VIDEO: Autocar reviews Tata Nano, comes away rather impressed
Click above to watch video after the jump
Now that Tata's tiny little Nano is officially on sale, a number of media outlets around the world have found themselves behind the wheel, pouring over the positives and negatives associated with driving such an inexpensive vehicle. Interestingly, most of the reviews we've seen have been highly favorable. As it turns out, the World's Cheapest Car is just that – a real car. And it's a surprisingly decent one at that according to a motoring journalist from Autocar India who captured his initial thoughts on video.
We got a good chuckle from the reviewer's assertion that if the Germans had built the Nano, they would have added too much stuff to it and made their version just as expensive as the MINI, while if the Americans were behind the Nano, we would've priced it right below the competition and took away its striking price point. Is that funny because it reinforces stereotypes or because it's true? Click past the break to watch the video in full and decide for yourself.
Gallery: Tata Nano
[Source: Autocar via Jalopnik]
Video:
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
why not the LS2LS7? 5:36PM (3/25/2009)
I have the answer to your query as to why this the comments about price are funny.
The answer is it isn't that it is funny because of stereotypes OR because it is true. The answer is it isn't actually funny.
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Sandok 5:53PM (3/25/2009)
No funny bone eh?
BigWill 6:17PM (3/25/2009)
There already is a German-built Nano - it's called the smart.
why not the LS2LS7? 6:31PM (3/25/2009)
Well, for starters, he doesn't even imply it's a joke. Second, it's not funny. Third, he goes straight from saying Americans couldn't innovate in this way to saying the Nano is an attempt to make cars affordable for all, like someone like Henry Ford did. I checked wikipedia, and Henry Ford was an American.
It's not funny. And from even the reviewer's own comments seemingly not true. Americans can identify a price point and a market and hit it. It seems like even the name of this product is reminiscent of an American product that was the result of identifying a market and hitting it so squarely it took 70% of the market.
Daily Driver 6:32PM (3/25/2009)
LOL...
I can't believe people are falling for this. This review is questionable at best, I've just checked their review on cars and from what I saw there aren't that many cars that they don't like. I don't know some of the brands listed but many of the crap I know receive 7-8 stars. Their creditability have sunk rock bottom when they gave Hyundai Accent 8 stars Chevy Aveo 7.
Dave 7:25PM (3/25/2009)
"....while if the Americans were behind the Nano, we would've priced it right below the competition and took away it's striking price point."
Actually, the reviewer says that when the Nano reaches the UK, it will cost about 4000 pounds. And he says that the 1700-1800 pound Indian price tag is a third of what the cheapest car in the UK currently costs (so it must be 5100 - 5400)
Sounds like the Nano WILL BE priced just below the competition in the UK. Not that striking a price point at all.
sledge 7:34PM (3/25/2009)
@Daily Driver
The video is from Autocar UK's website. Autocar is the oldest car magazine in the world and while their standards have dropped over the last decade, in general they know a thing or two about cars. To top it, the reviewer (Steve Cropley) has been in the business for 30+ years and has been for the magazine for eons. He has done launch reviews of some of the hottest cars, so his perspective is one of a person who knows decent cars.
The fact that he says it is a cheap but well built car that does what it's supposed to quite well, does make me want to at least give this car a chance.
Daily Driver 7:56PM (3/25/2009)
@Sledge
Funny. Autocar might be UK brand but the site clearly says AUTOCAR INDIA. The car might be super in India, but that doesn't means it fit every where else.
Noz 8:04PM (3/25/2009)
Who cares where Henry Ford came from? He has as much in common with a modern day American as people who criticize what this guy says do with the average Indian.
Just because Henry Ford could do it back then does not mean you can do it again today. Other people come along, do something different, make a change, and do it better. End of story.
sledge 8:07PM (3/25/2009)
@Daily Driver
Poor (but not unusual) form on AB's part again - The *video* is from Autocar UK's website. The reviewer in the video works for Autocar UK not Autocar India (which I have read before and as you said has a dodgy car sense at best!)
Anyway, here is Cropley's review on Autocar UK:
http://www.autocar.co.uk/CarReviews/FirstDrives/Tata-Nano-0.6/238795/
Also, I am in no way saying this car is super! However, I am saying that when someone like Cropley says it is not half bad, then it's probably not nearly the bucket of junk that we are all expecting it to be (for the price anyway). That being said, it is definitely not suitable for all markets - I for one wouldn't want to drive one on US roads. However, I'd still love to own one to tinker around and see if you can strip it and fit a 600cc bike engine to it.
why not the LS2LS7? 11:32PM (3/25/2009)
What's whether someone else did it better have to do with it?
The comment is that Germans and Americans couldn't do something like this. That's a different question than "is the Tata Nano any good"?
My point is Americans have done things like this. They did it 100 years ago and inspired this car. They did it a few years ago and inspired the name for this car. Americans are still here and doing things like this. Maybe you could use something like google to find some examples of revolutionary things Americans have done lately.
Noz 1:47AM (3/26/2009)
You're giving WAY too much credit where credit isn't due. This car has absolutely nothing to do with what Americans made 100 years ago. This car came out of the necessity of having transport for low cost earners in an area where a small car is required.
It's as simple as that.
why not the LS2LS7? 3:16AM (3/26/2009)
I am not giving credit to Americans for this car. I am rejected the argument that Americans cannot innovate anymore. That they cannot design and create killer products and services.
Try to wrap your head around what the statement the review makes and the statement I am making and not try to turn it into something else. I also think it's funny you ignore my comment about Americans' more recent products created (my obvious reference to the iPod Nano) and that you missed my reference to google, another example of that Americans still know how to make a revolutionary product in recent years.
And your comment about how this car came about is pretty much the same thing I said on page 3 before you said it. Thanks for the lecture.
shutupandletmego 12:11PM (3/26/2009)
No one said Americans can't innovate anymore in any area. I agree with the reviewer that Americans won't have done this, not because Americans can't do it but because Americans are no longer willing to do it since your attitude towards cars has changed since the days of the Model T. Henry Ford did it then because America needed it then. No American company would have been willing to do this now, since America no longer needs this.
Summary, it's more about willingness then ability. I'd say the same goes for the Germans as well.
HotRodzNKustoms 5:38PM (3/25/2009)
I just realized it looks like a Prius... a Prius that got caught between two semis but a Prius none the less.
Reply
harlanx6 5:51PM (3/25/2009)
The question is, how are the Europeans, Asians and Americans going to punish this Tata offering to keep it out of their markets so they can keep charging over 12K for little junk cars like the Aveo?
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Dave 5:58PM (3/25/2009)
One or two good class action suits should do it.
Of course, Tata has already built a completely different car for Europe (which is larger and only looks like the original).
And they're considering another completely different car for the USA.
why not the LS2LS7? 6:13PM (3/25/2009)
The Aveo is a far better car than this.
This is a good car for the Indian market. That doesn't mean it applies to the US or Europe so well.
tankd0g 9:04PM (3/25/2009)
The Aveo might be a slightly better car than this, but it isn't worth much more money. It boggles the mind that people are paying 5 figures for them in any market.
harlanx6 9:06PM (3/25/2009)
In spite of all the obstructionism I expect a US version Tata Nano for under 8K. They will make a good city or college entry level car until the EVs reach reality. After all, a golf cart with lights should come in at about the same price after competition takes over. (Tata may be the one to provide that, also!) The guys that think they can sell little EVs for 30K are in for a rude awakening, although they will probably sell some in University towns.
I remember buying a loaded VW bug in "65 for $2100. ($21,000 equivalent now). It had 41.5 HP and we had a ball in it. It was enough. My friends had an earlier one ('54 I think) that had 25 HP. You could still draft someone down the highway at 70 MPH. Just for comparison my brother in law bought a new '64 Chevy Impala for $3200. We thought it was a dam nice car. We do know some history. You young guys have all the rest of the answers.