We all love SUVs and no doubt that this segment is most popular these days. The segment starts right from compact SUVs like Maruti Brezza, Hyundai Venue and the Tata Nexon. Wait, did I mention compact SUVs? They're not REAL SUVs right? Let's roll back in a decade using teleportation and jump to Aria's launch. Yep, the capable Tata Aria which sadly could not pick up in terms of sales but had a go-to anywhere attitude. Interestingly, its base variant was priced at Rs 9.95 lakh, ex-showroom, Delhi which is same as a higher version of a much smaller alternative these days.
Launched back in 2010, this 4.7-metre long crossover SUV was priced at Rs 12.91 lakh and fetched till Rs 15.50 lakh, ex-showroom, Delhi. While the car may have subjective look from the outside, the interiors were 200% percent better than any Tata. The design was young, modern and functional too.
The production of Aria started in 2006 with over 150 individuals from both Tata and JLR team ensuring to create a solid product. Tata used the same 2.2-litre DICOR engine used by Safari at that time. This pumped out 138 bhp while the facelifted 2014 model made 10 bhp more. What's interesting is that Tata Aria was the first SUV in 22 years to be based on a new ladder-on-frame chassis.
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On the inside, the Aria came with loaded features like cruise control, GPS based system, Bluetooth connectivity, reverse camera, automatic headlights, rain-sensing wipers and more. The cabin is so huge that even if the SUV is whole packed, people can still breathe in.
Personally, I haven't driven the SUV but apart from giving a rugged and solid feel, this one had its own drawbacks. Like the high placed pedals or the upright driving position with the steering wheel so close and the list goes on. Hey, but for the passengers, space is right up to the mark. By space I mean, legroom headroom and shoulder room.
Safety features on the Aria included ABS with EBD, ESP, disc brakes on all four wheels, Traction control system and among others. The top-spec Pride variant came with 17-inch alloy wheels. When it was launched, its tagline said, The Thunder Of An SUV, The Tranquillity Of A Sedan.
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Even though the Aria seemed to be a better product than its rival in every aspect, it faced a backlash from the Indian market because of its pricing. Yes, the top-spec was priced at Rs 15 lakh and that was the exact reason for its failure.
To boost up the sales, Tata also brought in a new variant priced at Rs 9.95 lakh, ex-showroom, Delhi. It came with a 4x2 set-up and this Pure LX came with features like audio system airbags, body-coloured rubber strips, follow-me-home headlights and chrome highlights. It saw the deletion of ABS with EBD and came with single-mass flywheel.
