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Tata Motors have launched the Sumo Gold as a premium version of the Sumo Victa DI. It sports a better looking grille than the Victa, with the word 'Gold' etched in a chrome strip on top. The Gold badge can also be found on the tailgate. Apart from that, its design and features are the same as that of the Victa DI. There are four different trims: CX, LX, EX and GX. The GX comes fully loaded with clear-lens headlights, fog lights, tinted window glass, rear wash/wipe system and defogger, foot-boards and wheel covers. The spare wheel has now found a niche under the body to improve rear visibility. Remote and central locking system are also part of the package.

Inside the cabin, the Gold has fabric upholstery, a music system with four speakers, power windows and cup holders on the inner side of the glove-box lid. The car we drove had a seating capacity of seven. A nine seater option comes with a third row of seats instead of the two at the back, which face each other. These can be folded to enhance boot space. The back rest of the second row, however, is not collapsible. The seats are slightly stiffer and come with adjustable lumbar support for the bucket ones. The Gold’s spacious cabin offers ample leg space and headroom. In fact, the roof is so high that I (5' 9”) was able to stand between the front and rear seats with my neck bent! The only inconvenience is the plastic panel below the glove-box, which reduces leg space for the front passenger.

The instrument console has analogue speedometer and tachometer dials and a small digital display in the centre for the odometer, two trip meters and a clock. Door-ajar and seat-belt indicators also find place on the console. These are accompanied by acoustic warning. However, Tata could have done a better job of concealing the wiring of the seat-belt warning system near the pretensioner as it can be easily unplugged.

Tata have upgraded the Victa DI’s three-litre turbocharged engine to meet the stricter Bharat Stage (BS) IV norms applicable in cities. It comes with a Delphi common rail injection system and has been termed as CR4, like their other BS IV engines. The power output has been increased from 70 to 85 PS at 3,000 RPM and torque from 223 to 250 Nm at 1,600-2,000 RPM. Transmission is five-speed with an overdrive. Tata claim a fuel-efficiency of 14.7 km per litre.

Although the Gold has good acceleration for its size, its engine still leaves the driver wishing for more power, especially with the air-conditioner on. Anti-roll bars have been installed to reduce body roll. They do a fair job, but won’t stop your breakfast and lunch getting mixed while driving on a zigzag stretch. The Gold has an independent suspension system in the front and leaf springs at the rear, with the result that the front absorbs the bumps and potholes well, but the rear bounces up and down and upset the ride. The braking system has ventilated disc brakes in the front and drum ones at the rear. Vibrations through the seat, pedals and steering are negligible and the Gold's NVH (noise, vibration and harshness) levels are not a cause for complaint either.

A BS III version of the engine is also available as an option in respect of the Gold outside cities. There are six colour options, including the light golden shade worn by our car. Tata are offering a claimed best-in-class engine warranty of three years/1,00,000 km with the Gold.

Considering the whole package and its price range of Rs 6.15-7.52 lakh (BS IV, OTR, Pune, individual), the Sumo Gold has all the ingredients of a big family car and can also serve as a premium people mover without burning a hole in your pocket.

Considering the whole package and its price range, the Sumo Gold has all the ingredients of a big family car

Story: Piyush Sonsale
Photography: Sanjay Raikar