2016 Auto Expo: Tata Kite 5 compact sedan unveiled

Tata has finally taken the wraps off the much awaited Kite 5 compact sedan (Update 9/02/2017: model now called Tata Tigor) which is based on the Tata Zica hatchback at the 2016 Indian Auto Expo. The new compact sedan will get the same running gear as the hatchback it is based on and will be priced lower than the Tata Zest which already exists in the sub 4-meter range. The new compact sedan will be officially launched with full pricing in a few months.

As far as design is concerned, the Kite 5 gets the new Tata grille up front underlined by a fine strip of chrome just like on the hatchback. The well contoured headlamps and the low stance of the car make the Kite 5 look quite appealing on the whole too. The Kite 5 also gets the sporty front bumper and two fog lamps filling the side vent area well. In profile, just like the Zica hatchback, the wheels fill the wheel arches quite well which make the car look more proportionate than some of the other compact sedans in the market today. At the rear, the Kite 5 sedan is possibly the best looking compact sedan in the market today with its thin and well crafted tail lamps that are truly worth a level of admiration for the design team. The Kite 5 compact sedan also has a well crafted botlid and almost coupe like profile. 

As far as interiors go, the Kite 5 shares the same dashboard as the Zica hatchback. We like the centrally mounted infotainment screen which gets the app connect feature and the black finished central console with accent pieces. The Kite 5 compact sedan is quite spacious even though it is quite compact in terms of overall dimensions. Legroom and shoulder space for the passengers at the rear seat is quite good too.

In terms of engines, the Kite 5 gets both a petrol and a diesel engine. The petrol is a 1.2-litre 3-cylinder engine that makes 85PS of peak power at 6000rom and 114Nm of peak torque at 3500rpm. The diesel engine on the other hand will be a 1.0-litre engine that makes 70PS of peak power and 140Nm of peak torque. Both engines are mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox with the possibility of an AMT gearbox soon.

The Kite 5 will not only take on the likes of the Ford Figo Aspire, the Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire and the Honda Amaze in terms of sharing a similar size factor but will also form an all new segment by itself when prices are announced later this year.