When I’m driving a new car, I always like to keep an eye on how the other drivers on the road and even the commuters respond to it. It’s kind of my way to judge whether the car’s looks make it stand out in the crowd. When I got behind the wheels of the Tata Curvv ICE, the reactions and second looks were aplenty. The car’s 4.3-metre length and its coupe shape give it a stand-out appearance, so much so that incidents of random strangers coming up and striking conversations about it were multiple. That said, the Tata Curvv ICE isn’t quite different from the Curvv EV in terms of looks, but the fact that the latter arrived only two months back means this shape is still new to the eyes of the everyday commuter. I decided to try out its petrol version with the 6-speed manual gearbox to give you my perspective on how it’s capable it is of serving your daily commuting needs.
Curvv-y Exteriors
The Curvv’s exterior is undoubtedly one of the Curvv’s strongest assets. It looks like something that rolled off a concept stage straight onto the streets. The sharp lines, the sloping roofline, and the muscular stance give it a sporty and futuristic vibe. This stance allows the car to offer 500 litres of boot space, which sets it apart from its competitors in the category. Coming to the front, its large yet sleek grille with a honeycomb pattern has an aggressive appearance that pairs well with the triangular headlamp clusters positioned lower on the bumper.
On the sides, the strong character lines end up accentuating the SUV’s muscular look. And then the black cladding on the wheel arches and lower body enhances its rugged appeal. As for the back, there’s clean and minimalistic styling there. A sense of sophistication is added by the slim LED light bar that stretches across the entire length of this surface. As you’d expect, it’s an animated sequential LED bar, which, just like on the Curvv EV, is electrically operated and gesture-controlled.
Interior comforts
For a car that’s replete with so much detailing on the outside, it’s surprising to see that it keeps its interiors clean and minimal. That’s not a bad thing by any means since almost everything you would need as a driver and a passenger is present here. Its large 12.3-inch infotainment screen is responsive and easy to navigate. Below this display are the basic capacitive touch controls for air conditioning and activating the 360-degree camera. While they signify Tata’s tech-forward attitude, the lack of physical buttons for climate control may divide opinion.
There’s no explaining how convenient wireless Android Auto and Apple Carplay support are. I just had to pair my iPhone once, and from then on, every time I entered the car, the music would start automatically, and navigation became only a one-touch affair. This display also lets you control the Mood Light feature of the car. This is nothing but a string of LEDs integrated into the dashboard and the roof. It’s nothing new, and frankly, I was not at all impressed by how dim these lights were. This prevented them from creating the ambience that I hoped they would create. However, the fact that they pulsate to the music makes for a good show-off opportunity.
Speaking of the other display, it’s, of course, the 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster. It’s detailed yet simplistic, and that’s always a plus. Seat ventilation is limited to the driver and passenger. Living in a city like Mumbai – and dealing with the fact that I’m a sweaty person – it’s almost an essential addition for me. One more thing to note is that since there’s no battery on the floor, the Curvv ICE has its seating at a much lower height than the Curvv.ev. This, and the fact that the driver’s seat has a six-way electric adjustment, made life pretty easy for a tall guy like me.
The panoramic sunroof is a welcome addition, and so is the wireless charging pad. As for the sound system, the car gets a four-speaker JBL system with a subwoofer. I’m not much of an audiophile, so a detailed sound analysis is not my forte. What I can tell you is that listening to music in the car never made me want better speakers. In fact, even at a high volume, they still managed to maintain a very balanced sound profile, and the sound was evenly spread no matter where I was sitting in the car.
Coming to the back, the rear passenger seats feature a two-step reclining function. Don’t expect it to add a lot of comfort to the rear passengers. The recline only happens up to a very small point, making it seem more like a gimmick. The Tata Curvv ICE’s entire cabin feels airy and well-laid out, and the leatherette upholstery adds some more premiumness to the whole affair. The back seats, while spacious enough for short drives, could use more thigh support for longer journeys.
Everyday performance
I drove the 1.2-litre Hyperion GDI Petrol Manual variant and was extremely pleased with its quiet nature. This 3-cylinder engine is capable of delivering 123 bhp and 225 Nm of torque. The power is delivered in a linear fashion, and this gives the car a smooth throttle response, making it feel composed in bumper-to-bumper traffic and open roads alike. The clutch is perfectly tuned for city use—not too heavy, not too light—making it easy to live with even during long hours in traffic. One of the most pleasant surprises was the Curvv’s ride quality. It absorbs bumps and potholes with ease, a testament to Tata’s suspension tuning. And this is despite its high-riding stance. While it’s not an outright sporty car, the steering is well-weighted and provides decent feedback, making it enjoyable to dart through city traffic or take the occasional sweeping corner.
There’s Level 2 ADAS on Tata Curvv and the car didn’t take long to remind me of its presence. You see, my daily route involves many instances of bumper-to-bumper traffic, and I’m used to stopping the car pretty close to the one ahead of me. But ADAS was having none of it. On only my first day with the car, its automatic emergency braking feature gave me quite a shock by abruptly braking. Needless to say, I’ve since changed my driving habits for the good. Features like pedestrian detection avoidance and blindspot detection are also part of this ADAS, making the experience of driving it a truly safe and complete one.
Summing up
The Curvv ICE is a bold step forward for Tata Motors. It combines striking design, comfortable ride quality, and a well-rounded driving experience that suits urban commuters like myself. In a segment where most cars play it safe, the Curvv dares to be different—and largely succeeds. For someone looking for a stylish and capable daily driver with a dash of flair, the Tata Curvv is definitely worth considering.
