2-litre DiCOR diesel engine which does duty in the Tata Safari Storme. Gone are the days when this car’s forefathers were powered by almost agricultural motors – this turbocharged direct injection mill, thanks to a variable geometry turbocharger, chugs out 140 PS of power and a very enjoyable 32 0Nm of torque. This engine demands a few revs to be dialed in before it’ll get the Xenon moving, especially when starting off on an incline. Once past 1500 rpm, the DiCOR engine gets into its stride. It’s noisy but peppy and there’s a nice surge as the needle approaches 2000 rpm and all the way to 3500 rpm where power finally fades out. With the same power as the Safari Storme and about 100 kg less to lug around, the Xenon XT has a real pep in its step. Part-throttle responses are good despite the tall gearing, and though there’s a lot of whooshing and whistling from under the hood, you’ll be happy with the resulting power.

 

One thing that did stick out a bit was the pull of the engine in third gear when climbing up steepish roads. Continuously having to shift down to second gear for these inclines was a bit annoying, but unless you live in extremely hilly areas, such roads are something that you won’t encounter too often. Shifting though isn't a hard task at all. The gearbox has somewhat of a long throw, but the shifts are fairly positive and you’ll rarely miss a gear change. Regardless, the Xenon is an involving experience behind the wheel and once you get used to the slightly elevated seating position, the driving experience gets even better. In fact, it’s easy to develop a slightly supercilious attitude towards other road users when you see them unfalteringly giving way for you to go through in this behemoth.

 
Just like the original iteration of the Xenon, it is available in both 4x2 and 4x4 drive configs and the four-wheel drive version is the one we got to put through its paces. The electronically controlled transfer case lets you switch from 2H to 4H even while driving along – on the move so to speak, but if you want to switch to 4L, you have to come to a dead stop, put the gearbox in neutral and depress the clutch. Once in four-wheel drive mode, the 320Nm of the engine really comes into its own if you show it some dirt. It even runs independent double wishbone suspension at the front with parabolic leaf springs at the back. But even though the competent drive train and fairly decent approach and departure angles are suitable for off-roading, showing this car some serious rough stuff could just be a problem thanks to its fairly long 3,150mm wheelbase. Still, the inclusion of a limited slip differential adds some serious off-road cred to this lifestyle pick-up truck. While the ride quality on tarmac is OK, I would have preferred to see the rear suspension getting a multi-link set-up so that overall body control is better and this detail also moves the vehicle away from what everyone still cringes about – Tata Motors’ obvious truck lineage.

Also while we have also spoken about the all-wheel-drive cred built in using the electronically actuated transfer case, I must suggest to the Tata packaging engineers that they need to re-site the actuation switch for that in a more prominent and convenient to employ position on the dashboard. If soccer moms ever want this as their vehicle of choice, do not drive them away by getting them to search high and low for the all-wheel-drive actuation switch. It is areas like this which really make everyone tear their hair in frustration because the majority of the stuff has been sorted out and works great only for such tacky bits to rear their head and give the vehicle and brand a reputation they don’t deserve. I am amazed that no one within the company has got down to addressing this aspect which should have been a detail of hygiene if nothing else.

 

When it comes to ride quality, the Xenon really does act in true pick-up truck manner, meaning that the ride gets better as the load inside increases. When unladen, the long travel suspension is absorbent but there is a fair amount of vertical movement which is quite prevalent in the cabin, thank the rear leaf spring suspension for that. Sharp bumps are something that are best avoided with this car, for even though you might have the clearance to go over then, the suspension crashes rather hard as you do – enough to make you cringe. And if you drive with the windows open, you’re going to hear a few squeaks emanating from under the vehicle as it goes over uneven surfaces. Steering however has been vastly improved and generally you should have no problem pointing the Xenon in the exact direction you intend to travel, even though it does have a slightly vague feel. The ventilated discs up front and drums at the rear offer decent braking capabilities, though you have to remember that this car weighs nearly two tonnes. Still, inclusion of ABS is an absolute boon when the road surface gets tricky.

 
One of the best things of owning one of these is that in true pick-up fashion, Tata offers loads of accessories (and very good quality stuff at that I might add) for the Xenon which truly transforms the nature of this beast. A chrome bull bar at the front and chrome rear bumper add some serious bling and if you want something a little more macho, you can always adorn that bull bar as well as the optional roof rails with additional lights. For those of a practical disposition, a full plastic bed liner offers the option of really sanitising that load bed for carrying some stuff around. A total load bed area of 1,414 x 1,429 x 430mm here means that you can happily lug around a couple of mountain bikes or tonnes of camping gear, but we would've really liked to have drainage holes in that liner to get rid of any water that might collect if you leave the car out during the monsoons. Of course, if you don’t plan to carry anything over 430mm in height, you can always get the boot lid covering to keep all that you’re carrying around safe. Also with Tata Motors having done well and learnt in markets like Thailand (the world’s second largest pick-up truck market after the US of A) with such a vehicle, it has obviously picked up certain cues which it offers here in India, like the optional hard-top canopy for the bed which makes the Xenon appear more like an SUV vaguely reminiscent of the old Chevrolet Suburban. I also liked the Garmin GPS gear which our test car came equipped with and which is a must if indeed you are the outdoorsy type and want to come back after going to the back of beyond!

Even though it might be named after an inert gas, the car is anything but. It is an absolute head-turner no matter where you drive it and has the potential of being an instant object of desire for anyone with any love for all things with wheels. Be warned however, that at Rs 11 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) for the 4x4 model, the Xenon isn’t what you might call easy on the pocket. You do get a fully equipped vehicle for that, but you’ll be tempted to spend much more sprucing it up with all the machismo-enhancing accessories. In the end though, if you do have the moolah for it, there’s nothing else available currently that can satiate your enthusiast lifestyle truck desires. This is definitely not an everyday car, nor can this be the sensible option for being an only car. But, if you’re the adventurous sort who likes weekend escapades outside the city limits especially off-the-tarmac types with truckloads of style at the same time, then it’s difficult to do better than the Tata Xenon XT.