Day 2 – 2012 Tata Nano Interiors

Did you like the exterior review of the 2012 Nano? Well then it’s time to open the door and dig deeper. Tata Motors claim that the Nano is 21% roomier than the Maruti 800. Although, that claim is hard to verify, I am pleasantly surprised at the amount of space that the Nano has to offer.

Open the door and you find the minimalistic interiors that the 2012 Tata Nano has to offer. Considering I got a top model, I had a three spoke steering wheel. The lower variants have just a 2 spoke one. Behind the steering wheel, you find the indicator and wiper stalk where they HAVE to be - right for the Indicators and left for the wiper Period!

Besides the small steering wheel, you will find the simplest of center consoles, the major highlight of the interiors. Two adjustable AC vents on the top, three knobs in the middle to control the AC and a lever to control the airflow and that’s about it!

Above the center console is one huge speedometer with a green band to help you drive economically. Besides the speedo, you will find all the warning lights and a digital fuel meter and odometer.

At this point of time, I would love to tell you how big (or small) the glove box is. But I am afraid there isn’t one. Instead, you get a massive grove in the dash to keep your stuff. This is particularly annoying when you take sharp turns as your things just slide off.

Two really eye catching things are the gear knob which is very tiny and the hazard light button which is as big as it can get.

Below the gear stick you find two cup holders, a power socket and buttons to operate the front power windows. On the other end, there is a small storage place and the handbrake.

Beige fabric covers the doors and the seats. The doors also have two small storage places: keep magazines and newspapers below and spare change or a small mobile phone above. The interiors are far more appealing than the 2010 edition.

Coming to the rear, you notice that the space behind is not bad for a 2 lakh rupee car. You can seat three medium-sized adults in reasonable comfort . The battery sits below the driver seat.

At this point of time, I would like to talk about the Nano’s air-conditioning unit which is (and there is no other word for it) AWESOME! There were times when I had to shut the AC because it was just too chilly (in Mumbai!). The head rests are height adjustable unlike the outgoing model's and the seats are reasonably comfortable for short trips.

The second most awesome thing about the Nano is the visibility. Reversing and parking is such a breeze thanks to its tight overhangs, elevated seats and large glass area. Even a learner can park the Nano without anxiety.

Things that I did not like about the interiors:

• The build quality is questionable. After just 700 km, things had started to come off
• There are many rattle noises when driving which will be discussed in details in the driving report
• The center mounted console is obtrusive when driving
• The fabric stitching is poor
• Quite a bit of glare of the dashboard is evident on the windshield

The most anticipated battle of the Nano and Alto never really happened. The Alto kept selling in 5 digits and the Nano bottomed out at 4 digits. However, there are a few key advantages that the Nano has in terms of interiors:

• The amount of space in the Nano is much more than the Alto (F8 and K10) and Eon.
• The outer visibility of Nano is much better than some bigger hatchbacks like Beat!
• While sitting in the Nano, your knees are always below the waist level which is good for long journeys. In the Alto, your knees are slightly above the waist which can cause your knees to aches.
• There is a specific set of people who enjoy driving a tall boy. They will prefer the Nano over the Alto.

That’s all for today folks. Do tune in tomorrow for the driving impressions!